HomeMy WebLinkAbout2007-02-01 Zoning Board of Appeals MinutesIOWA C0
Town of Reading
ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS
Minutes of February 1, 2007
Members present: Robert Redfern, Chairman
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Members absent:
Susan Miller
John Jarema .
Michael Conway
Paul Dustin
Clark Petschek
Peter Tedesco
RECEIVED
OWN CLERK
READING MASS.
2001 APR 10 P 12: 43 ,
A meeting of the Zoning Board of Appeals was held in the Selectmen's Meeting Room of the
Town Hall, 16 Lowell Street, Reading, Massachusetts, at 7:00 P.M.
Other Business: Request for the release of the Maplewood Village Development bond.
The $12,000 donation from Maplewood Village for the public trails has been paid to the Town
by Maplewood. The Conservation Commission and the Town Engineer have both said the as-
built plans need additional work. The memo from the Town Engineer listed what he felt was the
remaining work left to be completed at the site.
Maplewood has asked for release of the entire bond but the Town Engineer said there needs to be
$14,619.70 held back for the additional completion of work necessary. The Chairman said the
Conservation Commission has to come to an agreement with Maplewood Village because they
do not think the as-built is sufficient and they have asked for more complete plans.
The Town Engineer recommends holding back 15% of the total estimated value of landscaping
until the growing season has commenced and the landscaping can be more closely evaluated.
The Chairman said he concurred with the Town Engineer's recommendation. Mr. Jarema said he
is concerned that no representatives from Maplewood were here at the meeting. He wanted to
know the time frame involved in completing the remaining work identified in the Town
Engineer's memo.
The Chairman said as-built drawings are not weather dependent and could be done quickly and
the remaining sign could be installed at any time. The review of the landscaping will have to wait
until April or May to make sure the plantings have survived the first winter.
ZJ3A Minutes, February 1, 2007
Mr. Jarema also wanted to know if the development is now fully occupied. He thinks this is
critical because if the Town holds back only $15,000 then the developer could possibly walk
away from the project. Mr. Jarema also thought that it was not a good omen that no
representative from Maplewood Village attended this meeting. Mr. Conway said the hold back is
just to see what has survived the winter because the landscaping is complete and they are just
waiting to see if it has rooted properly and survived the cold weather. Mr. Jarema said what
bothered him most is not the Town releasing a large portion of the bond but instead the cavalier
action on the part of the developer by not even appearing at this meeting. He would have wanted
someone to be available for questions.
Without the Town Planner, it leaves the Board without someone to supply necessary answers to
questions. The Chairman said he would favor the Town Engineer's recommendation of holding
back $14,000 until the growing season arrives. Mr. Jarema said the Board still does not know
what the Conservation Commission is going to determine at their next meeting with the
Applicant on February 14th so this discussion could be continued to the February 15th ZBA
meeting. Fran Fink, administrator of the Conservation Commission, could report to the Board
what transpires at the Conservation Commission meeting on the 14th to the Chairman. Mr.
Jarema said he would also like to ask the Applicant to have a representative present at the ZBA
meeting on February 15th.
The Board decided to continue the discussion of the Maplewood Bond issue to the February 15,
2007 ZBA meeting. The Chairman said that he would contact Fran Fink to let her know what
had transpired at tonight's ZBA meeting. The ZBA recording secretary will contact the
Maplewood Development representative to ask for their attendance at the February 15, 2007
meeting.
Minutes:
On a motion by Michael Conway, seconded by Robert Redfern, the Zoning Board of Appeals
moved to accept the minutes of December 7, 2006 with changes.
The motion was approved by a vote of 2-0-2 (Redfern, Conway).
On a motion by John Jarema, seconded by Susan Miller, the Zoning Board of Appeals moved to
accept the minutes of January 4, 2007 with changes.
The motion was approved by a vote of 3-0-1 (Redfern, Miller, Jarema).
2 ZBA Minutes, February 1, 2007
On a motion by. Susan Miller, seconded by John Jarema, the Zoning Board of Appeals moved to
adjourn the meeting.
The motion was approved by a vote of 4-0-0 (Redfern, Miller, Jarema, Conway).
3 ZBA Minutes, February 1, 2007