HomeMy WebLinkAbout2008-10-06 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.ma.us
Community Planning and Development Commission
CPDC MINUTES
Meeting Dated: October 6, 2008
Location: Selectmen's Meeting Roo own Hal Time: 7:30 PM
Members Present: David Tutte (DT),-C- hairrr an; chola Sam a (-NS); Secre ary; d John Weston
(JW)•
Associate Members Present: George Katsoufis (GK)
Also Present: Carol Kowalski (CK), Town Planner; Abigail McCabe (AM), Staff Planner; and
Michael Schloth, Recording Secretary.
There being a quorum the Chair called the meeting to order at 7:35 PM
Public Comment
There were no comments from the public.
The Town Planner requested the Board add the following items to the meeting's agenda:
1. Gateway Smart Growth District application.
2. Administrative approval of signage plans
3. Town Meeting handout
4. Eastern bank signage
The Board agreed to add the above items to the meeting's agenda.
South Main Street Design Guidelines
NS presented the Board with his draft of the guidelines. The Board decided their review of the draft
should try to place the guidelines in at least one of three categories:
1. What supports the Board's vision for South Main Street?
2. What should realistically be considered zoning changes rather than guidelines, and, of the
zoning changes, which have a better change of being adopted in the short-term and which in the
long-term? This is important because something the Board may consider a guideline may prove
to be unenforceable without a variance.
3. What could be adopted administratively as guides for developers. i.e. true guidelines?
GK suggested the Board also consider how best to present the project to the Town and what deadlines
should be established. Feedback would be needed especially from business owners.
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CPDC Minutes of 10/06/08
The Board discussed developing a survey of business owners similar to what the Economic
Development Commission had done. This would not be ready by Town Meeting.
The handout would be ready by Town Meeting and the Board hoped it would generate feedback from
Town Meeting members. JS's Plan of Action and Executive Summary of the guidelines would be
used in the handout.
The Town Planner suggested scheduling "vision" workshops and inviting residents and business
owners to attend.
The Board agreed it would be a good idea to distribute the guidelines to all Boards and Committees
as well as local developers.
The Board proceeded to review the draft:
• Clear Pathways: try to keep a hard distinction between street and building-line. Try to allow for
such amenities as outdoor seating.
• Tree Lawns: may be maintenance issues if within State's right-of-way. How far does State's
right-of-way extend?
• Conforming Lots: Devise a subdivision system that will establish a rhythm of regular layouts.
E.g. limiting curbcuts to keep traffic behind buildings as much as possible. How to handle non-
conforming lots requires further discussion.
• Easements and Uses: needs further research.
• Structured Parking: integrated with other features-- not simply added-on.
• Lighting: intent is for a neighborhood character.
• Building Masses and Location:
• Setbacks: The consensus was to require at least a 15 foot setback from the street but GK
noted it may be more important to establish the maximum setback rather the minimum.
• Floor Area Ration (F.A.R): the consensus was to set it at 1.0 subject to parking
requirements.
NS said he and GK would incorporate the comments and email the revised draft to the Board and
staff. The Chair asked everyone to review the updated draft and flag those items they thought would
require a zoning change to implement.
Downtown 40R Smart Growth District
The Town Planner said she, DT and SW would be meeting with both the 40R and parking consultants
on 10/17/2008. They hope to:
• Determine how viable a 40R district would be both with and without a parking garage.
• Finalize the district's boundary, and
• Draft the 40R overlay guidelines by-law.
The Town and Staff Planner both had taken photographs of Andover's and other nearby town's
downtowns to provide visual references for the guidelines to show what could be possible in
Reading.
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JW noted Melrose's downtown uses a parking-in-the-rear or shared parking system with alleyways
for pedestrians.
GK suggested asking the planners of nearby towns for information on their downtowns' densities.
Gateway Smart Growth District Application
The Town Planner asked the Board to send her their comments.
Administrative Approval of Business B Signage
The Town Planner wanted the Board's opinion on whether the Administrative Approval - which
allows her to approve minor changes to signage granted a Certificate of Appropriateness should
also apply to small changes to signs covered by a Master Signage Plan.
The consensus of the Board was any changes to a Master Signage Plan should come back before the
Board as a Minor Modification.
JW moved the Board amend the Administrative Signage Approval rule to state it does not apply to
changes to signs submitted for approval under a Master Signage Plan.
DT seconded.
By a vote of 3:0:0, the Board approved the amendment.
Eastern Bank signage
Recently, Eastern Bank had been before the Board seeking a Signage Certificate of Appropriateness
for a wide variety of signs. Some were approved but others the Board had asked to be resubmitted.
The Town Planner presented them tonight:
• One "Caution Pedestrian Crossing" sign to be located between the two drive-through lanes, and
• Four "Parking for Bank Customers Only" signs to be located at the property boundaries in the
East and West parking lots (two signs in each lot).
The consensus of the Board was none of the signs would show the bank's logo, the lettering of all of
the signs would be one color only, and only two "Parking for Bank Customers Only" signs would be
allowed - one in each parking lot - and each must be no larger than 20 inches by 24 inches.
NS so moved.
JW seconded.
By a vote of 3:0:0, the Board approved the signs as amended.
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
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