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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2021-09-13 Community Planning and Development Commission Minutes��� ofkF40 Town of Reading Meeting Minutes RECEIVED �a 3, TOWN CLERK READING, MA. X44 Board - Committee - Commission - Council: 2022 JUN 14 PH 2: 04 Community Planning and Development Commission Date: 2021-09-13 Time: 7:30 PM Building: Location: Remote Meeting - Zoom Address: Session: Purpose: Meeting Version: Attendees: Members: Pamela Adrian, Chair; Nick Safina (remote), Heather Clish, John Weston (remote), Tony D'Arezzo -Associate (remote) Members - Not Present: Others Present: Community Development Director Julie Mercier, Staff Planner Andrew MacNichol, Ed Batten, Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Andrew MacNichol Topics of Discussion: MEETING HELD REMOTELY VIA ZOOM Chair Pamela Adrian called the meeting to order at 7:32 PM. Community Development Director Julie Mercier explained the protocols for tonight's meeting that is being held In-person but also allows remote participation. She presented the Zoom Meeting Information to the public for those wishing to join. Ms. Mercier explained how the Zoom features work and how they will be managed. She added that RCN is broadcasting and recording the meeting. Continued Public Hearing, 3 -Lot Definitive Subdivision Application 103 Sanborn Lane, Chimney Hill RE, LLC Ms. Clish read a request from the Applicant asking to continue the hearing until the next meeting date into record. Ms. Clish made a motion to continue the Public Hearing for a 3 -Lot Definitive Subdivision at 103 Sanborn Lane to October 4, 2021 at 9.30pm. Mr. Weston seconded the motion and it was approved 5-0-0. Sign Permit Application, 191 Main Street Affiliated Financial Services Mr. Edward Batten of Batten Brothers Signs was present for the application. He stated the proposal is for a projecting blade sign on the east facade of the building. It will be non - illuminated and constructed of aluminum material. The sign is to be 4' wide and 2' tall for a total area of 8sf. It will be 10' high over the sidewalk. Mr. Batten stated a projecting sign is preferred over a wall sign due to the building's setback and thought that a projecting sign will be more visible for those traveling down Main Street. �wN Or Rr�/ Town of Reading Meeting Minutes PIX<OPP� `C Ms. Adrian asked what the dimensions of the lettering are. Mr. Batten stated the letters are 4-5' and the logo is 8-9" high. Ms. Adrian asked if such is readable for those passing. Mr. Batten replied in the affirmative. Mr. D'Arezzo noted an error on the sign permit application that stated the sign will be just 24" over the sidewalk. Mr. Batten stated he will submit a revised application. Mr. Safina stated 10' is conditioned within the draft decision. Mr. MacNichol stated a revised application has been requested. Mr. Safina asked if the sign is fixed in place or on a hinge. Mr. Batten answered that the sign is fixed and will not swing. Mr. Weston stated that the small phone number and email on the sign may be difficult to read. He suggested the Applicant evaluate such. Mr. Batten agreed and stated a website alone is more memorable. Mr. Safina stated that the sign is for customers to find the site not for sales. Those passing by will remember the business name if they need such services. Mr. MacNichol shared the draft certificate of appropriateness on the screen. Ms. Clish made a motion to approve the certificate of appropriateness for a sign at 191 Main Street as presented. Mr. D'Arezzo seconded the motion and it was approved 5-0-0. Other Business Zoning vlaw Amendment. Subsequent Town Meeting Nov. 2021 Ms. Mercier stated that Town Counsel has provided feedback on the proposed zoning bylaw amendments for Subsequent Town Meeting in November 2021. She shared a document on the screen. Comments and amendments made include: • Replacing the term structure with dwellings as a principal use in Section 4.6.2.1; • Replacing new construction with language of via the creation of new floor area in Section 4.6.2.2 and 4.6.2.3; • Modifying and adding language of uses in Section 4.6.2.2(b); • Adding a clause that Site Plan Review still be required as set forth in other sections of the Bylaw in case the proposed language does not capture such; Mr. Weston questioned if dwelling is defined and noted that structure is. Ms. Mercier stated that dwelling is defined in multiple ways. Mr. Salina stated such definitions came from the international zoning code. Ms. Adrian asked if the new floor area must be habitable or not. Mr. Safina replied that the language continues to state if the new floor area results in the need for more parking, thus is .likely habitable. He preferred the modified language as it captures work that could be done in existing spaces. Ms. Mercier noted that there are separate regulations outside of the zoning bylaw for minor site plan review processes. f R� Town of Reading Meeting Minutes Ja;IMO �� Mr. Weston asked if a use permitted by -right is defined. Ms. Mercier replied that Section 5 denotes what a by -right use is and the Table of Uses depicts which uses are listed as such. Ms. Mercier stated that the CPDC can close and vote to recommend the amendments to Town Meeting. She added that CPDC can decide who will present such in the near future. Ms. Clish made a motion to recommend the zoning bylaw amendments as discussed to Subsequent Town Meeting in November 2021. Mr. Weston seconded the motion and it was approved 5-0-0. Other Business Update on 40R Bylaw Ms. Mercier stated that a report and update on the 40R Bylaw amendments expected at Annual Town Meeting in April 2022 should be presented at the November 2021 Town Meeting. A draft presentation can be presented to CPDC at their October meeting. Ms. Mercier continued that the Town has contracted with MAPC, a regional planning agency, to expand public engagement on the 40R Bylaw. Staff reviewed the March 2021 Zoning Workshop findings to help determine where changes are desired. A focus group meeting with engaged residents will be held in the coming weeks to further discuss where changes are warranted. A town wide survey will also be developed to determine satisfaction with the recent 40R developments. Further, two public workshops related to the 40R Bylaw have been scheduled. One workshop will discuss development tradeoffs when it comes to public amenities provided and the latter will discuss zoning as a tool to further advance a vision. Ms. Adrian asked how the survey will be distributed. Ms. Mercier stated that Staff has prior experience in such and will utilize past practices shown to work well. Ms. Mercier stated that the Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) will need to review and approve any changes to the 40R Bylaw. Staff has reached out to DHCD to discuss the process and intent of the amendments. Mr. MacNichol asked if CPDC has any questions or concepts they would like to see in the survey. Ms. Clish asked if questions will be similar to those asked at the March Zoning Workshop. Ms. Mercier replied such questions were broader than those of the survey will be. A draft survey can be sent to the CPDC for review if desired. Ms. Adrian stated she would like to see such. Mr. Safina asked what follow up will be made after the survey is conducted. He stated the survey should contain information on the 40R Bylaw and why such is needed and beneficial to the Town. Ms. Mercier stated background information is being provided though there is a balance between too much information and too little. Mr. Weston asked what the main goal of the survey is. Ms. Mercier answered that it is to determine what the broader community feels about the 40R and what specific areas can be improved. Ng or yea Town of Reading i Meeting Minutes Ms. Clish opined that conceptual questions can be asked on where housing should be developed and what uses does the community want to see downtown. She agreed sharing background information would be a benefit. Mr. Weston found that questions on preferences don't get much useful information because many things are desired such as open space, parking, and retail uses. Other Business Floodplain Bylaw Amendments Ms. Mercier stated that updates are needed to the local Floodplain Bylaw in order to be in compliance with the National Flood Insurance Program. Staff has been working with a regional coordinator to update the Bylaw. The proposed amendments were shared on-screen. Multiple definitions are proposed for amendment as well as amendments to the local regulations regarding uses, variances, and application requirements. Conflicting areas or those no longer required are proposed for removal. The Town must also designate a Floodplain Administrator which would likely be the Building Commissioner. Ms. Mercier noted that the CPDC can discuss development uses allowed in the Floodplain and if expansion of such is desired. This is not needed for compliance but it may open up development in the local areas. Many municipalities allow underlying by -right uses by Special Permit in the floodplain overlays and Reading could look to follow such procedures if desired. Areas previously determined as Priority Development Areas and located within or near floodplain areas, specifically in the industrial zoning area in Town. Ms. Clish stated that a comparison of floodplain areas to wetland areas, as well as utilizing any information received from the Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness (MVP) program, would be helpful. Understanding what is expected in terms of future impacts from flooding in the area would help the CPDC determine if development is feasible and/or warranted. Mr. Weston opined that the CPDC should first look to determine which parcels would be opened for development if amendments allowed such. Mr. Weston recollected it is a small area of Town. Ms. Clish agreed but noted it could be an important area. Mr. Safina asked I the area is found around the DPW garage. Ms. Mercier shared a map on screen and stated the floodplain area is located around the DPW garage and Fraen Corporation parcel. There are also wetland jurisdictional areas around such which may limit development due to buffer zone requirements. It was noted that there is also floodplain and wetland area near the REI and residential developments along Salem Street. Ms. Mercier found that floodplain and wetland areas are very coincidental around Town. The CPDC could look to limit development to business and industrial zones only if residential development in the areas are not desirable. Mr. Weston asked if all of the proposed amendments are required. He found that some language may not be desirable by Town Meeting members, such as restricting the storing of Recreational Vehicles (RV's) which can be hard to enforce. Additionally, a number of definitions are not found elsewhere in the Bylaw and do not apply to Reading. Ms. Mercier stated that she will ask the regional coordinator for input. Ms. Clish found that the language can allow the storage of RV's under certain circumstances but is hard to understand as written. Town of Reading Meeting Minutes Mr. Weston stated that language states a checklist must be submitted by an Applicant and asked if such exists. The language is odd and may be an overreach of zoning as it references all other permits. Language of the Bylaw also references the Bylaw itself which is odd. Mr. Weston was in favor of removing repetitive references and unneeded definitions. Mr. Weston and Ms. Clish found that Historic Structures and Functionally Dependent Uses may not be needed as defined. Mr. Weston suggested language that mentions dates define the dates themselves. Ms. Adrian asked Staff to continue review of uses that may be allowed in floodplain areas. Mr. Weston agreed and asked to determine what ramifications there would be too such, if any. Continued Public Hearing, 40R Plan Review 18 Woburn Street, G.0 Fodera Contracting Ms. Clish read a request from the Applicant to continue the hearing to the October meeting date into the record. Ms. Clish made a motion to continue the public hearing for a 40R Plan Review at 18 Woburn Street to October 4, 2021 at 7:30PM. Mr. Weston seconded the motion and it was approved 5-0-0. Other Business Meeting Minutes June 7, 2021 Mr. Weston made a motion to approve the meeting minutes of June 7, 2021 as amended. Ms. Clish seconded the motion and it was approved 5-0.0. June 14, 2021 Mr. Weston made a motion to approve the meeting minutes of June 14, 2021 as amended. Ms. Clish seconded the motion and it was approved 5-0-0. Adjournment Ms. Clish made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 9:37PM. Mr. Weston seconded the motion and it was approved 5-0-0. Documents Reviewed at the Meeting: CPDC Agenda 09/13/21 CPDC Meeting Minutes 6/7/21 and 6/14/21 103 Sanborn Lane, Definitive 3 -Lot Subdivision c Continuance Request 18 Woburn Street, 40R Plan Review I Continuance Request 191 Main Street, Sign Permit Application o Sign Renderings o Draft Certificate of Appropriateness Subsequent Town Meeting 2021 Zoning Amendments o Bold and Cross Version • Floodplain Bylaw Amendments, Track Changes Version