2012-10-04 Zoning Board of Appeals Minutes

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'Iowa Caw, Town of Reading ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS Minutes of October 4, 2012 Members Present Damase Caouette, Chairman John Jarema Robert Redfern John Miles Kathleen Hackett David Traniello Members Absent: None 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. Case # 12 -13 A Public Hearing on the petition of Jack Millerick who seeks a Special Permit under Section 4.2.2 of the zoning bylaws in order to operate a dog boutique and to provide on -site "self wash" grooming facilities, and offer off -site pet services (photographs, training, walking) on the property located at 143 Main Street in Reading, MA. Attorney Josh Latham represented the Applicant and presented their proposal to the Board. He said it is a dog boutique offering high -end products and services. They will have a self - service dog wash as part of the business. The Building Inspector said it needed a Special Permit and that is why they applied. There is no substantial set -up required, just some paint and a few bathing facilities. He reviewed the major points of his argument that were laid out in a memo he presented to the Board this evening. Attorney Latham thought it did not need a permit because it was just retail sales. The dogs will not be on the premises for very long and there will be no crating or care offered so he felt it was just retail services and did not require a Special Permit. The Applicants thought it was a mix of more retail than bathing services. The owners will be doing the bathing and at no point will the store assume responsibility of the dogs. They will show the customers how to use the facilities and machines and they would help only if there were a struggling dog that needed to be helped into a tub. They also will also offer dog - walking services by contract only. The business is restricted just to dogs and not cats. All services such as dog - walking, photography, and training will be done off - site. The store would just be a headquarters for these additional services. ZBA Meeting, October 4, 2012