Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2008-10-27 Community Planning and Development Commission MinutesTown of Reading 16 Lowell Street Reading, MA 01867-2683 Phone: 781-942-6612 Fax: 781-942-9071 Email: ekowalski&i.reading.ma.us Community Planning and Development Commission CPDC MINUTES Meeting Dated: Octob Location: Selectmen's Members Present: David T (JW). 27, 2008 ~ l Roor"own Half \ Time: (DT)Tehairman;- icholas Salina (N-S) Secretary; 7130 PM John Weston Also Present: Carol Kowalski (CK), Town Planner; Abigail McCabe (AM), Staff Planner; George Zambouras(GZ), Town Engineer; and Michael Schloth, Recording Secretary. Mr. Henry Bonasera, Sumner Cheney Place Mr. & Mrs. David and Maria Bunten, 1387 Main Street Mr. Brian Cook, Owner of InShape Ms. Kristen LeDuc of Metro PCS. Ms. Joan Miller, 1381 Main Street There being a quorum the Chair called the meeting to order at 7:35 PM. Public Comment There were no comments from the public. Site Plan Review: 1381 Main Street Day Care. The applicant, Ms. Joan Miller, was present. The Chair opened the public hearing and NS read the Legal Notice. The Town Planner explained the situation: The applicant did not understand the change of use required a site plan review (residential to day care) and began construction work on the building and grounds. Part of the work done was the paving of a driveway/parking area and the addition of a catch basin. The site is within the aquifer protection district and it did not meet impervious regulations prior to the paving. After discussion with town staff - including the Conservation Administrator - it was thought best the applicant restore the paved area to its prior condition. It was an open question whether the catch basin should be removed or not. The Chair noted the new use was educational and under the Dover Amendment the Board would have limited authority. The Town Engineer listed his concerns: Page 1 of 6 CPDC Minutes of 10/27/2008 • Drop-off and pick-up traffic could back out onto Rte. 28. He recommended a traffic engineer review the parking and drop-off/pick-up schedule. • The proposed employee parking will restrict emergency access to the building. He asked if the Fire and Police Departments had had a chance to comment on the plans. Based on the provided drawings there is room for five vehicles. Public Comment • Mr. Henry Bonasera and other residents of Sumner Cheney Place expressed concern clients would use Sumner Cheney to turn around in and park. Workers had already parked on their property. They noted they have concerns for their own children and they should not be expected to accept the extra traffic. • Mr. & Mrs. David and Maria Bunten of 1387 Main Street expressed concern over increased runoff from the paving and asked how the applicant could increase the site's impervious area without making the required remediation. • Clients of the applicant's day care said they would be willing to do what is needed to make the drop-offs and pick-ups safe including following a schedule. Ms. Miller responded: • She understood the neighbors concerns but assured them her clients would adhere to a pick-up and drop-off schedule to the best of their ability. • Construction workers had parked on Sumner Cheney property but it was a one-time occurrence. • The daycare is currently open in a limited capacity. She lives there Monday through Friday and therefore can keep it open as a family daycare. NS moved the Board close the public hearing. JW seconded. By a vote of 3:0:0, the public hearing was closed. Board's Discussion. • Signage? The applicant said there would be none. • Number of students? The applicant said she was licensed to supervise 28 to 32 children. • Hours of operation? The applicant said her program runs from 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. but drop offs would run as late as 9:30 a.m. Pick-ups would be scheduled for noon and later. The Board was unsure they could make the schedule a condition of approval or if they could limit the employee parking. The Town Planner advised the Board take a performance approach and avoid unenforceable conditions. • Traffic circulation? The Board shared the Town Engineer's concerns regarding traffic and parking. The applicant said there are two access points to Rte. 28. The wider one is the entrance and the other is the exit. The Board directed the separate and one-way entrance and exits be written into the decision as a condition. The consensus of the Board was to condition the decision: • Remove paving to return site to original impervious condition. • Provide clients with a staggered pick-up and drop-off schedule. • Parking on Rte. 28 would not be allowed. • Employees would not be allowed to park on the driveway loop. Page 2 of 6 CPDC Minutes of 10/27/2008 • Traffic through the site would be one way. • Maximum of employee parking spaces: six. • Any future expansion would have to come back before the Board for review. The Board discussed conditioning directional signs (e.g. "No Parking on Sumner Cheney Place"). The Town Engineer said such signs would have to be placed out of Rte. 28's right-of-way or the State's permission would be required. He also recommended against changing the site's curbcuts as doing so would require approval from both the State and the Town. The Board requested comments on the plans from both the Fire and Police Departments. NS moved the Board continue the public hearing to the CPDC meeting of 11/3/2008 at 8:00 p.m. JW seconded.. By a vote of 3:0:0, the public hearing was continued to 11/3/2008 at 8:00 p.m. Site Plan Review Waiver: 150 Main Street InShape Women's Fitness Mr. Brian Cook, the applicant and owner, was present. The Staff Planner reported that notices had been sent to abutters. Mr. Cook said the business would be a personal training facility for women. One trainer per four women. Sessions would be by appointment only. The space is small - approx. 850 square feet. The Chair noted the site met site plan review waiver requirements because it had been the subject of a site .plan review within the past five years but asked if the site now conforms to the conditions of that prior decision. The Town Planner said the landscaping had been done and the parking lot re-striping was completed this month. NS moved the Board determine the site is eligible for a Site Plan Review waiver. DT seconded. By a vote of 3:0:0, the Board determined the site eligible for a waiver from Site Plan Review. DT moved the Board approve the Site Plan Review waiver for 150 Main Street without conditions. JW seconded. By a vote of 3:0:0, the Board approved the Site Plan Review waiver of 150 Main Street without conditions. Minor Modification: One General Way Danis Reading, LLC This concerns the installation of wireless antenna on smokestack and related hardware by Metro PCS as per submitted plans dated 9/28/2008. Kristen LeDuc appeared for Metro PCS. Also appearing for the applicant was a Metro PCS engineer. Page 3 of 6 CPDC Minutes of 10/27/2008 The applicant is before the CPDC because the site plan review decision states any changes to the . smokestack must be brought before the CPDC for approval. Ms LaDuc summarized the project: • The antenna would be painted to match smokestack's color. • A raised (approx 18 inches) l Oft x 16ft area would be attached at smokestack's base on the roof. • Twelve cables would be housed in a cable tray also painted to match smokestack • Cabinets on the raised platform would be shielded with plexiglass panels painted and textured to match building's stucco fagade. The cabinets would be approx. 5 to 6 feet tall. The Town Engineer recommended the cable tray be attached to the inside of the smokestack. It would look ugly attached to the outside no matter how well painted and as the smokestack is not in use it should not be a problem to attach the tray to its inside. The Board agreed. The Chair noted this construction also requires a Special Permit from the Zoning Board of Appeals. The Town Planner said the case is pending before ZBA. The Board had concerns with the elevation drawing not matching what was proposed, the exact location of the cabinets, the location of the cable tray, and making a decision before the ZBA had decided on the Special Permit application. The consensus of the Board was to continue until the 12/8/2008 meeting by which time the ZBA should have reached a decision. The Board decided to write the ZBA a memo stating: • The cable tray should be attached to the inside of the smokestack. • The exact location of the roof equipment and screening should be made clear. • The Board was leaning toward determining the proposal to be a minor modification barring any major changes made by the ZBA to the plans. DT moved the Board continue the request for determination of minor modification of the work proposed by Metro PCS at One General Way until 12/8/2008 conditioned upon the ZBA having taken action before this date. JW seconded. By a vote of 3:0:0, the determination of minor modification was continued to 12/8/2008. The Board directed the applicant to bring updated plans to 12/8/2008 meeting. Subdivision Bond Reduction: Benjamin Lane The applicant was not present. The Town Engineer said he was in favor granting the bond reduction but for a smaller amount than requested by the applicant. The applicant wanted a reduction of $25,000.00 and the Town Engineer recommended a reduction of $22,000.00. Page 4 of 6 CPDC Minutes of 10/27/2008 The Town Engineer said the Engineering Department had created a worksheet detailing what should be released and what should not. They gave the applicant partial credit on some things but held back some on trees. JW moved the Board approve the modified bond reduction in the amount of $22,000.00 to establish a new bond amount of $65,000.00. NS seconded. By a vote of 3:0:0, the Board approved the bond reduction. Signage Certificate of Appropriateness: 159 Haven Street Eastern Bank The applicant was not present. The Town Planner explained: this concerns the small sign above the doorway to the two-story office building in the lot next to Eastern Bank. It could not have been included with the recently granted Certificate of Appropriateness for the bank's signage because it is located at a different address. While waiting for tonight's meeting, the applicant, Batten Bros. Sign, asked if they could take out a temporary sign permit for the site which would be for the exact same sign as the permanent sign permit application they already submitted (Eastern Bank was anxious to place all signs). This was allowed under the condition the applicant was aware they were doing so at risk of being told by this Board to take it down if it did not meet the Board's approval. The applicant agreed to this condition. NS moved the Board grant the Signage Certificate of Appropriateness for the Eastern Bank signage at 159 Haven Street. JW seconded. By a vote of 3:0:0, the Board granted the Certificate of Appropriateness for 159 Haven Street. Administrative Items South Main Street Design Guidelines: Handout for Town Meeting The Chair said he would have the cover letter and executive summary done some time this week and emailed to the Board in time for review before next Monday. It was the consensus of the Board to add brief history of South Main Street listing what has already been accomplished in the area: the Gateway Smart Growth District, the retail redevelopment of 80 - 100 Main Street.... More graphics were suggested. Possibly a before and after of 580 Main Street or graphics explaining various architectural and planning features that could be used in the guidelines. The Board also decided to design, a large placard for the lobby table at Town Meeting. The Town Planner said the Engineering Dept. could print it. NS was nominated to come up with an eye-catching design. ' The Chair suggested the guideline's Plan of Action should include scheduled 2009 Zoning Workshop dates. The Board agreed. The Town Planner said she would draft a 2009 schedule and calendar. Page 5 'of 6 CPDC Minutes of 10/27/2008 Minutes JW moved the board approve as amended the minutes of 9/8/2008. DT seconded. By a vote of 3:0:0, the Board approved the minutes of 9/8/2008 as amended. ZBA Case Review 1198 Main Street The applicant is seeking a variance on the by-laws of corner lots and how frontage is defined on corner lots. The Town Planner said the ZBA's decision could have a great effect on zoning and she offered to provide more information to the Board including the applicant's narrative - before the ZBA hears the case in early November. The Board agreed more information would be welcome. The Board had no comment to make to the ZBA on this case at this time. 332 Summer Avenue An addition is being made to an already nonconforming structure: it encroaches on the setback. The addition would encroach to the same extent and not increase the nonconformity. The Board had no comment to make to the ZBA on this case. Other Business National Development will be in for a Design Review Team (DRT) meeting on 11/10/2008. The Board needs to supply an advisory letter. If JW and NS could submit their comments to the Town Planner by 11/10/2008, she and the Chair would draft the letter. The Economic Development Commission (EDC) wants to initiate their own review of the signage by-laws with an eye towards making them more business friendly. The. Board was very much in favor of this and welcomed the EDC's help but emphasized the changes must not be piecemeal. NS moved to adjourn. JW seconded. By a vote of 3:0:0, the Board adjourned. 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 Date Page 6 of 6