2012-11-26 Community Planning and Development Commission Minutes

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Town of Reading 16 Lowell Street Reading, MA 01867 -2683 Phone: 781 - 942 -6612 Fax: 781- 942 -9071 Email: jdelios @ci.reading.ma.us Community Planning and Development Commission CPDC MINUTES Meeting Dated November 26, 2012 Location: Selectmen's Meeting Room Time: 7:30 PM CPDC Members Present: Charlie Adams, Chair; John Weston, Nicholas Safna, David Tuttle, and Jeff Hansen Also Present: Jean Delios Town Planner /Community Services Director and Jessie Wilson, Staff Planner and Recording Secretary Others Present: Eileen Wilkes, 10 Governors Drive Carol Terriciano, 5 Governors Drive Diane Feely, 18 Governors Drive Donna Shindelnian, 16 Governors Drive Taylor Mandell, 66 Middle Street Philip Wood, 970 Union Street, Rockland MA Michal Moynihan Krista Piccadaci - Manaog There being a quorum the Chair called the meeting to order at 7:35 PM. Planet Fitness, 275 Salem Street — Minor Site Plan Review Planet Fitness had some outstanding items from the previous meeting held on November 5, 2012. Ms. Delios provided an update as to the status of those items as summarized in the Planning Memo. The primary items were the traffic study, which was included in the materials to the CPDC and prepared by GPI. GPI reviewed the shopping plaza as a whole using the national benchmarks to assess the traffic movement and circulation on the site. In summary, there were no issues identified by GPI related to traffic and parking on the site. Mr. Adams noted the Town Engineer has also provided a memo which agreed that the traffic study was sufficient. The CPDC discussed the traffic study. Mr. Tuttle said that if REI has a sale, that it would increase the demand for parking, but that it is not necessarily a zoning issue. Mr. Weston felt that it may be a zoning issue as they have reviewed the issue of temporary events in the past. Mr. Hansen noted that the study lacked information on maneuverability. Mr. Weston agreed noting that there may be queuing issues from vehicles entering and exiting the site at the northern driveway. Mr. Tuttle said that the traffic island should be removed. Mr. Safina questioned the traffic study's recommendation to keep plantings low along Salem Street. The question is whether the landscaping is on the site or within the roadway layout. Mr. Adams noted that it would be a site issue and not necessarily Planet Fitness issue as the tenant. The CPDC agreed that the parking layout in front of 275 Salem Street is not the most ideal, in particular the angled parking. It was suggested that the Applicant have a conversation with the landlord to re- evaluate those spaces as it may be in Planet Fitness best interest. Page 1 of 5