Development and Governmental Relations Committee Meeting June 6, 2024

Posted May 31, 2024, 3:46 PM

City Council
Holyoke Massachusetts
Pursuant to the Massachusetts Open Meeting Law, G.L. c. 30A, §§ 18-25,
and Chapter 2 of the Acts of 2023,
notice is hereby given of a meeting of the committee on
Development and Governmental Relations (DGR)

Thursday, June 6, 2024
6:30 PM
Meeting to take place at
Holyoke City Hall, 536 Dwight St
and can be accessed remotely on Zoom Meetings
Per order of the Chair: Kocayne Givner
Remote access via www.zoom.us
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83223463332?pwd=ZzQxNWZHTzhaeU00Q3hzZmNoN3dqdz09
Meeting ID: 832 2346 3332 Meeting Passcode: 905593 or by call in at 1 (646) 558-8656 with
the same Meeting ID and Passcode.

Live Spanish interpretation will be available on local access channel 15 using the television’s SAP option, through the live stream on the city website, as well as on the Zoom feed by clicking the interpretation option and choosing Spanish.

Agenda

Item 1: PUBLIC HEARING 3-6-24 Special permit application for a home occupation at 42 Arnodale Ave (124-00-077) for a driveway sealcoating business (Homeowner: Dylan Bradford, business owner: Florin Muradian)
*Continued from 4-22-24

Item 2: 5-7-24 Petition of Felix Rivera Soto Jr, application for a Street Vendor License

Item 3: 5-7-24 Petition of William F. Sullivan & Co Inc, of 107 Appleton St. for a Junk Dealer’s License

Item 4: 5-7-24 Petition of William F. Sullivan & Co Inc, of 1-3 Jed Days Landing. for a Junk Dealer’s License

Item 5: 2-6-24 From David Weinberg, communication regarding Victory Theater

Item 6: 6-4-24 MiFA response to Mr. Weinberg letter and addendums

Item 7: 5-21-24 GIVNER – Ordered that the City Council approve a license agreement between the City of Holyoke and Verizon for relocation of cables at the Anniversary Hill Park project located at Scott Tower Road in Holyoke, MA.

Item 8: 6-4-24 Bartley, Sullivan – The conservation commissioner be invited to attend a future DGR meeting to provide an update on the construction in and around Scott’s Tower. Please be prepared to address the issue of water run-off to the pond owned by the abutter at 5 and 15 Lindor Heights. Refer to DGR and Conservation Commission.

Item 9: PUBLIC HEARING 6-6-23 Special Permit Application of Salmar Realty LLC c/o Peter Martins for a special permit for a Proposed Coffee shop/Drive Thru Restaurant at South Street Plaza, A Portion of 209 South St.
*Continued from 7-12-23, 8-23-23, 9-25-23, 11-20-23, 12-18-23, 1-29-24, 2-27-24, 4-22-24

LAID ON THE TABLE:
Discussion unlikely to take place

Item 10: 9-5-23 JOURDAIN — City Council explore with the Mayor a residential redevelopment plan for city owned vacant parcels has homes built then sold.  City funds coupled with any available grant funding will be used for seed funding with the proceeds of the sales used to build more homes.  The long term play for the city is the generation of all of the property tax revenue from these home sales, the new availability of great new housing, the reduction in city owned buildable lots and the growth of population.
*Tabled 2-27-24

Item 11: 9-5-23 JOURDAIN — Law Dept and Mayor be invited to the City Council to discuss an update on the city’s use of the receivership program including current properties being targeted and others that are excellent prospects for required repairs.  I also would like to see if we can use this for larger scale problem rental properties with the right receiver as has been done in larger metropolitan cities.  I also would like to start an initiative as has been used in large urban settings where we have required landlord training programs when appropriate as well as a model like Kansas City Bad Apple Program for repeat offenders.  Law dept. and Mayor will be encouraged to look at what resources we need to go bold on problem properties and develop a plan with us.
*Tabled 1-29-24

Item 12: 12-5-23 MURPHY-ROMBOLETTI — An order to declare Parcel Holyoke Assessors Map 212, Block 00, Parcel 001, Easthampton Road, Holyoke, MA as surplus property and sell to the Massachusetts Department of Fish and Game with an address of 100 Cambridge Street, Suite 620, Boston, MA 02114 for $270,000.00.
*Tabled 12-18-23

Item 13: 8-1-23 BARTLEY — HPD and MA DOT work to promote a pedestrian safety plan for the employees contracted to work at the Soldiers’ Home.  MA DOT expects to have up to 300 employees working on site for the next three years.  The employees are scheduled to park at Lot Q at H.C.C. during that time.  Refer to HPD, MA DOT District 2 and the Development and Governmental Relations Committee for a follow-up.
*Tabled 9-25-23

Administrative Assistant: Jeffery Anderson-Burgos
The listing of matters are those reasonably anticipated by the chair which may be discussed at the meeting. Not all items listed may in fact be discussed and other items may also be brought up for discussion to the extent permitted by law. Also one or two items may require the committee to enter into executive session at this meeting. Agenda subject to change up to two business days (48 hours) prior to posted meeting time.