[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6360967,"mediaKeyId","2172673-ea7bdcef0d4970e3da80288721de1df5","parentId",2172673,"title","Committee closes public hearing on group-home notices; asks law to draft notification language for council","audioSeconds",641,"startMs",2779000,"endMs",3420000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2172673-ea7bdcef0d4970e3da80288721de1df5&start=2779&end=3420","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2172673-ea7bdcef0d4970e3da80288721de1df5/thumbnail_2779000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6360967/Holyoke-City/Hampden-County/Massachusetts/Committee-closes-public-hearing-on-group-home-notices-asks-law-to-draft-notification-language-for-council","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6360967-a3e936e6f84179e4b512be5048e5286c/orig.mp4?Expires=1771199900&Signature=N2SLbastppySv0fgpVauZxaaaRU2bnKCujyqn8TuF-hc5fpNEsGqVxfxHbOpOYOibQt~NnT2RtT0HR4BBSxSkGBYHTDof5rPqif-s32XSlvdLQE4c7a2c-YxFP8U26hwtFLopVLL8oBhK3L-7I~7zGGQhGCgtwiadGmdey5OYyGjum8vIve00awwGdcWjjDeK-jzOHL05kU~p8gZzJt3YXODACqNvuB1M1YfbEL1U00tgnoY3hb144uuDUs5y8-y7ZNd2iOhCU9eRp9wG5YA0M13ZsjxzCkDEgJhCQCmgYfNA34zC~PSwhFAO1J77R~R7bJSjdyFHHyl45b9KkmyYg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Holyoke City, MA","date","2025-01-25T00:00:00Z","article","The committee closed a public hearing on proposals to require notice to the City Council when group homes or other uses seek to operate in Holyoke and requested the law department draft legal language for council consideration.

The order before the committee sought a process to notify councilors when group homes or similar uses apply so the council is not ``blindsided'' by applications that do not trigger normal zoning notice. Attorney Bissonnette told the committee that a notice or special-permit-style process could provide public awareness while staying within state law. He recommended language that would require departments to notify the council and to confirm a proposed use meets all applicable building, fire and health codes before an occupancy permit is issued.

The committee heard public comment during the hearing; a member of the public identified as Derek Bridal spoke during the comment period and used a racial slur. The committee chair closed public comment, and members reiterated that while the council cannot lawfully prohibit group homes due to state licensing and anti-discrimination rules, the council can require notification and seek assurances that state density rules and other applicable requirements are met.

Committee members voted to close the hearing and asked the law department to place Attorney Bissonnette's proposed notice language in ordinance form for the next full council meeting. The committee also agreed that the broader item on notice for changes in building use should be handled through the same draft language.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Holyoke City Ordinance Committee 1/22/2025","oneSentenceSummary","After a public hearing on whether council should receive notice of proposed group homes and other changes of building use, the committee closed the hearing and asked the law department to draft ordinance language to provide notice to councilors without attempting to prohibit state-authorized group homes.","taxTitle","Holyoke City, Hampden County, Massachusetts","taxId",52807,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6360972,"Committee backs municipal hearings officer language with stipend cap; sends ordinance to full council",530,2200000,2730000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2172673-ea7bdcef0d4970e3da80288721de1df5&start=2200&end=2730","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2172673-ea7bdcef0d4970e3da80288721de1df5/thumbnail_2200000.jpg","/articles/6360972/Holyoke-City/Hampden-County/Massachusetts/Committee-backs-municipal-hearings-officer-language-with-stipend-cap-sends-ordinance-to-full-council","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6360972-13b2db5e7c7cc3ed8de6a380264da0e5/orig.mp4?Expires=1771199900&Signature=hePu0gEZFOhK~fMuA8H7rHXudV4HHT1zG4icD5Gn0fTLKJbl3dJoF~DA8jxISS9IT2~wStP4SNxfAvqGd67~Fd1ZK-7OwGqi45kVrSBCdUM-0LoWb2z1S6kDAdxBTJG7QUtGCWwnPHoaoucDr3vBrRzUSMJ3kY1AB8FcIjLXX4y4Jq-nQ5yqrBV3jLyMn96FKuOG616Ynfoet7DiLdHIBA-IqFHCKb356Wz0l2KsA7zavLclhRoSg3HEnIssaht~BXqDVguZwy2mQgYxx7F4lMbPv7-fBuPLX7V3F~6QmJxiiT1SGFfyNqGItq6CCSn-sFSthIp46Jw9Ucj0cGmPsA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The City Council committee voted to advance an ordinance change that would formally create a municipal hearings officer to hear appeals under the state building and fire codes and requested the law department prepare final ordinance language for the full council, including an amendment capping the stipend at $25,100.

Committee members said the city historically contracted for this role and that state law (M.G.L. c.148A and related provisions) contemplates a municipal hearings process. Building-department materials and a letter from the city solicitor described the role as an independent, typically contracted, third party who must attend state-mandated training. \"Municipal hearings officer should be a third party contractor and not an employee of the City of Holyoke department issuing the violation fine,\" the solicitor's memo said.

The committee discussed funding and staffing; some members expressed concern about adding positions to the city's payroll, while others said using a contractor and fee-funded stipend would avoid increases to the general fund. Councilor Jenny Rivera offered an amendment to limit the stipend to $25,100; the amendment was seconded and approved by the committee. The committee approved the ordinance language as amended and asked the law department to return legal form for full-council consideration.

Committee members noted practical benefits: holding hearings locally avoids sending appeals to Springfield Housing Court or the Board of Building Regulation and Standards in Boston, and it would allow fine proceeds to fund training and related programs. The committee referred the amended language to the full council for a vote.","The committee voted to advance language to create a municipal hearings officer to hear appeals under the state building and fire codes, amending the proposal to cap the contractor stipend at $25,100 and asking the law department to prepare final ordinance language for full council.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6360977,"Committee approves revised vacant-building fee tiers, asks legal to draft ordinance",1352,772000,2124000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2172673-ea7bdcef0d4970e3da80288721de1df5&start=772&end=2124","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2172673-ea7bdcef0d4970e3da80288721de1df5/thumbnail_772000.jpg","/articles/6360977/Holyoke-City/Hampden-County/Massachusetts/Committee-approves-revised-vacant-building-fee-tiers-asks-legal-to-draft-ordinance","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6360977-bc5de59ddaf80620df0bd672ffa22ade/orig.mp4?Expires=1771199900&Signature=D0fUzllRztso3fCXAD5tD0lhfNpUsv2hmuocigwPYQ1OskOe1mARyiJltLEMMJj5VdnUDfUMNV2tmARglJQ2Z3Gp1QBJKInfKKRmM32F2lFIj-upY9wl6osKQXJSkbspXHr1eca7Qr9~PpGFA6CRmsCzjwBs0VH1YRHDZDSonY68Aca6lY8F8uY2-XmKA0JlrflwP4ZTSoP4nsqvbiv7rH707yegU7LV85feTLnJ5e7JTajPnF5Y-U9xlyObkqfonL4FsqR6v9iV6jcmulB3OFyZWo6AxzvwWYqCNI0srSLkncYcivPaFP4qQL11NaBqsDdBF1hi3w0mFz7Je1E-pg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The City Council committee voted to advance a revised vacant-building fee schedule that would scale fines by building square footage and length of vacancy and requested the law department prepare ordinance language for the full council.

Councilor Michael Sullivan presented the revised schedule, saying the change preserves the $500 fee for 1–3 unit dwellings but increases fees for larger and longer-vacant properties. \"If you're above 3,000 square feet, and you're over 2 years, with no plan at all for rehab in front of the city, the fee would go to $6,000 ... above 50,000 square feet, the fee would go to $15,000,\" Sullivan said, explaining the tiers are intended to encourage owners to remediate or sell properties that have sat vacant and to grow the city's revolving fund to pay for demolition or rehabilitation.

Sullivan and other councilors described buildings that continue to pay the current flat fee as a burden on neighborhoods and public services; examples cited included former commercial properties that have been left vacant for years. Councilor Linda Bacon asked for a ballpark count of such properties; Sullivan estimated roughly 25 but said a precise tally would require research with the tax collector.

Committee members discussed the city's enforcement tools, including the Board of Health's authority to secure or board up unsafe buildings and the law department's ability to pursue reverter clauses and court orders. City Solicitor Jane Mantoleski said the city has legal authority to pursue demolition or court-ordered repair but lacks the budget to undertake large demolition projects in many cases.

Councilor Sullivan framed the fee changes as a revenue source for a revolving building fund to address blight and to better leverage enforcement tools. The committee voted to approve the fee schedule and request legal form to update the ordinance and to bring the measure to the full council for a vote.","Councilors advanced a proposal to scale Holyoke's vacant-building fee by building size and vacancy duration to generate revenue for a revolving fund for blight remediation; the committee requested legal form to take the fee schedule to full council.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6360980,"Developer seeks downtown-residential rezoning for Dwight Street properties; public hearing continued to Feb. 19",645,96000,741000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2172673-ea7bdcef0d4970e3da80288721de1df5&start=96&end=741","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2172673-ea7bdcef0d4970e3da80288721de1df5/thumbnail_96000.jpg","/articles/6360980/Holyoke-City/Hampden-County/Massachusetts/Developer-seeks-downtown-residential-rezoning-for-Dwight-Street-properties-public-hearing-continued-to-Feb-19","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6360980-af65e041854c53347bb2db251b3317de/orig.mp4?Expires=1771199900&Signature=d3fzob6qe0bMfkwmXEwxEcvmCtyxGm~jVgSj3fO3V-9oJW2~4bidPFokq8ADvqDWJi1mykgWRutWbhNKR3KYSSnZBm9ideRlfVM6W1M0hsCDYvXLmqJjxERMZMJIaooNRw9mL8E~15S~bUCvfEy4FTNTNh-cUaurbmeNz5HlTEsK45KcU9mv~C8MxsOx0jbk2CTts3yvqI-zY-Q3o3IB1HTnVaeYJYEJzD~T9J-RU9cEMuLMZ6igVM2lmPg9Xga9A6ovkaGRdRcWVXSymuYTeqVPGESK1e~YOSM400-y-J8xUN~2QafXkRtIQCrEnrKvMgc4IPGU9weX3IFocwwTEA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","A rezoning proposal to convert two Holyoke parcels on Dwight Street to downtown-residential zoning was presented Thursday and the City Council committee continued the public hearing to Feb. 19.

The applicants, listed in the agenda as Thiago Martins and Jeffrey Diaz for 736 Dwight Street and Thiago Martins for 712–718 Dwight Street, seek to change the parcels from their current BL zoning to downtown-residential to permit construction of attached duplex and triplex townhomes. \"Our plan ... was to develop row houses that are handicap accessible,\" Thiago Martins said, adding the project would increase rental housing and produce new tax revenue for the city.

The committee said it will hold the hearing open so the planning board can review the application and provide a recommendation. Councilor Israel Rivera moved to continue the hearing to Feb. 19 at 6:30 p.m.; the motion was seconded by Councilor Jenny Rivera and approved.

Martins described the project as two mirror plans on opposite sides of the block, each consisting of six units (a duplex plus a triplex). He said interior layouts will have an open first-floor plan with bedrooms on the second floor and basements, and that some exterior design elements will aim to resemble brownstone-style facades though vinyl siding may be used. \"I have some 3D renditions,\" he said; the council requested Martins provide those renderings to staff so members can review them before the next hearing.

Committee members asked about parking and site layout. Martins said the 712 property has space behind the building that can be developed for vehicle parking and that the original plan submitted during land acquisition showed more units than currently proposed; he said the revised scheme is intended to provide roughly one parking space per apartment. Councilor Linda Bacon and others emphasized that parking will be a major issue in the block's future redevelopment.

Martins said he has met with the building department and planning board staff but had not yet had an official planning-board hearing; the planning board's public hearing was scheduled for Feb. 11. The committee left the public hearing open to allow that process to run and for any supplemental materials to be submitted to the council.

The public hearing will reconvene Feb. 19 at 6:30 p.m.; the council asked Martins to send the project renditions and any updated plans to the administrative assistant ahead of that date.","Thiago Martins, an applicant and physician, presented proposals to rezone two Dwight Street parcels to allow duplex and triplex townhomes. The committee heard details about unit mix, parking and design and continued the public hearing to Feb. 19 to allow planning-board review.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Committee closes public hearing on group-home notices; asks law to draft notification language for council

Committee backs municipal hearings officer language with stipend cap; sends ordinance to full council

Committee approves revised vacant-building fee tiers, asks legal to draft ordinance

Developer seeks downtown-residential rezoning for Dwight Street properties; public hearing continued to Feb. 19