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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2015-08-24 Community Planning and Development Commission MinutesTown of Reading Meeting Minutes w ISO Board - Committee - Commission - Council: RECEIVED TOWN CLERK READING, MASS. Community Planning and Development Commission: 0 0 P Date: 2015 -08 -24 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 and Members Dave Tuttle, Nick Safina, John Weston and Karen Goncalves -Dolan Members - Not Present: Others Present: Community Development Director Jessie Wilson, Assistant Town Manager Jean Delios, Administrative Assistant Caitlin Saunders, Frank Pellegrini, Dave Freeman, Harold Withrow, Stephen Crook, Melinda Richardson, Al Sylvia, Al Couillard, Bruce Mackenzie. Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Topics of Discussion: Mr. Hansen called the meeting to order shortly after 7:30 PM. ?Ad ( Request for Certificate of Appropriateness — 505 Main Street This is the former Quiznos space and is now going to be Professors Market, an upscale deli /market. There is an existing master signage plan for this space however they are proposing something a little different so they need a new certificate. The sign would be 4 X 6 feet with the letters made of diamond plate and outlined in red. It would be the same color red as the awning they are proposing. There would be three black gooseneck LED lights above the sign. The CPDC had a couple concerns with the awning, specifically that it would interfere with the branches on the tree. Additionally it did not meet the 8 -foot clearance on one side of the building. It was suggested to move the awning up and make the sign smaller. However, after further discussion the applicant decided to just go with the sign and not include the awning. He would rather come back with a revised plan in the future should he decide to have an awning. Mr. Tuttle made a motion to approve the Certificate of Appropriateness at 505 Main Street as amended, seconded by Mr. Weston and approved with a 5 -0 -0 vote. Mariano Drive Subdivision — Tree Remediation Ms. Wilson explained that a few trees were taken down during constructions that were supposed to be saved. The Subdivision Rules and Regulations require a 2 to 1 replacement. The applicant proposed a 1 to 1 replacement. The developer indicated that there is not a lot of room for plantings. The tree warden suggested spacing out four new cherry trees along Page 1 1 Sanborn Lane. The Developer said that it is already a heavily planted area; they planted 24 trees in the cul -de -sac. Melinda Richardson of 4 Lilah Lane wanted to know how the trees could have accidently been taken down. Mr. Couillard responded saying the foundation was a little bigger than expected and the site manager just went ahead and took them down. Ms. Wilson said these are the reasons we have the 2 to 1 replacement rule. Mr. Hansen noted the CPDC does not want to require the installation of too many trees in there if there are already 24 and it is difficult to find space to add more. Town Engineer Mr. Zambouras suggested working with the Tree Warden to find space for the trees and if not maybe have the Developer donate 4 trees to the town to plant wherever it is recommended. Bruce Mackenzie of 102 Sanborn noted he does not think the trees were taken down accidently and also said if they follow the tree line out front you can probably add one more in that end. He is also concerned with the lack of grass strip between the road and sidewalk along Sanborn Lane. Specifically when it snows that the snow will be piled on the sidewalk and the kids will start using the street. Mr. Couillard noted he has 2 leftover trees and he had a conversation with the owner of lot #2 and he said he would be okay with him putting the 2 trees in the back of his yard to add more of a buffer to the neighbors on that side. CPDC recommended putting two Atlas Cedar trees (or similar) along that sort in the same area of where the others were taken down, along with the one cherry tree in line with the existing line of them, and then donate the fourth tree to the town if there is no additional space for that remaining tree. Subdivision Acceptance Dividence and Causeway Roads will not be talked about tonight because they fall under different rules. Ms. Wilson noted staff is okay with the acceptance of Roma Lane, Sailor Tom's Way, and Pondview Lane. Cory Lane still has some minor outstanding work so the remaining bond is recommended to be secured to finish that work. Mr. Zambouras told the CPDC his memos are all included in the packets. Mr. Tuttle, seconded by Mr. Safina, move the CPDC to release Lots 1 and 20 identified on Roma Lane (Carriage Estates II) as identified on recorded Plan No. 344 (1 -2) of 1993 from the Covenant Agreement recorded in Book 323269, Page 057, approved with a 5 -0 -0 vote. Mr. Tuttle, seconded by Mr. Weston, move the CPDC to release the outstanding bond or surety in the amount of $6,000 held in connection with Roma Lane (Carriage Estates II) as recommended by the Town Engineer in the memo dated August 20, 2015, approved with a 5 -0 -0 vote. Mr. Tuttle, seconded by Mr. Safina, move the CPDC issue a Certificate of Completion for Roma Lane Carriage Estates Phase I and Phase II, approved with a 5 -0 -0 vote. Mr. Tuttle, seconded by Ms. Goncalves- Dolan, move the CPDC to recommend acceptance of Roma Lane from Sanborn Lane to the dead end, to Subsequent Town Meeting, November 2015. Mr. Tuttle, seconded by Mr. Safina, move the CPDC to release the remaining bond of $500 held in connection with the completion of Sailor Tom's Way and release from the Covenant recorded in Book 47823 Page 221 and as recommended by the Page 1 2 Town Engineer in the memorandum dated August 20, 2015, approved with a 5 -0 -0 vote. Mr. Tuttle, seconded by Mr. Weston, move the CPDC issue a Certificate of Completion for Sailor Tom's Way, approved with a 5 -0 -0 vote. Mr. Tuttle, seconded by Mr. Safina, move the CPDC to recommend acceptance of Sailor Tom's Way as shown on the plan entitled "Street Acceptance Plan Sailor Tom's Way ", prepared by )M Associates, dated November 8, 2013, to Subsequent Town Meeting, November 2015, approved with a 5 -0 -0 vote. Mr. Tuttle, seconded by Mr. Safina, move the CPDC to issue a Certificate of Completion for Pondview Lane, approved with a 5 -0 -0 vote. Mr. Tuttle, seconded by Mr. Weston, move the CPDC to recommend acceptance of Pondview Lane as shown on the plan entitled "Street Acceptance Plan Pondview Lane ", dated November 1, 2010, to subsequent Town Meeting, November 2015, approved with a 5 -0 -0 vote. Mr. Tuttle, seconded by Mr. Weston, move the CPDC to secure the outstanding bond in the amount of $1,700 in order for the Town to complete the outstanding work associate with Cory Lane, approved with a 5 -0 -0 vote. Mr. Tuttle, seconded by Mr. Weston, move the CPDC to release Lots 11, 12 and 13 as identified on recorded Plan No. 344 (1 -2) of 1993 and Lot 13 as further subdivided to Lot 13A and Lot 13B as identified on Plan recorded in Book 26357, Page 264 from the Community Planning and Development Commission Covenant Agreement recorded at said Registry in Book 323269 Page 057, and Lots 1, 2, 3 and 4 as identified on recorded plan and 20 identified on Roma Lane (Carriage Estates II) as identified on recorded Plan No. 207 of 1998 from the Covenant Agreement recorded in Book 28235, Page 113, approved with a 5 -0 -0 vote. Bruce Mackenzie asked why only a portion of Dividence Road will be accepted. Town Engineer George Zambouras noted they are taking the half they can at this point. If the small portion at the end wants to be accepted the residents have to petition for it or the town has to take it, however the road would still need to be brought up to acceptable condition before that is done. Zoning Amendment - Aquifer Protection District Ms. Wilson reported that DEP came back with some comments and based on the discussion from last meeting those comments were incorporated into the version of the changes included in the packets. Mr. Hansen said he is okay with where we stand on the language and the rest of CPDC agreed. Mr. Safina pointed out a typo in 10.3.3. Mr. Tuttle, seconded by Mr. Safina, made a motion that CPDC recommend the final draft of the Zoning Bylaw Section 10.3 Aquifer Protection District to Subsequent Town Meeting, November 2015, and approved with a 5 -0 -0 vote. Review Draft Town Meeting Presentation CPDC recommended doing a clean slide after the cross out one to show people what it would look like. It was also recommended to remind people that the purpose has all the bullets because that's what Town Meeting wants. Mr. Hansen said he would like to re -do the slides a little to make it easier to present. Planning Updates Page 1 3 There was a webinar on the Supreme Court case regarding signage. Ms. Delios noted all signs must be content neutral and we cannot have regulations on signs based on content. Stephen Crook of 137 Pleasant Street asked if there was a distinction between commercial and noncommercial signs. Ms. Delios said yes and it is going to be very difficult to regulate. Ms. Wilson noted CPDC is cancelling the September 28th meeting. Ms. Wilson noted the Town Manager sent CPDC an email requesting an additional zoning article to comply with the Attorney General. The CPDC can only have one associate member with restricted voting rights. Mr. LeLacheur will come in at the September 14th meeting and give a little more of a background and then CPDC could consider a vote to add to the warrant. The CPDC noted if the associate member can only vote on Special Permits then it may not even be worth having an associate member because they hardly ever have cases for just a special permit with nothing else attached with it. Ms. Wilson noted there was a litigation case regarding a lot in Reading that she cannot speak too much on because the details were discussed in executive session. However, Town Counsel had recommended a change in zoning to allow this lot to be built upon which would settle the litigation. Mr. Safina asked how can we be asked to give direction on zoning about a case we do not have all the information on. Mr. Weston agreed saying if the zoning change will affect a handful of lots how can we make a decision to affect a handful of lots just to settle a litigation for one lot that we know nothing about. Mr. Hansen asked Ms. Wilson if there was any way the CPDC could get the minutes to better understand the situation. Ms. Wilson informed CPDC that Criterion filed a new application on Summer Avenue. She noted the new application does not include the previous proposed addition and instead just uses the house and the barn and connect them via and underground tunnel. Ms. Wilson told CPDC that the State granted eligibility to the Reading Village 40B but still has not heard about Lyle Estates yet. Mr. Tuttle made a motion to accept the minutes from 7 -27 -2015, seconded by Ms. Goncalves -Dolan and approved with a 5 -0 -0 vote. Mr. Tuttle made a motion to adjourn at 10:05 PM, seconded by Mr. Weston and approved with a 5 -0 -0 vote. Page 1 4