HomeMy WebLinkAbout2015-07-27 Community Planning and Development Commission Minutes4
Town of Reading
A
Meeting Minutes REI:tIVf U
.r TOWN CLERK
READ NG, MASS.
Board - Committee - Commission - Council:
Community Planning and Development Commission ' ' - I All: 30
Date: 2015 -07 -27 Time: 7:30 PM
Building: Reading Town Hall Location: Selectmen Meeting Room
Address: 16 Lowell Street
Purpose: General Business Session: General Session
Attendees: Members - Present:
Chair Jeff Hansen, John Weston, Dave Tuttle, Karen Goncalves -Dolan
Members - Not Present:
Nick Safina
Others Present:
Community Development Director Jessie Wilson, Assistant Town Manager
Jean Delios, Dave Arsenault, Administrative Assistant Caitlin Saunders.
Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Caitlin Saunders
Topics of Discussion:
Request for Minor Site Plan Review - MF Charles Building
This request is to fit out the second and third floors of the building for commercial use. It is
exclusively for an interior buildout with no additional signage at the moment. The second
floor will be a single tenant which is Northern Bank with approximately 15 employees. The
third floor will most likely be two commercial tenants. Northern Bank has already purchased
five parking spots from the Knights of Columbus for their employees and are actively
looking for more. The trash plan is the same at the moment but will be looked at again
when the third floor has tenants. The Historical Commission has no problems as long as the
new roof top units are painted black like the existing ones.
Dave Arsenault from 580 Main Street says he is working on a contract to hopefully occupy
the third floor of the building and his employees have no parking issues as they use the
employee stickers around town.
Dave Tuttle made a motion to approve the minor site plan review for 600 -622 Main
Street as amended, second by Mr. Weston and approved with a 4 -0 -0 vote
Update on Open Space Zoning/ Natural Resource Zoning
The staff did a lot of research to take a look at our peer communities. Mr. Tuttle noted a lot
of these seem to be for large parcels /big developers that may not apply to the small spaces
we have in Reading. Ms. Delios commented most communities seem to say they can have
the special permit as long as they are within the district and guidelines which is a lot simpler
than our process. Ms. Wilson said North Reading has a cluster bylaw for under 6 houses,
over 6 houses and then a backfill one as well. Ms. Delios suggested doing another public
forum before going to Town Meeting and then maybe start with giving Town Meeting an
update first. Mr. Tuttle noted removing PRD may simplify things but Mr. Hansen asked if
there would be a risk between removing the PRD and the time it takes to put a new one in
place. The consensus was it does not seem like a risk as there is no real need for PRD at the
moment. Mr. Hansen said we should look at what projects went thru as a PRD and what
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tried but failed. This way we can see if it's the process or just bad projects that are making
them fail. Mr. Weston noted he does not see this as a crucial problem but more of
something to keep working on.
Tennessee Gas Line Update
Ms. Wilson noted it is in the same location as previously submitted. The new line will follow
a previous utility line. It will only go through a small, undeveloped part of Reading in the
Cedar Swamp/ Camp Curtis area. She noted the applicant hasn't formally filed yet but either
way it is not a big deal for Reading. CPDC noted they are fine with Conservation
Commission dealing with it.
Planning Updates
Biltmore and Main changed a small part of their sign. It is now showing some LED behind
the B and M and some halo. Mr. Tuttle said as long as the lights are concealed it doesn't
seem like a big deal. CPDC agreed to allow Ms. Wilson to do Administrative Review with
this.
DEP had some comments about the Aquifer Protection. The comments seem to be minor
and Town Counsel has comments back to them if CPDC agrees. CPDC noted they feel Town
Counsel knows what they want and they are okay with him responding. CPDC will look at
the comments next meeting and hopefully get them on the November Town Meeting
Warrant.
There is still no news on the 40B projects. Quiznos may have a new tenant; another deli.
They may be coming in for a new sign but it's for the same usage. Pizza World has been in
getting ready to file for permits. The Ribbon cutting for the recycling bin in the CVS parking
lot went really well and the bin seems to be getting a lot of use.
Next meeting CPDC will look at roadway acceptances for the Town Meeting Warrant.
Dave Tuttle made a motion to accept the 6/29 minutes as amended, second by
Karen Goncalves -Dolan and approved with a 4 -0 -0 vote.
Dave Tuttle made a motion to accept the 7/13 minutes as amended, second by Mr.
Weston and approved with a 4 -0 -0 vote.
Dave Tuttle made a motion to adiourn at 9:00 PM, second by Mr. Weston and
approved with a 4 -0 -0 vote.
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