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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1997-05-08 Special Town Meeting Warrant ReportTown of Reading Massachusetts ■ - ~w `rte j.l ul ^Y. evort on the Warrant, Sp 'T'own Meeting ay 8, 1997 TABLE OF CONTENTS WARRANT - SPECLAL TOWN MEETING MAY 8,1997 Art. Title Sponsor Pne 1 Reports Board of Selectmen 2 2 Instructional Motions Board of Selectmen 2 3 Amend C.I.P. Board of Selectmen 3 4 Acquire Union Street Property by Eminent Domain Board of Selectmen 3 5 Transfer Union Street Parking Lot to Board of Selectmen for Police Station Board of Selectmen 4 6 Instruction as to Future of Pleasant. Street Property 4 7 Authorize Transfer and/or Sale of Police Station Board of Selectmen 5 8 Authorize Swap of Pleasant Street Property 5 9 Re-Zone Police Station Property Board of Selectmen 6 10 Authorize Purchase of Rear of 21-37 Hamden Street Board of Selectmen 6 11 Authorize Acceptance of Donation of Portion of Parcel 8A Map 76 (Anton's) Board of Selectmen 7 12 Authorize Acquisition of Van Norden Road Property for Conservation Board of Selectmen 8 Appendices 11-18 COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS Middlesex, ss. Officer's Return, Reading: By virtue of this Warrant, I, on April 24, 1997 notified and warned the inhabitants of the Town of Reading, qualified to vote on town affairs, to meet at the place and at the time specified by posting attested copies of this Town Meeting Warrant in the following public places within the Town of Reading: Precinct 1 J. Warren Killam School, 333 Charles Street . Precinct 2 Registry of Motor Vehicles, 275 Salem Street Precinct 3 Reading Police Station, 67 Pleasant Street Precinct 4 Joshua Eaton School, 365 Summer Avenue Precinct 5 Town Hall, 16 Lowell Street Precinct 6 Alice M. Barrows School, 16 Edgemont Avenue Precinct 7 Reading Library, Local History Room, 64 Middlesex Avenue Precinct 8 Arthur W. Coolidge, Middle School, 89 Birch Meadow Drive The date of posting being not less than fourteen (14) days prior to May 8, 1997, the date set for the Special Town Meeting in this Warrant. I also caused an attested copy of this warrant to be published in the Reading Chronicle in the issue of April 24 1997. A true copy. Attest: Cheryl q% Johnson, Town Clerk SPECIAL TOWN MEETING . (Seal) COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS Middlesex, ss. To any of the constables of the Town of Reading, Greetings: In the name of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, you are hereby required to notify and warn the inhabitants of the Town of Reading, qualified to vote in elections and Town affairs, to meet at-the Reading Memorial High School Auditorium, 62 Oakland Road in said Reading, on Thursday, May 8, 1997, at seven-thirty o'clock in the evening, at which time and place the following articles are to be acted upon and determined exclusively by Town Meeting Members in accordance with the provisions of the Reading Home Rule Charter. ARTICLE 1 To hear and act on the reports of the Board of Selectmen, Town Accountant, Treasurer-Collector, Board of Assessors, Director of Public Works, Town Clerk, Tree Warden, Board of Health, School Committee, Contributory Retirement Board, Library Trustees, Municipal Light Board, Finance Committee, Cemetery Trustees, Community Planning & Development Commission, Town Manager and any other Board or Special Committee. Board of Selectmen Backaround: There are no known reports to be given within the Special Town Meeting other than those that are directly related to each of the warrant Articles. Therefore, it is expected that this Article will be tabled. Finance Committee Report: No report. By-Law Committee Report: No report. ARTICLE 2 To choose all other necessary Town Officers and Special Committees and determine what instructions shall be given Town Officers and Special Committees, and to see what sum the Town will raise by borrowing or transfer from available funds, or otherwise, and appropriate for the purpose of funding Town Officers and Special Committees to carry out the instructions given to them, or take any other action with respect thereto. Board of Selectmen Background: There are no known instructions to be given within the Special Town Meeting and, therefore, it is likely that this Article will be tabled.. Finance Committee Report: No report. By-Law Committee Report: No report. 2 ARTICLE 3 To see if the Town will vote to amend the Capital Improvement Program as provided for in Section 7-7 of the Reading Home Rule Charter and as previously amended, or take any other action with respect thereto. Board of Selectmen Background: The Capital Improvements Program will need to be amended to provide for the acquisition of the property under Article 12. The Capital Improvements Program provides for the acquisition of Open Space on an every other year basis. The property on Van Norden Road is available now, and the property owner does not have the time to allow this project to be done within the cycle of land acquisition as provided in the current plan. The acquisition cost is minimal, $14,000 for an acre of land. The time required to process this acquisition through the State grant program is excessive - approximately 1 year and, therefore, it is proposed that the source of funding be from Town Appropriation. Finance Committee Report: No report. By-Law Committee Report: No report. ARTICLE 4 To see if the Town will vote to authorize the Board of Selectmen to acquire all or any part of the following described parcel of land in fee or rights of easement therein by eminent domain under the 'provisions of Chapter 79 of the General Laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, or to acquire said parcel of land or any part thereof in fee or rights of easement therein by gift, purchase, land swap, or otherwise, for general municipal purposes including the construction of a police station and uses accessory thereto and public parking; and to see what sum the Town will raise by borrowing, or from the tax levy, or transfer from available funds, or otherwise, and appropriate to the Board of Selectmen to pay for appraisals of said parcel and to pay for the acquisition of said parcel of land or rights of easement therein, or to be used for payment of land damages or other costs and expenses of such acquisition and to authorize the Board of Selectmen to enter into agreements with private parties or state and federal agencies for financial and other assistance in connection with such acquisition, and to do all other acts and things necessary and proper for carrying out the purposes of this vote, or take any other action with respect thereto: The land commonly known as 13 Union Street shown on Board of Assessors' Revised January 1, 1983 Map 76.as Lot 08 consisting of 8,165 square feet of land,. more or less, and being the land described at the Middlesex South District Registry of Deeds in Book 12074, Page 492, currently believed to be owned by Eastern Middlesex Multiple Listing Services, Inc. Board of Selectmen Background: Pursuant to the instructional motion approved by Town Meeting on April 17, 1997 by a vote of 140 in favor and 9 opposed, the Board of Selectmen has called this Special Town Meeting to take action to acquire the above described property along with the adjacent Town owned property for use as the site for the construction of a new Police Station. At the time of the printing of this report, the Town under the direction of the Board of Selectmen has met with the property owners once more to try to negotiate the acquisition of this property, and at least one more session has been scheduled. The maps in the Appendix to this report show the property in question, as well as the adjacent property which must be transferred to the Board of Selectmen under Article 5 in order to establish this site for the purpose proposed. The Board of Selectmen is also having the development of the site, and these schematics will - The schematic sketches will also deal with maximi Town's goals for the Downtown area. Finance Committee Report: Action pending. By-Law Committee Report: No report. architect provide schematic plans for the be available by the Special Town Meeting. zing off street parking consistent with the ARTICLE 5 To see if the Town will vote to transfer the care, custody, management and control of all or any part of the following described property, from the Board of Selectmen for municipal parking purposes to the Board of Selectmen for general municipal purposes including the construction of a police station and uses accessory thereto and public parking; or take any other action with respect thereto: The land commonly known as the Union Street parking lot shown on Board of Assessors' Revised Jan. 1, 1983 Map 76 as Lot 10, consisting of 15,940 square feet of land, more or less. Board of Selectmen Background: This Article, combined with Article 4, will establish a site of 24,105 square, feet (55 acres) adjacent to the Downtown area of Reading, for use as a ,Police Station. Article 5 is required in order to transfer the property currently used as a municipal parking lot for purposes of constructing a new Police Station. Off street parking will also be maintained on the site to the maximum extent possible. Finance Committee Report: No report. By-Law Committee Report: No report. ARTICLE 6 To see if the Town will vote to authorize the Board of Selectmen to take all actions necessary to convert the existing Police Station site at 67 Pleasant Street into public parking, and to vote that the cost of demolishing the existing Police Station and preparing the site for public parking shall be considered part of the future funding of a new Police Station to be built on a Union Street site, or take any other action with respect thereto. Board of Selectmen Background: This Article is In the nature of an instructional motion, to seek confirmation that the intent of Town Meeting as expressed in its debate of the Articles,on April 17, is to convert the existing Police Station site in whole or in part to a public parking lot to make up for the loss of public parking in using the Union Street parking lot for the Police Station. Schematic plans are included in the Appendix to show the possible layouts and number of parking spaces to be created if all or a part of the existing Police Station site were converted to a public parking lot following the construction of a new Police Station on Union Street. Finance Committee Report: No report. 4 By-Law Committee Report: No report. ARTICLE 7 To see if the Town will vote to transfer the care, custody, management l and control of all or any part of the following described property, from the Board of Selectmen and/or Reading Police Department to the Board of Selectmen for any other municipal purpose, including public parking or the possible sale, lease or land swap thereof; or take any other action with respect thereto: The land commonly known as the Reading Police Station at 67 Pleasant Street, being a portion of what is shown on Board of Assessors' Revised Jan. 1, 1977 Map 65 as Lot 07, consisting of 12,512 square feet of land, more or less, and being a portion of the land described at the Middlesex South. District Registry of Deeds in Book 1597, Page 301. Board of Selectmen Background: This Article is required in order to transfer the existing Police Station property to the Board of Selectmen for any municipal purpose including the sale of the property, a swap of land, or a parking lot in order to give the Board of Selectmen the ability to dispose of the property once a new Police Station is constructed on the Union Street site. Without this Article, Town Meeting cannot take action under Article 8 to actually authorize the sale, swap or other use. Finance Committee Report: Action pending. By-Law Committee Report: No report. ARTICLE 8 To see if the Town will vote to authorize the Board of Selectmen to convey, lease or swap all or any part of the following described property, with or without the building thereon, and to determine the minimum amount to paid for such conveyance and/or the minimum amount of other land to be conveyed to the Town for such conveyance or land swap and/or the minimum terms of any such lease, and to authorize the Board of Selectmen to convey all or any part of said property for such amount of money or other property, or a larger amount, and upon such other terms and conditions as the Board of Selectmen shall consider proper and to deliver a deed therefor; and /or to authorize the Board of Selectmen to lease said property upon such minimum terms, and upon such other terms and conditions as the Board of Selectmen shall consider proper, and to see what sum the Town will raise by borrowing, or from the tax levy, or transfer from available funds, or otherwise, and appropriate to the Board of Selectmen to carry out the purposes of this vote, including amounts necessary to demolish the existing building on the property or to otherwise prepare it for conveyance or lease; or take any other action with respect thereto: The land commonly known as the Reading Police Station at 67 Pleasant Street, being a portion of what is shown on Board of Assessors' Revised Jan. 1, 1977 Map 65 as Lot 07, consisting of 12,512 square feet of land, more or less, and being a portion of the land described at the Middlesex South District Registry of Deeds in Book 1597, Page 301. Board of Selectmen t Background: This Article is required in order to give the Board of Selectmen the authority to swap, sell or re-use the existing Police Station site for another purpose. Finance Committee Report: Action pending. By-Law Committee Report: No report. ARTICLE 9 To see if the Town will vote to amend the Reading Zoning By-Laws by amending the Reading Zoning Map to include all or a portion of the following described property in the Business B District, or take any other action with respect thereto: The land commonly known as the Reading Police Station and Reading Senior Center at 49 - 67 Pleasant Street shown on Board of Assessors' Revised Jan. 1, 1977 Map 65 as Lot 07, consisting of 22,512 square feet of land, more or less, and being the land described at the Middlesex South District Registry of Deeds in Book. 1597, Page 301. Board of Selectmen Background: If the Police Station site is to be used for another non-public purpose, such as a swap of property or a sale for re-use, the property needs to be rezoned. The abutting properties are zoned Business B, and that is the zoning that is proposed to be applied to the existing Police Station site. Because the Senior Center is on the same property as the existing Police Station, the entire property would be re-zoned. The CPDC is holding a public hearing on the re-zoning on May 8 at 6:30 p.m. at the Reading Memorial High School just before the Special Town Meeting. Finance Committee Report: Action pending. By-Law Committee Report: No report. ARTICLE 10 To see if the Town will vote to authorize the Board of Selectmen to acquire all or any part of the following described parcel of land in fee or rights of easement therein by eminent domain under the provisions of Chapter 79 of the General Laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, or to acquire said parcel of land or any part thereof -in fee or rights of easement therein by gift, purchase, land swap, or otherwise, for general municipal purposes including public parking and uses accessory thereto; and to see what sum the Town will raise by borrowing; or from the tax levy, or transfer from available funds, or otherwise, and appropriate to the Board of Selectmen to pay for appraisals of said parcel and to pay for the acquisition of said parcel of land or rights of easement therein, or to be used for payment of land damages or other costs and expenses of such acquisition and to authorize the Board of Selectmen to enter into agreements with private parties or state and federal agencies for financial and other assistance in connection with such acquisition, and to do all other acts and things necessary and proper for carrying out the purposes of this vote, or take any other action with respect thereto: A portion of the land commonly known as 21-37 Hamden Street shown on Board of Assessors'. R evi sed January 1,-1983 Map 76 as Lot 07 consisting of 13,408 square feet of land, more or less, and being a portion of the land described at the 6 Middlesex South District Registry of Deeds in Book 19725, Page 469, currently believed to be owned by Harris G. Realty Trust, together with whatever passageway ( or easement rights said current owner has over lands of others, including but not 1..., . limited to passageway or easement rights to Pleasant Street. Board of Selectmen Background: The Town has been working with abutting property owners for a number of months on the creation of additional off street parking in the "blighted area" east of Main Street in downtown. The project _has been approved by the State for funding. All the directly involved property owners are in agreement and in full support of the plan. An additional 30 parking spaces will be created as a municipal parking lot. Using State funding, the Town will acquire the property noted in this Article, and will acquire the property shown in Article 11 by gift. The State funds will also be adequate to construct the parking lot, and to relocate any existing businesses where such action is required. The proceeds from the acquisition of this property, along with a bank loan, will be spent by the property owner on major renovation to the building. There are many benefits to this project including: • Provision of additional municipally owned off-street parking in an area of Downtown much in need of the parking; • A commitment by the owner of this property to do a major renovation of his property in support of the Town's goals for Downtown; • Pedestrian connection of the proposed parking lot with the frontage of Hamden Street through the Anton's property; • Connection of the municipal parking lot with the parking to be developed as part of the Police Station construction project on the adjacent property. While the layout of the parking lot shown on the sketch in the Appendix shows t connection to the Police Station property, the layout would work even if Town Meeting wishes not to proceed with the Police Station project on that site. Previous discussion with the owner of the adjacent property has resulted in an agreement to swap Town and privately owned property in order to gain access between the Union Street parking lot and this property. Additionally, the layout of this parking lot is designed to be flexible so that if additional abutting property owners choose to participate in the project, these additions can be accommodated without major reconstruction of the parking lot. This project is included in the Capital Improvements Program. Finance Committee Report: Action pending. By-Law Committee Report: No report. ARTICLE 11 To see if the Town will vote to authorize the Board of Selectmen to acquire all or any part of the following described parcel of land in fee or rights of easement therein by eminent domain under the provisions of Chapter 79 of the General Laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, or to acquire said parcel of land or any part thereof in fee or rights of easement therein by gift, purchase, land swap, or otherwise, for general municipal purposes including public parking and uses accessory thereto; and to see what sum the Town will raise by borrowing, or from the tax levy, or transfer from available funds, or otherwise, and appropriate to the Board of Selectmen to pay for appraisals of said parcel and to pay for the acquisition of said parcel of land or rights of easement therein, or to be used for payment of { 7 land damages or other costs and expenses of such acquisition and to authorize the Board of Selectmen to enter into agreements with private parties or state and federal agencies for financial and other assistance in connection with such acquisition, and to do all other acts and things necessary and proper for carrying out the purposes of this vote, or take any other action with respect thereto: A portion of the land commonly known as 47 Hamden Street shown on Board of Assessors' Revised January 1, 1983 Map 76 as Lot 08A consisting of 816 square feet of land, more or less, and being a portion of the land described at the Middlesex South District Registry of Deeds in Book 12010, Page 403, currently believed to be owned by Arthur C. Anton and Socrates C. Anton, Trustees of Anton's Realty Trust, together with whatever passageway or easement rights said current owner has over lands of others, including but not limited to passageway or easement rights to Pleasant Street. Board of Selectmen Background: This Article, in combination with Article 10, is needed in order to secure the access to the development of a 30 space municipal parking lot for the east side of Main Street in Downtown. The property owner is donating the parcel of land in this case, in order to secure the advantages of an adjacent municipal parking lot. He has also committed to allow pedestrian access from the lot to Hamden Street through his property. Finance Committee Report: Action pending. By-Law Committee Report: No report. ARTICLE 12 To see if the Town will vote to authorize the Board of Selectmen to acquire all or any part of the following described parcel of land in fee or rights of easement therein by eminent domain under the provisions of Chapter 79 of the General Laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, or to acquire said parcel of land or any part thereof in fee or rights of easement therein by gift, purchase, or otherwise, for open space and for conservation purposes in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 40, Section 8C of the General Laws, to be managed and controlled by the Reading Conservation Commission; and to see what sum the Town will raise by borrowing, or from the tax levy, or transfer from available funds, or otherwise, and appropriate to the Board of Selectmen to pay for appraisals of said parcels and to pay for the acquisition of said parcels of land or rights of easement therein,.or to be used for payment of land damages or other costs and expenses of such acquisitions, and to authorize the Board of Selectmen and/or Conservation Commission to enter into agreements with private parties or state and federal agencies for financial and other assistance in connection with such acquisition, and to do all other acts and things necessary and proper for carrying out the provision of this vote, or take any other action with respect thereto: A portion of the land commonly known as 108 Van Norden Road shown on Board of Assessors' Revised January 1, 1996 Map 156 as Lot 09, and being a portion of the land described at the Middlesex South District Registry of Deeds in Book 25161, Page 284, currently believed to be owned by Barbara J. Hurton. Board of Selectmen Background: The Town was approached by the property owner to see if the Town is interested in acquiring the back portion of the property for conservation, recreation or open space purposes. The Town appraiser did an opinion of value, and the property owner has agreed to accept the amount of that opinion - the sum of $14,000 for the approximately 1 acre of land. Because of timing of the acquisition of this parcel, it is the Town's intent to purchase this property using Town funds rather than trying to secure State grants which are uncertain and time consuming. The Conservation Commission has walked the property, and the land in question is a part of an area designated for open space acquisition. The abutting property owner has offered to donate a similar portion of their property to the Town for conservation, recreation and open space purposes. The Town will pursue additional similar land donations or acquisitions from other property owners in the area in order to accomplish the intent of the open space and recreation master plan. Finance Committee Report: Action pending. By-Law Committee Report: No report. 9 and you are directed to serve this Warrant by posting an attested copy thereof in at least one ( (1) public place in each precinct of the Town not less than fourteen (14) days prior to May 8, , 1997, the date set for the meeting in said Warrant, and to publish this Warrant in a newspaper published in the Town, or by mailing an attested copy of said Warrant to each Town Meeting Member at least fourteen (14) days prior to the time of holding said meeting. Hereof fail not and make due return of this Warrant with your doings thereon to the Town Clerk at or before the time appointed for said meeting. Given under our hands this 23rd day of April, 1997. • George V. Hines, Chairman PLC,. J'.z..~.t~ ~ j ` Camille W. Anthony, Vice Chairman W. Bruce MacDonald, Secretary Sa y, M. dyt Daniel A. Ensminger SELECTMEN OF READING William J. Hughe sta -10- c J ~ Y~ •A . It r n O, N ® v .O ~ W ti ~ A W ~I w tf~ •S e ~ y ~ W ul E 12,1 CIS -11- 31®®1" o h le- ANALYSIS OF PARKING IMPACT POLICE STATION SITING Location Union "Blight" "Old" Total Street site parking Police spaces lot Station east of site Main St. Current .43 0 20 63 Union Street Police Station 31 30 23 84 with surface parking only - keep "original " part of old Police Station Union Street Police Station 31 30 34 95 with surface parking only - demolish all of old Police Station Union Street Police Station 44 30 23 97 with parking underneath part of station - keep "original " part of old Police Station Union Street Police Station 44 30 34 108 with parking underneath part of station - demolish all of old Police Station -12- ARTICLE 6 u P~'E~SA~HT STREET 23 speac,es ~ j t 1 1 SCHEMATIC PARKING LAYOUT existing Reading Police Station and Senior Center site Pleasant and Parker Streets - current property lines dotted lines indicate building or part of building to be demolished scalQ 1 ~F~` 80 -13- TCL 6 A R-- 0 II u L'E~SA N S..r R E, E.r. 3y-gP0.r-Qs SCHEMATIC PARKING LAYOUT existing Reading Police Station and Senior Center site Pleasant and Parker Streets - current property lines dotted lines indicate building or ` part of building to be demolished SC4ie 1 '+a e '+0 80 4t2311'q- Jf ARTICLE 6 -14- I f l lJ O o :l ~r I 1 r.. I ~.t f' m r c 6 • 0 r 1, cit E ILI /P ARTICLE 9 to V5- g , 1 (T rol. of 15 z xa C m 0. E U W u u q 0 w a I t u~ 0 W~ of W J 00 a ~ u+ ~ 1 0 1 0 a er a a ' s u m Z ~ E a a.~ a 'Q ' ' U a c ~ ` n 5._ 0 dl ea Ill t l,l -r I 1 I 1 1 i i ad - - j oy access only ld Emil, j 1 y~3 c~1y, S C Mo y 30 ~ ba N V4 -16- \ r: W W to r 4 Q w ~J Q- iv a ~l 4 G v ~n ARTICLE` 10&11 f08 MAI MORN-/V RD. jr"t L EGE ND PROTECTED OPEN SPACE C._...%D LAND OF CONCERN ® UNPROTECTED OPEN SPACE CHAP.61161 A,61-B LAND ~J SCENIC VISTA FUTURE, READING OPEN SPACE MAP NOTE: THIS PLAN WAS PREPARED BY THE TOWN OF READING AD HOC OPEN SPACE AND RECREATION TASK FORCE USE OF THIS PLAN FOR PURPOSES OTHER THAN THOSE FOR WHICH THE READING AD HOC OPEN SPACE AND RECREATION TASK FORCE WAS CHARTERED IS NOT 0 400 000 1200 INTENDED. 5195 ACTION PL-Ai\j MAP { sop EXCERPT 4WD so fOS Yh# NORDEN ARTICLE 12 v C Z 0 • r ry ~ $ u I p a a c,~S -Al..17S ..}~ga'ul y • areas »61 '~i ~~Q UeU,~p 'r Uyor -Yjo . Pak4AJng ID NIQ U 1. PURI ,}o'Old •-}drys 'ate(] pa.,lnba~ . ou sl lo~.loi-Fu°,J l.joizUip9nS ay+ ..pun void li)q+:.o )gAQ*WK' ~~O tea' 0~ . ~ 097 -rr yK~ fro P40~ RIM 0/"/ " y;i yZ fl ~N PfS' `I O 1• ,Qv~ o J a n ~~rfS n w :)Vag ~ ob ~y ,irk LL.(LiL ~ NPf~ -18- 9p sS BYtl o n ~ S a b ))let ' 5LLuY b. J 0 am PK 46'514.9 ARTICLE 12 l.. r~