HomeMy WebLinkAbout1996-05-20 Community Planning and Development Commission MinutesTOWN OF READING
COMMUNITY PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION
MINUTES OF MAY 20, 1996
A meeting of the Community Planning and Development Commission of
the Town of Reading was held in the Selectmen's Meeting Room of
the Town Hall, 16 Lowell Street in Reading, Massachusetts on May
20, 1996. In attendance were Bryan Irwin, Chair; and Members
Susan DeMatteo, Thomas Baillie, Jonathan Barnes, and Richard
Howard. Also present were Town Planner Jonathan Edwards and Town
Engineer Joseph Delaney. The meeting was called to order at 7:33
PM.
APPROVAL OF PREVIOUS MINUTES
The minutes of the Commission's meeting of April 1 and May 6,
1996 were accepted.
APPROVAL-NOT-REQUIRED SUBDIVISION PLANS
The Commission voted 5:0 to approve a motion of Mr. Howard,
seconded by Mr. Barnes, to endorse a Plan of Land for Ceccacci,
Courossi, and Fantasia on Zachary and Cory Lanes and Dividence
Road, dated April 23, 1996 and revised May 6, 1996; and did so
endorse.
PENDING BUSINESS
Mr. Irwin and Mr. Edwards discussed with the Commission the
desire expressed by the Board of Selectmen that given the recent
location into Reading of an unexpected adult video store, the
schedule for considering an adult-uses amendment to the Zoning
By-Laws should be accelerated. The Commission agreed to hold a
special meeting on June 3, 1996 to review findings as to poten-
tial impacts of such uses and a special meeting on June 17, 1996
to consider developing warrant article language concerning such a
potential amendment for placement by the Selectmen before Town
Meeting.
PUBLIC HEARING--PRELIMINARY PRD-G PLANS: 89 MAIN STREET
Mr. Irwin called to order a public hearing to consider prelimi-
nary plans for a proposed Planned Residential Development—
General, at 89 Main Street. Messrs. Tom Devaney, applicant, and
Rich Williams, engineer, presented the plans. Messrs. Edwards
and Delaney presented staff comments. Commission members pointed
out that this plan departs in major ways from the sketch plan
shown to Town Meeting three years ago in pursuit of the PRD-G
overlay zoning, particularly in regard to higher.: building
coverage and less buffering from abutting properties; that peak
hour traffic estimates may be low and existing traffic conditions
were not taken into account in the traffic study. Mr. David
the closeness of the road, lack of detail, and possible harm from
blasting, relative to the eighteenth-century house on the site
and that the Victorian barn is proposed to be demolished.
1
Residents expressed concerns about the effect of additional traf-
fic from this site compounded by additional traffic shortly to
come from the nearby Bear Hill development; that construction
noise from this site on weekends would be undesirable; that there
should be no access road from the site onto South Street; that
paved and traffic areas on the site are too close to abutters and
there is not enough screening. The Commission voted 5:0 to ap-
prove a motion by Mr. Howard, seconded by Mr. Baillie, to con-
tinue the public hearing to 8:30 PM on June 10, 1996.
CONTINUED PUBLIC HEARING--SITE PLAN REVIEW: 162 MAIN STREET
Mr. Irwin called to order a continued public hearing concerning
site plan review for Gregory's at 162 Main Street. Mr. O. Brad-
ley Latham, attorney for the applicant, presented revised plans
reflecting concerns expressed by the Commission at the last ses-
sion of the public hearing, and stated that the basement will be
used only for mechanical and storage purposes. He added that it
has been calculated that the majority of the site is not in the
Business-A zoning district, and therefore the expansion of the
use into the residentially zoned portion of the site could only
be accomplished through a variance from the Zoning Board of Ap-
peals, for which the owner intends to apply. Failing such a
variance, the plans could not legally be effected. Messrs. Irwin
and Barnes pointed out that the sign shown on the front elevation
did not match up with the awning shown on the side elevation.
The Commission voted 5:0 to approve a motion by Mr. Howard,
seconded by Mr. Barnes, to close the public hearing. The Commis-
sion then voted 5:0 to approve a motion by Mr. Howard, seconded
by Mr. Baillie, to approve the site plan with conditions as
specified in a Notification to Town Clerk dated May 21, 1996.
ADJOURNMENT
At 10:10 PM a motion was made and seconded to adjourn and the
Commission voted unanimously to do so.
Respectfully Submitted:
Signed:/
Br n rwin, Chairman
Approved: June 10, 1996
Date:
2
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
TOWN OF READING
16 Lowell Street
Reading, Massachusetts 01867
(617) 942-9012
MEMORANDUM
TO: Cheryl Johnson, Tow Clerk
FROM: Jonathan Edwards, Clerk
Development Co mission
SUBJ: Decision--Site Plan Review:
DATE: May 21, 1996
to the
RECEIVED
1-OWN CLERK(
READING, MASS,
MAY 21 4 02 Ply %
main/isp.rec
Community Planning and
Gregory's, 162 Main Street
Please be advised that at its meeting of May 20, 1996 the Com-
munity Planning and Development Commission voted to approve a
Site Plan, proposed by Louis Gregorio, entitled "Proposed
Retail /Restaurant Building at 162 Main Street", dated April 8,
1996 as revised through May 14, 1996, and accompanying plans and
documents, with the following conditions:
1. Prior to making application for a Building Permit, the Ap-
plicant shall submit to the Department of Community Develop-
ment and to the Engineering Division, Department of Public
Works, satisfactory modifications to said Site Plan reflect-
ing this approval and its conditions.
2. All necessary permits and approvals shall be obtained prior
to construction and occupancy, including as appropriate but
not necessarily limited to: Board of Health approvals,
Street Opening Permit, Street Tree Removal Permit, Sewer Ex-
tension Permit, Curb-Cut Permit, Building Permits, Proof of
inspection and certification of Minimum Cellar Floor Eleva-
tions, Conservation Orders of Condition for the development.
3. All comments except items 2 and 5 contained in the Town
Engineer's memorandum of May 6, 1996 shall•be addressed and
satisfied consistent with this decision.
4. All comments except items 2 and 6 contained in the minutes
of the Development Review Team of April 30, 1996 shall be
addressed and satisfied consistent with this decision.
5. The applicant shall plant and maintain the trees and other
plantings on site as shown on the above-mentioned plans as
amended by this decision under the direction of the Tree
Warden; and all such plantings shall be indicated on revised
plans per Condition #1. The Plans shall be amended as sub-
mitted according to Condition #1 as follows:
a. One additional maple tree. in the frontage landscaping
area approximately thirty feet south of the southerly curb
of the new site entranceway.
b. All new maple trees shall be 3-1/2 inch calipre.
6. Construction activity shall not take place on the site such
as may be discernable from outside the property except
during the following hours:
Mondays through Fridays: 7:00 AM to 8:00 PM
/3
Saturdays: 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Sundays and Legal Holidays: none
Moreover, heavy equipment shall not be operated in or to or
from the property except during the following hours:
Mondays through Fridays: 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM
Saturdays: 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Sundays and Legal Holidays: none
7.
Should any landscaping subject to this approval require re-
placement as determined by the Tree Warden within one year
after installation, the applicant shall immediately replace
such landscaping.
8.
The exterior building material and lighting shall be as
specified on Drawing A-1 revised May 20, 1996, said drawing
to be submitted in accordance with condition ##1.
9.
Exterior lighting shall be wall-mounted and shielded from
shining directly into adjoining properties or the public
right-of-way
10.
No mechanical equipment shall be mounted on the roof or on
the ground.
11.
The basement of the building shall be used only for mechani-
cal and storage.
12.
A limit-of-work line shall be shown on the plans not closer
to the rear property line than fifty feet, and no construc-
tion activity shall take place behind this limit-of-work
line.
13.
All signage must adhere to the Town of Reading Sign By-Laws.
14.
The two southernmost parking spaces shall be employee park-
ing only and shall be so signed.
15.
The requirement for a traffic study is hereby waived.
16.
This decision shall not be valid until and unless any neces-
sary variances to render all aspects of said plan legal are
granted by the Reading Zoning Board of Appeals; should such
variances not be granted, this approval shall be deemed null
and void.
cc:
CPDC
Board of Selectmen
Zoning Board of Appeals
Town Manager
Director of Public Works
DPW--Engineering.
Tree Warden
Building Inspector
Board of Health
Police Chief
Fire Chief
Applicant: Louis Gregorio, 156 Hopkins Street
N
TOWN OF READING--DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
16 Lowell Street, Reading, Massachusetts 01867 (617) 942-9010
DEVELOPMENT REVIEW TEAM
Minutes of April 30, 1996
Participants: Peter Hechenbleikner,. Town Manager
Jonathan Edwards, Town Planner
Glen Redmond, Building Inspector
Ruth Clay, Health Director
Donald Wood, Fire Chief
Joseph Delaney, Town Engineer
Topic: Site Plan: Greg's, 162 Main Street:
1. Zoning and Code Issues:
Is the majority of the property in the Business-A Zone? If not, then the 30-foot
commercial-use encroachment into the'S-15 Zone is not permissible.
Is the basement proposed to be used for commercial use of any kind or for support of or
ancillary operations connected with either or both main-floor uses? If so, then the
parking and loading shown is inadequate in terms of zoning requirements.
If the total occupied area is to be more than 7500 sq. ft., the building would need to be
sprinkiered.
2. The last two parking spaces are unusable; a slot toward the southern property line should
be provided.
3. There is a drainage easement on the property but not shown on the plans.
4. Curb material is not shown; for the curb parallel to Main Street and the curb along the
landscaped entrance peninsula, material should be granite.
5. An inlet should be provided to the drainage pipe located near the southeastern corner of
the proposed building.
6. A retaining wall on the southerly side of the property would better allow for emergency
access to the side and rear of the building; alternatively, building the structure into the
slope, with the foundation and wall acting as a retaining wall, would eliminate the extent
of grading shown.
7. Drainage calculations are needed; the extent of impervious surface is being increased.
8. The stop line should be pulled into the property off the sidewalk.
9. Some landscaping along the northerly property line is shown on land owned by that
abutter; has that owner given permission? Also, a tree is needed in that location.
10. What facade materials and colors are proposed?
11. Will mechanical equipment be placed on the roof? If so, will it be visible from the street
or abutting residences and what noise abatement measures would be appropriate?
cc,: Applicant's attorney: Latham & Latham, 643 Main Street
CPDC; Team Participants; Joe Veno; Donald Nadeau
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OF)? , c Town of Reading.
16 Lowell Street
Reading, MA 01867-2687
639'INCORQO~P
FAX: (617) 942-9070 PUBLIC WORKS
(617) 942-9076
MEMORANDUM
DATE: May 6, 1996
TO: Jonathan Edwards, Town Planner
CPDC Members
FROM: Joseph E. Delaney, Town Engine
SUBJECT: 162 Main Street Site Plan (Gregory's Site)
The Engineering Division has reviewed the proposed site plan for 162 Main Street and offers the
following comments.
1. There is an existing drainage easement across the property. The limits of this easement
j should be shown on the Existing Conditions Plan.
2. The southerly two parking spaces do not have sufficient maneuvering room for vehicles to
exit. A paved turnout area beyond the parking spaces should be provided.
3. The plans should specify the curbing materials to be used within the site. At a minimum,
granite curb should be used around the driveway peninsula and along the planting bed
parallel to Main Street. This will allow plows to maneuver without damaging the curb.
4. The proposed 12 inch drain line to the paved swale on the southerly side of the building
should have some sort of inlet structure. A catch basin in this location would be
preferable because the sump would help prevent debris from entering the Town drainage
system.
5. Emergency vehicle access along the southerly side of the building is compromised by the
steep slope. A retaining wall at or near the property line would provide better access.
6. Drainage calculations must be submitted to demonstrate that there will be no increase in
the peak rate of runoff after development. If there is an increase in runoff, mitigation will
be required.
7. The Town requires type VA-4 vertical granite curb within the road right-of-way. The
detail provided does not show this type of curb.
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