PermitApplication_Deborah MPermit Application
Today's Date: 04/30/2018
Owner
Applicant
Deborah M. Henson
Deborah M. Henson
83 Pomeroy Terrace
83 Pomeroy Terrace
Northampton, MA 01060
Northampton, MA 01060
504-232-8884
deb@deborahmhenson.com
City of Northampton department: N
Work Location Information
How many lots involved in the project: 1
Map/ Block /Lots of all lots in project: 32A/001/221
Deed Book of all lots in project: Book # 12889; page # 39
Project work address: 83 POMEROY TER
City / State / Zip: Northampton 01060
Zoning District: URC
Application for following Permit Types
®Planning Bd. Special Permit w/ Site Plan
❑Planning Bd. Special Permit w/ MAJOR Site Plan
❑Administrative Site Plan Review
❑Planning Bd. Major Site Plan or 40R Approval
(No Special Permit)
❑Subdivision Preliminary
❑Subdivision Definitive IF NO Preliminary
❑Zoning Board Special Permit
❑Appeal of Building Commissioner -Zoning
❑Variance
❑Historic District Determination of Non -
Applicability
❑Historic District (Elm St) Determination of
Appropriateness
❑West Street Architecture
❑Wetlands Notice of Intent, Abbreviated NOI or
ANRAD, IF state wetlands
❑Wetlands Request for Determination OR Resource
Delineation
❑Wetlands Certificate of Compliance request
❑Planning Bd. Special Permit w/ Site Plan for flag lots
❑Planning Bd. Site Plan (NO Special Permit)
❑Approval Not Required Plans
❑Subdivision Definitive IF Preliminary approved
❑Subdivision Definitive Amendment
❑Zoning Board Finding
❑Comprehensive Permit
❑Demolition (Demolition Delay)
❑Central Business Architecture
❑Wetlands Notice of Intent IF ONLY local wetlands
❑Wetlands Amendment
❑Wetlands extension
210 Main St., Rm. 11, City Hall, Northampton, MA 01060
(413) 587-1262
Fee Information
Planning Bd. Special Permit w/ Site Plan - $325 $ 325
Total fee amount: $ 325.00
Existing Use
Single family home with 3rd floor apt within home
Planned Use
Would like to use 2 rooms on the 2nd floor and 1 room on the 3rd floor for a Bed & Breakfast. I have
discussed this idea with some of my neighbors and dropped off letters (see attached) to 21 homes
surrounding my home. I will be submitting letters of support when I receive them (or they may also be
emailed to Carolyn - I gave both options). Everyone I have spoken with likes the idea of a B & B in the
neighborhood.
Detailed Project Information
Finding Description: 1. The guests would drive into my existing driveway, park at the bottom of the
sloping driveway, and exit in the reverse. There would be no need for any additional curb cuts and they
would share the common driveway with me and the other guests.
2. The home has a very large yard, which is separated by a fence. One part of the yard is completely
fenced in and my golden retriever sometimes plays in that yard space. The other yard (right beyond the
parking area) is not completely fenced. I have added tables and chairs (and will move the propane grill
outdoors to that yard area) for the use of the current tenant and it would be used by the B & b Guests so
that they have space and don't have to deal with a frisky pup when they want to relax. Bikes can be left
inside either yard space - i have a couple bikes that I will make available to the guests and they may
bring their own. Pedestrians can be inside the yards and exit by foot or bike thru the yards (gates) or the
driveway.
3. As stated previously, I have 6 or 7 parking spaces available, depending upon how the City measures
each space. There would be no parking by my guests on the street - and parking is not allowed on
Pomeroy Terrace around my house at present anyway b/c it is on a curve.
Special Permit Description: 1. Not sure about protecting my neighbors' homes from "seriously
detrimental uses" but do think that offering a B & B in the neighborhood would be beneficial to the
neighbors who have relatives and friends visiting them b/c it would allow their relatives/friends to be
close by, but without having to stay in the actual home of the neighbor if there is not sufficient
room/privacy.
2. My driveway goes down next to the house in the rear and has approx 6 or 7 parking spots - I only
have one car, so there would be sufficient parking off-street such that there would be no parking impact.
The guests would only total 3 rooms at any given time, so even if every guest had a car (doubtful), this
would not impact traffic in the area.
3. Offering a B & B in this home would not change the harmonious relationship at all b/c the home's
structure would not change.
4. The general welfare would be enhanced by having tourists, families of college students, and college
students themselves be able to stay in the Pomeroy Terrace neighborhood several blocks from
downtown, which would increase the probability of my guests frequenting the downtown stores and
restaurants (I plan to coordinate with the local businesses to offer reciprocal discounts at our respective
businesses - that is, upon referral from local neighbors/businesses, i will give a discount on the room
210 Main St., Rm. 11, City Hall, Northampton, MA 01060
(413) 587-1262
rental and reciprocally, the business would offer a discount on the meals/sales for guests coming from
my B & B - i have experienced this option in Provincetown and it encourages tourists to frequent the
local businesses).
5. There would be no overload or adverse impact on the City's resources and, in fact, would encourage
tourists to utilize the City's businesses downtown b/c they are easy to walk to from my home.
6. Allowing the home to offer B & B would support keeping cars out of downtown b/c my home is only
a few blocks from downtown. It would not impact the sustainability or open space plan at all.
7.My area is already zoned appropriately for a B & B use in that it is Urban Commercial C zone. (The
home used to house 3 separate families as many of the surrounding homes in this neighborhood still do).
Onsite Traffic Description: As stated, the few guests who may or may not have cars, will enter the
driveway and park on the premises, just as I currently do (and my 3rd floor graduate student tenant who
has lived here for 2 years). There is no traffic issue beyond just being careful when driving out of the
driveway about pedestrians on the sidewalk and cars passing on the street.
Offsite Traffic Description: 1. As stated above, I believe that guests who stay at my home will
generally walk to downtown, thereby decreasing traffic around Main Street. The Smith students who
stay here will probably walk to campus, which is just a 12-15 minute walk.
3. Carolyn is visiting my home on May 2, 2018, so I will show her my driveway and parking area to
establish the number of off-street parking spots.
Site Plan Description: N/A
Files Uploaded:
Supporting Information:
Comprehensive (40b):
Drainage Information:
Traffic Information:
Plan Sheets:
Wetlands Information:
Approval Not Required:
Autocad:
Tiff or PDF:
Historic Information:
By typing my name in the signature box, I certify that all the information above is accurate to the best of my
knowledge, I am the property owner or have permission from the property owner to apply for this permit. I also
grant permission to the City of Northampton to inspect the proposed work
Signature: Deborah M. Henson Date Signed: 04/30/2018
210 Main St., Rm. 11, City Hall, Northampton, MA 01060
(413) 587-1262