2013-02-07 Zoning Board of Appeals Minutes

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OUJt� C�2lC � Town of Reading ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS Minutes of February 7, 2013 Members Present: Damase Canuette, Chairman Robert Redfern John Jarema John Miles David Traniello Members Absent: Kathleen Hackett A meeting of the Zoning Board of Appeals was held in the Selectmen's Meeting Room of the Town Hall, 16 Lowell Street, Reading, Massachusetts beginning at 7:00 P.M. Also in attendance was Glen Redmond, Commissioner of Buildings. Case # 13 -01 A Public Hearing on the petition of Artis Senior Living LLC who seeks a Variance, Special Permit under Section(s) 4.3.1.4, 6.3.2.b of the zoning bylaws in order to remove the existing structures and to construct a new two -story 65 bed nursing home as per plans submitted on the property located at 1090 -1100 Main Street in Reading, Massachusetts. Attorney Brad Latham presented the Applicant's proposal to the Board. He reviewed the Artis Senior Living LLC philosophy for Alzheimer patients. The patients are not in locked quarters but instead are encouraged to exercise and use the outside facilities that are fenced in so they will have exercise and fresh air. He reviewed photographs of the present business there that is a greenhouse. Attorney Latham said the traffic would be much less with the proposed facility. The Fire Chief had requested at a DRT meeting that there be an entrance and exit with one -way traffic flow and that has been provided. There are also conservation issues with the property. If the Special Permit were granted then the proposal would meet with the Conservation Commission and the CPDC. Attorney Latham said the increase predicted for incidences of Alzheimer would require more specific nursing homes to handle this disease. There are 65 beds in this plan and each patient has their own room and sitting area. There are 34 parking spaces that are a little more than the minimum required by the bylaws. Attorney Latham presented a parking study that had been done on the property showing much less parking and traffic. The change of use would be less detrimental. This proposed use is a quiet use in comparison to what is there now and is more consistent with a residential use. This proposal reduces the impact on the land.