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DEPARTME-VT OF BUILDI_ "G INSPECTIOA
�;. 212 Main Street • Municipal Building
Northampton, MA 01060 rr�1 w
I\SPECTOP
Michael Sampson
284 Sylvester Road
Florence, MA 01062
April 4, 2008
Dear Michael,
was on Sylvester Road last week and stopped to see how the garage project is progressing.
The electrical permit has not been signed off, and we have not finished our inspections. The garage
appears finished, and is being occupied. You must obtain a certificate of occupancy before you can
legally use that building. It is a violation of the Massachusetts State Building Code, the City of
Northampton Zoning Ordinance, and your insurance company will not cover that structure in case of fire
or other loss. Please
Also, there was a large truck in your yard. It appears to be a plow truck belonging to JC and
Company. It is clearly over 10,000 pounds GVW.
The City of Northampton Zoning Ordinance (§350-8.8 (J) states "Except on a farm, not more
than one commercial vehicle, and said vehicle shall not exceed a weight of 10,000 pounds gross weight
shall be garaged or in any way stored on any lot in any Residential (R) District." Your property is in the
rural residential zone; therefore that truck is not allowed. The only sort of business activity that is
allowed in that zone without a special permit from the planning board is a home office (§350-10.12)
Please contact me at your earliest convenience to discuss the garage, and do not park
commercial vehicles in violation of§350-8.8 (J). I will be visiting your property in the near future to
check for compliance.
Feel free to call if you have any questions. Our telephone number is 587-1240 and our office hours
are Monday through Friday, 8:30 am to 4:30 pm, excepting that we close at 12:00 noon on
Wednesdays. My email address is: Iasbrouck(aD-city.northampton.ma.us.
Thank you for your cooperation in this matter.
Louis Hasbrouck
City of Northampton
Local Inspector and Zoning Enforcement