[{"_1":2,"_98":-5,"_99":-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],{"_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",6317736,"mediaKeyId","2369511-2e0a4ad1eb2f9441e496e4c0af8b45e4","parentId",2369511,"title","Council debates second VCARE parking space on High Street; seeks legal language and agency input","audioSeconds",1157,"startMs",927000,"endMs",2084000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2369511-2e0a4ad1eb2f9441e496e4c0af8b45e4&start=927&end=2084","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2369511-2e0a4ad1eb2f9441e496e4c0af8b45e4/thumbnail_927000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6317736/Holyoke-City/Hampden-County/Massachusetts/Council-debates-second-VCARE-parking-space-on-High-Street-seeks-legal-language-and-agency-input","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6317736-a08e997ed1606ea53b0d0298b60dce57/orig.mp4?Expires=1771171421&Signature=Bcni5Gmv7FNx0vC3najaYL34N6gBkeLsNTuCkv4tv~g~wcdtY5XLZ1-ICQtOs8Ab7bw4jpzaKeO00RrL7jh90H-MqSOTMK2gD1LbynZprsxZb4rqfAYz-BU1eIixjAhdaNOpzpVNvsUiwaAlMdXq6REICakDsKVxGHwn50WbBZOQda-nEJp7mulhAgjL9EIUTq0Tu4UZfNgDLrGtcaldrfZhspKcmZCwIdOJPwvoyA54ce5rP2L8fbHo0iZQ1CX4bZNmRnKo37RdpdsgCvvU2Lh5DvjI0SNDjMqkLTC8NciOFlVm1hcNvUWv4~IOU~JksJtp1jPMM1y9iL9kyhA~2w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Holyoke City, MA","date","2025-02-19T00:00:00Z","article","Councilor Jenny Rivera asked the Ordinance Committee on Feb. 19 to allocate an additional parking space on High Street for VCARE, a transport provider that uses vans to carry elderly and disabled clients. Rivera said the group now operates two vans and that drivers and the mayor’s office had expressed safety concerns where the vans currently load and unload.

Rivera described the need as operational and safety-related: “Now they have 2 vans. They have much more participants,” she said, asking the committee for two adjacent spaces and signage so drivers can pull in and out safely. Rivera also said the Social Security office lot behind the site is not available for VCARE use because employees occupy that lot.

Nut graf: Committee members split on granting a second permanent public curb space to a private operator. Concerns included fairness to downtown businesses, loss of metered revenue, and whether on-street spaces can be allocated to a single organization. The committee approved a motion to have the law department draft legal language, to request an opinion about using a bus lane for queuing, to invite VCARE to explain operations, and to involve the city engineer; the item was tabled pending those follow-ups.

Discussion and staff input: Several councilors (including Councilor David Bartley and Councilor Mike McGrath Smith) said they were sympathetic to the safety concern but wary of giving a private operator a permanent public curb space without conditions. Councilor Patty Devine said she observed elderly passengers boarding at the site and supported two spaces. Councilor Bartley raised the equity issue: he warned that granting a second free space could set a precedent and urged that any extra allocation be time-limited or tied to compensation to the city.

Jeff (city assistant/staff) recalled a prior compromise when VCARE had agreed to one space with scheduled drop-off windows (morning and afternoon) and an alternating-van arrangement. City Solicitor Jeffrey Bissonnette noted prior discussions explored use of an alleyway for queuing and that law can prepare ordinance language; he advised the committee that the practical accommodation likely requires coordination with public works and the engineering office.

Outcome and next steps: The committee voted to request legal language formalizing a second space with constraints similar to the originally approved drop-off arrangement (time-limited drop-off windows), to request a law-department opinion on whether VCARE could use the bus lane for queuing, to invite VCARE to meet with committee members and staff to explain vehicle staging and schedules, and to involve the city engineer and DGR (Department of General and Neighborhood Relations) in follow-up. The maker requested that Ward 7 council file the order and that the item be returned after legal and technical review. The item was tabled for follow-up.

Ending: No additional parking was allocated on Feb. 19. The committee directed staff and law to produce proposed legal language and technical guidance and asked VCARE to appear at a future meeting to describe routing and staging so the group and the council can seek a compromise that balances accessibility and public parking use.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Holyoke City Ordinance Committee 2/19/2025","oneSentenceSummary","Councilor Jenny Rivera asked the Ordinance Committee on Feb. 19 to allocate an additional parking space on High Street for VCARE, a transport provider that uses vans to carry elderly and disabled clients.","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},6317739,"Applicants seek downtown-residential zoning for Dwight Street infill; planning board recommendation pending",795,107000,902000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2369511-2e0a4ad1eb2f9441e496e4c0af8b45e4&start=107&end=902","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2369511-2e0a4ad1eb2f9441e496e4c0af8b45e4/thumbnail_107000.jpg","/articles/6317739/Holyoke-City/Hampden-County/Massachusetts/Applicants-seek-downtown-residential-zoning-for-Dwight-Street-infill-planning-board-recommendation-pending","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6317739-d29cecf1e17bebe4da7090c1360c4750/orig.mp4?Expires=1771171421&Signature=kOCF4wFlXTM26oQLc5t0GpSgGkKaNsl6v6c17ldwa1BlbF5UlxfpWYExVZJoxY76Jdyx~Wpbz7Ud57GFAO8J~wRTrdJcdsNZQP8Wu5QhMpfw~WbdQ5No1cz6zwDmZi5DIYV5kr1mwvRi7HTN0T4SOTqJ19nvvQi9l-PmteHjs2B-2oS3T8eaZ0cgAtOVTC4N1X5wkgO0gVw6gcs0ZpGAiQeW4bxhCpzvd2D0RNovhx~mwtNwaopPsRdbPuvkftQgO~EqvFpiundLEUC5TF4QEWaCW9XLZlVmJIBLLlPxPSmNOUuCXWBRhh5mwhJqUANKKH77T~uAw5AxLmbJH~f3eA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Councilor David Bartley, president of the Holyoke City Ordinance Committee, closed a public hearing Feb. 19 on two linked zoning-change petitions after hearing a presentation from the applicants and their representative.

The petitions, filed as items 2 and 3 on the committee agenda, would change properties on Dwight Street from Business-Limited (BL) to Downtown Residential to allow two- and three-family buildings and to enable lot splits that applicants say would make units more accessible to first-time homebuyers.

The applicants, Teagle Martins and Jeffrey Diaz, described their plan as infill housing that would split existing lots to allow “one building per lot” and mix two- and three-family units. Teagle Martins said, “We presented our plan to the planning board, and they seem to be very much in favor. We're just waiting for the recommendation to the ordinance committee.” Martins identified the design as a combination of two-family and three-family buildings and said the higher building elevations would allow additional livable space and safe egress.

Nut graf: The committee closed public comment on the two petitions but did not vote on the rezones. Members said they will wait for a written recommendation from the Planning Board before taking a final vote, leaving the proposals in committee pending that recommendation.

Committee discussion focused on parking, lot layout and whether approval would require an \"approval not required\" filing for lot splits. Councilor Mike McGrath Smith asked the applicants to specify how many off-street parking spaces they currently have and how many they would need if units were allotted two spots each. Martins said the site currently has an L-shaped rear lot used for parking and estimated there is capacity for about 15 cars behind the “black and white” building; he did not provide finalized civil-engineering counts and said such drawings would be prepared only if the committee signaled support to proceed. \"We have not done civil engineer drawings to have specific counts,\" Martins said.

Planning staff comment: Jeff Burkhart of Planning confirmed the Planning Board closed its hearing and that a recommendation letter is pending. Committee members closed the public hearing and agreed to await that recommendation before scheduling a final vote.

Ending: The committee took no final zoning action on the Dwight Street parcels on Feb. 19 and left the items in committee pending receipt of the Planning Board’s written recommendation and any follow-up materials the applicants provide, including parking counts and engineering plans.","Councilor David Bartley, president of the Holyoke City Ordinance Committee, closed a public hearing Feb. 19 on two linked zoning-change petitions after hearing a presentation from the applicants and their representative.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":80,"_47":92,"_49":93,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6317731,"Votes at a glance: Ordinance Committee actions Feb. 19 — legal drafts requested on multiple orders; handicap sign approved",865,37000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2369511-2e0a4ad1eb2f9441e496e4c0af8b45e4&start=37&end=902","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2369511-2e0a4ad1eb2f9441e496e4c0af8b45e4/thumbnail_37000.jpg","/articles/6317731/Holyoke-City/Hampden-County/Massachusetts/Votes-at-a-glance-Ordinance-Committee-actions-Feb-19-legal-drafts-requested-on-multiple-orders-handicap-sign-approved","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6317731-916702d4daeb405255344c747067ca57/orig.mp4?Expires=1771171421&Signature=fqpATIP4bq9DuevoOdGJpmLgz~HQ5iSC30FJMYt8ZV1D1bHSLwRCU4mMj5TsDLQNlSzACArpJtaHfaYn7siPdJmajsprhn9Twa2s4UUpKNrZNcYdLLuxmv0fVvdKuF3HyTnp3tRekN54rwNiryabvokAGBgd0GqHjeFhA-Sq98zK1PpnORLs5BtMSjzpkIkRRPik9cIXW5pXBvQv0AYK7Xi5rGmGdEJfHViZJWA8~IAYcWx1OTooyrLbHKRQbp0P-ngjEL8onEB9mV-pGguVpT7z0lkM5s8xOg6-QrBgtPG~uYgqoKO1bYreobogJXizY1efOWboNCCvyr39NewFDg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Holyoke City Ordinance Committee on Feb. 19 handled a series of orders and motions that produced requests for legal language, referrals for technical input, or brief approvals. Below are the committee’s recorded actions and immediate outcomes. Where the committee requested additional review, items were tabled until legal or technical feedback is returned.

Votes at a glance

1) Items 2 & 3 (Dwight Street zone-change applications): Public hearing closed; committee will await Planning Board recommendation (action recorded).

2) Item 4 (VCARE — High Street parking): Committee approved a motion to ask the law department to draft legal language, request a legal opinion on bus-lane queuing, invite VCARE to present, involve the city engineer and DGR, and table the item pending those inputs.

3) Item 5 (RFP eligibility / city compliance form): Committee voted to have the order put into legal form so the ordinance can require that RFP applicants be current on taxes and free of Board of Health or building violations before they may be eligible for city property RFP awards. Motion to draft legal language passed; item tabled for review.

4) Item 6 (Noise ordinance hours change — section 38-73): Committee voted to send the proposed change (amend hours referenced in the ordinance) to the law department in legal form and to send the draft to the Police Department for feedback on enforcement; item tabled pending that input.

5) Item 7 (Minimum sewer fee at closings): Committee voted to draft an ordinance setting a minimum sewer fee of $7.50 (noted as a return to a prior customary minimum) and to put the language in legal form; motion passed and item tabled for legal review.

6) Items 8 & 9 (Motor-vehicle damage to city property — threshold and reporting): Committee approved a motion asking the law department to draft an ordinance updating the reporting threshold to $1,000 and to create a duty for DPW/mayor/law to pursue collection against responsible parties; motion passed and item tabled for legal drafting.

7) Item 10 (Museum patron parking request): Committee discussed the request for three museum-designated spaces. After debate—including concerns about reserving public curb space for private uses—the committee moved to “comply” with the presentation (committee discussion concluded) and effectively took no ordinance action; maker agreed to pursue other options. No permanent on-street allocation was granted.

8) Item 11 (Anti-discrimination ordinance; and related core-values idea): The maker asked to table the order and intends to refile an amended order that would include political perspectives/beliefs and a possible core-values statement; the committee voted to table.

9) Item 12 (Handicap sign request, 15 Davis St.): The Disabilities Commission had approved the sign; the committee voted to approve the placement of a handicap sign at 15 Davis Street (placard no. 6980631); motion carried.

Vote notes: Most committee votes were recorded as “Aye” on the floor. Where a formal roll call or multi-member tally is required later, the committee’s legal drafts and referrals will return with detailed recommendations for final council action.

Ending: The committee did not enact ordinance text on Feb. 19. It directed the law department and relevant technical offices (Planning, DPW, City Engineer, Police Department and DGR) to prepare language and analyses; several items were tabled pending that work. The committee approved one discrete administrative action: placement of a handicap sign at 15 Davis Street.","The Holyoke City Ordinance Committee met Feb. 19 and took procedural or directive votes on several orders. The committee generally voted to send multiple items to the law department for drafting or to request technical input; one item (a handicap parking sign at 15 Davis Street) was approved on the floor.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Council debates second VCARE parking space on High Street; seeks legal language and agency input

Applicants seek downtown-residential zoning for Dwight Street infill; planning board recommendation pending

Votes at a glance: Ordinance Committee actions Feb. 19 — legal drafts requested on multiple orders; handicap sign approved