The current fee to apply for a home occupation permit is $100.
CHICOPEE – The City Council is considering developing a new way to charge fees to residents applying for home occupation permits, special permits and zone changes..
The city must increase fees for applications for the permits because the cost of placing a legal advertisement in the newspaper has increased. The law requires all applicants to inform residents of their permits in case anyone wants to oppose the proposal.
The issue comes up every few years as advertising costs increase. The city does not want to supplement the cost of the permits.
City Councilor Jean J. Croteau Jr. offered two proposals to the council, the first would be to charge residents $25 to file for any of the permit and have them pay the additional cost of the advertising.
“(It) is a different approach because not all ads are the same,” he said.
Another other advantage of having residents pay the advertising fee on top of the $25 filing fee is the City Council does not have to increase fees in the future, he said.
The other plan would be to continue the current system and simply to increase the fees by $50. Now the price for a home occupation permit is $100, a zone change is $200 and a special permit is $125.
“I’m not married to either approach. I’m just looking for input,” Croteau said.
The city would continue to place the advertisements to ensure they meet the proper legal requirements, residents would simply pay whatever cost is charged, Croteau said.
City councilors were divided on the proposal, but some said they were interested in trying the new idea.
“I think the applicant should be responsible for their own ad,” Councilor John L. Vieau said.
But Councilor Timothy S. McLellan said he prefers the traditional form of just charging one fee and raising the fee when it is necessary.
Councilor Frederick T. Krampits also suggested it may be possible to merge the two ideas into one to create a compromise proposal.
The City Council voted to study both proposals more in planning, zoning and ordinance committees. Public hearings will also be held on the two in the future.
Once the committee members decided which they prefer, that one will be returned to the full council for approval.