The Springfield City Council has shut down a bid by Orchard Car Company owner Eduard Shvetsov to dramatically expand how many vehicles he can keep on his lot at 421 Main St. in Indian Orchard, with councilors pointing to a long record of violations tied to the property's existing special permit.
According to MassLive, the council voted 7-4 against granting the permit change. Shvetsov had asked the city to let him park up to 50 vehicles on the lot, though the existing permit, granted in 2000, caps him at 20.
A Permit Violated Since Day One, Planner Says
Springfield City Planner Philip Dromey told the council that Shvetsov had failed to comply with several terms of his special permit, including a requirement that the business screen its trash and plant trees, flowers and shrubs — conditions Dromey said were never met. Dromey said the violations dated back to when the permit was first issued, telling the council, “In my opinion this property has been in violation since 2000.”
Dromey also said he had personally seen more than 40 vehicles on the property, a count that violates both the 20-car limit set by the special permit and a separate 30-car limit imposed by the License Commission. He cited a pattern stretching back years: Orchard Car Company was cited for having 60 cars on the lot in 2013, had 69 cars counted on the lot in 2020, and still had 43 cars on the lot in 2025, according to Dromey's account.
Owner Pushes Back on Trash and Car-Count Claims
Shvetsov disputed parts of Dromey's account when he appeared before the council in August. He said he had reduced the lot inventory to 19 cars and argued that not screening an unused trash bin was not technically a violation, saying the business has never used a trash bin and instead relies on the city's own trash collection for its refuse. Dromey countered that the city does not collect trash for businesses, keeping that point of the dispute unresolved.
The council had already given Shvetsov time to come into compliance once before. Following his August appearance, the council agreed to continue the petition request for a month to give the owner time to address the violations, ultimately delaying the vote for several months before this month's rejection.
Councilors Split Over Compliance Versus Community Benefit
Councilor Melvin Edwards said he could not support the permit change because of the applicant's past compliance record, adding that the council has been too lax in approving special permit amendments for applicants with prior violations. Dromey told councilors the city should wait to see whether Shvetsov can comply with the 20-car limit before changing the permit at all.
Not every councilor agreed. Zaida Govan, who represents the district and leads the Indian Orchard Citizens Council, said the dealership benefits Indian Orchard's downtown by drawing customers to other businesses nearby. The Indian Orchard Citizens Council had supported Shvetsov's application. Govan also questioned whether the application's problems stemmed from miscommunication with the city, a suggestion Dromey disputed.
A Wider Enforcement Gap at City Hall
The Orchard Car Company case has become a touchstone in a broader debate at City Hall over how Springfield tracks special permit violations. City officials said at the August meeting that there have been disconnects between special permits and operating licenses renewed annually through the License Commission, allowing businesses to slip through gaps between two separate approval systems.
In response, Edwards has proposed regular audits of special permits and a requirement that councilors be informed of businesses with multiple violations.
Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 40, Section 57 addresses nonpayment of local taxes, fees, assessments or other municipal charges. Springfield's zoning rules include the city's Article 12 special permit ordinance.
For now, Orchard Car Company remains bound by its original 20-vehicle limit, with no indication from the council that another request will be considered soon.
