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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2012-06-21 Community Planning and Development Commission MinutesTown of Reading 16 Lowell Street Reading, MA 01867 -2683 Phone: 781 -942 -6612 Fax: 781 - 942 -9071 Email: jdetios @ci.reading.ma.us Community Planning and Development Commission CPDC MINUTES - Joint Meeting with ZBA Meeting Dated: June 21, 2012 Location: Selectmen's Meeting Room Time: 7:15 PM CPDC Members Present: John Weston, Chair; David Tuttle, Nicholas Safina and Charlie Adams ZBA Members Present: Jeffrey Perkins, Chair; John Jarema, John Miles, Damase Caouette, Kristin Cataldo Also Present: Jessie Wilson, Staff Planner and Recording Secretary, Maureen Knight, ZBA Recording Secretary Others Present: Bradley Latham, Latham and Latham Law Officer John Kerekes, Representing Home Depot Patrick Dunford, Vanasse Hagen and Brustlin, Inc. (VHB) Tony D'Arezzo, 130 John Street Lorraine Toppi, 14 C Carnation Circle Frances Killihen, 5A Carnation Circle Mac Cerullo, 127 Chestnut Street, Wakefield, MA There being a quorum the Chair called the meeting to order at 7:25 PM. Public Hearing: Home Depot USA, PUD -I Special Permit and Open Storage Special Permit Modifications Mr. Tuttle read the public notice. Mr. Latham presented the project to the Board. The proposal includes the modification of the PUD -I Special Permit, Site Plan Review and Open Storage Special Permit. The proposed changes include additional seasonal open storage areas and the use of a designated area within the parking lot for the staging of a truck rental operation. The truck rental operation would expand upon the existing Home Depot truck rental operation and be conducted from the existing tool rental center. In addition to the proposed seasonal open storage areas, Home Depot USA is requesting to legitimize the use of some parking spaces for the display of sheds and for cart corrals. The site currently has an approved open storage plan identifying areas for open storage along the front of the building, in front of the garden center and some areas within the eastern portion of the site near the loading docks. The proposal includes additional seasonal open storage areas to be located in the parking lot near the garden center and additional areas on the eastern portion of the site. A total of 43 spaces would be used for the additional seasonal open storage areas between the months of March -July. Page 1 of 3 CPDC Minutes of 6/21/2012 The proposal also involves the use of 12 spaces for the staging of trucks associated with the expansion of the truck rental operation. No more than 8 trucks will be on -site at one time and will be located at the southern corner of the site. The hours of operation for the truck rental would be consistent with the tool rental center and the rental of the vehicles would be handled through Home Depot employees. Home Depot is currently using 18 spaces for shed display and 14 spaces for cart corrals. As part of this application, Home Depot would like to legitimize those uses as part of the open storage plan and special permit. Mr. Dunford, the traffic consultant from VHB discussed the parking evaluation. The evaluation was completed in March on a typical weekday and a Saturday. Vehicles were counted from 12PM to 6PM to capture the commuter traffic. It was determined that 2:30 PM was the peak period in which 258vehicles were parked in the Home Depot parking lot, (394 spaces available from proposed uses), resulting in 60% of spaces occupied. Common engineering practice considers the upper threshold at 85% occupancy. Mr. Latham concluded that the project will require a variance for 75 parking spaces as a result of the proposed modifications. Mr. Weston opened the discussion for the Board. He indicated that at a recent visit to the site that there were only about 100 spaces available. He does agree with the parking study and that the parking lot clears out after 2PM but there are morning hours which appear to be much busier than what the study evaluated. He questioned whether the peak time was really at 2:30PM or if the study should have been conducted in the morning hours as well. He noted, that the proposal is essentially an expansion of the sales floor and that if anything, more parking should be provided. Mr. Tuttle agreed, stating that about 15 spaces would be required. Mr. Tuttle was concerned with the location of the rental trucks in respect to the tool rental facility. The rental trucks will be parked at the southern side of the site and the tool rental facility is located within the Home Depot building all the way to the east side. He also was concerned with the proposed storage areas adjacent to the garden center as it appears the pedestrian pathway is completely blocked. Mr. Tuttle asked where the employees park. Mr. Kerekes replied they are not to use the spaces in the front of the lot. Mr. Adams asked what size of trucks will be used in the truck rental operation. Mr. Kerekes replied they will use 12', 16', 22' and 26' trucks. However, this size does not include the front cab and therefore the entire length of the trucks will be 16', 22', 29' and the largest truck would be 30' in length and would require two spaces. Mr. Adams would like the Town Engineer's input on this. Mr. Adams also asked if the area on the eastern side of the site proposed for seasonal open storage will be open for customer sales. Mr. Kerekes indicated that will only be for storage /staging purposes. Mr. Adams would prefer to have the plan identify that area as for storage /staging and not for the display and sale of good so that customers do not have access to the rear of the site. Mr. Adams also expressed concern with the proposed open storage areas adjacent to the garden center. Mr. Weston agreed and suggested those areas be removed from the plan as they present a problem for pedestrian traffic. The Board discussed the area proposed for truck rentals. It was agreed that more information and detail need to be provided on the plan which identifies the size of the spaces which can accommodate the proposed trucks. Page 2 of 3 CPDC Minutes of 6/21/2012 Mr. Adams stated that there have been some previous compliance issues with the site. Mr. Latham replied that the applicant would be willing to offer a bond for a couple of years so that compliance may be verified. Mr. Weston asked the applicant for the snow removal procedures. Mr. Kerekes indicated that the snow is completely removed off -site. The Board agreed that the hearing should be continued as they would like to see a revised open storage plan taking into account the pedestrian flow as well as more specific details on how to delineate the areas, detail of the posts and the layout of the truck rental parking spaces. Ms. Wilson also requested a detail sheet depicting the size and dimensions of the trucks to be used and a plan on how the open storage plan will be enforced. Mr. Tuttle moved the Board to continue the Public Hearing for the site plan modifications for Home Depot located at 60 Walkers Brook Drive until July 9, 2012 at 7:30 PM. Mr. Safina seconded and the motion carried 4 -0 -0. Adjournment On a motion by Mr. Adams, seconded by Mr. Tuttle, the CPDC voted to adjourn at 9:45 PM by a vote of 4 -0 -0. Respectfully Submitted, Jessie Wilson Recording Secretary Page 3 of 3 Memo To: Town Clerk From: Jessie Wilson, Staff Planner Date: July 19, 2012 Re: Joint Meeting between the CPDC and ZBA on the application from Home Depot USA, Inc. The Community Planning and Development Commission (CPDC) and the Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) met jointly on June 21, 2012 to hear the application from Home Depot USA, Inc. (the Applicant). The Applicant sought to expand the open storage areas for display and storage of various products. The Applicant currently has an approved Open Storage Special Permit from the CPDC which was issued on October 24, 2004 that includes approval of 15 parking spaces for the use of open storage. The Applicant proposes to expand the areas to include an additional 28 spaces in the parking lot to be used for seasonal open storage, 18 spaces in the parking lot to be used for the display of sheds, 14 spaces that will be occupied by cart corrals and a total of 12 spaces that will be used for a proposed truck rental operation. As a result of this proposal, number of parking spaces will be reduced below the required total of 469 for a total of 394 parking spaces. As such, the Applicant has filed for relief of 32 parking spaces between the months of August and February and a total of 75 spaces from March to July with the Zoning Board of Appeals. These changes also represent modifications to the approved site plan. As such, the Applicant is requesting modification approval to the PUD -I Special Permit and Open Storage Special Permit from the CPDC. The Applicant presented the project on June 21, 2012 at a joint meeting with the CPDC and ZBA. A public hearing was opened and closed by the ZBA and a public hearing was opened by the CPDC and continued to July 9, 2012 at 7:30PM. Each Board reviewed the respective applications and deliberated over said application. Discussion was held between the Boards regarding the proposal from Home Depot. After responding to some concerns from the ZBA members, the Applicant indicated that the number of cart corrals will be reduced to 9 and the number of spaces for shed display will be reduced to 15 bringing the total available parking spaces to 404. The ZBA voted to close the public hearing and approve a variance for a total of 22 spaces between the months of August and February and a total of 65 spaces from March to July. The CPDC raised additional concerns regarding the specific location of the parking spaces and lack of detail on the plan and as such, requested that more information be supplied and the plans revised to address their concerns which will be discussed at the continuance of the public hearing on July 9, 2012.