WESTFIELD – The Zoning Board of Appeals approved four special permit applications last night to allow residents to make improvements to their homes and to the Westfield Elks Lodge 1481 which is adding a handicap lift and associated handicap parking.
The Elks requested a dimensional special permit seeking a side-property setback of no less than seven feet to allow construction of the lift, a storage shed and handicapped parking as the club renovates its building.
ZBA Chairman Michael Parent said that “it is a plus that a club like this in Westfield is making a investment for the future of the club, when so many fraternal groups dying out.”
ZBA member Martin Newman said the seven-foot setback is not uncommon in the Franklin and Washington Street area.
“There are, in this particular neighborhood, buildings much closer, one to two feet (apart),” Newman said. “Addition of handicap access to their building is a compelling reason to grant this special permit and allow them to modernize their facility, something we wish to encourage.”
The ZBA also approved the site plan submitted as part of the application because the addition did not trigger a review by the Planning Board. The ZBA did ensure that all requirements of a site plan were included as a condition to the dimensional special permit and site plan approval.
The ZBA also voted to approve dimensional special permits to three residents for proposed improvements to their homes and property.
David J. Beliveau of 142 North Road was granted a special permit to construct a 24-by-24 foot accessory building no less than 10 feet from his property line. Beliveau said his house is in a rural residential zone with a front setback 400 feet from North Road and that it is an “L” shaped lot which requires the special permit.
John Young of 19 Joyce Drive requested a special permit to allow replacement of an old shed with construction of a new shed which will be no less than five (5) feet from the side property line.
Robert Goyette requested a dimensional special permit to bring his deck into compliance with zoning requirements and to construct a small three-season sub room.
Goyette hired R Levesque Associated to do his bank survey while recently purchasing his house at 25 Tiffany Circle, located off Radisson Avenue in an open-space subdivision. Goyette’s house is located on a cul-de-sac and backs up to the wooded open space area.
Jon Goddard of R. Levesque Associates said that during the survey of the property it was discovered that a former own had constructed a deck that extended beyond the rear setback allowed in that zone and that the petition for a setback of no less than 20 feet would bring the property into compliance and also allow construction of the sun room at the rear of the house.
Much of the conversation among board members was tutorial in nature for its newest member, law student Richard K. Sullivan III, whose appointment to the ZBA was recently confirmed by the City Council.
Newman, a practicing attorney, and contractor, provided Sullivan with a overview of the board’s function.
“The existing zoning codes in this city do not allow anybody to do anything without a special permit. Property all over the city is in nonconformance with the existing codes,” Newman said. “We want to encourage people to stay in their homes and improve them, but because of the zoning codes not much is allowed.”
“It’s bad for us to hamstring people when they come in with a reasonable project that is not going to bother anyone,” Newman said.
The board attached the standard findings and conditions to each of the dimensional special permits which require resident to build what was described according to the plans submitted by the applicants.
