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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1978-03-09 Adjourned Special Town Meeting Minutes]2 Adjourned Special Town Meeting Reading Memorial High School Auditorium March 9, 1978 The meeting was called to order by the Moderator, Kenneth C. Latham, at 8:00 P. M. The invocation was given by the Rev. Paul E. Barnes of the First Congregational Church, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag. ARTICLE 16. On motion of Maureen T. O'Brien it was voted that the Town amend the Zoning By -laws to regulate open storage of firewood in Residence A PM Districts by inserting after paragraph 4.3.2.6, a new paragraph 4.3.2.7, as follows: 4.3.2.7 In any Residence A District, Open Storage regulation shall not apply to a seasonal stock of firewood occupying not more than two hundred and fifty (250) square feet. No such stock shall exceed four (4) feet in height within five (5) feet of a lot line. 76 voted in the affirmative 16 voted in the negative 2/3 vote required ARTICLE 17. On motion of Maureen T. O'Brien as amended by Nathan C. White it was voted that the Town amend the Zoning By -laws to regulate the number and illumination of signs in Residence Districts by deleting paragraph 6.2.2 and substituting therefor new paragraphs 6.2.2, 6.2.2.1 and 6.2.2.2, as follows: 6.2.2 Residence Districts In Residence Districts signs shall be permitted subject to the following conditions: 6.2.2.1 Size and Number. Not more than one (1) sign, not exceeding one (1) square foot in area, shall be permitted for each premises, except that signs not exceeding four (4) square feet in area, advertising the sale or rental of the premises, shall be allowed. 6.2.2.2 Illumination. Sign illumination shall not be flashing and illuminating facilities shall be exterior to the sign and so arranged as to direct light toward the sign away from streets. 79 voted in the affirmative 6 voted in the negative 2/3 vote required ARTICLE 18. On motion of Maureen T. O'Brien it was voted to amend the Zoning By -laws to reflect the broadened purposes authorized by Chapter 808, Acts of 1975, by deleting paragraph 1.1 and substituting therefor a new paragraph 1.1, as follows: 1.1 The purposes of this Zoning By -law include but are not limited to the following: to promote the health, safety and general welfare of the inhabitants of the Town of Reading; to lessen congestion in the streets; to conserve health; to secure safety from fire, flood, panic, congestion and other dangers; to provide adequate light and air; to prevent over - crowding of land; to avoid undue concentration of population; to encourage housing for persons of all income levels; to facilitate the adequate provision of transportation, water, water supply, drainage, sewerage, schools, parks, open space and other public requirements; to conserve the value of land and buildings, including the conservation of natural resources and the prevention of blight and pollution Ma of the environment; to encourage the most appropriate use of land throughout the Town of Reading, including consideration of the recommendations of comprehensive plans adopted by Town Meeting; and to preserve natural conditions and historic sites and to enhance beauty and amenities. 73 voted in the affirmative 14 voted in the negative 2/3 vote required 13 Adjourned Special Town Meeting March 9, 1978 ARTICLE 19. Maureen T. O'Brien moved that the Town vote to amend the Zoning By -laws to prohibit the granting of variances for use, by deleting paragraph 7.4.2.2 and substituting therefor a new paragraph 7.4.2.2 as follows: 7.4.2.2 To hear and decide petitions for variances in accordance with Section 10 of Chapter 40A. This motion did not pass. 40 voted in the affirmative 75 voted in the negative 2/3 vote required ARTICLE 20. On motion of Maureen T. O'Brien it was voted that the Town amend the Zoning By -laws to increase the maximum fine for violations by deleting, in paragraph 7.2.2 "fifty ($50.00) dollars ", and substituting therefor "one hundred ($100.00) dollars ". 69 voted in the affirmative 15 voted in the negative 2/3 vote required ARTICLE 21. On motion of Maureen T. O'Brien it was voted that the Town amend the Zoning By -laws to eliminate a provision relating to the Boston and Maine Railroad right of way, by deleting paragraph 4.1.2 in its entirety. 115 voted in the affirmative 0 voted in the negative 2/3 vote required ARTICLE 22. On motion of Maureen T. O'Brien it was voted that the Town amend the Zoning By -laws to clarify the rules for interpretation of the Zoning May, by deleting paragraph 3.3.1.1 and substituting therefor a new paragraph 3.3.1.1 as follows: 3.3.1.1 Where a boundary is indicated within a street or railroad right of way, the boundary shall be the center line of such street or right of way. Where a boundary is indicated approximately parallel to a street or railroad right of way, together with a single noted dimension, it shall be interpreted as parallel and located the noted distance from the center -line of such street or right of way. Where a boundary is indicated together with two or more dimensions, it shall be interpreted consistent with such dimensions. Where an undimensioned boundary apparently follows property lines in existence at the time of the establishment of such boundary, it shall be so interpreted. All other boundaries shall be as indicated upon the map. 115 voted in the affirmative 0 voted in the negative 2/3 vote required ARTICLE 23. On motion of Maureen T. O'Brien it was voted that the Town amend the Zoning By -laws by deleting paragraph 2.2.2 and substituting therefor a new paragraph 2.2.2 as follows: 2.2.2 APARTMENT: a dwelling arranged, intended or designed to be occupied by more than two families. 115 voted in the affirmative 0 voted in the negative 2/3 vote required ARTICLE 24. On motion of Maureen T. O'Brien it was voted that the Town amend the Zoning By -laws by deleting paragraph 2.2.11 and substituting therefor a new paragraph 2.2.11, as follows: 2.2.11 FAMILY: One (1) or more persons living together in one (1) dwelling unit as a single housekeeping unit, but not including fraternities, sororities or other fraternal or communal living arrangements. 115 voted in the affirmative 0 voted in the negative 2/3 vote required 1V Adjourned Special Town Meeting March 9, 1978 ARTICLE 25. On motion of Maureen T. O'Brien it was voted that the Town amend the Zoning By -laws by inserting after paragraph 2.2.12 a new paragraph 2.2.13, as follows: 2.2.13 FRONTAGE: The continuous length of a street line across which access is legally and physically available for pedestrians and vehicles. The end of a street without a cul -de -sac shall not be considered frontage. 115 voted in the affirmative 0 voted in the negative 2/3 vote required ARTICLE 26. On motion of Maureen T. O'Brien it was voted that the Town amend the Zoning By -laws to increase the minimum lot required for schools, churches, kindergartens and other nonresidential permitted principal uses Residence A -1 Districts, by amending paragraph 5.1.2, Table of Dimensional ontrols, by deleting 1110,000" and substituting therefor "20,000 ", in the column entitled "Minimum Lot Area, Sq. Ft." in the line entitled "Other Permitted Principal Use in A -1 Districts ". 79 voted in the affirmative 6 voted in the negative 2/3 vote required in ARTICLE 27. On motion of Maureen T. O'Brien it was voted that the Town amend the Zoning By -laws to eliminate paragraphs in conflict with the State Building Code by deleting in their entirety the third and fourth sentences of paragraph 6.2.3.6. 115 voted in the affirmative 0 voted in the negative 2/3 vote required ARTICLE 28. On motion of Mary Jolene Guerra it was voted that Town Meeting confirm that the School Construction Committee, as established by vote under Article 43 of the 1967 Annual Town Meeting, and as amended by vote under Article 67 of the 1970 Annual Town Meeting and by vote under Article 26 of the 1977 Annual Town Meeting is now and has been at all times since its organization in 1967 in existence, with full responsibility and authority for construction of an addition and alterations to the Reading Memorial High School, and to amend said votes so that the School Construction Committee shall continue in existence until acceptance by Town Meeting of a final report of the School Construction Committee, which report shall be tendered upon the completion of the construction of an addition and alterations to the Reading Memorial High School including all repairs thereto. On motion of Richard J. Ogden it was voted to take Article 2 from the table. ARTICLE 2. On motion of Paul T. Metcalf it was voted to instruct the Planning Board to examine the possibility of an amendment to Article 13 as follows: A nonconforming lot or nonconforming lots which at the time of their recording or endorsement, whichever occurs sooner, were held in common ownership with any adjoining land, conformed to the then existing requirements, and had less than the increased requirements but at least five thousand (5,000) square feet of area and fifty (50) feet of frontage, may be built upon for one or two family use with a Special Permit issued by the Board of Appeals in accord with the procedures and provisions of Section 7.3.1 through 7.3.4. Special Permits under this paragraph will be issued for nonconforming lots which are in harmony with the immediate neighborhood. If the Planning Board is in agreement with this amendment, or the like, they are to submit the same as an article for the next Annual Town Meeting. ARTICLE 2. On motion of Benjamin E. Nichols it was voted to instruct the Planning Board to include with the printed copies of the new Zoning By -law a complete History of the Amendments since 1942, including both the Area Regulations and the Use Regulations. �v Adjourned Special Town Meeting March 9, 1978 On motion of Richard J. Ogden it was voted that Article 2 be indefinitely postponed. On motion of Richard J. Ogden it was voted to take Article 1 from the table. On motion of Richard J. Ogden it was voted that Article 1 be indefinitely postponed. On motion of Richard J. Ogden it was voted that this meeting stand adjourned, sine die, at 9:41 P. M. 120 Town Meeting members were present. A true copy. Attest: ' 4:A Lawrence Drew Town Clerk i