HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025-08-27 Eastern Gateway Priority Planning Steering Committee Minutes - DraftOW"�
Town of Reading
Meeting Minutes
RECEIVED
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Board - Committee - Commission - Council:
Eastern Gateway Priority Planning (EGPP) Steering Committee
Date: 2025-08-27
Building: Town Hall, Conference Room
Address: 16 Lowell Street
Purpose: Hybrid Meeting
Time: 7:00 PM
Location: Hybrid Meeting - Zoom and
Conference Meeting Room
Session: Open Session
Version: Draft
Attendees: Members In person: Kyle Tornow; John Sullivan, Finance Committee;
Karen Rose Gillis, Select Board; Kyle Vangel; Rob Tedesco
Members Not Present: Corrin Wolf; Melody Yue Yin; Guy Manganiello;
Kyle Tornow
Others Present in person: Andrew MacNichol, Community Development
Director; Olivia Knightly, Senior Planner; Kevin McCarthy, Senior Economic
Development Planner; Andrew Long
Present on Zoom: Michael Wang, Architecture and Urban Planning
Consultant;
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 7:00 PM and provided an overview of the
hybrid meeting procedures.
Mr. MacNlchol gave a summary of the focus group meetings that we held with direct
residential abutters and town meeting members. He stated that participants encouraged
higher Intensity and taller buildings in the most appropriate areas and emphasized the
importance of green space and transportation needs in general.
Michael Wang, project consultant, reviewed the conceptual build out models and 3-
dimensional massing examples that reflected the focus group preferences with the steering
committee.
Kyle Vangel stated his preference for preserving the existing buildings on site and planning
around these spaces. Mr. Wang stated that these examples are not proposing any
development but exploring Intensity on site and massing preferences.
Mr. Sullivan stated that it would be helpful to have examples of zoning ideas and options
that fit the concepts proposed.
Rob Tedesco asked if there is a way to incentive more efficient parking or structured parking
so that less space is devoted to cars. Mr. Wang stated that the conceptual design includes
an excess of parking under assumed parking requirement conditions. Mr. MacNichol said
that parking minimums and maximums could be explored through zoning. Mr. Tedesco
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Town of Reading
Meeting Minutes
asked if there are any other plans for the Ash Street intersection. Mr. MacNichol said that
concepts for an intersection redesign would need to be determined by the Town. Mr.
McCarthy added that the focus groups expressed interested in connecting the Eastern
Gateway to the Downtown area by improving the Ash Street Intersection. Mr. Tedesco also
added that connecting to neighboring residential neighborhoods will be important.
Mr. Vangel asked what the purpose of community space would be, and Mr. MacNichol stated
that the area would Ideally host a multipurpose area, with programmable space for music
and arts. Mr. Wang said that this space could be further detailed through zoning and Mr.
Tedesco said that it would need to Include additional parking.
Mr. Vangel stated that anything less than five stories for building height would be a missed
opportunity. Mr. MacNichol stated that allowing more amenities could encourage additional
building heights through density bonuses. Mr. McCarthy said that the focus group did not
have a firm preference for five or six stories as a maximum building height. Mr. Tedesco
asked what would happen if additional stories were proposed by a developer and Mr.
MacNichol stated that density bonuses could be obtained and that waivers could be required
for additional density.
Mr. MacNichol stated that overall, there has been general consensus for green space and
mixed use in the area and asked what future public engagement should focus on. Ms. Rose
Gillis stated that the Town should try to max out as much affordable housing as possible to
contribute to the Subsidized Housing Inventory minimum.
Mr. Vangel stated that the committee should research how much retail exists today its
current valuation, and how much could be created through future development. Mr. Tedesco
asked if the cost for additional public services could be determined and Mr. MacNichol said
the town is hoping to receive a grant to complete a fiscal analysis and Impact study.
Mr. MacNichol asked the committee to think about possibilities to accommodate and aid with
neighborhood transition on the south side of the Eastern Gateway District. He said that the
town is planning to host an open house in October for further public Input.
The meeting adjourned at 8:16 pm