Residents urge council to delay Martin Street business; public hearing set for Dec. 3

Two Holyoke residents spoke by Zoom Thursday to oppose a petition for a business proposed for Martin Street, telling councilors the narrow residential street already suffers heavy traffic and blocked driveways.

Mary Hennessy of 67 Hitchcock Street said Martin Street is small, used for school drop-off and pick-up, and currently hosts two businesses that have increased traffic. “There’s been an enormous amount of traffic on Martin,” Hennessy said, adding that corners and stop signs are often blocked and that her mother, in her 80s, faces additional safety risks entering and exiting the house.

Brianna Zimrock (59 Hitchcock Street) echoed those concerns and told the council the proposed business — described in the petition as a mental-therapy practice — is not appropriate for a residential area because of parking shortages, blocking of driveways and the presence of children nearby.

Councilor Patty Bartley and others noted the planning history: a prior petition was withdrawn or otherwise handled when it relied on an occupant special permit, and a zone-change request would be permanent. The council referred the petition to the Ordinance Committee and the city solicitor clarified that an amendment to a special permit triggers a public hearing; the clerk scheduled that public hearing for Dec. 3, 2025.

Why it matters: Petitioners are seeking either zoning relief or a special permit that would allow commercial use in a largely residential corridor. A zone change would be permanent and allow a broader set of uses by right, a point several councilors emphasized as a reason to proceed cautiously and to require full public notice and a hearing.

Next steps: The petition was referred to the Ordinance Committee for a public hearing scheduled Dec. 3, 2025. Nearby residents were told they will receive abutter notice for the hearing.