2009-07-13 Community Planning and Development Commission Minutes

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CPDC Minutes of 7/13/2009 Public Hearing: Downtown Smart Growth (40R) Overlay District By-law This was a joint meeting with the Board of Selectmen because the Board of Selectmen must approve the submission of the Smart Growth (40R) application including the by-law language to the Massachusetts Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD). The DHCD accepts 40R applications at the end of each month only. The CPDC expects to submit the 40R application at the end of July 2009. DT read the public notice. The Town Manager provided a brief introduction and noted the proposed 40R by-law contains design guidelines which would give the Town more control over developers' projects than would be allowed under a 40B application. CK made a brief presentation on the 40R bylaw and the district which included a summary of the reasons for and benefits of establishing the district. She noted the CPDC was still working on the Design Guidelines. Selectman Schubert asked if there are agencies or procedures in place to provide financial oversight of projects coming in under the 40R. Ms. White, a consultant with Housing Partners, Inc., replied 40Rs fall strictly under zoning law not housing finance law but projects would most likely require housing subsidies from the DHCD in which case the DHCD would provide oversight. Selectman Tafoya asked if densities lower than the proposed 20 units per acre had been considered. CK said the others had been discussed. but the CPDC decided a lower density would not work for the downtown as it would not provide the vibrancy surveys had shown Reading residents were looking for in the downtown. Ms. White noted the by-law must allow 20 units per acre but a developer is not required to build to that density. Selectman Schubert asked if there would be an issue with the fact the design guidelines were not yet completed. CK said the CPDC expected to have the draft guidelines reviewed and made final in time to be submitted to the DHCD along with the rest of the by-law by the July 31 a deadline. She noted it is usually not a problem if the guidelines are submitted or if corrections to the guidelines are made shortly after the deadline. Public Comments. Although there was broad support for what was hoped to be achieved by the overlay district, there was also concern over its possible effects. Most comments fell into three not necessarily mutually exclusive categories: 1. Parking and traffic impacts. 2. Questions about the two proposed projects awaiting passage of the by-law: Oaktree Development's redevelopment of the Atlantic Supermarket; and the redevelopment of the M.P.Charles Building. 3. Concern the 40R would have a detrimental impact on the character of Reading (e.g. too tall buldings, too great a density, etc...). In particular, residents of the portion of the proposed district located west of the railroad tracks (roughly between Arlington and Fulton Streets) expressed concern over the 40R's impact on their neighborhood and questioned why their Page 2 of 5