Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2015-06-29 Community Planning and Development Commission MinutesTown of Reading Meeting Minutes Board - Committee - Commission - Council: Community Planning and Development Commission Date: 2015 -06 -29 Time: 7:30 PM Building: Reading Town Hall Address: 16 Lowell Street Purpose: General Business Attendees: Members - Present: Chairman Jeff Hansen Nick Safina Dave Tuttle John Weston Members - Not Present: Karen Goncalves -Dolan Others Present: RE:CEI -VEU TOWN CLERK READING- MASS. Location: Selectmen Meeting Room Community Development Director, Jessie Wilson Assistant Town Manager, Jean Delios Administrative Assistant Caitlin Saunders Tony D'Arezzo, 130 John Street Zachary Camenker, Reading Chronicle Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Caitlin Saunders Topics of Discussion: Public Hearing for Zoning Amendment — Section 1.0 Purpose Mr. Safina read the legal notice. ,FUG 10 A % 02 + Ms. Wilson presented the proposed changes noting the goal is to keep the Purpose simple. From input from last Town Meeting and the former Zoning Advisory Committee it was suggested to use Lexington's as an example. There was discussion to get rid of the extra A -L bullets but Town Meeting explained they wanted to keep those. Dave Tuttle made a motion to close the public hearing, seconded by Nick Safina and approved with a 3 -0 -0 vote. Dave Tuttle made a motion to recommend the proposed zoning amendments to Section 1.0 Purpose to Town Meeting, seconded by Nick Safina and approved with a 3 -0 -0 vote. Mr. Weston joined the meeting at 7:45 PM. Public Hearing for Zoning Amendment — Section 10.3 Aquifer Protection District Mr. Safina read the public hearing legal notice. Page 1 1 Ms. Wilson presented the proposed changes. She noted that the Town is required to have the Aquifer Protection District because we have wells. Although the wells are only used in emergency, MWRA requires us to have the protection. The proposed changes include removing some unnecessary definitions and deleting the section on `Boundary Disputes'. She said that if there is ever a problem interpreting the map an appeal can be made to the Zoning Board of Appeals. Other changes include the deletion of the section for nonconforming uses and structures because it is covered in a different section of the zoning bylaw. The CPDC made quite a few changes based on the discussion from the last meeting. Mr. Tuttle noted he did not like the definition of underground storage tanks and said they should tune up the wording. Mr. Safina pointed out the CPDC should not be using the word we are defining in the definition and that needs to be taken out. Mr. Ray Miyares, Town Counsel replied that this definition is the statutory definition. He said the CPDC could change the definition but would have remember that the definition is no longer the same as the states. The CPDC agreed to change the definition and take out the regulatory statements in the definition to the other section of the bylaw. Mr. Weston commented the definition is still not very simple however we are using DEP wording so we should keep it. The CPDC opened the hearing to public comment. Mr. Tony D'Arezzo of John Street said letter (N) may be redundant. The CPDC replied it will be maintained because it is DEP language. Mr. D'Arezzo then noted that when it comes to the land uses, CPDC should make sure Town Meeting knows that you changed the Bylaw so that it only applies to the part of land inside the district and not the whole lot like it used to be. Ms. Karen Herrick said she thinks the exception of non - hazardous materials should be moved up under the definition so it is read more clearly. Then she asked if we allow septic tanks because the wording of (G) is not very clear. Mr. Miyares replied that the wording is not intended to prohibit them and that the bylaw is silent about that use. He also suggested other changes including moving part of (N), the permitted uses, up to with the definition and add it as (J) under that. Ms. Angela Binda asked why Section 10.3.9 was moved. The CPDC noted that the changes made last November reference the enforcement section of the bylaw. Mr. D'Arezzo also recommended moving the rest of (N) up under the definition under letter (J) and making it letter (K). The CPDC discussed whether the changes made tonight should be recommended to Town Meeting. Mr. Miyares replied that DEP will still need to review the changes, so he suggested allowing for that review prior to CPDC making their recommendation to Town Meeting. It was agreed to have Town Counsel work with DEP on these changes and Staff will bring it back to CPDC for review /recommendation. Dave Tuttle made a motion to close the public hearing, seconded by Mr. Weston and approved with a 4 -0 -0 vote. Page 1 2 Review Draft Language for Telecommunications Bylaw The CPDC reviewed the draft language for the Telecommunications Bylaw. This is to replace the current Section 5.6.3. They reviewed the height set back and application procedures. It was agreed to delete Commercial Communications Structures from definitions since that will be replaced with a new term. They decided CPDC will be the Special Permit Granting Authority (SPCA) so it was agreed to note that the SPGA will be CPDC. The CPDC also wants to spell out radio frequency instead of abbreviating RF and same with NEPA for the National Environmental Policy Act. Mr. Safina asked why the CPDC has to set preferences if they can come and just ask for a waiver and essentially put it anywhere they want. Mr. Miyares replied that said if you set preferences the applicant has to prove why they are not able meet those requirements before they can ask for a waiver. CPDC recommended following North Andover's model for height and Staff will make those changes. The CPDC discussed the issue of setbacks, noting they are mostly for safety if they ever were to fall over. Most of the distances noted in the other towns' bylaws are measured from the property lines not the street. The CPDC noted that lx the height of the structure seems like a reasonable setback and 1.5x for ground mounted facilities. Mr. Miyares commented that most of the public's concerns are health related but Federal Law limits the CPDCs authority to use that as criteria for review. It was clarified that any applicant would have to submit for Site Plan Review along with a Special Permit. The CPDC agreed to review the changes and continue with review of the rest of the bylaw at the next meeting. Dave Tuttle made a motion to adjourn at 9:45 PM, seconded by Nick Safina and approved with a 4 -0 -0 vote. Page 1 3