WESTFIELD – The Planning Board Tuesday night approved two home-based business permits following public hearing at which no opposition was voiced by neighboring residents.
The board approved permits for a massage therapy practice and granted a permit to allow a residential kennel to a Russellville Road couple planning to breed German Shepard dogs.
Jean Fisher, who recently completed massage therapy training, requested a home-based business special permit for her residence at 33 Phillips Ave. Fisher has been in the health-care field with Baystate Health for more than two decades and is planning to initially establish a small message therapy practice.
“I’m hoping to start a part-time business,” Fisher said, “I plan to have three to five clients a week between 4 and 9 p.m..”
Fisher said that she plans to keep her full-time job and that she “needs to see how the business ramps up.”
Members of the board questioned Fisher on her business plan, asking where in her home the message studio would be established.
Fisher said her house is a small ranch, about 900 square feet and that she plans to use a spare room located next to the bathroom and that there is no separate entrance to that room.
The Planning Board attached a number of finding and conditions to the special permit which was approved by a unanimous vote, including hours of operation between 8 a.m. and 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and limiting the size of a sign affixed to the residence, requesting it be no larger than 12-by-18 inches.
Joseph and Mary Beltrandi of 260 Russellville Road petitioned the board for a residential kennel special permit because they plan to breed their German Shepard dogs.
The couple stated that they currently have three dogs and plan to acquire a fourth for their breeding program and that they hope to have two litters a year.
The board members questioned the couple about their proposal. Joseph Beltrandi said they do not plan to have an outdoor kennel and that the dogs will be kept inside their residence.
In response to questions for the audience, Joseph Beltrandi said that all of the dogs, including the puppies, are brought to a vet for shots and testing and that they would accept the return of puppies with medical or behavior problems.
Board Chairman Philip McEwan said the site is relatively isolated and that the zoning code limits the number of dogs allowed in a residential kennel to nine animals over six months of age.
The board approved finding and conditions which were attached to the special permit approved by a unanimous vote of the board.
