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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2008-12-08 Community Planning and Development Commission MinutesTown of Reading 16 Lowell Street Reading, MA 01867-2683 Phone: 781-942-6612 Fax: 781-942-9071 Email: ckowalski@ci.reading.mams Community Planning and Development Commission CPDC MINUTES Meeting Dated: Dece ber 8, 2008 Location: Selectmen's Meeting Roo 'own~Hal Time: 7:30 PM Members Present: David Tutt e (DT); Chairman; chola Safina (NS}~~eoreary; J hn Weston (JW), and Joseph Patterson (J Also Present: Carol Kowalski (CK), Town Planner; Abigail McCabe (AM), Staff Planner; and Michael Schloth, Recording Secretary. Attorney Brad Latham of Latham, Latham & Lamond, P.C., 643 Main Street Mr. Gary Davis, Architect Attorney George Hall of Anderson & Kreiger LLP Ms. Kristen LeDuc, agent for Metro PCS Mr. Todd Gabriel of Vanney Architects, 360 N. Robert Street, Suite 201, St. Paul, MN There being a quorum the Chair called the meeting to order at 7:30 PM. The Chair introduced and welcomed new Board Member Mr. Joseph Patterson. Public Comment There were no comments from the public. Minor Modification 580 Main Street, Bank of America Attorney Brad Latham and architect Mr. Gary Davis appeared for Bank of America. The applicant was seeking a modification to the Board's previous site plan decision to: 1. Replace metal trim around the drive-through window with brick. 2. Replace the existing high-wattage light above drive-through window with two lower-wattage, Dark-Sky lights. Safety reasons cited. 3. Add an opaque, gray film to the windows. There is currently a translucent gray film attached to the inside of the windows. The opaque film would be added to the outside of the same windows. 4. Increase the illumination over both the entrance door and ATM. Safety reasons cited. The Board had no issues with items #1, #2, and #4 but regarding item #3 - the opaque film - the consensus was to deny. Page 1 of 5 CPDC Minutes of 12/08/08 The Board noted: • Over 65% of the windows would be made opaque and except for the drive-through window the area would be nothing but dead wall. • The original decision made no mention of adding a film to the windows. • A large artwork - logo - will be on the film. Mr. Latham noted other businesses have done the same with their storefronts. The consensus of the Board was they did not like what was done to those storefronts either. Mr. Davis said the building permit was issued based on plans that showed the film. He also noted most of the bank in both at this location and at its previous location across Haven Street was already opaque. Mr. Latham asked if item #3 could be voted on separately. The Chair agreed to present the Minor Modification in tow parts: items #1, #2, and #4; and item #3. DT moved the Board determine items #1, #2, and 44 as described in a letter to the Board dated 11/26/08 be a Minor Modification to the Site Plan Review Waiver decision for 580 Main Street. NS seconded. The three items were determined by a vote of 4:0:0 to be a Minor Modification. DT moved the Board determine item #3 as described in a letter to the Board dated 11/26/08 to be a Minor Modification to the Site Plan Review Waiver decision for 580 Main Street. The single item - adding opaque film to the outside surface of the windows - was determined by a vote of 1:3:0 not to be a Minor Modification. (DT affirmed; NS, JW, and JP opposed). NS moved the Board approve the Minor Modification for items #1, #2, and 44. JW seconded. By a vote of 4:0:0, the Board approved the Minor Modification. Mr. Latham requested to withdraw without prejudice the applicant's request to add the opaque film. The Chair agreed. Minor Modification (continued) One General Way, Danis Reading, LLC Installation of wireless device on smokestack by Metro PCS Attorney George Hall, agent for Metro PCS Kristen LeDuc, and an engineer for Metro PCSs appeared for Metro PCS. The two issues left unresolved from the previous meeting were how well hidden both the roof enclosures and the cable tray would be. The applicant produced engineering plans showing the location of the roof enclosures and noted the cable tray would now be attached to the inside of the smokestack out of sight. _ Mr. Hall noted the visual impact of the modification is the only issue under the Board's purview. Page 2 of 5 CPDC Minutes of 12/08/08 Mr. Hall also noted the ZBA had recently approved the issuance of a Special Permit for the installation of the equipment. NS moved the Board determine the request to install wireless equipment on the roof and smokestack at One General Way as shown in plans dated 11/26/2008 and an analysis dated 12/3/2008 to be a Minor Modification to the Site Plan Review decision for One General Way. JW seconded. The installation was determined by a vote of 4:0:0 to be a Minor Modification. JW moved the Board approve the Minor Modification. DT seconded. By a vote of 4:0:0, the Board approved the Minor Modification. As it was not yet the noticed time for the Site Plan Review of 279 Salem Street, the Chair decided to skip ahead in the agenda to the ZBA Case Reviews Other Business ZBA Case Review 10 Torre Street - proposed school The Building Inspector has determined the project must undergo site plan review and the applicant's attorney is appealing the Building Inspector's decision to the ZBA. The applicant's attorney claims Reading's site plan review is the same as a special permit process and therefore cannot be applied against this site. The attorney cited a Wellesley, MA court case where it was determined Wellesley's site plan review could be construed as a special permit process. Reading's Town Counsel's was asked her opinion and she said the Wellesley case does not apply and the site plan review can continue. The Board decided to send a memo to the ZBA recommending the ZBA deny the appeal and, noting the CPDC's past experience with site plan reviews of proposed schools, offering the Board's opinion the Site Plan Review by-law was not written to be considered the same as a Special Permit. JW volunteered to write the memo. 13 Buckingham Drive - tear down and rebuild There is not enough frontage so it is a non-conforming lot. The applicant is requesting a Special Permit not a Variance. Also, the owner wants to sell a portion of their lot to an abutter. The Board had concerns about what could be done with the sold portion. In particular, could the added-to lot then be considered buildable. The Town Planner pointed out when the ANR for the new added-to lot comes before them they could add the standard language stating approval of the ANR does not imply the lot is buildable. The Board decided to send a memo to the ZBA stating they agree the request should be handled as a Special Permit and there appears to be no obvious problems with setbacks. NS volunteered to write the memo. l Site Plan Review Page 3 of 5 279 Salem Street, REI Exterior renovations Mr. Todd Gabriel of Vanney Architects appeared for REI. The Chair opened the public hearing and NS read the legal notice. CPDC Minutes of 12/08/08 Mr. Gabriel summarized the plans: • New storefront with trellis similar to trellises at other REI's (e.g. Framingham, MA). • New employee-entrance door on Southeast corner of building. • Two handicapped-parking spaces are proposed and two more could be added if needed. After reviewing the applicant's plans, the consensus of the Board was to continue the site plan review to give the applicant time to answer the Board's concerns which are as follow. • Lighting: the locations of the lighting fixtures on the trellis are unclear and need to be specified. Also, the new employee entrance needs a light above it which should be fully-shielded. • Bike racks: the plans show bike racks set in the middle of the pedestrian traffic in front of the building. The Board suggested moving one rack to the far right and the other to the far left of the building's frontage and both as close to the building as possible. • Handicapped-Accessibility: The applicant also proposes interior renovations. The plans for this were submitted to the Building Inspector separately. After review of these plans, the building inspector decided to hire a consultant to answer points of handicapped-accessibility. As the consultant's review might result in the applicant having make changes to meet accessibility requirements (e.g. add more handicapped-parking spaces), the Board decided it would be best to wait for the consultant's report. • Blocked Windows: The plans show new interior walls against some of the front windows. The Board asked the Mr. Gabriel if the walls would block the windows. Mr. Gabriel said he was not sure but would find out. • Signage: No signage plans had been submitted but if the applicant submitted a signage plan in time for the next meeting, the Board would be willing to review it and if approved issue a Certificate of Appropriateness (required because the site's zoning district is Business-B). The Town Planner reminded the applicant that all signage - including directional signs-- should be part of the signage plan. The Board decided to continue the site plan review to January 12, 2009 at 7:30 pm. Minor Modification .1381 Main Street Drywell removal. Ms. Joan Miller, the owner of the property, had written a letter dated 11/24/2008 requesting to be allowed to remove the drywell from her property. Neither the applicant nor a representative of the applicant was present. NS moved the Board determine the request to be a Minor Modification to the original Site Plan decision. DT seconded. Page 4 of 5 CPDC Minutes of 12/08/08 By a vote of 4:0:0, the Board determined the request to be a Minor Modification. JW moved the Board approve the Minor Modification and to modify the Board's previous decision to remove the requirement that the owner keep the drywell in place. NS seconded. By a vote of 4:0:0, the Board approved the Minor Modification. Other Business 2009 Meeting Schedule The Board reviewed and accepted their 2009 meeting schedule with the tentative addition of a meeting on 11/23/2009 and the notation that a second meeting would need to be scheduled for sometime in October 2009. Blocked Windows. The Board noted with disapproval the trend of businesses to block-out storefront windows and briefly discussed the possibility of crafting a by-law amendment to address the trend. JP moved to adjourn. NS seconded. By a vote of 4:0:0, the Board adjourned the meeting. These minutes were prepared by Michael Schloth and submitted to the CPDC on January 26, 2009; these minutes were approved as amended by the CPDC on January 26, 2009. Signed as approved,. Nicholas Safina, Secretary f Date Page 5 of 5