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Home My WebLink About2009-02-23 Community Planning and Development Commission MinutesTown of Reading RE E,'VEQ 16 Lowell Street TOWN CLERK f\EPi NG. M ,SS. Reading, MA 01867-2683 Phone: 751-942-6612 ~j -g q A Fax: 751-942-9071 2080 JAN 2 9` U 5 Email ekowalski@ci,reading.nia.us Community Planning and Development Commission CPDC MINUTES Meeting Dated: Febru Location: Selectmen's M Members Present: David Patterson (JP). y 23, 2009. M.. Room,. Town Hall Time: 7 (DT), Chairman; Nicholas Safina {NS); Secretary; a Members Absent: John Weston (JW) Associate Members Present: George Katsoufis (GK) 0PM Joseph Also Present: Carol Kowalski (CK), Town Planner; George Zambouras (GZ), Town Engineer; Abigail McCabe (AM), Staff Planner; and Michael Schloth, Recording Secretary. Jack McQuilkin, Engineer, JM Associates, North Reading, MA Mr. Bill Thompson, 36 Woburn Street Mr. Jeffery Brem, Meisner Brem Corp., Westford, MA Attorney Ed Wallace Attorney Brad Latham of Latham, Latham & Lamond, P.C., 643 Main Street Mr. Anthony Tanibone Ralph & Marion Wilson, 1198 Main Street There being a quorum the Chair called the meeting to order at 7:35 PM. Public Comment There were no comments. Site Plan Review (Continued): 36 Woburn Vreet The applicant and owner, Mr. Bill Thompson, was present as was his engineer, Mr. Jack McQuilkin. The applicant had submitted a revised plan addressing most issues raised and suggestions made by the Board during his previous appearance. Mr. McQuilkin said the parking spaces along the rear property line could not be angled without losing at least one space and the Tree Warden told him there would not be enough room for trees on the landscape strip along the rear property line. The Town Engineer said the proposed infiltration system is fine and he had no issues with any other points. Page 1 of 4 CPDC Minutes of 2/23/2009 The Chair noted the number of parking spaces - thirty (30) - was a maximum. A minimum number is not required because the site is within 300 feet of a municipal parking lot [Section 6.1.1.1 of the Zoning By-Laws] DT moved the Board close the public hearing. JP seconded. By a vote of 3:0:0, the public hearing was closed. NS moved the Board approve the Site Plan Review decision for 36 Woburn Street. JP seconded. By a vote of 3:0:0, the Site Plan Review decision was approved. Approval Not Required (ANR): 1198 Main Street The applicant and owners, The Wilsons, were present as were the applicant's engineer, Mr. Jeffery Brem, and attorney, Mr. Ed. Wallace. Mr. Breen said they have made the adjustments to the plan the Town Engineer had requested. GZ agreed all of his concerns had been addressed. GZ asked Mr. Breen what method the ZBA had decided on to determining Mr. Gordon's frontage. Mr. Breen said the ZBA used the total frontage along Main and Brentwood both. NS moved the Board endorse the ANR for 1198 Main Street as shown in plans dated 12/17/2009 and updated 2/23/2009. JP seconded. By a vote of 3:0:0, the ANR was endorsed. The Board. signed the two mylar copies of the plan and gave one to the applicant. Discussion: Amendment to PUD-B By-Law Attorney Brad Latham had requested this discussion in behalf of client Mr. Anthony Tambone, owner of 80-100 Main Street. Both were present. Mr. Latham requested the Board consider amending the section of the PUD-B By-Law that restricts the use of drive-thrus [4.9.7.2 Permitted. Uses in the PUD-B, subsection (a)] to allow the use of drive- thrus by financial and pharmaceutical businesses. He presented the Board with suggested language. He noted if this amendment was approved at Town Meeting the Board would retain the authority to deny such uses on a site by site basis. He emphasized he was asking only that the uses requested not be denied outright in the language of the by-law. Mr. Latham also emphasized there is no intention to make use of such a change to make a connection to South Street. CK asked Mr. Tambone if he was considering a new plan for the site. Mr. Tambone said he was but it would use the same entrance and exit only the building shape and uses would be different. CK suggested if the Board was amenable to considering the drive-thru amendment it may also want to consider reducing the front setback requirements in PUD-B at the same time. She suggested amending Section 4.9.7.2 (b) to make the front setback as little as fifteen feet (15'). The Board agreed this was a good suggestion but thought the specifics of the setback would require further discussion. Page 2 of 4 CPDC Minutes of 2/23/2009 Mr. Tambone said he would not want to be restricted from using the current thirty foot (30') setback because he wanted to maintain a green area in front of his building. The consensus of the Board was to accept Mr. Latham's amendment as written and to consider the setback change during a future meeting. CK suggested changing the word "pharmaceutical" to "pharmacy" both the Board and Mr. Latham agreed to this change as it made the intent clearer. NS moved the Board present to the Board of Selectmen for inclusion in the warrant for the upcoming Town Meeting a warrant article amending Zoning By-Law 4.9.7.2.a to read as follows (emphasis added). Within a PUD-B Overlay District, any portion of land that is within the underlying Business A District or within 30 feet of the underlying Business A District zoning boundary line may be used for those various uses allowed within the underlying Business A District, excepting that Automotive Uses and enclosed storage as a primary use as listed in the Table of Uses in Section 4.2.2 (Table of Uses), and fast food restaurant or drive-thru uses (other than financial institution and/or pharmacy drive-thru uses) shall not be allowed. JP seconded. By a vote of 3:0:0, the Board. approved the amendment language to be sent to the Board of Selectmen as an article on the warrant of the upcoming Town Meeting. Downtown 40R Smart Growth District The Board discussed what would be said and shown at the March 9`h public presentation to be held at the Senior Center. A slideshow would demonstrate possible uses of existing locations in the Downtown under the proposed 40R district. Issues to be discussed: • Historic buildings • Non-utilization of the existing Mixed-Use overlay (i.e. why a 40R rather than Mixed-Use) • Buildings the Board has no control over (e.g. Post Office) • Building height • Public vs. private spaces • Street-level uses. CK said she would draft an agenda. Town Meeting: Zoning By-Law Amendments CK said she would discuss with Town Counsel developing zoning language for: • Setbacks (front setbacks in particular) • Definition of corner-lot frontage • Window transparency (i.e. keeping windows of retail businesses unblocked). The Board noted this should also be addressed in design guidelines. DT moved the Board present to the Board of Selectmen for inclusion in the warrant for the upcoming Town Meeting a modification to Section 5.1.2 "Table of Dimensional Controls" changing the front. Page 3 of 4 CPDC Minutes of 2/23/2009 yard setback for properties in the BUS-A district from fifty feet (50') to fifteen feet (15') for all permitted uses except Hotel or Motel uses. NS seconded. Mr. Latham asked why the same change was not considered for the Industrial District too. DT said there are much fewer lots that could benefit from the change in the Industrial District. By a vote of 3:0:0, the Board approved the amendment language to be sent to the Board of Selectmen as an article on the warrant of the upcoming Town Meeting. Minutes NS moved the Board. approve the minutes of 1/26/2009. JP seconded. By a vote of 3:0:0, the Board voted to approve the minutes of 1/26/2009. Other Business Designated turn-off time for illuminated signs. CK reported Town Counsel said illuminated signs should be turned off when the corresponding sites' lights are scheduled to be turned off. NS moved to adjourn. JP seconded. By a vote of 3:0:0, the Board adjourned the meeting at 10:40 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 estop, Secretary Page 4 of 4