HomeMy WebLinkAbout2014-12-04 Zoning Board of Appeals Minutes�: Town of Reading dYJN CLERK
5 d`'Ri Meeting Minutes RECEIVED
fir° i OWN CLERK
M �',OING, MASS.
Board - Committee - Commission - Council:
Zoning Board of Appeals MS JAN 20 A II: 52
Date: 2014 -12 -04 Time: 7:00 PM
Building: Reading Town Hall Location: Selectmen Meeting Room
Address: 16 Lowell Street
Purpose: General Business
Attendees: Members - Present:
Robert Redfern, Chairman, Damase Caouette, John larema, Kathleen
Hackett, David Traniello, Erik Hagstrom
Members - Not Present:
Others Present:
Glen Redmond, Commissioner of Buildings; Kim Saunders, Recording
Secretary
Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Maureen Knight on behalf of Robert Redfern.
Topics of Discussion:
Case # 14 -22
The Zoning Board of Appeals held a Public Hearing on the petition of Joseph Welch who seeks a
Special Permit under Section 6.3.8 of the zoning bylaws in order to demolish an existing non-
conforming single family dwelling and to construct a new single family dwelling on a non-
conforming lot, as per plans submitted, on the property located at 71 Harrison Street in Reading,
Massachusetts.
Mr. Jarema questioned if he should recuse himself He stated he is not an abutter, but does live
across the street from the park. There was no objection so he did not recuse himself.
Mr. Welch reviewed his proposal for the Board. He will raze the existing dwelling and replace it
with a 2,900 square foot dwelling. He will be removing the existing backyard swimming pool
and the shed. The new dwelling will be moved closer to the right side property line. He stated he
is building the proposed dwelling for his family's use.
Mr. Redfern questioned the ownership of the property. The plot plans state a different owner.
Mr. Welch stated he is the current owner of the property and the plot plan was created when Ms.
Ellis still owned it.
Mr. Redmond stated there he had no problem with this project and it is a typical tear down and
rebuild.
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Mr. Traniello stated the new structure conforms to the required setbacks. The dwelling size will
increase 1 and 1/2 times larger than the current dwelling.
Mr. Jarema stated the dwelling height meet the requirement and he explained how the heights are
measured.
Mr. Caouette agreed the new dwelling met the current zoning setbacks. He stated the proposed
dwelling will be an improvement to the area.
Mr. Redfern commented that the proposed dwelling meets the required setbacks and also falls
within the lot's building envelope. The proposed house would not be detrimental to the
neighborhood and the site coverage of the lot is less than 25 %. He stated there is a similar 2 Y2
story house down the street.
Mr. Redfern opened the meeting to public comment.
Ms. Stone agreed the existing house should be demolished but she had concerns about the
proposed dwelling height and the new location of the dwelling being closer to her property. She
stated the house to the north of her has created shadowing problems on her property.
Ms. Taylor stated the proposed dwelling is quite large for the neighborhood. There are small
dwellings adjacent to this property and that is the character of the neighborhood to her.
Mr. Jarema discussed with the abutters what is allowed under the Zoning By -laws. He
commented that the proposed dwelling is not the maximum height or maximum size it could be.
He did however have concerns about the pitch of the roof.
Mr. Redmond stated the new Zoning Bylaws, once approved by the Attorney General, will allow
the Building Department to approve this type of project in the future without the necessity of a
public hearing.
On a motion made by Ms. Hackett, seconded by Mr. Hagstrom, the Zoning Board of Appeals
moved to grant the petitioner a Special Permit with conditions under Section 6.3.8 of the zoning
bylaws in order to demolish an existing single family dwelling and to construct a new single
family dwelling on the property as shown on the referenced Plot Plan of Land submitted,
The Special Permit is conditioned upon the following:
1. The Petitioner shall submit to the Building Inspector a Certified Plot Plan of the proposed
construction and proposed foundation plans, prior to the issuance of a foundation permit
for the work.
2. The Petitioner's final construction plans for the new structure shall be submitted to the
Building Inspector, along with the as -built foundation plan(s), prior to the issuance of a
Building Permit.
3. As -built plans showing the completed construction shall be submitted to the Building
Inspector immediately after the work is completed and prior to the issuance of an
Occupancy Permit
Vote was 5 -0 -0 ( Redfem, Jarema, Caouette, Hackett, Traniello)
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Minutes
October 16, 2014
On a motion made by Mr. Traniello, seconded by Mr. Hagstrom, the Zoning Board of Appeals
moved to accept the minutes of October 16, 2014 as amended.
Vote was 6 -0 -0 (Redfern, Jarema, Caouette, Hagstrom, Hackett, Traniello).
November 6, 2014
On a motion made by Mr. Traniello, seconded by Mr. Caouette, the Zoning Board of Appeals
moved to accept the minutes of November 6, 2014, as amended.
Vote was 6 -0 -0 (Redfern, Jarema, Caouette, Hagstrom, Hackett, Traniello).
ZAC Report
Mr. Traniello stated that Article 8 passed at Town Meeting in support of the amended section
along with the renumbering and reorganizing other sections. There will be more changes
presented at the April Town Meeting.
Adjournment
On a motion by Mr. Traniello, seconded by Mr. Caouette, the Zoning Board of Appeals moved
to adjourn the meeting at 8:10 p.m.
Vote was 6 -0 -0 ( Traniello, Jarema, Redfern, Caouette, Hackett, Hagstrom).
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