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DEPARTMENT OF BUILDING INSPECTIONS
INSPECTOR 212 Main Street • Municipal Building
North,unpton,MA 01060
December 5, 1997
Mrs. Barbara La Montagne
12 Sherman Avenue
Northampton, MA 01060
Dear Mr. Mazuck,
I have enclosed for you information concerning the " Finding"
process and the lot at 12 Sherman Avenue. The question that
you raised about the lot being grandfathered is a legitimate
one. The facts that pertain to this lot are as follows:
1. The lot is pre-existing non conforming. It is non
conforming in that present zoning requires 10, 000
square feet for a min. lot size.
2. It is not exempt as a single lot because there is a
structure on the property ( four car garage) .
3. If you wish to build a single family residence on the
property you are expanding the non-conformity of the lot
and that requires a finding.
4. If you wish to build a single family house and attach it
to the garage and you don' t meet the setbacks required
you will have to obtain a variance.
5. If you wish to build a single family house on the property
that is detached from the house you must meet the
dimensional requirements set backs, open space, if you
can meet the dimensional requirements then it would still
require a finding because of the expansion of the non-
conformity of the lot.
6. If you wait until this spring there is a zoning change
that is being proposed and most likely will be passed by
council which reduces the lot size square footage to 6000
sq. ft. This would allow you to build by right (assuming
that house location on lot meets required setbacks) and
no finding would be required.
I hope that this explains the issues regarding the
development of this lot, if there are any other questions
please feel free to call.
Sin 1
Anthony Patillo
Building Commissioner
City of Northampton
CC. W. Mazuck