Southwick ZBA Continues Berkshire Avenue Variance Hearing After Water Line Dispute

SOUTHWICK -- April 13, 2026, Southwick Zoning Board of Appeals continues long-stalled Berkshire Avenue variance petition to June 8. The board voted unanimously Monday to continue the public hearing on a petition by MJ Homes, represented by Dan Dumas on behalf of owner Vitaly Desiredenkov, to build a 1,500-square-foot home on a vacant corner lot at 106 Berkshire Avenue, a parcel that has been before the board in some form since 2010 and through five hearings in 2020 alone. The petition requests a lot-area variance of 34,000 square feet, a 90-foot frontage variance, and multiple setback variances. Chairman Chris Mastroni told Dumas the board could see "nowhere to go" if the application remained identical to the 2016 plan, given a recorded water-line easement now confirmed to cross the proposed foundation site. After five abutters raised concerns about the water line, traffic safety, parking, and stormwater, Dumas agreed to return with a redesigned footprint maintaining at least six feet of clearance from the easement. The board set June 8 as the continuance date and asked Dumas to submit full dimensional drawings and an elevation before then.