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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2000-10-05 Zoning Board of Appeals MinutesTOWN OF READING ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS ..x MINUTES OF OCTOBER 5, 2000 ME ' N RS RS CHRISTOPHER VACCARO, CHAIRMAN JOHN JAREMA SUSAN MILLER BERNARD O'SHAUGHNESSY EDWARD BALBONI A meeting of the Zoning Board of Appeals was held in the Selectmen's Meeting Room of the Town Hall, 16 Lowell Street, Reading, Massachusetts at 7:00 PM. Building Inspector Glen Redmond was also in attendance Case #00-28 A Public Hearing on the petition of Wendy's Old Fashioned Hamburgers of New York who seeks a variance/appeal of decision of the Building Inspector under Section 6.1.1.3/7.4.2 of the Zoning By-laws in order to construct a restaurant and comply with the parking requirements in a Business "A" district and a residential district property located at 126 Main Street, Reading, MA Christopher Vaccaro swore in the applicants. Atty. Brad Latham requested a withdrawal without prejudice on his petition. On a motion by Bernard O'Shaughnessy, seconded by Edward Balboni, the Zoning Board of Appeals voted to accept the request for withdrawal without prejudice for Wendy's Old Fashioned Hamburgers of New York for the property located at 126 Main Street, Reading, MA The motion was approved by a vote of 3-0-0. Case #00-26 A Public Hearing on the petition of Mary S. Dorandi who seeks a variance/special permit under Section 4.0/6.3.2/6.3.3.4 of the Zoning By-laws in order to construct an addition for residential use to an existing non-conforming structure and also a non-conforming use on the property located at 32 Green Street, Business "B" district, Reading, MA Christopher Vaccaro swore in the petitioners. The petitioner is seeking a special permit to install a sun porch, with a jucuzzi, on the right hand side of his house. This house is located in a Business "B" district. This is the second time the petitioner has applied to the Zoning Board for this project. The first time the petitioner submitted an erroneous site plan. The site has been resurveyed and meets the dimensional requirements. The house was built in approximately 1924 and the petitioner purchased it in 1975. Christopher Vaccaro stated the petitioner would need a special permit because he is expanding the non-conforming use of a residential building in a business district. Zoning Board of Appeals Minutes of 1015100 page 2 On a motion by Susan Miller, seconded by Edward Balboni, the Zoning Board of Appeals voted to grant Mary S. Dorandi for the property located at 32 Green Street, Reading, MA, a Special Permit under section 6.3.2 and 6.3.3.4 of the Zoning By-laws to construct a solarium as shown on July 21, 2000 plot plan prepared by Robert W. Smith. The motion was approved by a vote of 3-0-0. Case #00-29 A Public Hearing on the petition of Gerald E. Welch, Inc. who seeks a variance/special permit under Section 5.1.1/5.1.2/5.2.8.2/6.3.2.1 of the Zoning By-laws in order to remove the existing building and construct three new buildings, each containing four residential units on the property located at 15 -17 Pierce Street in Reading, MA. Christopher Vaccaro swore in the applicants. Atty. Brad Latham represented the applicant. Atty. Latham stated the lot size is slightly over an acre. The present building is 8,000 sq. ft. The building was originally an organ factory and most recently a chemical factory. The shape of the building is unusual with a center courtyard and industrial size windows. Most of the lot is paved. The petitioner was previously seeking to build 20 apartments, but has reduced the size to accommodate the concerns of the neighbors and CPDC. Atty. Latham read a letter from CPDC stating 12 units would be more appropriate, and requesting one of the units be affordable housing. The applicant is now proposing to tear down the current building and rebuild 3 buildings, each containing 4 units. The units have 2 bedrooms each. The end units are 1,800 sq. ft. and the interior units are 1,600 sq. ft. They will probably be owner occupied condominiums. There are 24 parking spaces. The new buildings will be the same height as the surrounding houses. The applicant will plant hemlock trees, as a buffer and a screen, along the side that abuts Mr. Keating's property. The existing green space is 13%. This proposal would increase the green space to 46%. The applicant would agree to restrict the condominiums to people over 55 years old. Atty. Latham stated this property meets the requirements for a variance. The property is unique and there are the hardships of the exterior walls not meeting energy codes, the windows on the lower floor not meeting the height requirements, and the roof would need to be shored up for renovations. This is in a S 15 district. They are requesting a variance from zoning by-law 5.2.8.1 to have more than one principal building on a lot, 5.2.8.2 the buildings are not 50' apart, 5.1.2 the table of dimensional controls, and the change of use from industrial to apartments. It will cost approximately $150,000 to demolish the existing building. Each condominium will sell for approximately $350,000. The prospect of building single family houses is not economically feasible. The applicant is still working with CPDC. Atty. Latham introduced 2 petitions, each signed by 15 to 20 people, in support of this project. Zoning Board of Appeals Minutes of 10/5100 page 3 Members of the Zoning Board were concerned with the amount of parking spaces. John Jarema requested a handicapped parking space. Edward Balboni stated there should be more parking spaces for the guests of the residents. Atty. Latham stated they could add 3 or 4 more parking spaces, but that would decrease the amount of green space. Mr. Balboni asked if all the chemicals have been removed from this site? Atty. Latham stated the Reading Health Department has supervised the chemical clean-up. Glen Redmond stated he would like the setbacks indicated on the drawings. Many of the notified abutters attended the public hearing. There were several people in favor of the reduction to 12 units and the restriction of over 55 year olds. David Gillette, 26 Pierce Street, stated he appreciates the reduction from 20 units to 12 units, but would prefer 3 single family houses. He also stated the drawings do not show the impact on the other side. Susan Suarez, 11 Appleton Lane, stated she would prefer this residential use to the factory. Kevin Keating, 35 Pierce Street, stated this property has been vacant for 2 years and is unattractive. He would prefer more green space, not more parking. On a motion by John Jarema, seconded by Edward Balboni, the Zoning Board of Appeals voted to continue the public hearing on Gerald E. Welch, Inc. for the property located at 15-17 Pierce Street, Reading, MA, until October 19, 2000. The motion was approved by a vote of 3-0-0. Case #00-27 A Public Hearing on the petition of Gerald E. Welch, Inc. who seeks a variance/special permit/appeal of decision of the Building Inspector under Section 5.1.1/5.1.2/6.3.3.4/7.4.2 of the Zoning By-laws in order to relocate the structure at 15-17 Pierce Street for twelve housing units on the property located at 15-17 Pierce Street, Reading, MA Christopher Vaccaro swore in the applicants. Atty. Brad Latham requested a continuance for 30 to 60 days. On a motion by John Jarema, seconded by Edward Balboni, the Zoning Board of Appeals voted to continue the public hearing for Case #00-27 Gerald E. Welch, Inc., for the property located at 15 - 17 Pierce Street, Reading, MA, until November 2, 2000. The motion was approved by a vote of 3-0-0.