HADLEY — A plumbing and heating business will be locating in historic buildings in North Hadley center.
The Planning Board Tuesday waived site plan approval for T. Kicza Plumbing & Heating to use the buildings at 234 River Drive, including a three-family home and an adjacent garage.
The property was used as Pip’s Garage, where auto repair work was done since 1962, and the former Pip’s Country Store until it closed in the late 1980s.
Tim Kicza, who runs the business with his brother, Jason, told planners that plans include removing the garage door and replacing that with a door and a window. In addition, he would re-side that building and the home with white aluminum siding.
As part of the work, Kicza will also replace the 55-inch diameter sign at the edge of the road.
The Kiczas, as North Hadley Properties, LLC, bought the site in June for $465,000 from Donald and Katherine Pipczynski.
Planning Board Chairman James Maksimoski said since the property is a preexisting, nonconforming use in a limited business zone, the board could waive site plan approval for the minor alterations.
Scott Merzbach can be reached at smerzbach@gazettenet.com.
