2000-12-21 Zoning Board of Appeals Minutes

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TOWN OF READING R FI V 0 ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS € V,' MINUTES OF DECEMBER 21, 2000 E A 01 N , A S S. MEMBERS PRESENT: MICHAEL LARKIN, CHAIRM 1 FEB 22 P 2. 59 JOHN JAREMA EDMUND BALBONI 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 PM. Building Inspector Glen Redmond and Town Planner Anne Krieg were also in attendance Case #00-32 Continuance of a Public Hearing on the petition of James M. Burgess, Agent to Metricom, who seeks a Special Permit under Section 4.3.5 of the Zoning By-laws in order to install a wireless communications facility to the facade of an existing smoke stack in an industrial zone and for the location of accessory equipment on the existing roof on the property located at One General Way, Reading, MA. Chairman Michael Larkin swore in the applicants. James Burgess stated this is a California based company expanding to this area. The company allows access to the Internet through airwaves instead of the phone line. They are seeking permission to install a wired access point to the facade of the existing smoke stack. The size is 3 V2' high x 6" wide. It does not exceed the height of the smoke stack, will be mounted flush, and painted the same color. They are also installing an equipment cabinet at the base. This is approximately the size of a refrigerator with the decibel level of a dishwasher. The base cabinet will have an 8' chain link fence with a combination lock. The weight of the unit is 600 lbs., installed on an 8" x 10" thick, reinforced, 10' x 10' concrete pad. It is hard wired to the phone line, with 200 amps going to the cabinet. There is a second option, that the unit would be installed on a steel platform with feet 10" off the ground. John Jarema requested specification on the plans. Structural engineer Ken Peterson, International Chimney, attested to the integrity of the chimney. On a motion by John Jarema, seconded Edmund Balboni, the Zoning Board of Appeals voted to grant a Special Permit to Metricom, Inc. in order to install a wireless communication facility to the facade of an existing smoke stack and to secure a 10' x 10' pad for the purposes of supporting accessory equipment at One General Way, Reading MA, and to be surrounded by an 8' high, 12' x 12' chain link fence, subject to the conditions in Section 4.3.5 of the Zoning By-laws, especially, but not limited to Section D, F, and G. The motion was approved by a vote of 3-0-0.