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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2009-02-09 Community Planning and Development Commission MinutesTown of Reading ~ EIVED 16 Lowell Street READING, MASS. Reading, MA 01867-26$3 2010 1 ~ 9-' Phone: 78'1-942-6612 Fax: 781-942-9071 Email: clcowalski(c,ci.reading.ma.us Community Planning and Development Commission CPDC MINUTES Meeting Dated: Feb Location: Selectmen's Members Present: David Tui (JW), and Joseph Patterson ( y 9, 2009 Room,'own`Hall Time: 7 (DT), Chairman; Nicholas Safina (NS). Secretary; J Associate Members Present: George Katsoufis (GK) 0PM Weston Also Present: Carol Kowalski (CK), Town Planner; Abigail McCabe (AM), Staff Planner; and Michael Schloth, Recording Secretary. Mr. Nick Nikolaou, Danis Properties Mr. George Danis, Danis Properties Mr. Tint Sullivan of Barlo Signs There being a quorum the Chair called the meeting to order at 7:40 PM. Public Comment There were no comments from the public. Master Signage Plan One General Way, 128 Marketplace Appearing for the applicant were Mr. Nick Nikalaou, Mr. George Danis, and Mr. Tim Sullivan. The applicant, Danis LLC, was before the Board seeking a Master Signage Plan for 128 Marketplace. Mr. Nikalaou explained the Master Signage Plan is required to allow tenant K&G Fashion Superstore to place its wall sign on the exterior wall of the atrium at the base of the smokestack. Tenants are allowed a wall sign by right, but only on a wall of the portion of the building they occupy. The atrium is a common area (i.e. unoccupied by any tenant) therefore K&G can place a wall sign there only if the building's owner - Danis - allows them to do so through a Master Signage Plan. The Board. asked why the Master Signage Plan does not include the portion of the building occupied by Market Basket. Mr. Nikalaou said that the point of view of the Massachusetts Building Code, Market Basket's space is a separate building because a firewall separates it from the space referenced in the Master Signage Plan. Pagel of 3 CPDC Minutes of 2/9/2009 The Board questioned if the applicant's proposal met the intent of a Master Signage Plan. The plan should give details of the location and style of all future tenants' signs not only K&G's. Mr. George Danis said it was not possible to know in advance the size and configuration of a future tenant's sign. The Board pointed out that was the purpose of the Master Signage Plan: a building's owner is given greater latitude as to where signage can be placed on a building but in return the design of all signage must be similar and specified beforehand. The consensus of the Board was they approved of the plans for the K&G signage in particular but the Master Signage Plain in general would need to be resubmitted with more design details of future signage. DT moved the Board approve the Master Signage Plan for 128 Marketplace as dated 1/5/2009 including the K&G Fashion Superstore signage on condition the applicant will submit additional detailed design information for all new signage by 5/11/2009. JP seconded. By a vote of 4:0:0 the Board approved the Master Signage Plan for 128 Marketplace as conditioned. Zoning Workshop: Downtown 40R Smart Growth District The Board discussed how best to inform and educate the public about the proposed district. Details of the 3/9/2009 meeting devoted to a public presentation of the reason for and purpose of district were also discussed. GK said he would update a Powerpoint presentation he and NS had started in 2007 to include graphics of how four actual locations might be developed if the district was established.. The four properties are: The Doucette Warehouse by the depot, Oak Tree Development's proposal for the use of the Atlantic Supermarket site, M.F. Charles building, and. Eastern Bank. CK said she would prepare a draft outline of the 3/9/2009 presentation for the Board's next meeting (2/23/2009). Issues to be addressed include: • The Historical Commission's concern over the impact the 40R district will have on historical properties. She noted all such properties should be shown on the map of the district. • Traffic • Parking NS moved the Board ratify the reduced Downtown 40R Smart Growth District as shown in a plan dated 1/23/209. JW seconded. By a vote of 4:0:0 the Board ratified the reduced Downtown 40R Smart Growth District. Zoning Workshop: South Main Street Design Guidelines The Board discussed in some detail what the front setback should be. It is now a 50 foot setback. The consensus was to reduce it to a 10 to 15 foot setback but to provide adequate room for a sidewalk and tree-lawn the Board would need to know exactly where Mass. Highways' right-of-way ends and what the town is allowed to do within the right-of-way. The Town Planner advised the Board to try to reach a decision on the setback soon as important properties on South Main had recently gone on the market. Page 2 of 3 CPDC Minutes of 2/9/2009 The Board suggested sample street cross-sections should be prepared. The Town Planner did. not think it would be difficult to portray the benefits of a shallower setback to Town Meeting - primarily: parking could be placed. in the rear. The Board agreed but suggested. it spend some time considering how to answer the counter-argument the benefits of the existing 50 foot setback. Zoning By-Law Amendments (Prepare for Town Meeting) The Town Planner informed. the Board. of the following. • The only amendment that might be put before the next Town Meeting is for the South Main Street front setback. • The Economic Development Committee (EDC) is working on an overhaul of the Sign Bylaws but nothing is expected to be ready for Town Meeting. • The Table of Uses contains a principal use entitled: "Substantially Similar to Permitted". To avoid loopholes, Town Counsel says some kind of criteria is needed to guide its use. • Outdoor dining is not addressed in the bylaws and perhaps should be. The Staff Planner is researching other communities' bylaws to see if there is any language that Reading might use. Minutes NS moved the Board approve the minutes of 1/12/2009 as amended. JP seconded_ By a vote of 4:0:0, the Board voted to approve the minutes of 1/12/2009 as amended. NS moved to adjourn. JP seconded. By a vote of 4:0:0, the Board adjourned the meeting at 10:45 PM. These minutes were prepared by Michael Schloth and submitted to the CPDC on April 13, 2009; these minutes were approved by the CPDC on April 13, 2009. Signed as approved, Nicholas Safin Date plan Page 3 of 3