24 Corticelli St Letter to Withdraw 2024-01-301/30/24, 2:05 PM City of Northampton Mail - RE: Planning Board permit
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Nathan Chung <nchung@northamptonma.gov>
RE: Planning Board permit
grampafelix@gmail.com <grampafelix@gmail.com>Tue, Jan 30, 2024 at 1:40 PM
To: Carolyn Misch <cmisch@northamptonma.gov>
Cc: "nchung@northamptonMA.gov" <nchung@northamptonma.gov>
Hi Carolyn,
I have decided to withdraw both of my Special permit Applications without prejudice.
I am no longer seeking a Special Permit from the Zoning Board to convert my garage to living space, nor am I seeking a
Special Permit from the Planning Board to allow an off-site parking space.
If I may receive a refund on my Special Permit Application to the Planning Board, I will gladly receive it.
I want to thank you both for all the time you have spent with me to help me resolve my parking issues.
My plan moving forward is to preserve my parking space within the garage, and to widen my driveway to allow for 2
legitimate parking spaces in front of my garage.
Thank you again.
Felix Harvey
My plan is to
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From: Carolyn Misch
Sent: Thursday, January 18, 2024 10:39 AM
To: grampafelix@gmail.com
Subject: Re: Planning Board permit
Felix,
So you are seeking a special permit for the 1,000' because the offsite parking is shared by more than one use (mix within
the building). Ok, that could move forward under that provision for hearing. However, that does not rectify the issues
related to the Community Center site, which is used by Bombyx. I have a copy of the lease. Bombyx has about 15
1/30/24, 2:05 PM City of Northampton Mail - RE: Planning Board permit
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parking spaces on the church property and that clearly is never enough for the events they host. So there is always
overflow.
There are two issues with 140 Pine Street site. One is the conflict with the Bombyx lease and the other is the very short
term nature of your lease. The conflict with the lease could potentially be rectified if you had an assigned space there,
which Bombyx participants were barred from using and Bombyx determined that this did not violate the lease
arrangement they have. Your use would be overnight, which conflicts with the need by Bombyx. Additionally, given that
you are not entering into a long term lease, this would be problematic for the Board. Under this scenario, your permit
would have to be renewed every year after evidence that you had a lease for the next year. If your lease arrangements
fell apart, then what recourse would the Board have for you to meet the parking arrangements? As I am sure that you can
imagine and perhaps have surmised, the City would not want to be in the position of forcing you to remove the
improvements you made to your garage -1 year, 2 years out etc.
Carolyn Misch, AICP
Director
City of Northampton Office of Planning & Sustainability
210 Main St
Northampton, MA 01060
413-587-1287
cmisch@northamptonma.gov
www.northamptonma.gov/plan
On Thu, Jan 18, 2024 at 9:05 AM <grampafelix@gmail.com> wrote:
Carolyn,
I am not seeking a waiver, I am requesting to be heard by the Planning Board under the ordinance previously cited
which allows for the off-site space to be within 1000 feet if it is reasonable.
Because I am a member of an organization that is a tenant of 140 Pine Street, and I frequent that location 6 days per
week, I believe that it is a reasonable request.
Also, according to the Landlord of 140 Pine Street, Bombyx has a lease for overflow parking from their address, not a
specific number of spaces, so your algebraic formula may be based on false information. Bob Gougeon said he is
happy to provide me with a copy of the lease. Do you require that?
1/30/24, 2:05 PM City of Northampton Mail - RE: Planning Board permit
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Thank you,
Felix Harvey
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From: Carolyn Misch
Sent: Wednesday, January 17, 2024 10:34 AM
To: grampafelix@gmail.com
Subject: Re: Planning Board permit
Felix,
The Planning Board cannot waive the 500'. The flexibility has been written into the ordinance to allow parking other
than on site but only up to 500'. Additionally, off street parking cannot be made conditional. IE only during certain
times of the day or night. The idea is that the off site parking is available whenever it is needed. Finally, the lot cannot
be tapped for lease by more than one entity. Bombyx has claimed to the city that it has X number of spaces at the
Community Center, not X-1 on certain occasions and X on other occasions.
Carolyn Misch, AICP
Director
City of Northampton Office of Planning & Sustainability
210 Main St
Northampton, MA 01060
413-587-1287
cmisch@northamptonma.gov
www.northamptonma.gov/plan
On Tue, Jan 16, 2024 at 4:50 PM <grampafelix@gmail.com> wrote:
Dear Carolyn,
1/30/24, 2:05 PM City of Northampton Mail - RE: Planning Board permit
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I submitted revised documents to Nathan earlier, including a revised description of the proposal, which addresses
Section 350-8.7 2(a, b & c)for a space that is located <1000 feet away. I believe I have provided a reasonable
justification for this parking solution under the code. In regards to Bombyx and their lease agreement of parking
spaces, their concerts are only at certain times per day, typically doors open at 6 PM and the concerts are over at
10:00 PM. I am aware that I will either need to park in the lot before or after an event.
See attached documents which I forward prior to close of business today.
Thank you, Felix Harvey
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From: Carolyn Misch
Sent: Tuesday, January 16, 2024 3:30 PM
To: grampafelix@gmail.com
Subject: Planning Board permit
Hi Felix,
I went through your application for the Planning Board and see that there are two issues that are disqualifying
about the application. So I won't be able to schedule this for the Feb 8 hearing. The first is that the Florence
Comm Ctr parcel is further than 500' from your property. There are no waivers that can be granted by the Board
from meeting this standard. The second is that the Flo Commun building already is in a lease agreement with
Bombyx for their lot. So this would not enable them to enter into another lease with you.
Unfortunately that means that unless you can resolve the off street parking requirements, you would not be able to
finish out the garage as living space.
We will certainly refund your application fee for the PB special permit application.
Please let me know if you have any questions.
Carolyn Misch, AICP
Director
City of Northampton Office of Planning & Sustainability
210 Main St
Northampton, MA 01060
413-587-1287
cmisch@northamptonma.gov
1/30/24, 2:05 PM City of Northampton Mail - RE: Planning Board permit
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www.northamptonma.gov/plan