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Council proclaims ‘Rick Ricardo Day,’ approves medical office at 550 Main and used-car permit at 827 Boston Road
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Summary
At its April 27 hearing the Springfield City Council read a proclamation honoring Raymond "Rick" Ricor, approved a 3,500 sq ft medical office special permit at 550 Main Street after traffic and accessibility questions, and granted a special permit for a used-car dealer at 827 Boston Road with a planning condition limiting vehicles for sale.
The Springfield City Council opened its hearings on April 27 by reading a proclamation honoring the life and community service of Raymond “Rick” Ricor, who founded Rick's Auto Body in 1973 and established the shop at 375 Pasco Road in 1997. The proclamation named April 27, 2026, "Rick Ricardo Day" in Springfield and was presented to family members and longtime employees at the start of the meeting.
The council then considered two special-permit applications. Rob Levesque of R. Levesque Associates presented a proposal for a single-story, 3,500-square-foot medical office at 550 Main Street (a former gas-station parcel). Levesque said the design includes 19 parking spaces, two handicap-accessible spaces, and a curb cut. He told the council the project had been reviewed by the Department of Public Works and by Bowman Associates (traffic consultants) and that Mr. Dromey of the planning department had submitted a recommending letter. "We will have a right-in and right-only so that there won't be any left turn conflicts," Levesque said when residents raised access concerns.
Councilor Perez pressed whether two accessible spaces were sufficient for a medical facility; Levesque replied that two exceeds typical requirements for the proposed layout and that he would coordinate with the Department of Public Health as needed. Residents who spoke — including Patricia Boise and Angela Musiak — asked how vehicles would enter and exit the site and whether a roundabout or other configuration might be necessary; Levesque said a roundabout had not been considered and that MassDOT has a nearby bridge on its docket for future work.
After closing public comment the council approved the special permit for 550 Main Street; Councilor Martin read the findings for approval (siting, neighborhood impact, adequate facilities and incorporation of planning analysis).
Separately, Basil Laden Ismaili, owner of a tint and used-auto sales business at 827 Boston Road, requested a special permit to operate a used-car dealer and related services. Planning-department conditions limited vehicles for sale to two; Ismaili told the council he was aware of and comfortable with that condition. With no opposition, the council approved the permit and the stated reasons on roll call.
All approvals at the hearing were votes on zoning/permitting and did not authorize construction. Project approvals require subsequent permitting, inspections and any additional conditions that the planning department, Department of Public Health or conservation commission may impose.
What to watch next For 550 Main Street: coordination with DPW, the Department of Public Health and final site-plan/stormwater approvals. For 827 Boston Road: compliance with the planning department condition limiting vehicles for sale; if the business expands it may return with further permitting requests.
