2009-10-19 Community Planning and Development Commission Minutes

Home Browse Search

CPDC Minutes of 10/19/2009 Public Hearing: Zoning Amendment to Section 6.3.17 Article 15 on Warrant of Subsequent Town Meeting The Chair opened the Public Hearing. JW read aloud the public notice. The proposed zoning change was initiated by a homeowner concerned there wasn't now sufficient language under this section of the by-law to allow the ZBA to consider the scale, and mass of projects with relation to neighboring properties. • The board felt that the by-law should be modified to change the wording in Paragraph B to read: any reconstruction within a residential district. The Board suggested the possibility of proposing this modification from the floor of town meeting or making the modification in the future. A concern was raised on how to apply this to a commercial district especially on a parcel that abuts a residential district. • There was discussion about how this entire section of the by-law needs work The consensus of the Board was to approve the language of the zoning amendment as submitted. The board moved on a motion by the Chair, seconded by CP, and voted 4-0-0 to recommend to Town Meeting the language of the Zoning Amendment to Section 6.3.17 as submitted. The Board moved on a motion by the Chair, seconded by JW, and voted 4-0-0 to close the public hearing. Bond Release (taken out of order on the agenda): Benjamin Lane The Staff Planner reminded the board that on 9/28 they voted to release the bond subject to GZ's approval. Subsequently, Town Counsel recommended holding back $1,000 to defray cost of preparing easement documents. The balance would be $4500 after holding back this amount. The board moved on a motion by the Chair, seconded by DT, and voted 4-0-0 to approve the release of $4500.00 of the bond Updates to the 40R Downtown Smart Growth Zoning: The Town Planner noted that the Department of Housing and Community Development's (DHCD) Letter of Eligibility is forthcoming and that the DHCD noted that Reading's Downtown Smart Growth District (DSGD) is considered approved. She added that the Board of Selectmen will meet to act on this tomorrow night to move forward with a Special Town Meeting on November 30, 2009. CPDC will hold a public hearing on the DSGD on November 2, 2009. Discussion ensued about the DHCD's definition of multi-family housing as dwellings of four or more residential units. The Board accepted the DHCD's definition and noted other housing options could be added in the future. Mixed-Use Overlay: This will not be on the 11/30 Special Town Meeting warrant. There was a request to have a Geographical Information Systems (GIS) map made showing parcels impacted, larger parcels (10,000 sf and above). Page 2 of 3