2005-01-06 Zoning Board of Appeals Minutes

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Town of Reading ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS Minutes of January 6, 2005 Members Present: Susan Miller Robert Redfern Michael Conway Mark Gillis (left meeting at 9:00 PM) Paul Dustin. Members Absent: John Jarema N C= 7~ c= 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 at 7:00 P.M. CASE # 04-30 A Public Hearing on the petition of Wendy Robinson who seeks a Variance under Sections 4.0/4.2,2 of the Zoning.By-laws in order to allow open storage in front of a retail store during regular business hours on the property located at 6 Linden Street (The Corner Closet). The Petitioner said she wanted an 11' x 11' x 12' space in front of her shop in which to display items outside her consignment shop so people can see what type of wares she sells. The items would not be large and would be things she can carry in and out on, a daily basis. The area would take up one of the two parking spaces in front of the building. There is no formal sidewalk in front. The goods would be displayed Tuesday through Saturday from 10 AM to 5 PM. Among the comments by Board members was: it was a pre-existing custom to display items outside this building and had it been a thrift store for many years; there are sidewalk sales during the year and this was a similar practice, perhaps this was an omission in the Zoning By-laws since it was allowed in other zoning districts, unless the town puts a limit on open storage and then the local sidewalk sales are clearly illegal; the grandfather argument could be compelling; a certified plot plan would make the resolution easier. It also was noted that the application was from the renter of this store and not the owner. The Petitioner said this could be remedied by having the owner, Ann Stinchfield, who was present, sign the original application at the Town Clerk's office.