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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1992-11-09 Subsequent Town Meeting Warrant Report i TABLE OF CONTENTS WARRANT - Subsequent Town Meeting November 9, 199 2 Article Title Sponsor Page 1 Reports Bd. of Selectmen 1 2 Instructional Motions Bd. of Selectmen 1 3 Amend Capital Impr. Program Bd. of Selectmen 2 4 Budget Modifications Bd. of Selectmen 2 5 Capital Funding-Roof (2/3 vote) School Committee 3 6 Capital Funding-Gas Heat(2/3) School Committee 3 7 Capital Funding-Hand. Access (2/3) School Committee 3 8 Funding School Building Comm. School Committee 4 9 Cemetery Lot Repurchase Cem. Bd. of Trustees 4 10 Acceptance of Library Gift Bd. of Selectmen 5 11 Rubbish Enterprise Fund Bd. of Selectmen 5 12 Equipment Trade-in Bd. of Selectmen 5 13 Sanborn Village Bond Taking CPDC 6 14 Batchelder Estates Bond Taking CPDC 7 15 Fairwood Acres Bond Taking CPDC 7 16 Land Donation-Village/Washington Bd. of Selectmen 8 17 Land Donation-near Batchelder Fld. Bd. of Selectmen 9 18 Transfer Batchelder Field to Cemetery Div. & Cons. Comm. Bd. of Selectmen 9 19 Land Transfer-Harper & Cons.Comm. Conservation Comm. 10 20 Land Swap-Read. Rifle & Cons.Comm. Conservation Comm. 11 21 Petition-Vacate/modify Benton Circle Easement (2/3 vote) By Petition 12 22 Vacate Easement-Pine Grove Est.(Haverhill St)(2/3 vote) Bd. of Selectmen 13 23 Zoning Amendment-Lot Width (2/3 vote) CPDC 14 24 Zoning Amendment-PUD Text re Bio-tech (2/3 vote) CPDC 15 25 Zoning Amendment-Temporary Signs (2/3 vote) CPDC 17 26 Zoning Amendment-PRD Amendments (2/3 vote) CPDC 19 27 Zoning Amendment-Table of Uses - PRD (2/3 vote) CPDC 32 28 Zoning Amendment-Corner Lots (2/3 vote) CPDC 32 29 Zoning Amendment-Rescinding Townhouse Sections (2/3 vote) CPDC 33 30 Zoning Map Amendment-PRD M (2/3 vote) CPDC 33 31 Zoning Map Amendment-PRD G (2/3 vote) CPDC 34 32 Zoning Map Amendment-PRD A (2/3 vote) CPDC 34 33 Amend. Gen. By-Law - Wetlands Conservation Comm. 35 34 Amend. Gen. By-Law - Wetlands Conservation Comm. 35 35 Audit Committee Bylaw Town Accountant 36 36 Reorganization Bd. of Selectmen 37 37 Junk Car By-Law Bd. of Selectmen 37 ARTICLE 13 a AR71CLE 13-- ' i ARTICLE 17 & 18 ARTICLE 14 ARTICLE 32 15 ARTICLE C TILE 22 l•-l. ARTICLE 20 ARTICLE 21 .ooo l~\y -71 o N p JQ ART- 16 ~ o`er a ~ ARTICLE V;\ TOWN OF READING ,,yam MIDDLESEX COUNTY MASSACHUSETTS PREPARED BY TDB BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS 6 r 0 ,1 E rl A ,a ENGINEERING DIVISION _ loon ARTICLES AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE SUBSEQUENT TOWN MEETING Town of Reading COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS November 9, 1992 Middlesex, ss. To either 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 Monday, November 9, 1992, at seven-thirty o'clock in the evening, at which time and place the following ar- ticles 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 Asses- sors, 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 Boards or Special Committees. Board of Selectmen Background Reports - Reports will be given on the status of the Water Emergency, the status of the landfill, an update on the status of the Town's finances, and under this article, recognition will be given to Town employees who worked so hard on mitigating the water emergency. Bylaw Committee Report No Report Finance 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 Of- ficers and Special Committees to carry out the instructions given to them, or take any other action with respect thereto. Board of Selectmen Background Instructions - Article 2 provides an opportunity for Town Meeting members to give instructions to Town staff and/or Boards,•Committees, and Commissions. The expansion of the 1 Article 2 (continued) membership of the school building committee is expected to come up under this article. Bylaw Committee Report No Report Finance Committee Report No Report 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 Amend Capital Improvement Program - Article 3 amends the Capital Improvements Program. Amendments are required for Articles 5, 6, and 7. An amended Capital Improvement Plan is attached as Appendix A, with changes in the plan for FY 1993 underlined. Bylaw Committee Report No Report Finance Committee Report Recommend B-0-0 ARTICLE 4 To see if the Town will vote to amend one or more of the votes taken under Article 31 of the Warrant of the Annual Town Meeting of April 13, 1992, relating to the Fiscal Year 1993 \ Municipal Budget, and to see what sum the Town will raise by bor- rowing, or transfer from available funds, or otherwise and ap- propriate as the result of any such amended votes for the opera- tion of the Town and its government, or take any other action with respect thereto. Board of Selectmen Background FY93 Budget Modification - Article 4 amends the FY93 Budget that we are currently in. There is approximately $95,000 worth of increases needed, and approximately $50,000 worth of surplus funds in various accounts. The remaining amount of $44,000 will be needed from the Town's "free cash." In addition, between $100,000 and $200,000 in water capital ex- penses will be needed to effectuate a permanent emergency connection between the Town of Reading and the MWRA water supply in Woburn. These monies will need to be paid out by the Town, and we anticipate recovering at least some of these costs from other sources. The details of these trans- fers are shown on exhibit B. Bylaw Committee Report No Report Finance Committee Report Action Pending 2 ARTICLE 3 TOWN OF READING MASSACHUSETTS FIVE YEAR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM Fiscal Years 1993 through 1997 (cost in 0001s) Cost by year and source of funding Project Project Description FY93 FY94 FY95 FY96 FY97 TOTAL FIN-2 Replace Data Proc Equip 0.0 15.0 A 15.0 A 15.0 A 15.0 A 60.0 PS-F-5 Replace Bucket Truck 0.0 37.0 D 0.0 0.0 0.0 37.0 PS-F-6 Replace Pickup Truck 0.0 0.0 15.0 A 0.0 0.0 15.0 PS-F-7 Replace/Refurbish Pumper 0.0 10.0 A 200.0 D 0.0 0.0 210.0 PS-F-8 Replace Ambulance 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 85.0 A 85.0 SUBTOTAL - FIRE 0.0 47.0 215.0 0.0 85.0 347.0 PW-B-2 Reconstruct Lib Park Lot 0.0 42.0 A 0.0 0.0 0.0 42.0 PW-B-8 + Repl.Fuel Sup.-Pol.Sta. 7.5 A 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 7.5 PW-B-9 Remodel./Addition.Pol.Sta. 0.0 50.0 D 0.0 0.0 0.0 50.0 SUBTOTAL - BUILDINGS 7.5 92.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 99.5 PW-C-3 Cemetery Development 0.0 75.0 C 75.0 C 75.0 C 75.0 C 300.0 PW-C-6 Replace Backhoe 0.0 20.0 C 0.0 0.0 0.0 20.0 PW-C-7 + Cem.St.Reconstruction 6.0 C 8.1 C 9.5 C 9.5 C 0.0 33.1 SUBTOTAL - CEMETERY 6.0 103.1 84.5 84.5 75.0 353.1 ~PW-E-1 Replace Backhoe/loader 0.0 45.0 A 0.0 0.0 45.0 S 90.0 PW-E-4 Replace Dump Trucks 0.0 55.0 A 55.0 S 55.0 S 55.0 S 220.0 PW-E-5 Replace Pickup Truck 0.0 12.0 A 0.0 0.0 0.0 12.0 PW-E-7 Reptcmt. Other Equip. 0.0 30.0 A 100.0 S 100.0 S 100.0 S 330.0 SUBTOTAL - EQUIPMENT 0.0 142.0 155.0 155.0 200.0 652.0 PW-P-1 Renovation of Pool 0.0 100.0 D 0.0 0.0 0.0 100.0 PW-P-2 Park Development 0.0 50.0 D 50.0 D 50.0 D 0.0 150.0 SUBTOTAL - PARKS 0.0 150.0 50.0 50.0 0.0 250.0 PW-R-1 Street Overlay 0.0 75.0 A 75.0 A 75.0 A 75.0 A 300.0 PW-R-2 + St.Reconstruction 250.0 G 250.0 G 250.0 G 250.0 G 250.0 G 1,250.0 PW-R-3 Drainage Improvements 0.0 300.0 D 0.0 300.0 D 0.0 600.0 PW-R-4 + St. Acceptances 0.1 A 15.0 B 15.0 B 15.0 B 15.0 B 60.1 PW-R-5 Walkers Brook Drive 0.0 440.0 G 0.0 0.0 0.0 440.0 Improvements 0.0 145.0 B 0.0 0.0 0.0 145.0 PW-R-6 + West Side Imp. 70.0 G 1,500.0 G 0.0 0.0 0.0 1,570.0 PW-R-7 Curb/Sdewlk Const/Recon 0.0 200.0 G 100.0 G 100.0 G 100.0 G 500.0 PW-R-8 East Side Neigh. Imp. 0.0 100.0 G 0.0 0.0 0.0 100.0 PW-R-9 Depot Parking 0.0 80.0 G 0.0 0.0 0.0 80.0 PW-R-10 Realign/Reconst. Ash/Main 0.0 320.0 G 0.0 0.0 0.0 320.0 PW-R-11 + Signals/Imp. - Square 270.0 G 750.0 G 0.0 0.0 0.0 1,020.0 SUBTOTAL - STREETS 590.1 4,175.0 440.0 740.0 440.0 6,385.1 PW-S-1 + Inflow/Infiltration 77.5 E 75.0 E 75.0 E 75.0 E 75.0 E 377.5 PW-S-2 Main Reconstruction 0.0 450.0 G 0.0 0.0 0.0 450.0 0.0 50.0 E 0.0 0.0 0.0 50.0 PW-S-4 Vehicle Replacement 0.0 14.0 E 0.0 0.0 0.0 14.0 SUBTOTAL - SEWER 77.5 589.0 75.0 75.0 75.0 891.5 28-Oct-92 2a TOWN OF READING MASSACHUSETTS FIVE YEAR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM Fiscal Years 1993 through 1997 \ (cost in 0001s) Cost by year and source of funding Project Project Description FY93 FY94 FY95 FY96 FY97 TOTAL PW-W-2 + Treat.Plant Mod./Imp. 82.0 E 0.0 0.0 0.0 8,000.0 ED 8,082.0 PW-W-3 Vehicle Replacement 0.0 55.0 E 0.0 0.0 0.0 55.0 PW-W-4 New Well Development 0.0 100.0 E 0.0 100.0 E 0.0 200.0 PW-W-5 Woburn Water Interconnect 264.0 E 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 264.0 SUBTOTAL - WATER 346.0 155.0 0.0 100.0 8,000.0 8,601.0 SD-1 Computer/Wd Proc Equip 100.0 A 100.0 A 100.0 A 100.0 A 100.0 A 500.0 SD-2 Roof Replacement 46.0 A 206.0 D 0.0 0.0 395.0 SD-3 Space Remod.-Elem.Sch. 0.0 1,400.0 D 0.0 1,400.0 D 0.0 2,800.0 SD-4 Chp 504-lifts-Toilet Rem L3t'o~ 15.0 A 15.0 A 0.0 0.0 61.0 SD-5 Space Remod. - Middle Sch. 0.0 50.0 D 0.0 20.0 A 1,000.0 D 1,070.0 SD-6 Energy Related Proj 15.0 A 15.0 A 15.0 A 15.0 A 15.0 A 75.0 SD-7 Vehicle Replacement 12.0 A 12.0 A 15.0 A 15.0 A 15.0 A 69.0 SD-8 Floor Tile Replacement 15.0 A 15.0 A 15.0 A 15.0 A 15.0 A 75.0 SD-9 Install Suspnded Ceiling 22.0 A 0.0 25.0 A 0.0 0.0 47.0 SD-10 Window Replace. - Parker 0.0 175.0 D 30.0 A 0.0 0.0 205.0 SD-11 Refurbish Kitchen 0.0 0.0 50.0 E 0.0 0.0 50.0 SD-12 Rplce Ctsrm/Cafe Furn. 18.0 A 18.0 A 20.0 A 20.0 A 20.0 A 96.0 SD-13 Gate/Zone Vlve Replcmt 10.0 A 10.0 A 10.0 A 10.0 A 10.0 A 50.0 SD-15 Oil Tank Remov./Gas Conv. t ] 10.0 G 50.0 G 50.0 G 50.0 G 160.0 SD-16 Asbestos Abatement 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 SD-18 Track Renovation 0.0 30.0 A 0.0 0.0 0.0 30.0 SD-19 Boiler Replacement-H.S. 0.0 65.0 A 0.0 130.0 D 0.0 195.0 SD-22 + Refurbish Elev. RMHS 38.0 D 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 38.0 SUBTOTAL - SCHOOLS 404.0 1,961.0 551.0 1,775.0 1,225.0 5,916.0 LD-1 + Ongoing Capital Projects 4,950.0 ED 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 4,950.0 LD-2 Distribution System Imp. 0.0 7,000.0 ED 0.0 0.0 0.0 7,000.0 SUBTOTAL - ELECTRIC 4,950.0 7,000.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 11,950.0 GRAND TOTALS 6,381.1 14,429.1 1,585.5 2,994.5 10,115.0 35,505.2 + Included in 1992 Town Meeting Warrant as Art icles or in Budget SUMMARY OF CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM BY YEAR BY SOURCE OF FUNDS (Cost in 0001s) SOURCE OF FUNDING FY93 FY94 FY95 FY96 FY97 TOTAL A Annual Appropriation 199.6 610.0 350.0 285.0 350.0 1,794.6 B Betterment 0.0 160.0 15.0 15.0 15.0 205.0 C Sale of Cemetery Lots 6.0 103.1 84.5 84.5 75.0 353.1 D Debt to be Authorized 1212.91 2,162.0 456.0 1,880.0 1,000.0 5 710.0 E Enterprise Appropriation 423.5 294.0 125.0 175.0 75.0 1 092.5 ED Enterprise Debt 4,950.0 7,000.0 0.0 0.0 8,000.0 9,950.0 G Grant or Outside Funding 590.0 4,100.0 400.0 400.0 400.0 5,890.0 S Sale of Real Estate 0.0 0.0 155.0 155.0 200.0 510.0 6 381.1 14,429.1 1,585.5 - 2,994.5 10,115.0 35,505.2 28-Oct-92 Not-S CdANGES FRow_ 1 (LCV 10V5L (1~oPl'tJ }~(LUGRt~~ 2b ARTICLE 4 ( MODIFICATIONS TO FY 1993 BUDGET LINE ADD. FUNDS NUMBER ACCIT # DESCRIPTION NEEDED C3 022 FINCOM RESERVE FUND $0 C5 031 BD. OF ASSESSORS SAL. C12 035 FINANCE SAL. D8 051 TOWN CLERK SAL. 810 062 COMM. DEV. SAL. B11 062 COMM. DEV.EXP.(MAST.PLAN) H1 080 BUILD. MAINT. SAL. H2 080 BUILD. MAINT. EXP. G2 111 POLICE EXP. (VEHICLE) G2 111 POLICE EXP. (COMPUTER) G6 121 FIRE SAL. B8 141 INSPECTIONS SAL. H4 302 ENG. SAL. H7 312 WASTE COLL/DISP.(MRF) E1 511 HEALTH SAL. (NURSE) E3 541 ELD. SERV. (VAN DRIVER) K1 710 DEBT SERVICE L3 815 UNEMPLOYMENT D12 850 PROP./CAS. INSURANCE TOTALS M4 061-400 WATER CAPITAL WATER SURPLUS GRAND TOTALS i j 28-Oct-92 $1,000 $1,050 $837 $250 $10,818 $14,000 $5,780 $50,000 $2,962 $1,460 $2,209 $0 $0 $5,188 FUNDS AVAILABLE $11,000 $10,818 $23,000 $2,000 $95,554 $46,818 $264,000 $264,000 $359,554 $310,818 $48,736 FROM FREE CASH $264,000 FROM WATER SURPLUS $46,818 FROM TRANSFERS 2c ARTICLE 5 To see what sum the Town will raise by borrowing or from the tax levy or transfer from available funds, or other- wise, and appropriate for the purpose of repairing or replacing sections of the roof at Reading Memorial High School, 62 Oakland Road, Reading, Massachusetts, such appropriation to include all engineering fees and preparation costs required to complete the purpose of this Article, all monies to be expended under the direction of the Reading School Committee, or take any other ac- tion with respect thereto. School Committee Background High School Roof - Article portions of the Reading High Arts and foreign language bonded. Bylaw Committee Report Finance Committee Report of $143000. 5 requests $143,000 to replace School Roof in the Industrial areas. This amount will be No Report Recommend 7-0-1 in the amount ARTICLE 6 To see what sum the Town will raise by borrowing or from the tax levy or transfer from available funds, or other- wise, and appropriate for the purpose of removal of underground fuel tanks and for the conversion to gas heat at Coolidge Middle School, 89 Birch Meadow Drive, Birch Meadow School, 27 Arthur B. Lord Drive, and Reading Memorial High School, 62 Oakland Road, Reading, Massachusetts, such appropriation to include all en- gineering fees and preparation costs required to complete the purpose of this Article, all monies to be expended under the direction of the Reading School Committee, or take any other ac- tion with respect thereto. School Committee Background Gas Conversion at Schools - Article 6 would provide for con- version of school buildings in the Birch Meadow area (Birch Meadow School, Coolidge Middle School, and Reading Memorial High School) to gas heat. The gas company will run the supply into the sites, right up to the buildings. However, the Town will be responsible for removing oil tanks and con- verting burners to the natural gas supply. This item is on the capital program, and is part of an ongoing effort by the Town to eliminate underground oil storage tanks in public buildings throughout the community. At the time of this report, the cost is not known. A complete report will be given to Town Meeting. Bylaw Committee Report No Report Finance Committee Report Action Pending ARTICLE 7 To see what sum the Town will raise by borrowing or from the tax levy or transfer from available funds, or other- wise, and appropriate for the purpose of installing chair lifts r 3 ARTICLE 7 (continued) at Coolidge Middle School, 89 Birch Meadow Drive, Reading, Mas- sachusetts, such appropriation to include all engineering fees and preparation costs required to complete the purpose of this Article, all monies to be expended under the direction of the Reading School Committee, or take any other action with respect thereto. School Committee Background Coolidge Chair Lifts - Article 7 requests funding to provide chair lifts at the Coolidge Middle School to access the gym- nasium and the art and tech-ed areas of the building in or- der to make them handicapped accessible. The total amount requested is $31,000. Bylaw Committee Report No Report Finance Committee Report Recommend 6-1-1, with the funding coming from unexpended excess bond funds. ARTICLE 8 To see what sum the Town will raise from the tax levy or transfer from available funds, or otherwise, and ap- propriate for the purpose of further evaluating the methods of meeting the future space needs of the Reading Public Schools; all monies to be expended under the direction of the School Building Committee. School Committee Background School Building Needs - Article 8 requests funding for the School Building Committee to evaluate building needs in the school system to deal with increased enrollment and struc- tural obsolescence. $25,000 in funding is requested. Bylaw Committee Report No Report Finance Committee Report Action Pending ARTICLE 9 To see what sum the Town will raise from the tax levy or transfer from available funds, or otherwise, and ap- propriate for the purpose of purchasing unwanted grave spaces, or take any other action with respect thereto. Board of Cemeterv Trustees Background Repurchase of Cemetery Lots - Article 9 provides for, the re-purchase of cemetery lots from people who have previously purchased the lots but want to sell them back to the Town. The $2,000 requested is from the Sale of Lots Fund. The lots are repurchased at their initial sales price and are sold at the current sales price. Bylaw Committee Report No Report Finance Committee Report _Action Pending 4 ARTICLE 10 To see if the Town will vote to accept one or more gifts to be administered by the commissioners of Trust Funds, such gifts to be used for the purposes for which they are given to the Town, or take any other action with respect thereto. Board of Selectmen Background Gift Acceptance - Article 10 would accept a gift to the Library that was left in the will of Roderick G. McKay in the amount of $7,452.84. Bylaw Committee Report No Report Finance Committee Report Action Pending ARTICLE 11 To see if the Town will vote to accept the provi- sions of General Laws Chapter 44, Section 53F 1/2 to establish an enterprise fund relating to the collection or disposal of refuse, garbage and solid waste, or take any other action with respect thereto. Board of Selectmen Background Rubbish Collection Enterprise Fund - Article 11 would estab- lish an enterprise fund for rubbish collection and disposal. Currently, the rubbish fee is collected, based on the Town's best estimate of what the rubbish collection and disposal costs will be. Any surplus that is collected in this ac- count, if there were to be any, would have to go into free cash and be available for appropriation into the General Fund of the Town. The purpose of the fee is to offset only \ the cost of rubbish collection and disposal. This article would allow the Town to keep revenues from rubbish collec- tion and disposal fees in an account to be used only for that purpose, should there be a surplus. Bylaw Committee Report No Report Finance Committee Report Action Pending ARTICLE 12 To see if the Town will vote to authorize the Board of Selectmen to sell, or exchange; or dispose of, upon such terms and conditions as they may determine, various items of Town tangible property, or take any other action with respect thereto. Board of Selectmen Background Disposal of Surplus Property - Article 12 requests Town Meeting to authorize the trade-in of Finance Department com- puter equipment with an estimated value of $2,000. The Finance Committee can approve trade-ins of up to $500. Ad- ditionally, the School Department would like approval to dispose through sale of the Compugraphic typesetting equip- ment and supplies, since they have been replaced by a new system used in the graphic arts area of the High School. 5 Article 12 (continued) There will be two motions under this article. Bylaw Committee Report No Report Finance Committee Report Action Pending ARTICLE 13 To see what sum the Town will raise by borrowing or from the tax levy or transfer from available funds or other- wise and appropriate for the purpose of completion of subdivision roadway and right-of-way work in Sanborn Village Phases III and IV in accordance with the terms of certain Covenant Agreements dated October 4, 1985 and July 11, 1988 executed to the benefit of the Town of Reading by The Bank For Savings and Rivers Development Corp. pursuant to the Rules and Regulations Governing the Subdivision of Land of the Town of Reading in accordance with Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 41, such funds to be expended by and under the direction of the Board of Selectmen, or take any other action with respect thereto. Community Planning and Development Commission Background Sanborn Village Bond Taking - In 1985 and 1988 Rivers Development Corporation, the Bank for Savings, and the Town of Reading entered into Tri-Party Agreements to bond all work, particularly street right-of-way and utility improve- ments, required in the Sanborn Village Phases III and IV Subdivisions. In 1991 the Bank for Savings, as construction lender, took over the subdivisions from the developer and thereby assumed responsibility for the completion of remain- ing subdivision work. However, this past spring the Bank for Savings was taken over by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. Unsure of the status of the bond funds, the Town Planner, with the approval of the Community Planning and Development Commission, revoked the releases on the two remaining unsold lots thereby rendering them legally unbuil- dable. In order to sell these lots, the FDIC worked with the Town Planner and the Town Engineer, and as a result remitted, from the proceeds of sale of the two lots, to the Town of Reading the sum of $45,020, which is sufficient to complete all remaining subdivision work; in return the Town restored the lot releases and assumed the responsibility for completing the street, utility, and associated work. This money, now held by the Town, may only be used for these pur- poses, and only upon appropriation by Town Meeting, which is the purpose of this Article. Bylaw Committee Report No Report Finance Committee Report Action Pending 6 ARTICLE 14 To see what sum the Town will raise by borrowing, or from the tax levy, or transfer from available funds, or other- wise, and appropriate for the purpose of completion of construc- tion of roadways and associated improvements, known as Partridge Road, in the Batchelder Estates Subdivision, in accordance with the terms of a certain Covenant Agreement dated March 27, 1990 between the Town of Reading and Edward G. Knudsen and Robert W. Murray as Trustee of Batchelder Estates Trust, pursuant to the Rules and Regulations Governing the Subdivision of Land of the Town of Reading in accordance with Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 41, such funds to be expended by and under the direction of the Board of Selectmen, or take any other action with respect thereto. Community Planning and Development Commission Background Batchelder Estates Bond Taking - In 1990, the developer of the Batchelder Estates Subdivision bonded remaining subdivi- sion utilities and street work. Following subsequent bond- amount reductions, remaining bond funds equal $9500, held by the Town in a joint passbook account with the developer. Most of the work has been completed and all the lots have been sold, but the Community Planning and Development Com- mission and lot-purchasers, have become frustrated at the level of quality of some of the work, particularly that of a stone wall retaining an abutter's land, and at the lack of timeliness exhibited by the developer in completing the relatively small amount of remaining work. This Article has been placed on the Warrant by the Commission as a precau- tion. Should unreasonable delays in the completion of work continue, the Commission would be able to use the bond if it deems necessary and utilize the bond funds to have the Town to finish such work. Bylaw Committee Report No Report Finance Committee Report Action Pending ARTICLE 15 To see what sum the Town will raise by borrowing, or from the tax levy, or transfer from available funds, or other- wise, and appropriate for the purpose of completion of construc- tion of roadways and associated improvements, known as Fairchild Drive, Lindsey Lane, and a portion of Ashley Place, in the Fair- wood Acres Subdivision, in accordance with the terms of certain Covenant Agreements dated April 18 and May 16, 1988 between the Town of Reading and Felix Quinn and Mary Ann Cerat, Trustees of Fairwood Acres Realty Trust and a certain Tri-Party Agreement dated August 10, 1989 between the Town of Reading, Mary Ann Cerat and David J. Carlberg as Trustees for Fairwood Acres Realty Trust II, and the Danvers Savings Bank, pursuant to the Rules and Regulations Governing the Subdivision of Land of the Town of Reading in accordance with Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 41, such funds to be expended by and under the direction of the Board of Selectmen, or take any other action with respect thereto. Community Planning and Development Commission 7 Article 15 (continued) Background Fairwood Acres Bond Taking - In 1988, the original developers, the Danvers Savings Bank, and the Town of Read- ing entered into a Tri-Party Agreement bonding the comple- tion of street, utility, and associated work in the Fairwood Acres Subdivision. In 1989, the original developer went bankrupt, and the Danvers Savings Bank assumed the role of subdivision developer. By mid-1991, when the original completion date for the subdivision expired, the improve- ments had been substantially finished, but since then these improvements have become severely damaged in the course of construction of houses or have deteriorated through lack of maintenance. In addition, despite repeated requests by the Town, the developer has not taken any steps to have the completion date extended and has not provided the Community Planning and Development Commission with any revised comple- tion schedule. The Commission has requested this Article as a precaution. Should these matters not be resolved in a reasonable period of time, appropriation of these bond funds would enable them to be used by the Town for completion and repair of subdivision streets and utilities if the Commis- sion should deem it necessary to utilize the bond. Bylaw Committee Report No Report Finance Committee Report Action Pending ARTICLE 16 To see if the Town will vote to accept the gift from John McMillan of easements for sidewalks and sight lines in, to and over a portion of his land at the intersection of Village and Washington Streets, or take any other action with respect thereto. Board of Selectmen Background Acceptance of Property Gift - Article 16 accepts a donation of an easement at Village and Washington Street from the neighboring property owner. The Town is improving Washington Street from Lakeview Avenue to Main Street, in=cluding curbing, sidewalks, and repaving. At Village and Washington, residents in the neighborhood requested some modifications to reduce the cut-through traffic. The dona- tion by John A. McMillan will allow some modification to the intersection to take place, which will cut down on the through traffic. The sketch attached shows the proposed im- provements and the area of the easement. Bylaw Committee Report No Report Finance Committee Report No Report 8 ARTICLE 16 SMV" AREA SIGHT- LIFE AREA - PROPOSED CURBING 'RN STREET 50.00 PAML 39 9800 SF MacMi I I ion Property 129 Green Street Map 56 Parcels 228139 ? it NI Miliiair► ® Ci P!P►RCEL 2"L 5M SF N4~~ W, ~ glup W~SN 8a EASEMENT R=20-00' L= 44.61' A=1270-48'-00 T= 40.83. ~AREA=370.56 s.f. ENGINEERING DIVISION 10.92 ARTICLE 17 To see if the Town will vote to accept the gift of all of the owner's right, title and interest in and to the fol- lowing described parcels of land currently believed to be owned by the Trustees of the Batchelder Estates Trust for the following described purposes, or take any other action with respect thereto: Those certain parcels of land situated off of Partridge Road and shown as Lots 5A-1, 5A-2 and 5A-3 on the plan entitled: "Plan of Land in Reading, Mass. Prepared For: Batchelder Estates Trust Scale 1" = 40' August 24, 1992" by Commonwealth Engineering, Inc. Lot 5A-1 is shown on said plan as containing 31,282 square feet (.72 acres) and is proposed to be acquired by the Town of Reading for general municipal purposes including use by the Board of Cemetery Trustees; Lot 5A-2 is shown on said plan as containing 189,764 square feet (4.36 acres) and is proposed to be acquired by the Town for conservation purposes; and Lot 5A-3 is shown on said plan as containing 13,508 square feet (.31 acres) and is proposed to be acquired by the Town for general municipal pur- poses including drainage purposes. Board of Selectmen Background Acceptance of Land Donation - Article 17 accepts the dona- tion of land from Batchelder.Estates for three purposes: a portion is to be attached to adjacent property for cemetery purposes (..72 acres); 4.36 acres to conservation purposes; and .31 acres for drainage purposes. This is in accordance with the development plan of Batchelder Estates, which is Partridge Lane off of Franklin Street. The attached sketch details this proposed land transfer. Bylaw Committee Report No Report Finance Committee Report No Report ARTICLE 18 To see if the Town will vote to transfer the care, custody, management and control of the following described land or portions thereof, which is commonly known as Batchelder Field, from the School Committee and/or Board of Selectmen to the Board of Cemetery Trustees for cemetery purposes and to the Conserva- tion commission for conservation purposes; and to see if the Town will vote to file a petition and/or approve the filing of a peti- tion to the General Court, if necessary, for a special act or for leave of the General Court, pursuant to Articles 49 and 97 of the Articles of Amendment to the Massachusetts Constitution, or any other enabling authority, authorizing the Town to transfer the care, custody and control of any portion of the following described land currently being held for conservation purposes to the Board of Cemetery Trustees, or take any other action with respect thereto: . The land shown as Lot 1 on Town of Reading Board of Asses- sors' Map 227, Revised January 1, 1984, and consisting of ap- proximately 37.14 acres situated on the northerly side of 9 I^^ S luau MAP AR-na-ES r7, 18 & 19 ENG S DMSM 10-92 BARE MEADOW CONSEFtV4TI0N AREA ..J 1 1 1 .J_ NG OFEN LAND TRUST FR BAFE MEADOW CO(VSER1/ATION ARTICLES 17,18 8k 19 ENGR. DIV. i0-92 TO CONSERVATION 7,,, TIQ"m t;ENE'TM TO CON9ERV~ION it SD}IpOL 2 i 2 i 5A-1 CEMETERY 5A- 11 m CEMETERY Article 18 (continued) Franklin Street, said land being shown as Parcels B, C and E on the plan of land entitled: "Plan of Land in Reading, Mass. Scale: (1" = 100' March 9, 1983" recorded at the Middlesex South District Registry of Deeds as Plan 295 of 1983. Board of Selectmen Background Transfer of Batchelder Field Property - Article 18 would transfer portions of the Batchelder Field property to Con- servation and to the Cemetery. 8.9 acres would go to the cemetery, which would be the front portions along Franklin Street. The remainder of which would be approximately 28 acres would go to conservation purposes. Because portions of the property have previously been accepted by the Town for Conservation and Recreation purposes, this article makes the transfer and requests legislative approval for portions of the transfer. The front portions of the property were initially accepted by the Town for school purposes, and released by the School Committee for other use in 1984. The attached sketch details this proposal. Bylaw Committee Report No Report Finance Committee Report No Report ARTICLE 19 To see if the Town will vote to file a petition and/or approve the filing of a petition to the General Court for a special act or for leave of the General Court, pursuant to Ar- ticles 49 and 97 of the Articles of Amendment to the Mas- sachusetts Constitution, or any other enabling authority, authorizing the Town to transfer the care, custody and control of the following described land from the Board of Selectmen and/or Conservation Commission to the Board of Selectmen and/or Conser- vation Commission for the purposes of conveying it to Richard and Arlene Harper of 695 Pearl Street, Reading, MA for consideration of the transfer by Richard and Arlene Harper to the Town of Read- ing of an equal or greater amount of land for conservation pur- poses; and to determine the minimum amount to be paid for such conveyance; and to authorize the Board of Selectmen and/or Con- servation Commission to convey all or any part of said property for such amount or a larger amount, and upon such other terms and conditions as the Board of Selectmen and/or Conservation commis- sion shall consider proper, and to deliver a deed therefor to said purchaser; and to see what sum the Town will raise by bor- rowing, or transfer for available funds or otherwise and ap- propriate to carry out the purposes of this article, or take any other action with respect thereto: Approximately 22,737.6 square feet of land in the Bare Meadow Conservation Area off of Pearl Street being a portion of Lot 2 on Town of Reading Board of Assessors' Map 238, revised January 1, 1978. , Conservation commission C_ 10 Article 19 (continued) Background Land Swap - Article 19 would petition the General Court for authorization to transfer control of 1/2 acre of conserva- tion land; authorize Selectmen to convey said land; and set the amount of payment for such conveyance. Richard and Ar- lene Harper have offered to exchange approximately 3.72 acres of land to the Town for conservation purposes, in return for approximately 1/2 acre (22,737.6 square feet) of Bare Meadow Conservation Area which abuts their house lot, and which has approximately twenty feet of frontage on Pearl Street, for the purpose of creating another house lot. The 3.72 acre parcel includes significant wooded uplands and wetlands and abuts Bare Meadow, the 4.36 acre parcel in Ar- ticle 17 (Lot 5A-2), and the 37.14 acre parcel in Article 18 (Lot 1). It would be added to Bare Meadow. The 1/2 acre parcel is wooded upland between two house lots on Pearl Street (between 695 and 701 Pearl Street). A buffer strip with ten feet of frontage and width would be retained along the side of 701 Pearl Street as part of Bare Meadow, to con- tinue to provide foot access to Bare Meadow (Bare Meadow has a parking lot nearby, behind 739 Pearl Street). Because this portion of Bare Meadow was acquired in part with State and Federal money, the exchange, if approved here, must also be approved by the Massachusetts Division of Conservation Services and the National Park Service. The major test applied by the two agencies is that land of equal monetary value and recreational use be acquired in exchange. This Article would do four things: (1) It would allow the Selectmen to transfer 1/2 acre of Bare Meadow out of conservation control for the purpose of the land exchange, subject to the General Court's (the Legislature's) approval; (2) It would set the minimum payment for conveyance of the 1/2 acre to the Harpers; (3) It would authorize the Selectmen to convey the 1/2 acre parcel to the Harpers in exchange for an equal or larder amount (the Harpers have agreed to exchange 3.72 acres), and it would authorize the Selectmen to set terms and conditions for the exchange; and (4) It would set a sum to be raised by the Town to carry out the purposes of this Article. No costs to the Town are associated with this article. Bylaw Committee Report No Report Finance Committee Report No Report ARTICLE 20 To see if the Town will vote to file a petition and/or approve. the filing of petition to the General Court for a special act or for leave of the General Court, pursuant to Ar- ticles 49 and 97 of the. Articles of Amendment to the Mas- sachusetts Constitution, or any other enabling authority, authorizing the Town to transfer the care, custody and control of 11 ARTICLE 20 RIFLE CWB-CONSERVATION SWAP ENGR. DIM 10-92 ti. ~h • ~ RlVfR 4 DEgO . ZANN/ 7A A w ~ (r®raL) O 7bjVN QF AFAD/NG a f~N/A -,f J/ uc o Q ~ ad37At~ i~~ ILL w / ZANN/ ' - / . o , O • ' 70 O w~ AREAS A & B TO CONSERVATION = 6.791 acres AREAS C & D TO RI CLUB = 6391 acres V ' I I I lla Article 20 (continued) the following described land from the Conservation Commission and/or Board of Selectmen to the Conservation Commission and/or Board of Selectmen for the purposes of conveying it to the Read- ing Rifle and Revolver Club, Inc. for consideration of the trans- fer by the Reading Rifle and Revolver Club, Inc. to the Town of Reading of an equal or greater amount of land for conservation purposes; and to determine the minimum amount to be paid for such conveyance; and to authorize the Board of Selectmen and/or Con- servation Commission to convey all or any part of such property for such amount or a larger amount, and upon such other terms and conditions as the Board of Selectmen and/or Conservation Commis- sion shall consider proper, and to deliver deed therefor to said Reading Rifle and Revolver Club, Inc.; and to see what sum the Town will raise by borrowing or transfer from available funds or otherwise, and appropriate to carry out the purposes of this ar- ticle, or take any other action with respect thereto: The land off of Haverhill Street shown as Parcels C and D on a plan of land entitled: "Plan of Land in Reading, Mass., Scale: 1" = 100' dated June 9, 1992 prepared by Gerrit Consulting." Par- cel C contains 270,254 square feet (6.204 acres) and Parcel D contains 25,581 square feet (.587 acres) all as shown on said plan. Parcels C and D are portions of Lot 1 on Town of Reading Board of Assessors' Map 125, revised October 10, 1972. Conservation Commission Background Haverhill Street Land Swap - Article 20 would petition the General Court for authorization to transfer control of con- servation land; authorize the Board of Selectmen to convey said land; and set amount of payment for such conveyance. The Reading Rifle and Revolver Club has a license agreement with the Town to maintain its 600 yard firing line on a por- tion of South Cedar Swamp Conservation Area. The firing line existed prior to the Town's acquisition of South Cedar Swamp. This article would swap an equal amount of.land be- tween the Reading Rifle and Revolver Club and the Town. The bulk of the land to be acquired by the Town (6+ acres) would provide a better buffer corridor along the Dead River, which flows into North Cedar Swamp Conservation Area. Buff- ers like this one are a priority reason for acquisition of conservation land. Conveyance to the Club will eliminate the need for the license, and straighten out the boundary between the two owners. The attached sketch outlines the details of this transfer. Bylaw Committee Report No Report Finance Committee Report No Report ARTICLE 21 To see if the Town will vote to authorize the Board of Selectmen to convey and/or abandon certain rights of easements for emergency access and pedestrian access in Reading, 12 `r Ra. R ^ F 1 s a fill, A OE- ..t . Ly .11 6 E f '-•`'s? 3 c' w N.P gyn. a/~ I a~ y o u ~ a~p• P~Or 3 ` A! w 5 ~ i V W v ^ W M n BENT ~ n ea A A " ,K~ PO ~r V1 ~ t. ur v v ~ IMbL f e'' F n 9 A~ sa STsQ 1 ~er r , w•~ r in w ` , ~to~ f'a ~ e.►nn 0 s*ceu KIM Ic/K M,p lF~"" - i1. 3 I L•El ft Sir= A Vw~O 'i rn a o 3n. . - V _ BARROWS ROAD - •.MN °T. IN.CV q ° SC ~ 1 I 1 ; ool m F ~Zrr ~ Jill- 9111 h1i. 9 i S ww.{ ~ w~G a tr\ cur H f x~ ;r / ~F z t socx 38. .p Ti M,2 yY S R~~ Ljy~ i~a .~2 .o Y +r 0 5 N i u+ 2 v • u h t ~ #0 1,;; O . u W YI V S j6.Iw s P y O f S ~ rip F ~ n ~ h _ •4 1 3 °-0 .v `u V PILGRIM ROAD .TN m Z ws R D O w n ~ f1 12a :a+:ata; e a a'' sT T I.. a g ;cM aa~p spa" ~ a o n~i 3 1 bye SOX a~ aN a O rO ~ b W y« r ~ " L7 ~ rya \ ~i v r ' ' re a rW~ J w u N 1J T . Yllr N W✓rw J O^ ~ Lw-1 G C ~Z~ m0 <za t S 1 Z Z A N Article 21 (continued) Middlesex County, MA, situated on Lots 16 and 17 shown on a plan entitled: "Definitive Plan Benton Circle & Aurele Circle, Read- ing, Mass." dated August 28, 1979 and recorded in the Middlesex South District Registry of Deeds, which were conveyed to the Town in a "Conveyance of Easements and Utilities" dated October 17, 1979 recorded at said Registry of Deeds in Book 13824, Page 84, including authorizing the reduction of the size of said thirty (301) foot wide easement and/or the size of the ten (101) foot wide paved emergency access located thereon, and to determine the minimum amount to be paid for such conveyance and/or abandonment, and to authorize the Board of Selectmen to convey or abandon all or any part of said rights of easements for such amount or larger amount and upon such other terms and conditions as the Selectmen shall consider proper and to deliver a deed therefore if neces- sary; or take any other action with respect thereto. By Petition Background Modify Easement By Petition - Article 21 is a petition ar- ticle which would vacate or modify an easement between the end of the cul-de-sac on Benton Circle and the end of the dead end street on Margaret Road. There has been con- siderable discussion about this easement and its use for pedestrian access and for public safety purposes. Both the Police and Fire Chief have indicated that it is no longer needed for public safety purposes. 1 The attached sketch details the proposed change. Bylaw Committee Report No Report Finance Committee Report No Report ARTICLE 22 To see if the Town will vote to authorize the Board of Selectmen to convey and/or abandon a certain forty (401) foot right of way and easement in Reading, Middlesex County, MA situated on Lot 8 on a plan entitled: "Final Subdivision Plan of Pine Grove Estates, Reading, Mass. Scale 1" = 4011' dated June 1, 1973, as revised, recorded at the Middlesex South District Registry of Deeds as Plan No. 516 of 1974; to determine the mini- mum amount to be paid for such conveyance and/or abandonment, and to authorize the Board of Selectmen to convey or abandon all or any part of said right of way and easement for such amount or larger amount and upon such other terms and conditions as the Selectmen shall consider proper and deliver a deed therefor if necessary; or take any other action with respect thereto. Board of Selectmen Background Vacate Pine Grove Estates Easement - Article 22 would vacate an easement on Haverhill Street that was formerly part of the Pine Grove Estates Development. This subdivision was re-worked and the easement is no longer required. 13 13a Article 22 (continued) The attached sketch shows the details of this easement. Bylaw Committee Report No Report Finance Committee Report No Report ARTICLE 23 To see if the Town will vote to amend the Reading Zoning By-Laws as follows, or take any other action with respect thereto: 1. Amend Section 2.2.13. definition of "Frontage" by ad- ding the phrases "a lot line along" and "having a depth into the lot of not less than twenty (20) feet," so that Section 2.2.13. shall read as follows: 2.2.13 FRONTAGE: the continuous length of a lot line along a street line, having a depth into the lot of not less than twenty (20) feet, not burdened by access easement at the time of subdivision, across which access is legally and physically available for pedestrians and vehicles. The end of a street without a cul-de-sac shall not be considered frontage." 2. Add the following new Section 2.2.21.1.: 112.2.21.1 LOT WIDTH: the width of a lot governed by the diameter of a circle, said circle fitting entirely within the lot and being tangent with the front lot line." 3. Amend Section 5.1.2. "Table of Dimensional Controls" by adding under "Minimum Lot" a new column entitled "Lot Width, Circle Diameter, feet" and by inserting the following figures into said new column in the following rows: "Lot Width Circle Diameter One or Two Family Dwelling feet in S-10 District 60 in S-20 Districts 60 in S-40 Districts 60" Community Planning and Development Commission Background Zoning By-Law Amendment on Lot Width - The Community Plan- ning and Development Commission has noticed that as land in Reading has become scarcer, property owners and developers have become increasingly creative in subdividing existing properties for the purpose of maximizing the number of lots. Often this has occurred with larger parcels in established neighborhoods. The Commission has heard complaints about this trend from residents in various parts of Town. While 14 m c d C 0 w -d 4 .j d 4 11 4 d d E d d V J t tS 3 0 M N W J U Q C O ~a. m N` r~ 14a Article 23 (continued) such lots have the requisite lot size and street frontage, the configuration of the new lots is often unusual or ir- regular. Examples are hourglass-shaped lots, or porkchop- shaped lots. These result in unconventional siting of houses on such lots and in a higher development density than is either intended by zoning or than what a neighborhood could reasonably expect. The purpose of this article is to reduce, if not eliminate, the ability to create these non- standard types of new lots. It does so by requiring that frontage have not only a length, as it does now, but also a depth (20 feet), and by establishing a geometric standard for the shape of new lots, through requiring that a lot must be of a shape that will contain, inward from the frontage, a circle of at least a 60-foot diameter. Bylaw Committee Report No Report Finance Committee Report No Report ARTICLE 24 To see if the Town will vote to amend Section 4.9 of the Reading Zoning By-Laws as follows, or take any other ac- tion with respect thereto: 1. Amend Section 4.9.2.1. by inserting the following definitions in proper alphabetical order in said section: ( I Article 24 (continued) "DNA: Deoxyribonucleic acid" "RDNA technology: The industrial science of molecular con- struction outside living cells by join- ing natural or synthetic DNA segments to DNA molecules that can replicate in a living cell." 2. Amend Section 4.9.3.2. by inserting the following sen- tence after the first sentence of the third paragraph thereof: "The need for a three-dimensional model for large projects shall be discussed by the developer and CPDC and a determination shall be made as to whether such a model shall be an application requirement." 3. Amend Sections 4.9.3.3. and 4.9.3.10. by deleting from the last sentence of each section the phrase "in the CPDC's regulations" 4. Amend Section 4.9.3.4. by deleting from the second sen- tence thereof the phrase "or in a fee schedule for PUD review specifically adopted and amended by the CPDC from time to time" 5. Amend Section 4.9.3.6. by adding at the end of the first sentence thereof the phrase and whose fees are paid for by the developer." 15 Article 24 (continued) 6. Amend Section 4.9.4.2 by deleting the subsection com- mencing with the words "Research and Development uses" in its en- tirety and substituting therefor the following: "Research and Development uses, such as electronic and computer laboratories; biotechnology laboratories including those which utilize RDNA technology; light manufacturing related to electronic or computer laboratories or biotechnology laboratories including those which utilize RDNA technology, but excluding activities which ex- clusively possess, use or transfer licensed nuclear materials (including source materials, special nuclear materials, or by- product materials as defined in Title 10, Chapter 1 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Part 20, "Standards for Protection Against Radiation"), or other toxic or hazardous materials;" 7. Add the following new Section 4.9.5.7.: 114.9.5.7. Special Requirements for Biotechnology Uses The following provisions shall apply to any establishment involv- ing the use of biotechnology: a. Biotechnology exclusion: Any RDNA technology use re- quiring P4 level of containment or involving the use of insect viruses to propagate DNA sequences, as clas- sified by.guidelines or regulations promulgated by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) of the United States Department of Health and Human Services, includ- ing those contained in 46 F.R. 34463-34487 on July 1, 1981 as may be amended and 45 F.R. 24968-24971 on April 11, 1980 as may be amended, shall be prohibited. b. Safety Requirements: Any use of RDNA technology shall require compliance with the administrative safety re- quirements of Section IV-D of the "Guidelines for Research Involving Recombinant DNA Molecules" (46 F.R. 34463-34487) promulgated by the National Institutes of Health on July 1, 1981, as may be amended,.including but not limited to the following: (1) Establishment of an Institutional Biosafety Com- mittee (IBC), (2) Development of safety plans and manuals, (3) Appointment of a Biological Safety Officer (only in establishments using biotechnological research or manufacturing requiring P3 level of containment as defined in section 4.9.5.7.a. above). C. Permits and Inspections: Any use of RDNA technology within a Zoning Overlay District shall require a spe- cial permit issued by the Reading Board of Health. Such permit shall be issued upon certification by the IBC that the facility is in compliance with this PUD 16 Article 24 (continued) By-Law and NIH guidelines. The Board of Health shall conduct annual inspections to ensure compliance. The IBC shall renew certification annually. d. Environmental Surveillance Program: The IBC shall es- tablish medical and environmental surveillance programs in accordance with NIH guidelines and submit such. programs to the Board of Health for approval. Such surveillance programs shall include wastewater sample monitoring and reporting of test results to the Board of Health on a periodic basis to ensure that recom- binant organisms are not released into the environment. Emergency preparedness training for the Department of Human Services, Fire Department, Police Department, and Department of Public Works shall be conducted to train personnel for emergency response. Community Planning and Development Commission Background Zoning Amendment to Allow Biotechnology Uses in the Planned Unit Development Zoning Overlay District - As adopted in 1987, the Planned Unit Development (PUD) section of the Zoning By-Laws prohibits biotechnology uses in the PUD Zoning Overlay District, which is coterminous with the In- dustrial District. Since that time, the economic viability of biotechnology enterprises, and the prospect for these en- terprises to become a major component of the economic and employment base of our region, have increased. The purpose of this Article is both to make specific allowance for per- mitting such uses in our Industrial/PUD area and at the same time to impose adequate safeguards to ensure that such en- terprises operate with no risk to public and employee health or safety. This proposed amendment incorporates specific, and extensive, safety and monitoring requirements set forth by the National Institutes of Health. These standards have been adopted by other municipalities seeking to allow or en- courage the establishment or growth of biotechnology uses. Bylaw Committee Report No Report Finance Committee Report No Report ARTICLE 25 To see if the Town will vote to amend the Reading Zoning By-Laws by amending Section 6.2.1. thereof as follows, or take any other action with respect thereto: 1. Delete Section 6.2.1.1. in its entirety and substitute therefor the following: 116.2.1.1. There shall be no permanent special promotion signs or banners or temporary or permanent streamers, pennants, balloons, or placards erected, suspended, posted, or affixed in any manner outdoors or on the building exterior or premises." 17 Article 25 (continued) 2. Amend Section 6.2.1.2. by adding the phrase except for temporary special promotion signs as provided in Section 6.2.1.3. hereof" after the phrase "located and" so such Section shall read as follows: 116.2.1.2. Signs shall relate to the premises on which they are located and, except for temporary special promotion signs as provided in Section 6.2.1.3. hereof, shall only identify the oc- cupant of such premises, the services available, hours of opera- tion, the products sold and their respective trade names." 3. Add the following new Section 6.2.1.3.: 116.2.1.3. Temporary special promotion signs shall be allowed in any business or industrial zoning district only under the fol- lowing conditions: They shall be allowed only through the issuance of a tem- porary sign permit issued for a maximum period of sixty (60) days by the Building Inspector upon his satisfaction that all of the following conditions are fulfilled; should the Building Inspector find that one or more of these conditions are not being ful- filled, he shall revoke said permit, whereupon failure to remove such sign immediately shall be a violation of these Zoning By- Laws. They shall be only for purposes of informing the public of non-recurring, seasonal or temporary special sales, promotional events, open houses or grand openings conducted on the premises. They shall contain no internal illumination or be il- luminated by any flashing, traveling, intermittent, revolving or moving lighting. Not more than three (3) such signs shall be permitted on any premises at any one time. They shall not be hand-lettered, but shall be professionally lettered on paper, cardboard, metal, or plastic signboards, or on cloth banners, affixed to a building wall, window or pre-existing permanent post. Placement and maximum signboard area of any such sign shall be as follows: (1) If affixed to a wall, no more than forty-eight (48) square feet and affixed parallel to the wall; (2) If affixed to a window, no more than twenty-five per- cent (25%) of the area of the window; if no temporary sign permit is in effect for the premises, then there shall be no limitation as to interior signs on those premises. 18 Article 25 (continued) (3) If affixed to a post, no more than twelve (12) square feet, no closer to the front property line of the premises than five (5) feet, and no lower than eight (8) feet above the ground as measured to the bottom of the signboard." Community Planning and Development Commission Background Temporary Signs - The Zoning By-Laws as written make no al- lowances for businesses to have temporary signs for inform- ing potential customers of special sales, promotional events, and similar non-recurring business activities. This Article would allow such signs, but only to a limited ex- tent, and only under specified conditions. Enforcement would be expedited through issuance of sixty-day temporary sign permits. These signs would be in addition to the per- manent business identification signs already allowed in the Zoning By-Laws. Bylaw Committee Report No Report Finance Committee Report No Report ARTICLE 26 To see if the Town will vote to amend Section 4.10. of the Reading Zoning By-Laws by making the following dele- tions and insertions to Sections 4.10.1., 4.10.2., 4.10.2.1.1 ( 4.10.3.3., 4.10.3.3.4., 4.10.3.3.8., 4.10.4.1., 4.10.4.2.1., 4.10.4.2.2., 4.10.4.3., 4.10.4.3.1., 4.10.4.3.2., 4.10.4.4., 4.10.5.4. and 4.10.6., or take any other action with respect thereto: (Proposed insertions are shown in underlined boldface type, proposed deletions are shown in overstrike.) 4.10. Planned Residential Development (PRD) 4.10.1. Purpose: The purpose of the Planned Residential District (PRD) is to per- mit integrated high-quality residential developments with vari- able densities while permitting preservation of open space and natural features, allowing reduced infrastructure and site development costs, to promote a greater diversity of housing op- portunities within the Town while respecting and enhancing the existing character of the Town and of the neighborhood, and to promote attractive standards of appearance and aesthetics consis- tent with that character. There shall be three types of PRD Districts: PRD-A: Affordable Planned Residential Development PRD-G: General Planned Residential Development PRD-M: Planned Residential Development on current or former municipally owned properties. 19 Article 26 (continued) 4.10.2. Planned Residential District as an overlay District: A PRD Zoning District shall take the form of an overlay district covering any part of an existing residential 5-19-er-A-~6~9 zoning district on the Reading zoning map. The A PRD-A or PRD-M Zoning overlay District shall be applied to a specific parcel or parcels only through specific action by Town Meeting in a manner identi- cal to that required to a €eet-any--o-t -=e ra37ge--c}r amendment-te the Reading Zoning Map. A PRD-G Zoning Overlay District may be +.w«1 A -A 4-- -1 l - -v -4- 4 .v" ~ O ft. va-nAnr7 u-v -nPf Q4 -neTI n-fnm4 1 V residential zoning district (that is, 5-10, S-20, or 5-40) through action by Town Meeting to amend the Reading Zoning Map. For any land subject to a PRD Overlay District a Developer may choose to conform either to the zoning regulations which govern the underlying district or to the PRD overlay regulations and procedures set forth by this Section, the specific provisions of which shall supersede all other provisions in the Zoning By-Laws with respect to the underlying district including, without limitation, use, intensity, dimensions, parking, signage and site plan review; however, the provisions of any other overlay dis- trict shall continue to apply. 4.10.2.1. Definitions: The following terms shall have for the purposes of this PRD By- Law the meanings hereby assigned to them: Developer: one or more entities proposing together to develop a Planned Residential Development parcel. Existing: in existence at the time of filing a complete Preliminary PRD Plan submission. Floor Area Ratio (or "FAR") : in a PRD, the ratio of total gross building floor area in a PRD to the area of the development parcel. Gross floor area shall be measured from outside wall surfaces and shall include ground floor areas of interior atriums and lobbies, and mechanical and utility spaces on habitable floors; but shall exclude rooftop space, balconies, elevator pits, or non-habitable areas enclosed by ornamental roofs. Structured parking and garages shall not be counted in the determination of Floor Area Ratio. Areas clas- sified as wetlands in MGL Chapter 131 Section 40 or Reading General By-Laws Article XXXII, may not exceed ten percent of the development parcel area eligible to be used in any computation of FAR. Height: the vertical distance from the average grade around the perimeter of a building to the top of a flat roof, including any parapet, or to a point halfway between the bottom of an eave and the top of a ridge of a sloped roof. 20 Article 26 (continued) Inclusionary_Housing: (1) Affordable Housing: Housing units available for purchase by households with annual incomes less than one-hundred percent (1000) of the median an- nual household income for the Boston Metropolitan Area as determined by the most recent calculation of the U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, (2)_ Moderately Priced Housing: Housing units available for purchase by households with annual incomes be- tween one-hundred percent (1000) and one-hundred- twenty-five percent (125%) of the median annual household income for the Boston Metropolitan Area as determined by the most recent calculation of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Develop- ment. Major Street: a street used for through access and carrying traffic volumes of greater than 10,000 vehicles per average day. Minor Street: a street used primarily for access to abutting properties or carrying traffic volumes of less than 10,000 vehicles per average day. PRD By-Law: Section 4.10. of the Reading Zoning By-Laws in- cluding all subsections thereof. Site: the development parcel upon which a PRD is proposed. Structured Parking: in a PRD, a parking garage, or all or l part of building floors above or below grade to be used for automobile parking. 4.10.3.3. Preliminary Plan: A Developer who wishes to apply for a Special Permit to construct a PRD shall submit to the CPDC an application including a Preliminary PRD Plan submission for the entire proposed project. If the Developer of the PRD comprises more than one entity, all participating entities shall be signatories to the Special Permit application. Two copies of the Preliminary PRD Plan shall remain available to the public during the application process and shall be located in the office of the Community Development Department and the Read- ing Public Library. -Amy-ire-elnsag--modt-3.--off -tore--p3°o~d prejee-t--a9- tad-be-Sri- ei --gin-Elie--~FD(~-'~-- eel fat tars--s -fir-be disp~ayeel-at-a-ettitable-pt~3~lie-l~t~ileline}-~aitl~in-tke-~e6an- 4.10.3.3.4. Town Review: Between the date a Developer submits a complete application for a Special Permit to construct a PRD and the date of the first Public Hearing, CPDC may require the distribution of the Prelimi- nary PRD Plan for review to Town departments, elected and ap- pointed boards and commissions, and such professional planning, architectural, and engineering consultants as the CPDC deems ap- propriate and whose fees are paid for by the developer. All com- ments on the Preliminary PRD Plan shall be submitted in writing 21 Article 26 (continued) to the CPDC no later than five days before the scheduled date of the first Public Hearing. All written comments shall be made part of the public record on the application for a Special Permit and shall remain a public record. 4.10.3.3.8. Submission of Final Plan: The Final PRD Plan shall be a definitive plan of the proposed development with design sufficiently developed to provide the basis for CPDC's review and determinations regarding the. proposal's satisfaction of the requirements, standards, and guidelines of this PRD By-Law, and shall conform to the submis- sion and content requirements specified in sections 4.10.3.3.3. and 4.10.3.3.9. The Final Plan shall be consistent with the ap- proved Preliminary PRD Plan except for changes by amendment or in accordance with conditions attached to the CPDC's approval of the Preliminary PRD Plan, and shall satisfy all such conditions. The Developer shall submit a Final PRD Plan no later than 59 days after the close of the Public Hearing referred to in section 4.10.3.3.5. Failure to submit the Final PRD Plan within the specified time period shall result in a termination of the ap- plication for a PRD Special Permit. The Developer shall submit complete sets of all plans and all ac- companying material as specified in subsection 4.10.3.3.9. in ac- cordance with the procedure set forth in section 4.10.3.3. Two copies of the Final PRD Plan shall remain available to the public during the application process and shall be located in the office of the Community Development Department and in the Reading Public C Library. Any-three-elimensienal-meelel-a€-tl~e-prepeseel-pre~eet-as-may-be-re- qu~~eel- pt~blie-bt~ileling-within-the-3~ewn- 4.10.4.1. Parcel Size: ~19e-minimum-side-ef-anp-PRH-ele~elepment-paree~-shall-3~e-eight-f 8} acres. A development parcel may consist of land in more than one ownership, provided that all lots comprising the parcel lie en- tirely within a PRD Overlay District and are contiguous. Proposed PRD developments may include pre-existing buildings provided that all PRD requirements are satisfied by each new or existing building and by the PRD as a whole. More than one prin- cipal building may be located on the parcel. The minimum size of any PRD development parcel shall be as fol- lows: •PRD-A: eight (8) acres, PRD-G: sixty-thousand (60,000) square feet, PRD-M: eight (8) acres. 4.10.4.2.1. Required Tnew--anel-Meelerate-lneeme Inclusionary Hous- ing: PRD-A: Any PRD-A development shall provide on-site af- fordable housing units at a minimum equal to ten per- cent (100) of its total number of housing units and may provide a larger portion as allowed in section 4.10.4.3.1. 22 Article 26 (continued) PRD-G: Any PRD-G development may provide affordable andjor - moderately priced housing units as allowed in section 4.10.4.3.1., PRD-M:Any PRD-M development shall contain or provide off- site in a manner acceptable to the Reading Housing Authority affordable housing units at a minimum equal to ten percent of its total units (both on-site and off-site). 4.10.4.2.2. Standards for on-Site Inclusionary Housing Units:. Inclusionary housing units shall have a minimum gross floor area of nine-hundred (900) square feet, Inclusionary housing units shall be integrated into the PRD .a-- 1 r..n.n--4- --A --4- A 4-^rY'e*1h or- _ nra *h = 4 r =%r- rerior appearance snail De aesignea to Ae inaista-n- guishable from the market-rate units in the same development, The developer shall provide adequate guarantee, acceptable to the CPDC, to ensure the continued availability of the inclusionary units in perpetuity; such guarantee may include deed restrictions, recorded deed covenants relative to equity limitation, or other acceptable forms, No more than eighty percent (80%) of the building permits for the market-rate units shall be issued for any PRD development until construction has commenced on all the j inclusionary units in the PRD development; no more than eighty percent (80%) of the occupancy permits for the market-rate units shall be issued until all of the oc- cupancy permits for the inclusionary units have been issued. 4.10.4.3. Intensity of Development: For al+ PRD developments, the following basic intensity factors shall apply: Maximum coverage of the parcel by the aggregate ground area of all buildings: 25%, Maximum floor area ratio: 0.40, minimum separation between buildings: equal to the height of the taller building but in no case less than 40 feet, Maximum building height: (1) PRD-A and PRD-G: as allowed in the underlying zoning district, (2) PRD-M: 48 feet, not to exceed four stories, Minimum setbacks as measured between bounds of the parcel and any portion of any building or structure: 60 feet in all directions, Parking: an enclosed garage for an individual residential unit may count as one required parking space and a driveway for an individual residential unit may count as one re- quired parking space provided said driveway has minimum dimensions of 10 feet by 20 feet: 23 Article 26 (continued) (1) PRD-A and PRD-M• 1.75 spaces per residential unit, (2) PRD-G° 2 spaces per residential unit. CLoading and unloading: (1) PRD-A and PRD-M: one space per building containing multiple units with a common entrance, except that CPDC at its discretion and in accordance with section 4.10.5.4. may allow fewer spaces, (2) PRD-G: none, except that one space shall be provided for any common building or facility, except that CPDC at its discretion and in accordance with sec- tion 4.10.5.4. may allow fewer spaces. Maximum number of dwelling units per gross area of land con- tained within the parcel shall be ba9eel-open-tke-ttneler- ~ying-Bening-e~9triet as follows: (1) PRD-A: Allowable basic development density, ac- cording to the underlying zoning district in which the parcel is located, shall be based on the per- PRD-A development parcel, according to the follow- ing formula: percent of maximum underlying inclusionary development zoning: housing units: density: S-10 10%: 3.900 units/acre each additional 0.065 additional one percent: units/acre 50%: 6.500 units/acre 51% to 100%: 6.500 units/acre S-20 and S-40 10%: 2.300 units/acre each additional 0.105 additional one percent: units/acre 50%: 6.500 units/acre 51% to 100%: 6.500 units/acre At least fifty percent (50%) of the total number of inclusionary housing units shall be affordable housing units. (2) PRD-G° Maximum basic development density for a PRD-G development shall be based on the underlying zoning district in which the development is lo- cated as follows: -S-10: 3.25 units per acre, -S-20: 1.25 units per acre, -S-40: 1.00 units per acre; (3) --S-+G--end- Pr-&OPRD-M: 10 dwelling units per gross acre, with the additional limitation that no PRD development may contain more than 100 residential units. 24 Article 26 (continued) 4.10.4.3.1. Increased Development Intensity and Height: PRD-A• The basic intensity and height factors specified in section 4.10.4.3. may not be increased, PRD-G• The basic intensity, but not heicrht, factors specified in section 4.10.4.3. may be increased as fol- lows, provided that in no case-shall the development density be increased to a level equal to more than one-hundred=twenty percent (120%) of the basic density: (1) For every affordable housing unit provided, one additional market-rate housing unit may be provided, (2) For every two moderately priced housing units provided, one additional market-rate housing unit may be provided, PRD-M: The basic intensity and height factors specified in section 4.10.4.3. may be increased up to the following levels if the CPDC finds that a proposed provision of public improvements or amenities by the Developer would result in substantial benefit to the Town and the general public: (1) maximum floor area ratio: 0.65 (2) maximum building height: 72 feet, not to exceed six stories, except that not more than one-third of the total number of any PRD development's residential units may be contained in a building I or buildings greater than 48 feet in height (3) maximum number of dwelling units per gross acre of land contained within the parcel7-based-en-the-un- elelyine3-~enine3-elistiett-f} 5-8--anel--Pr-88: 16 dwelling units per-gross-aere, with the additional limitation that no PRD=M development may contain more than 160 residential units. The aforementioned improvements or amenities which CPDC may consider in granting some amount of increased in- tensity and height shall include one or more of the following, provided that, in the estimation of the CPDC, the benefit to be derived from the proposed im- provements or amenities shall be commensurate with the amount of increased intensity or height allowed: (1) significant improvement of the environmental quality or condition of the site and its surround- ing areas, including a decrease in runoff, (2) provision of or contribution to off-site public facility improvements beyond those necessary to mitigate the effects of the proposed development which improvements would enhance the general con- dition of the surrounding areas, (3) dedication of open space or recreational facilities for use by the general public, 25 Article 26 (continued) (4) active cooperation by the Developer with other owners in the vicinity to develop and achieve district-wide and adjacent neighborhood improve- ment goals and objectives, (5) provision of public art, distinctive and ap- propriate design, or other amenities which would provide unique advantages to the general public or contribute to achieving Town-wide goals and objec- tives, (6) provision of lew---moderate-ieee--elderly affordable housing within the PRD in conformance with this PRD By-Law and/or off-site in a manner acceptable to the Reading Housing Authority in ex- cess of the amount required in section 4.10.4.2.1. 4.10.4.3.2. Fractional Computations: For all PRD density calculations which result in a fractional number, only fractions equal to or greater than x.76 may be rounded up to the next highest whole number; all other fractional numbers shall be rounded down to the nearest lower whole number. 4.10.4.4. Limitation of Subdivision: No lot or development parcel shown on a PRD plan for which a per- mit is granted pursuant to this PRD By-Law and remains validly in effect may be further subdivided, and a note to this effect shall be shown on the plan. 4.10.5.4. Site Circulation and Parking: Site circulation shall meet accepted standards for private automobiles, service vehicles, and emergency vehicles. It is highly desirable to consolidate access to a PRD in a small number of widely spaced principal access points, which may be driveways or Town-accepted side streets within or adjacent to the PRD Over- lay District. Principal access should be consolidated in as few locations as possible and, if feasible, it is desirable for ad- jacent developments to share principal access. Principal access points should be spaced and aligned or alternated according to good traffic engineering practice, and should be signalized if necessary. Parking stall size shall be in accordance with the Reading Zoning By-Laws and shall be landscaped in accordance with section 4.10.5.5.5. A minimum of five percent of the gross area of each parking lot shall be devoted to interior landscaped areas, of as uniform a distribution as practicable throughout the parking lots and planted intensively with trees and taller shrubs. Roadways and drives within a PRD shall be constructed in confor- mance with standards established by the Reading Department of Public Works, whether if proposed to be dedicated to the publie Town. The design of the overall circulation pattern shall be prepared in accordance with the principles and concepts established in "Recommended Practices for Subdivision Streets" prepared by the Institute of Traffic En- gineers (1965) or such other standard as accepted by the CPDC through duly adopted regulation. 26 Article 26 (continued) Private on-site roadways shall be allowed in any PRD development, provided that: Pavement widths for traveled ways (that is, not including parallel or perpendicular on-street parking) shall not be less than twenty (20) feet for two-way traffic or twelve (12) feet for one-way traffic Drainage and surface runoff are suitably accommodated if no curbing is to be provided, Construction standards referenced above, other than pavement widths and curbing, shall be adhered to, and All PRD Plans shall specify that such roadways are proposed not to be dedicated to the Town but are to remain private roadways; and all deeds conveying any portion of land or a structure in any PRD development contain- ing private roadways shall specify that such private roadways are and are always to remain private roadways. All on-site and off-site improvements, which include the instal- lation of utilities, public lighting, sewers, and other public improvements shall be constructed in accordance with the stan- dards of the Reading Department of Public Works and other ap- propriate departments. Utilities, including water, sewer, or storm drainage, proposed to be dedicated to the Town shall be contained in suitable easements which conform to standards set forth by the Reading Department of Public Works. ~Phe-p~e~isiens-ef-seetien-6-1--a€-tlge-Reading-~enine}-By-ba~as-net- w4:tkstand4:ng7 --a- -in-i ti-muin--&f--ene- o-f-f-stet- lrced-irr --and-tinlead4:ng space-per- 49,u-i3e13-ng-bra-1- --bre--pro-,-i-ded- in--a--srxi~al~~c -leeatien7-and tThe determination as to whether any lesser number of off-street loading and unloading spaces are allowed shall be determined by the CPDC as part of its review and approval of the Preliminary PRD Plan. 4.10.6. Residents Association: In order to ensure that common open space and common facilities within the development will be properly maintained, each PRD development shall have a Residents Association, which shall be in the form of a corporation, non-profit organization, or trust, es- tablished in accordance with appropriate state law by a suitable legal instrument or instruments recorded at the Middlesex South Registry of Deeds or Registry District of the Land Court. As part of the Final PRD Plan submission, the Developer shall supply to the CPDC copies of such proposed instrument, which shall at a minimum provide the information required by said PRD Plan Submis- sion and Development Regulations in effect at the time of Final PRD Plan submission. In cases where the PRD Plan proposes private roadways which do not meet standards established by the Reading Department of Public Works, said legal instruments pertaining to the Residents Association shall specify that the Residents Association shall be solely responsible for roadway maintenance, snow-plowing, and im- provements, for all costs associated with the operation and main- tenance of street lighting, and for reimbursement to the Town of all costs incurred by the Town relative to such private roadways in all acts of maintaining or repairing utility lines contained 27 Article 26 (continued) in utility easements dedicated to the Town. In cases where the PRD Plan shows private utilities, said legal instruments shall specify that the Residents Association shall be solely respon- sible for the operation and maintenance of said utilities. Community Planning and Development Commission Background PRD Amendments - This Article involves major amendments to the existing Planned Residential Development (PRD) Section of the Zoning By-Laws (Section 4.10) which were adopted by Town Meeting in 1988 and applied to the Town-owned Bear Hill property. The general purpose of this Article is to make the PRD broadly.applicable to privately-owned properties in the Town as an alternative to conventional single-family subdivisions (proposed PRD-G). Other general purposes of this Article are to retain the existing PRD provisions which apply to Bear Hill (proposed PRD-M) and to provide a mechanism for the specific development of affordable housing (PRD-A) as a more controllable alternative to the Comprehen- sive Permit (Chapter 774) mechanism allowed by State Law. As these proposed amendments constitute one of the most major revisions of residential zoning and land-use regula- tions ever proposed in Reading, the following series of Questions and Answers is designed to provide detailed ex- planations of various aspects of these amendments: What is a PRD? A PRD is a type of residential development built according to an overall, integrated site plan designed according to specific but flexible standards, featuring one or more types \ of housing units on one original parcel; it is intended to serve as a feasible alternative to conventional residential subdivisions. How does a PRD differ from a subdivision? Subdivisions are governed by separate Subdivision Regula- tions promulgated by CPDC in accordance with M.G.L. Chapter 41. A subdivision is characterized by the development of a public street to provide access and legal frontage for a series of individual house lots, each of which must conform to zoning regulations regarding minimum lot size, setbacks, and length of frontage. A PRD could contain a variety of individually owned housing types and may include public or private streets. A PRD can often have common facilities for use by PRD residents and neighbors, such as tennis courts, pool, tot lot, community building, playfields. As proposed, a PRD must feature the preservation of a significant extent of open space usable by all the residents of the PRD and have perimeter setbacks greater than those for subdivisions. The flexibility of site design and layout allowed for a PRD can usually result in a much lesser extent of impervious surface and of street pavement, utility runs, grading, and site disruption, all of which can result in significantly reduced infrastructure development and maintenance costs. 28 Article 26 (continued) Does a PRD necessarily mean townhouse condominiums?_ No. A PRD could have townhouses, but could just as readily have other home configurations, such as single-family on reduced-sized lots, zero-lot-line single-family, attached single-family sharing a common wall, and atrium single- family. A PRD would more readily allow for the preservation of any existing homes on a parcel than would a subdivision, many of which in Reading have entailed the demolition of ex- isting houses because of the inflexibility of conventional subdivision layout. A PRD would have common lands and could have common roadways and facilities, which would be jointly owned by the PRD homeowners. Does a PRD necessarily mean rental housing? No, in fact the proposed amendments specify that all PRD homes must be made available by the developer for purchase only. Beyond the initial sale, there is no guarantee against rental, just as there can be no guarantee that any existing single-family house in any old or new subdivision will not be rented at any time? What is the least that PRD homes could sell for? In a PRD-M it is estimated that the least a market-rate unit could sell for would be around $125,000, which would qualify as a "moderately priced" inclusionary housing unit; the "affordable" inclusionary housing units required in a PRD-M or given density incentives in PRD-A development would by EOCD and HUD guidelines sell for as little as $76,000. j These prices are enabled by reduced infrastructure costs and through increased density allowances by reduced land cost per unit. In a PRD-G development, it is estimated that the least a market-rate home would sell for would be around $150,000 to $175,000, enabled by reduced infrastructure and site development costs; as there is no density incentive allowed for market-rate homes, there would be no land cost savings per home. What other Towns have PRD's? Andover, Lincoln, Concord, Lexington, Weston, Wellesley, among others. What is a PRD By-Law? A PRD by-law, such as that already in existence as Section 4.10 of the Zoning By-Laws and as that contained through the proposed amendments, is a set of regulations that allow a PRD development, set forth the procedures for public review and approvals, establish allowable parameters of a PRD development (such as parcel size, height, density, setbacks), specify mitigation of impacts of the development on the vicinity of the site and on the Town in general, and outline design standards and criteria for evaluation of the proposed development. What is a Zoning Overlay District? All three types of PRD's proposed in Article 26 would be al- lowed through an overlay district. The underlying zoning, such as S-10 or S-20, would remain in full force and effect and still could be utilized for any permitted development. 29 Article 26 (continued) A PRD overlay district would in addition, allow the use of the PRD By-Law provisions as an option, subject to com- pliance with the restrictions and regulations of the PRD By-Law. What is the procedure for public review and protection? Article 26 specifies that a PRD may not be approved except through a full, two-stage set of public hearings by CPDC ac- cording to State Law procedures for Special Permits. Full public hearing notification to the public and to abutting landowners is required for each stage. The CPDC may not ap- prove a PRD proposal unless it is satisfied that all regulatory and environmental requirements are met com- pletely and that all PRD design guidelines are fulfilled to the greatest extent practicable. A PRD proposal would also be subject to review and conditions from the Conservation Commission if any part of the site falls within their juris- diction. In addition, a parcel may not be developed as a PRD-M or as a PRD-A unless Town Meeting specifically votes to amend the Zoning Map to include that parcel in a PRD Overlay Zoning District. What are the major development restrictions on PRD site design? The following restrictions apply to all types of proposed PRD's, together with a comparison with conventional subdivi- sion restrictions: Maximum PRD lot coverage: 25%; subdivisions 250 Maximum PRD floor area ratio: 0.4; subdivisions have no specified limit. Minimum PRD separation between buildings: equal to building height with a minimum of 40 feet; subdivisions 30 feet. Minimum PRD perimeter setback from abutting properties: 60 feet; subdivisions 15 feet. PRD perimeter screening from abutting properties: re- quired; subdivisions: none required. Required PRD open space: 40%, at least 15% must be upland open space; subdivisions: none required. Is there more than one type of PRD proposed? Yes. The amendments contained in Article 26 propose three types of PRD's in Reading: PRD-M (for Municipal), PRD-A (for affordable), and PRD-G (for general). What is a PRD-M? The PRD-M is simply a renaming of the PRD provisions already in effect, since 1988, for the Town-owned Bear Hill property. Basic development density is 10 units per acre; incentive density cannot exceed 16 units per acre. The proposed amendments do not change these provisions at all. 30 Article 26 (continued) The PRD-M could be applied to other Town-owned parcels, but only by the specific action of Town Meeting, through a Zoning Map amendment, to do so. What is a PRD-A? The PRD-A is designed to provide for inclusionary housing development both for households which earn less than 100% of the metropolitan median income ("affordable"), and for households which earn between 100% and 1250 of the metropolitan median income ("moderately priced"). Reading's median household income equals 119% of the metropolitan median income. The economics of a PRD-A are expected to be feasible through reduced infrastructure costs inherent in the PRD approach to land development, and through reduced land cost per house allowed by increased allowed development density, on a sliding scale up to 6.5 units per acre (or 167% of the density allowed by current S-10 zoning). At least 10% of the number of homes in a PRD-A must be inclu- sionary, and half of these inclusionary must be affordable. Building heights may not exceed the 35 feet allowed by ex- isting underlying zoning. Because the PRD-A does allow for increased densities above those allowed by current underlying zoning, it is proposed that any parcel may not be developed as a PRD-A unless Town Meeting specifically votes to place a PRD-A Overlay District on that parcel by so amending the Zoning Map. What is a PRD-G? A PRD-G could also be called a "cluster" development. It j allows for the development of a parcel as a PRD, with man- dated common open space and perimeter screening along abut- ting properties, reduced land development and infrastructure costs, private interior roadways, increased site design and layout flexibility, and increased perimeter setbacks along abutting properties, but at the same development density that would be allowed if the same land were to be developed as a conventional subdivision. Thus, there would be no in- crease in traffic or other development burdens or effects on the Town, residents, or neighborhoods. Building heights may not exceed the 35-foot limit that exists through existing underlying zoning. Parking requirements are the same. Existing 5-10 zoning allows a development density of up to 3.9 units per acre. Basic PRD-G density in an S-10 zoning district is proposed to be 3.25 units-per acre. If a PRD-G development takes advantage of the incentives for providing discretionary inclusionary housing in the development, maxi- mum density may not exceed 3.9 units per acre (3.25 X 120%), the same as 5-10 already allows. Existing S-20 zoning allows up to 1.8 units per acre. Basic PRD-G density in an 5-20 zoning district is proposed to be 1.25 units per acre, or with discretionary inclusionary housing on site, the maximum density cannot exceed 1.5 units per acre, less than the 1.8 already allowed. Bylaw Committee Report No Report Finance Committee Report No Report 31 ARTICLE 27 To see if the Town will vote to amend Section 4.2.2. "Table of Uses" of the Reading Zoning By-Laws by adding the phrase S-20, S-40, A-40" after the phrase "5-10" in the footnote so that such footnote shall read as follows, or take any other action with respect thereto: Planned Residential Development may be permitted only within a PRD Overlay District, which may exist only in an S-10, 5-20, S-40, A-40 or A-80 underlying Zoning District on the Zoning Map." Community Planning and Development Commission Background Amend Table of Uses - This article is a companion to Article 26, and would amend the Table of Permitted Uses, Section 4.2.2. of the Zoning By-Laws to expand the reference, "SPP", that a Planned Residential Development would be allowed as a Special Permit issued by the CPDC in the S-20, S-40, and A-80 underlying Zoning Districts as well as in the S-10 and A-40 underlying Zoning Districts in which a PRD is currently a permitted use. Bylaw Committee Report No Report Finance Committee Report No Report ARTICLE 28 To see if the Town will vote to amend the Reading Zoning By-Laws as follows, or to take any other action with respect thereto: Add Section 5.2.3.7. to read as follows: 115.2.3.7. Exception on corner lots Notwithstanding anything in this Section 5.2.3 to the con- trary, no building, or garage or other accessory structure in a Residence District shall be located nearer than twenty (20) feet to any street line." Article 28 (continued) Amend Section 5.1.2. Table of Dimensional Controls, by ad- ding a note at the bottom of the Table reading: " * See exception on Corner Lots, Section 5.2.3.7.11, and add an asterisk ( * ) next to the numbers in the Table under the Minimum Yards, Side, feet column corresponding to any row labeled S-10, S-20, S-40, A-40, or A-80. Community Planning and Development Commission Background Corner Lot Zoning - This Article seeks to amend the side .setback requirements on corner lots so that the setback on the side of any corner lot abutting a street would be the same, 20 feet, as the required front setback. Currently the Zoning By-Laws make no distinction about side setbacks for corner or interior lots, and side setback requirements are 15 feet for a house, 10 feet for a garage to the side of a house, and 5 feet for a garage, shed, or any other accessory building on that portion of a lot behind the house. The CPDC feels that this Article would serve two purposes: 32 Article 28 (continued) public safety and aesthetics. A garage as close to a side street as 5 feet poses safety hazards by not allowing enough stopping room between the garage and the side street. Also, on corner lots now, sheds and garages can be much closer to the street than houses on interior lots farther along the side street which forms frontage for those lots, requiring those houses to be at least 20 feet from the same street. Bylaw Committee Report No Report Finance Committee Report No Report ARTICLE 29 To see if the Town will vote to amend the Reading Zoning By-Laws by deleting Section 4.6. "Townhouse Development" in its entirety and by indicating that that Section is intention- ally being left blank, or take any other action with respect thereto. Community Planning and Development Commission Background Rescind Townhouse Sections - The Townhouse Section of the Zoning By-Laws, Section 4.6., was adopted in 1985, primarily to accommodate one proposed development. This section is of extremely limited applicability, and contains cumbersome procedures and inferior development standards from those set forth for other types of Special Permits. If the PRD amend- ments proposed in Article 26 are adopted, the Townhouse Sec- tion would become redundant, as such developments could be accommodated as a type of PRD, at a lesser density and with more open space than the existing Townhouse Section permits. Bylaw Committee Report No Report Finance Committee Report No Report ARTICLE 30 -To see if the Town will vote to amend the Reading Zoning Map by renaming the Planned Residential Development Over- lay District established under Article 13 of the Warrant for the 1989 Annual Town Meeting as a PRD-M Overlay District, or take any other action with respect thereto. Community Planning and Development Commission Background Zoning Map Amendment, PRD-M - Town Meeting in 1989 amended the Zoning Map to apply a PRD Zoning Overlay District to the Town's Bear Hill property, consisting of about 10.1 acres on Summit Drive, off Hopkins Street. If Article 26 is adopted, this Article would redesignate this existing PRD Overlay District as PRD-M, consistent with the PRD amendments con- tained in.Article 26. Bylaw Committee Report No Report Finance Committee Report No Report 33 ARTICLE 31 To see if the Town will vote to amend the Reading Zoning Map to establish a PRD-G Zoning Overlay District, as referenced in Section 4.10. of the Reading Zoning By-Laws, and to include within that Overlay District all areas of the Town con- tained in all S-10, S-20 and S-40 underlying Zoning Districts, or take any other action with respect thereto. Community Planning and Development Commission Background Zoning Map Amendment, PRD-G - This Article is a companion to Article 26 and seeks to amend the Zoning Map so that a PRD-G (General) Zoning Overlay District would be applied to the 5-10, 5-20, and S-40 underlying Zoning Districts in their entirety. The PRD-G requirements and standards contained in Article 26 stipulate that PRD-G developments would result in no increase in development density from the densities al- lowed by the existing S-10, S-20, and S-40 single-family residential zoning. As compared to conventional subdivision development, the PRD-G would provide significant benefits to the Town, such as improved variety in types and costs of residential development and preservation of upland open space as well as enhanced protection of wetlands and natural resource areas. It would also provide strengthened protections to abutting homeowners and neighborhoods, be- cause of increased setback requirements and provision of open space. Thus, the CPDC through this Article, seeks to provide opportunities for PRD-G development as readily as is now available for the development of conventional subdivi- sions. Bylaw Committee Report No Report Finance Committee Report No Report ARTICLE 32 To see if the Town will vote to amend the Reading Zoning Map to establish a PRD-A Zoning Overlay District as referenced in Section 4.10. of the Reading Zoning By-Laws, and to include in that Overlay District the Nitzche [sic Nitzsche] property at 453 Haverhill Street shown as Lot 1 on Reading Board of Assessors' Map 198, dated January 1, 1975, or take any other action with respect thereto. Community Planning and Development Commission Background Zoning Map Amendment, PRD-A - At the request of the property owner, the CPDC agreed to sponsor this Article to amend the Zoning Map to apply a PRD-A Zoning Overlay District to the parcel of land shown as Lot 1 on Board of Assessors' Map 198. This property is located at 453 Haverhill Street, and contains 14.9 acres abutting Cedar Swamp. As set forth in Article 26, any parcel of land may only have the application of a PRD-A (Affordable Housing) Zoning Overlay District by a specific action of Town Meeting to so amend the Zoning Map. Bylaw Committee Report No Report Finance Committee Report No Report 34 ARTICLE 33 To see if the Town will vote to amend Section 5.7 the General Bylaws of the Town by adding the following two sen- tences at the beginning of Section 5.7.16 thereof, or take any - other action with respect thereto: "The Conservation Commission may issue enforcement orders directing compliance with the provisions of this bylaw and the regulations adopted pursuant thereto, and may undertake any other enforcement action authorized by law. Any person who violates the provisions of this bylaw or the regulations adopted pursuant thereto may be-ordered to restore the property to its original condition and take other actions deemed necessary to remedy such violations." Conservation Commission Background Amend Bylaws: Art. 5.7, Sec. 5.7.16 - Enforcement - The 1990 Subsequent Town Meeting approved the addition of Sec- tion 5.7.16 to the Wetlands Protection Bylaws, to allow en- forcement by non-criminal disposition (tickets). A recent Supreme Judicial Court decision removed the authority of Conservation Commissions to perform an enforcement of the Wetlands Protection Act ("the Act"), because it was not ex- pressly provided for in the Act. To remedy this interpreta- tion, the General Court amended the Act in December of 1990 by adding language functionally identical to the wording in this Article. It is the intent of the Conservation Commis- sion to amend the Bylaws to remain consistent with the cur- rent Wetlands Protection Act, and to retain enforcement authority. Bylaw Committee Report No Report Finance Committee Report No Report ARTICLE 34 To see if the Town will vote to amend Section 5.7 of the General Bylaws of the Town by renumbering the present 5.7.17 to 5.7.18 and adding the following thereto as Section 5.7.17, or take any other action with respect thereto: 115.7.17. No person shall remove, fill, dredge or alter any area subject to protection under the provisions of this bylaw without the required authorization, or cause, suffer or allow such activity, or leave in place unauthorized fill, or otherwise fail to restore illegally altered land to its original condition, or fail to comply with an enforcement order issued pursuant to the provisions of this bylaw. Each day such violation continues shall constitute a separate offense except that any person who fails to remove unauthorized fill or otherwise fails to restore illegally altered land to its original condition after given [sic giving] written notification of said violation to the Conserva- tion Commission shall not be subject to additional penalties un- der this bylaw unless said person thereafter fails to comply with an enforcement order or order of conditions." Conservation Commission 35 Article 34 (continued) Backcfround Amend Bylaws: Art. 5.7, Sec. 5.7.17 - The 1990 Subsequent Town Meeting approved major amendments to the Wetlands Protection Bylaw to make it more consistent with current Massachusetts Wetlands Protection Regulations. In response to the SJC decision discussed in the background statement for Article 33, the General Court also amended the basic provisions of the Wetlands Protection Act to clarify the authority of Conservation Commissions to enforce the Act by requiring restoration of altered wetlands and removal of il- legal fill. The wording of this Article is functionally identical to the language added to the Act. It is the in- tent of this Article to amend the Bylaws to remain consis- tent with the current Wetlands Protection Act, and to retain enforcement authority. Bylaw Committee Report No Report Finance Committee Report No Report ARTICLE 35 To see if the Town will vote to amend the General Bylaws of the Town by adding the following as Section 3.8 thereof, or take any other action with respect thereto: 113.8. AUDIT COMMITTEE 3.8.1 There shall be an Audit Committee consisting of five \ (5) members appointed for three (3) year terms so arranged that as near an equal number of terms as possible shall expire each year. No member of the Audit Committee shall be a Town employee; however, notwithstanding the provisions of section 3.4.6 of these Bylaws to the contrary, a Finance Committee member may be a mem- ber of the Audit Committee. One (1) member shall be appointed by the Board of Selectmen, one (1) member shall be appointed by the School Committee, two (2) members shall be appointed by the Finance Committee and one (1) member shall be appointed by the Town Moderator. 3.8.2 The Audit Committee shall recommend to the Town Manager the firm of independent auditors that is to audit and report on the financial statements issued by the Town. The Audit Committee shall review the audit plan with the independent auditors and, upon completion of the audit, meet with the inde- pendent auditors to discuss the results of the audit and the an- nual financial reports. The Audit Committee shall transmit a copy of the completed annual audit and report to the Board of Selectmen, the Finance Committee, and the School Committee by the end of the calendar year within which the Fiscal Year covered by the audit occurs." Town Accountant 36 Article 35 (continued) Background - Establish Audit Committee - Article 35 would establish an Audit. Committee as a formal committee of the Town. An Audit Committee has previously existed informally, with no stan- dardized responsibilities or duties. This Article would for- malize this committee. Bylaw Committee Report No Report Finance Committee Report No Report ARTICLE 36 To see if the Town will vote to approve an Ad- ministrative code pursuant to Section 6-1 of the Reading Home Rule Charter, or take any other action with respect thereto. Board of Selectmen Background Reorganization - Article 36 would provide for reorganization of Town Departments. This is on the warrant in case, as a result of the evaluation of the Department of Public Works, some reorganization should be required. Bylaw Committee Report No Report Finance Committee Report No Report ARTICLE 37 To see if the Town will vote to amend the General Bylaws of the Town by adding the following as Section 5.12, or take any other action with respect thereto. 5.12 Regulation of Certain Motor Vehicles 5.12.1 No unregistered, uninspected or disassembled motor vehicle may be kept on any property within view from any public way, private way or abutting property, un- less one of the following exceptions applies and such use or exception is otherwise in compliance with the General and Zoning Bylaws of the Town. 5.12.1.1 The vehicle is regularly operated on the premises as a farm or other utility vehicle. 5.12.1.2 The owner is licensed as a dealer of new cars, used cars, or used parts under G.L. c. 140, Section 58, and operates such a business at that property location. 5.12.1.3 The owner is in the business of autobody repair a that property location. 5.12.1.4 The vehicle is insured personal property regularly used in show or operating competitions or displayed as a collectible. only one such vehicle shall be allowed per property. 37 Article 37 (continued) 5.12.2 Enforcement 1 5.12.2.1 Any vehicle(s) maintained on property in violation of Section 5.12.1 hereof fourteen (14) days after issuance of notice of such violation from the Building Inspector or Police Department shall be in violation of this Bylaw; and any person violating the provisions of this Bylaw shall be punished by a fine of Twenty-five Dol- lars ($25) for each offense and each day that such of- fense continues shall be considered a separate offense. 5.12.2.2 In addition to any other means of enforcement, the provisions of this Bylaw may be enforced by non- criminal disposition in accordance with the provisions of Section 5.11 of these Bylaws and Section 21D of Chapter 40 of the General Laws." Board of Selectmen Background Junk Car Bylaw - Article 37 is a Junk Car Bylaw which would restrict the number of junk cars that would be permitted on any residential lot in the community. Bylaw Committee Report No Report Finance Committee Report No Report C; 38 And you are directed to serve this Warrant by posting an at- tested copy thereof in at least three (3) public places in each precinct of the Town not less than fourteen (14) days prior to November 9, 1992, 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 Meet- ing Member at least fourteen (14) days prior to the time of hold- ing 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 ap- pointed for.said meeting. Given under our hands this th day of Oc ober, 1992. Daniel A. Ensminger, Ch rman Geor V. Hines, Vice Chairman Sally M. Hoyt, Se retary Willard J. rditt Eugene R. Nigro SELECTMEN OF READING A TRUE COPY. ATT S,T: r L.t.1A'V! Catherine A. Quimby Town Clerk Signature of Constable: , 4& 39