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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025-07-09 Eastern Gateway Priority Planning Steering Committee Minutes - Draft(61 Town Of Reading Meeting Minutes Board - Committee - Commission - Council: Eastern Gateway Priority Planning (EGPP) Steering Committee Date: 2025-07-9 Building: Town Hall, Conference Room Address: 16 Lowell Street Purpose: Hybrid Meeting FED ECEIV R ED2:41 pm, Sep 03. 1035 Time: 7:00 PM Location: Hybrid Meeting - Zoom and Conference Meeting Room Session: Open Session Version: Draft Attendees: Members In person: Kyle Tomow; John Sullivan, Finance Committee; Karen Rose Gillis, Select Board; Kyle Vangel; Kyle Tornow Members Present on Zoom: Cordn Wolf Members Not Present: Corrin Wolf; Melody Yue Yin; Guy Manganiello; Kyle Vangel; Rob Tedesco Others Present in person: Andrew MacNichol, Community Development Director; Olivia Knightly, Senior Planner; Kevin McCarthy, Economic Development Planner; Andrew Long; Tony D'Arezzo; Chuck Irving Present on Zoom: Michael Wang, Architecture and Urban Planner Consultant; Taylor Gregory Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Olivia Knightly Topics of Discussion: Eastern Gateway District Vision Plan MEETING HELD IN THE TOWN HALL CONFERENCE ROOM AND REMOTELY VIA ZOOM Mr. MacNichol called the meeting to order at 7:05 PM and provided an overview of the hybrid meeting procedures. Michael Wang, project consultant and architect, introduced Chuck Irving, a mixed -use developer, to provide insight on cultivating good development in his experience. The steering committee and staff asked Mr. Irving questions about his development experience In context to the Eastern Gateway District. The Steering Committee emphasized their priority to ensure that the town benefits from the highest and best use, and new market opportunities. The Committee discussed the risks of development and the priority to elevate the value of the land for all property owners and abutters. The Committee discussed Market Basket as an anchor and draw to the area for other retailers and the importance on preserving a grocery store on site. The Steering Committee discussed the relationship between downtown businesses and potential Eastern Gateway businesses in the future. It was emphasized that this initiative should Improve the relationship between these two areas. Mr. MacNichol stated that the town will be improving right of ways that they control to make pedestrian access more enjoyable for people to walk from downtown and neighboring residential areas. a�H O N�0 .� a �� c Town of Reading . , Meeting Minutes Mr. Irving stated that It is helpful to put necessity shopping and powerful draws closer to downtown, ultimately increasing overall commerce and traffic to these areas. Mr. Wang asked about mixed -use layout and configurations on the site and the potential to write zoning that allows for higher density, up to 4 or 5 stories on the north side. He added that more density will increase the tax base and more affordable housing opportunities for the community. Taylor Gregory asked how parking regulations are proposed and If this deters development. Mr. Irving said that the site is valuable and underground, or structured car park Is not a deterrent. Mr. MacNichol asked if developers are willing to partner on right of way Improvements and Mr. Irving said that there are many community -oriented developers who are serious about community Improvement. Mr. Wang said that If more density Is encouraging the site could promote up to 1 million square feet of mixed -use. Taylor Gregory, 111 Pleasant Street, asked who owns the air rights over the train tracks and Mr. MacNichol said likely the MBTA does. The Steering Committee discussed the location of the site and its attractive location and ease of access from 128 and other local highways. Mr. Wang continued to present draft site configurations and potential layouts. Mr. MacNichol asked the committee if there is a preference between form -based code versus Euclidian zoning and Mr. Irving said flexible zoning should be prioritized to optimize the site and Mr. Wang stated that the local zoning could include a hybrid of both. Mr. Tornow asked what the site zoning would look like if it were to be drafted. Mr. Wang said that the test fits will help to determine what forms, and composition makes sense on the site and then preferred concepts can then be transformed Into zoning text examples. Mr. MacNichol said that there are a few more considerations for residential affordability and commercial percentages that should be considered and how density bonuses can be Incorporated. Mr. McCarthy said that it will be critical to identify what the community is comfortable with In the district to establish a baseline understanding of what the town could propose through zoning and how the community can Inform this process. The Steering Committee discussed how to gather this Information and how to convey potential scaling and massing of the site to the community and collect their feedback. Mr. Sullivan and Mr. Tomow stated that It will be important to recognize community concerns related to schools, traffic, and other impacts related to development of the area. Mr. MacNichol asked the Steering Committee to begin to think about which concepts are preferred in order to inform the focus group discussions happening soon with abutters, town meeting members, and others In town. The Steering Committee further discussed the focus group meetings. The meeting adjourned at 8:50 pm.