1987-12-09 Zoning Board of Appeals Minutes

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~T Town of Reading Reading, Massachusetts 01867-2693 (617) 942-0500 ZONING BOARD of APPEALS ,6 LOWELL STREET ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS READING, MA MINUTES - DECEMBER 9, 1987 Members Present: Catherine Quimby John Jarema Stephen Tucker Ardith Wieworka Chairman Quimby openend the meeting at 7:30 PM, December 9, 1987 in the Selectmen's Meeting Room, 6 Lowell Street, Reading, MA. The meeting began with the Board discussing general business of the ZBA. The discussion then moved to the approval of minutes of meetings from September 23, and October 21, 1987. Amendments were made, and Stephen Tucker then moved to accept these two sets of minutes as amended. The Board unanimously voted its approval. A letter was then read into the record.from a Mrs. Ruth Cogan addressed to the ZBA. The general public hearing was then opened at 7:45 PM for the petition of Mr. Joseph Machnowski seeking Special Permit for property located at 227 Woburn Street, Reading. Chairman Quimby began by reading a letter from Mr. Stuart LeClaire, Inspector of Buildings, regarding the petition of Mr. Machnowski and proposed plans for the building located at the above address. The Board then viewed the plans associated with this case which were submitted with the application for Special Permit. Mr. Machnowski noted some additional minor changes which had been made to the original plans. Discussion then began regarding the window on the second floor representing a second means of egress from the property. It was also noted at this time that the building inspector had verified that the stairway was not in violation of State Fire Codes. A lengthy conversation then ensued relative to the State Building Code and its correspondence to the Zoning By-laws. Did second means of egress, or in this case the stairway, have to be located where it would provide a direct exit to the outside of the structure? The Board had some difficulty understanding the intentions of the building code as applied by the building inspector in this case relating to both the window and the door. Was the concern strictly for the safety of the occupants?