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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1997-12-09 Board of Selectmen Minutes Board of Selectmen Meeting December 9, 1997 The meeting convened at 7:05 p.m. at the Senior Center, 49 Pleasant Street, Reading, Massachusetts. Present were Chairman Camille Anthony, Secretary Sally Hoyt, Selectmen Dan Ensminger and George Hines, Town Manager Peter Hechenbleikner, Town Counsel Theodore Cohen and the following list of interested parties: Ronald Iapicca, Rocco Iapicca, Nina Iapicca, Paul Nigro, Margaret Plansky, Robert Sweet, Jr., Tim Kelley, Peter Seigal, Phil LeBlanc, D. Coughlin, Marie Jutras, Bob Jutras, David Tanner, George Lefavour, Thelma Lefavour, George Waddington, Jay Woodman, Leo Meuse, Malcolm Robinson, Lawrence Morris, Mary Morris, Bill and Diane Sinatra, Alan Chasse, Lauren Chasse, Joseph Lusk, Mary Dahlquist, Anna Woodman, Katherine Kramer, Jody Herock, Jack Johnston, Debbie Paradis, James Krupa, Walter and Dorothy Marshall, Rose Anderson, Frances Gentile, Bob McHugh, Joan Lepore. On motion by Hoyt seconded by Ensminger, the Board voted to go into Executive Session for the purpose of discussion of litigation to come back into Open Session at approximately 7:30 p.m. On a roll call vote, all four members voted in the affirmative and the motion was carried. The Selectmen reconvened in Open Session at 7:40 p.m. Also in attendance were Housing Authority Chairman Robert Sweet, Jr., Housing Authority members Donald Allen and Tim Kelley and Housing Authority Executive Director Peg Plansky. Discussion/Action Items Neighborhood Meeting with Reading Housing Authority re: Lot at Wilson and Pleasant Street- Peter Hechenbleikner reviewed the circumstances of the property at Pleasant and Wilson Street which is being considered for transfer to the Reading Housing Authority for the purpose of development of affordable housing. Housing Authority Chairman Robert Sweet made a presentation. Reading has an obligation to meet a goal of 10% of its housing as affordable housing. The Town of Reading is well below that. The Reading Housing Authority has 110 apartments in units — 80 units in Tannerville. A wall chart showed photographs of the various Housing Authority properties. The properties are well kept and well established. There are eight in special needs housing on Bancroft Avenue which the Authority has owned and operated for a number of years. There are 23 units for family housing in addition. The Housing Authority won't be discussing Section 8 vouchers at this time—that's a federal program. The Authority Chairman talked about the Summer Avenue development of six units in two buildings, the Waverly Oak development of six units in two buildings, the Parker Place development of four units, the Summit Village ownership of three units, and the School House Condominium ownership of four units. The Town has an inclusionary bylaw for zoning. In addition to the state mandate, the Town has an obligation to provide affordable housing for Town employees and parents and children of existing residents. The Housing Authority is looking to develop either three two bedroom units or two three bedroom units on the property at Wilson and Pleasant Street. He invited residents to see how the Reading Housing Authority property is kept. Board of Selectmen Meeting—December 9, 1997—page 2 Katherine Kramer at 184 Pleasant Street asked if the title was clear and the Town Manager noted that it was. She asked who would maintain the property and it was noted that the Reading Housing Authority would. She felt that the Reading Housing Authority does a good job of maintenance. She felt that it is a small piece of land but it has problems now and the Housing Authority would maintain it better than it is maintained now. Malcolm Robinson of 20 Osborne Avenue asked where people would park and it was noted that they would park onsite. Joan Lepore of I1 Wilson Street expressed concern about safety and that there is not enough parking. The Housing Authority likes the site near the playground. They don't think it will make any situation more dangerous. Lepore felt that the street is suppose to be one way and it's a joke. She asked about the possibility of sidewalks. George Hines noted that the Board was here to hear comments and then if a conveyance is made, conditions can be put on the conveyance. Dan Ensminger noted that Waverly Oaks has 12 parking spaces, and there are usually only four or five cars there. The same is true of Parker Place. Robert Sweet also noted that the Housing Authority is looking at under house garages but the consensus from all present was that the water table is too high. Rocco Iapicca from 20 Wilson Street noted that parking in the area is atrocious, a lot of people get tagged almost every day. The property should be used for public parking and not for housing. Leo Muese of 32 Wilson Street asked about the Rivers Protection Act. He also noted that the wax works and they have to live with it, but huge trucks have an impact on the neighborhood. Jay Woodman of 37 Wilson Street noted that drainage is a concern and cited the October 1996 rainstorms. George Hines noted that all conditions and requirements of the Town would have to be met as if a private individual was going to construct on the property. Reverend Sweet noted that there are some regulations that the Housing Authority is exempt from, but Conservation Commission is not one. The Housing Authority gets all permits that is required in any case. Phil LeBlanc of 14 Gardner Road asked what regulations the Authority was exempt from, and Peg Plansky noted that zoning was the only one that she was aware of. She noted that the Housing Authority wants to build at a scale consistent with the neighborhood. Their property does not reduce property values. LeBlanc said he would like someone from the Housing Authority and the Selectmen to see the trucks coming down Wilson and Pleasant Street. Curbing was put across the street from Reed Wax Works to prevent damage to the abutting property. In October of 1996, drainage was running across Pleasant Street and flowing across the lot in question. He reiterated that the highest best use of the lot is to pave it and put in parking for Little League. The revised parking developed by the Town has helped. Board of Selectmen Meeting—December 9, 1997—page 3 He asked the procedure and where this goes from here. The Town Manager noted that it is up to the Board of Selectmen as to whether or not to transfer this property. Walter Marshall of 8 Ide Street noted that there are no multi-family homes in the area and that this would be adding congestion. Peter Seigal of 194 Pleasant Street would be concerned if the property was developed for multi- family. He would like the property sold to someone in the neighborhood or private investor for a single family home. Bob McHugh of 29 Pleasant Street asked how we are providing a 10% affordable housing. George Hines noted that some of the bylaws require linkage for land that the Town sells. Under the subdivision rules and regulations, there is no such requirement. Mr. McHugh felt that three units built on this site would not solve the Town's problem with lack of affordable housing. Reverend Sweet clarified that we are talking about one building only. David Tanner of 8 Gardner Road asked if we had considered any other Town owned land. If the Town comes up with the 10% of housing, what are the benefits. Don Allen noted that the Town could be penalized as it was in 1984 by withholding of funds from the Town if it doesn't meet its requirements. Tanner asked how many units we are short, and it was noted that we have adequate elderly housing but family housing is a need. He asked if the Housing Authority has looked at other parcels of land, and it was noted that this is the only one that appears to be available right now. Malcolm Robinson of 20 Osborne Street asked about the landfill, and Dan Ensminger noted that this could not be developed for housing for environmental reasons and the land is up for sale for other use. Al Chasse of 10 Wilson Street noted that we can't build within 100 feet of an open stream. He noted that the Conservation Commission will put a stop to the development of this site. Rose Anderson of 28 Wilson Street suggested use of the old Police Station for housing and Don Allen noted that if it were given to the Authority, they would take it. James Krupa of 162 Pleasant Street asked if we could do something about the "aqueduct" on Osborne. The neighborhood should get some improvements if we have this housing built here. The drainage impacts go all the way down to Wilson and Salem Street. He would like to have sidewalks. Bill Sinatra of 19 Wilson Street put a pool on Wilson. He had to pump water for 72 hours. Leo_Meuse asked if public opinion mattered. He noted that no one is in favor of this proposal. Board of Selectmen Meeting—December 9, 1997—page 4 Phil LeBlanc asked for the sense of the meeting, and the Board declined to take the sense of the meeting. Sally Hoyt noted that the Board has been patient and has listened to the community concerns but we also need to be aware of the Reading Housing Authority's responsibility for providing affordable housing. They run a clean ship. Neighbors never have to live with problems from the Housing Authority properties. She cautioned people not to be afraid of affordable housing — it provides for the needs of families in the community. Lauren Chasse from 10 Wilson Street noted that no one has been voicing concerns about the housing. Concerns expressed are for parking and drainage. Joan Lepore of 11 Wilson Street noted that she cannot back out of her driveway. She has "complained" and the Town has not responded. It was suggested that residents designate a spokesperson and get together a list of neighborhood concerns. Leo Meuse asked if other residents could build multi-family houses if the Housing Authority does. Bob Jutras of Osborne Avenue asked how high the building would be. Sweet noted that it would be a two story building. Jutras wondered if there is enough land to do this, and Sweet felt that there was. Joan Lepore asked if the neighbors would have input as to how the house would look and Sweet said that if the transfer comes to pass, they will do everything in their power to work with the neighborhood on an acceptable project. On motion by Ensminger seconded by Hines, the Board voted to adjourn at 8:50 p.m. by a vote of 4-0-0. Respectfully submitted, Xecretary�