Northampton ZBA Approves All Three Residential Addition Applications Unanimously

NORTHAMPTON — February 26, 2026 — Northampton Zoning Board of Appeals unanimously approved two findings permits and one special permit for residential additions at its February 26 meeting. Chair David Bloomberg, Vice Chair Elizabeth Silver, and member Aaron Irvin cast the deciding votes after member Maureen Scallon experienced repeated Wi-Fi outages. The board approved a roughly 530-square-foot bedroom addition and screened porch at 29 Columbus Avenue, submitted by architect Jody Barker; a 280-square-foot addition at 488 Elm Street by owner Denise Sippolito; and a rear kitchen-and-bathroom addition at 29 Ford Street by contractor Mitch Parker of Valley Home Improvement. The Ford Street project required a unanimous supermajority under Zoning Ordinance Section 350-9.3 A10 because the addition would worsen an existing nonconforming side setback by approximately 0.2 feet — roughly two inches — which Bloomberg called "insubstantial." The board also elected Bloomberg as Chair and Silver as Vice Chair by 4-0 votes, and confirmed no applications have been received for either scheduled March meeting date.