Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2009-05-11 Community Planning and Development Commission MinutesTown of Reading 16 Lowell Street Reading, MA 01867-2683 RECEIVED 1-Ot CLERK READkkiG, MAM. Phone: 781-942-6612 2Q1fl Fax: 781-942-9071 J ! Email: Ckowa1ski@ci.readfiig.ma.us Community Planning and Development Commission A Ra 0 S CPDC MINUTES Meeting Dated: May 11, 2009 Location: Selectmen's Meeting Room,. Town'Hall Time: 7:30 PM Members Present: Nicholas S fina (NS), Secretary -John Weston (JW); Joseph Patt son (JP), and Clair Paradiso (CP).. Members Absent: David Tuttle (DT), Chairman Also Present: Carol Kowalski (CK), Town Planner; Abigail McCabe (AM), Staff Planner; George Zambouras, Town Engineer (GZ); and Michael Schloth, Recording Secretary. Attorney Josh Latham of Latham, Latham & Lamond, P.C., 643 Main Street Attorney Christopher Coleman, Carter & Coleman Attorneys, 248 Main St., Reading, MA Mr. Arthur Triglione, 62 Grey Coach Road. Mr. Mike Phillips, Deer Run Developers Mr. Nick Nikolaou, V.P. Engineering, Danis Properties Mr. Kevin Bakas, Director of Constriction, Bertucci's Restaurants, Northborough, MA Ms_ Hazel Wood Hopkins, Sign Permit Consultant, Worcester, MA Ms. Julie Centrella, 79 Grove Street, Owner of Ame's Boutique Mr. Anthony D'Arezzo, 130 John Street As Chairman David Tuttle was unable to attend, Secretary Nicholas Safina took over the Chair's duties. There being a quorum the Chair called the meeting to order at 7:30 PM. Public Comment Mr. Mike Phillips of Deer Run Developers asked if Board would consider extending the completion date for the Kylie Drive Subdivision by 90 days. He also asked if he could schedule time before the Board at the next meeting to discuss a reduction of the bond put up by Deer Run Developers. GZ recommended extending the completion date to August, I". At that time, the as-builts and landscapi=ng can be reviewed with a better idea as to what lots could be released. Mr. Phillips had no issue with extending the completion date to August 1, 2009. JP moved. the Board. extend the completion date of the Kylie Drive Subdivision to August 1, 2009. CP seconded. - By a vote of 3:0:0 the completion date was extended to August 1, 2009. Page 1 of 6 CPDC Minutes of 5/11/2009 JW arrived and took his seat. Public Hearing: Site Plan Review & Signage Certificate of Appropriateness 545 Main Street, RCTV The Chair opened the public hearing and read the public notice. Attorney Josh Latham represented. the building owner Mr. Art Triglione who was also present. Attorney Christopher Coleman represented RCTV. Also appearing for RCTV was architect Peter Scott. In January 2009 the owner of the property was before the Board seeking a waiver for work required to bring the building up to code prior to allowing RCTV to occupy. The Board determined that work was exempt from site plan review. Tonight, RCTV and the owner are here for the site plan review of RCTV fit-up of the space they will occupy. Mr. Latham said the landlord will: • Stripe eleven parking spaces including a handicap space • Enclose the dumpster • Provide minor landscaping (i.e. series of evergreen trees along rear property line) • Replace current large entrance area into two (demising wall) • Be back to discuss any signage at a later date. Mr. Coleman described. RCTV's plans: • Use space (apprx 5,000 sq. ft.) for administration and production • 3-5 employees on site usually in the evening • Exterior glass will be transparent to passersby (like a retail storefront) • Wall sign with gooseneck lighting (not ready to present sign to Board) • Roof parapet/fascia taller to better match adjacent building (i.e. "Metropolitan Bath") and parapet/fascia will wrap onto alley-side wall apprx. 3 - 4 ft. The Board commented: • External lights. Specifications for any gooseneck lights including lumen output will be required. • Dumpster and alleyway access. Concerned location of dumpster will restrict vehicle movement from alley to rear parking lot. GZ noted both he and the Police Chief made the same comment at the Design Review Team (DRT) meeting for this site. The Board suggested moving the dumpster closer to Chapin Ave. Mr. Latham said he would have their engineer look at the plans again. • Loading spaces. CK informed the Board that the Police Chief had sent her an email stating the loadinig/unloading spaces should be posted as such. • Why no sidewalk on Chapin Ave? Mr. Triglione said if a sidewalk was put there cars would be parking in the middle of Chapin Ave. • Signage. The applicant should come back before the Board for any signage approval. JW moved the Board. close the public hearing. JP seconded. Page 2 of 6 CPDC Minutes of 5/11/2009 By a vote of 4:0:0 the public hearing for 545 Main Street was closed. JW moved the Board approve the Site Plan Review for 545 Main Street as submitted on plans dated February 4, 2009; March 12, 2009; March 19, 2009; and April 2, 2009; with the following conditions. 1. The parking spaces designated on the plans as "A", "B", and "C" are to be posted as loading/unloading spaces only; 2. A revised plan will be submitted showing that there is room for single unit vehicles to circulate down the alley, into the rear parking lot, and out onto Chapin Avenue; and 3. No exterior signage or lighting are approved CP seconded. By a vote of 4:0:0 the Board approved the Site Plan Review of 545 Main Street with conditions. The Chair stamped and signed the plans approved. Overall Signage Plan (Continued): 128 Marketplace (Danis Properties) Mr. Nick Nikolaou of Danis Properties appeared. for 128 Marketplace. Mr. Nikolaou. had. submitted for the Board's review a signage plan showing various types of sign designs Danis Properties would. like to allow. The Board noted that the proposed plans had been in place when the "Reading Athletic Club" opened it would not have been allowed to mount its existing sign and. in the opinion of the Board it is a very good sign. The consensus of the Board was the proposed plans still lacked some kind of dimensional definition. After discussion, the Board and Mr. Nikolaou agreed to specifying 60% of the wall space above a tenant's entranceway would be allowed for sign area. CK noted the wall sign for K&G Fashions is unique in that it is not located on a wall containing the tenant's space but on a wall to a common area. She said if there is a possibility this may occur again then it should be addressed now. The Chair asked if the public had comments. There were none. JW moved the Board approve the Overall (or Master) Signage Plan for 128 Marketplace as shown on sheets 1 - 9 of a plan dated April 30, 2009 amended as follows. • The existing sign "Reading Athletic Club" shall be listed as an approved type of sign design. • A wall sign's individual letters may be mounted directly to the wall or to a signboard • A wall sign will be centered on the tenant's entryway on a raised parapet over the entryway; and • A wall sign will occupy no more than 60% of the area of the raised parapet. CP seconded. By a vote of 4:0:0 the Board approved the Overall Signage Plan of 128 Marketplace as amended. Request for a Determination of Minor Modification to Site Plan Review Decision: Page 3 of 6 CPDC Minutes of 5/11/2009 45 Walkers Brook Drive, Bertued's Restaurant Appearing for the applicant was Mr. Kevin Bakas, Director of Construction; and Ms. Hazel Wood. Hopkins, Sign Permit Consultant. Ms. Hopkins explained the proposed changes to the Board. • The existing wall sign facing the parking lot would be removed and a smaller window sign added above the entrance. This sign does not require a permit, • A new wall sign will be added to the wall facing Walkers Brook Drive. • The existing freestanding sign will be raised. off the ground so that from grade to its top will be nine feet (9'). • The two wall-pack lights near the dumpster area and facing walkers Brook Drive would be shielded. Ms. Hopkins further noted there were two errors in the plans as submitted and she asked the Board to correct them on the plans: • The specified sign area of the freestanding sign is incorrect and. should be 48 sq.ft. (Note: the next day it was discovered this correction was itself incorrect. The correct sign area is 47.25 sq. ft. The Town Planner amended the plans with this information before they were submitted to the Building Inspector] • The height of the freestanding is incorrect and should be 9 ft. The Chair amended the plans with the correct information. JW moved the Board determine the proposed changes to be a Minor Modification to the Site Plan - Review Decision. JP seconded_ By a vote of 4:0:0, the Board determined the proposed changes to be a Minor Modification. JW moved the Board. approve the Minor Modification to the Bertucci's Restaurant signage on plans dated April 8, 2009; February, 7, 2009; and February 9, 2009; and as modified by the Board. tonight to show: • Correct sign-area of the freestanding sign • Correct height of the freestanding sign NS seconded. By a vote of 4:0:0, the Board approved the Minor Modification to the signage for Bertucci's Restaurant at 45 Walkers Brook Drive. The Chair stamped and signed. the plans approved. Request for a Signage Certificate of Appropriateness: 235 Haven Street, Aine's Boutique Ms. Julie Centrella, the owner and applicant, was present. Ms. Centrella wants to replace the skin of an existing awning with one displaying the name of her establishment Ame's Boutique, and a graphic of a dressmaker's dunhlny. Photoshopped pictures showing the sign-awning in place had been submitted to the Board. Ms. Centrella distributed swatches of the material to the Boated. Page 4 of 6 CPDC Minutes of 5/11/2009 JW moved the Board approve the Certificate of Appropriateness for the sign-awning at 235 Haven Street, Aine's Boutique as submitted on plans dated 5/4/2009. JP seconded. By a vote of 4:0:0, the Certificate of Appropriateness was approved. The Chair stamped and signed the plans approved. Other Business: Amending Section 6.3.17 of the Zoning By-Laws Mr. Ronald Weston and. Mr. Jim Sopchak asked the Board to sponsor their proposal to amend Section 6.3.17 Reconstruction After Destruction (By a Special Permit) of the Zoning By-Laws by adding an additional clause that would require actions taken tinder 6.3.17 also to meet the conditions specified in Section 6.3.11.1. Section 63 concerns Nonconforming Uses, Structures, and Lots in general and Section 6.3.11.1 concerns nonconforming one-family or two-family dwellings in particular. Mr. Weston and Mr. Sopchak emphasized that reconstruction after destruction: • Should not increase nonconformity and • Should. be of a mass and scale appropriate for the neighborhood. The consensus of the Board was to review the by-laws in question and determine if the change proposed is in keeping with the goals of the Master Plan and would not cause other problems. The Chair asked for public comments. There were none. Minutes JW moved the Board approve the minutes of 3/23/2009 as amended. NS seconded. By a vote of 3:0:1, the Board voted to approve the minutes of 3/23/2009. Member Clair Paradiso abstained. JW moved the Board approve the minutes of 4/13/2009 as amended. NS seconded. By a vote of 3:0:1, the Board voted to approve the minutes of 4/13/2009. Member Clair Paradiso abstained_ Review of ZBA's Cases Lot A, South Street. Property of Kevin Fulgoni. CK said the case had been opened and continued to a date in June. The consensus of the Board was they had no comment at the present time. 130 John Street. Property of Anthony & Elizabeth D'Arezzo. Mr. D'Arezzo was present. He told the Board. he hopes to block the Walkers Brook Drive buildings from his view. CK said copies of all pertinent materials would be added to the Board's information j~ packet for the next meeting (5/15/2009 - next Monday). NS asked that as much information as Page 5 of 6 CPDC Minutes of 5/11/2009 possible be submitted to him in digital format. Mr. D'Arezzo said he could supply digital copies of all materials except his site plan. CP moved to adjourn. JW seconded_ By a vote of 4:0:0, the Board adjourned the meeting at 10:10 PM. These minutes were prepared by Michael Schloth and submitted to the CPDC on June 22, 2009, these minutes were approved as amended by the CPDC on June 22, 2009. Signed as approved, John/'eston, Secretary v~ Page 6 of 6