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Home My WebLink About1995-11-06 Community Planning and Development Commission MinutesR CE•"tED R3~ii`~a> Ana 3 1 TOWN OF READING COMMUNITY PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION MINUTES OF NOVEMBER 6, 1995 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 November 6, 1995. In attendance were Bryan Irwin, Chair; and Members Jonathan Barnes and Richard Howard. Also present were Town Planner Jonathan Edwards and Town Engineer Joseph Delaney. The meeting was called to order at 7:39 PM. APPROVAL OF PREVIOUS MINUTES The minutes of the Commission's meeting of October 23, 1995 were accepted. SITE PLAN WAIVER REQUEST Mr. Ronald Ranere, architect for the Daniels House Nursing Home at 59 Middlesex Avenue, continued his request for a Waiver from Site Plan Review for a small addition proposed for that property. Mr. Edwards reported that Town Counsel had advised that since there is no change in use proposed and since the proposed addi- tion exceeds 300 gross square feet, a waiver from Site Plan Review would not be appropriate. In addition, Mr. Ranere reported that there is a deficiency already in the number of parking spaces relative to zoning requirements, and would still be even by adding parking at the ratio required in the Zoning By-Laws. Mr. Edwards stated that the Building Inspector's inter- pretation as to whether this would not increase the nonconformity would be needed. The Commission voted 3:0 to approve a motion of Mr. Howard, seconded by Mr. Barnes, to deny the waiver request based on the advice of Town Counsel. The Commission tentatively scheduled a public hearing on full Site Plan Review for December 4, 1995 at 9:00 PM. PUBLIC HEARING: ZONING ARTICLES ON THE FALL 1995 TOWN MEETING WARRANT Mr. Irwin called to order a public hearing to consider Articles relative to Zoning By-Law amendments, and other warrant articles of concern to the Commission, on the Warrant for the Subsequent 1995 Town Meeting. Comments from the minutes of the October 23, 1995 public meeting relative to these articles was entered into the record as input to this public hearing. It was agreed that Mr. Barnes would put forward to Town Meeting motions on these ar- ticles sponsored by the Commission. Article 15: Robert Childs, a merchant, said that the sign regulations are too restrictive and make it difficult to attract business. Anna Carroll, a merchant, said this language may be - too broadly applicable. At this point, Mr. -Baillie_joined the quorum. The Commission voted 3:0:1 (Mr. Baillie abstaining) to approve a motion made by Mr. Howard and seconded by Mr. Barnes to recommend this article to Town Meeting. 1 Article 16: There being no input by the public in attendance, the Commission voted 4:0 to approve a motion by Mr. Howard and seconded by Mr. Barnes to recommend this article to Town Meeting. Article 17: Jim Chamberlin and Redmond Sheets offered the help of the Quannapowitt Radio Club in drafting revisions to this ar- ticle. O. Bradley Latham asked that revisions be made with respect to on-premises uses of communications structures by businesses. Mr. Barnes stated that aesthetics, appearance, and community character are important factors in this issue. The Commission voted 0:4 to disapprove a motion by Mr. Howard and seconded by Mr. Barnes to recommend this article to Town Meeting. The Commission then voted 4:0 to approve a motion by Mr. Howard, seconded by Mr. Barnes, to seek to table this article at Town Meeting on the basis that more work is needed based on input received before and at this public hearing so that this article can be ready for the Spring 1996 Town Meeting warrant. The time being 9:00 PM, the Commission called a break in this public hearing in order to convene a public hearing scheduled for this time and told those in attendance that it would be resumed following the other public hearing. PUBLIC HEARING--FINAL PRD-G PLANS: 48 MILL STREET Mr. Irwin called to order a continued Public Hearing to consider Final Planned Residential Development-General Plans for 48 Mill Street. Paul Finocchio, engineer for the applicant, presented revised plans and described the incomplete status of the delinea- tion of the wetlands with the Conservation Commission. He said that he hoped to finish this delineation by the middle of the month. A neighbor stated that school busses do not use upper Mill Street because of the weight limit on the bridge. Mr. Howard pointed out that a traffic study has not been waived and that the Commission expects one; he suggested that it could be done jointly with the applicant for the subdivision at 51 Mill Street, and that proposals for off-site improvements should be enhanced. The Commission voted 4:0 to continue the public hearing to 8:00 PM on December 4, 1995. RESUME ZONING WARRANT ARTICLES PUBLIC HEARING: Mr. Irwin then called back to order the public hearing on the ar- ticles on the warrant for the Fall 1995 Town Meeting. Article 13: Virginia Adams, Ted Smethurst, and David O'Sullivan of the Historical Commission presented this article which sets forth a demolition delay process, stating that it would affect about 400 houses. The Commission voted 4:0 to approve a motion by Mr. Howard, seconded by Mr. Baillie, to recommend this article to Town Meeting. Article 18: There being no public input, the Commission voted 4:0 to -approve a motion by Mr. Howard, seconded by Mr. Baillie, to recommend this article to Town Meeting with modifications 1 and 3 as contained in Town Counsel's fax of November 6th. 2 Article 19: There being no public input, the Commission voted 0:4 to disapprove a motion by Mr. Howard and seconded by Mr. Baillie to recommend this article to Town Meeting. The Commis- sion then voted 4:0 to approve a motion by Mr. Howard, seconded by Mr. Barnes, to seek to table this article at Town Meeting. Article 20: An abutter, Fred Boni, asked if his land could be added to that which is the subject property of this article. Mr. Edwards explained that since the warrant has closed, the article cannot be expanded at this point. The Commission voted 4:0 to approve a motion by Mr. Howard, seconded by Mr. Baillie, to recommend this article to Town Meeting. Article 14: Michael Newhouse, attorney for Ms. Minotti, owner of the land subject to this article, explained that she was con- cerned as to whether the proposed easement would in fact solve the drainage problems in the area, that the easement may inter- fere with potential buildability of the property, and that it would be preferrable to delay the issue until the spring so that there would be time for an engineer to investigate the property's condition and development potential. Mr. Delaney ex- plained that because Town staff has not been able to enter the property, the precise location of the easement and needed drainage work has not been determined. Dan Smith and Walter Mack, neighbors, stated that there is already a problem and that it is getting worse. The Commission voted 4:0 to approve a mo- tion by Mr. Howard, seconded by Mr. Barnes, to recommend this ar- ticle to Town Meeting. The Commission decided that presentations to Town Meeting on the various articles would be made as follows: Articles 14 and 18: Mr. Irwin Article 15: Ms. Shipes Articles 16, 17, and 19: Mr. Barnes Article 20: Mr. Baillie The Commission then voted 4:0 to approve a motion by Mr. Howard, seconded by Mr. Barnes, to close the public hearing. APPROVAL-NOT-REQUIRED PLANS AND OTHER SUBDIVISION MATTERS Autumn Lane: After hearing Mr. Delaney's input on the requested bond reduction for the Autumn Lane subdivision, the Commission voted 4:0 to approve a motion by Mr. Howard, seconded by Mr. Barnes, to reduce the bond amount held from $28,300 to $7,8.00 based on the Town Engineer's memorandum of November 13th, the latter sum to include $1500 for solution of drainage on the Stager property in the subdivision. VanNorden Road: After review of the plan the Commission voted 4:0 to approve a motion by Mr. Howard, seconded by Mr. Barnes, to endorse a Plan of Land dated October 23, 1995 for Lot 6 on Van- Norden Road, and the Commission did so endorse: 1503 Main Street: Mr. O. Bradley Latham presented a Plan of Land for 1503 Main Street whereby one existing large lot with two legal nonconforming houses be split into two lots each with one 3 of the houses, and cited MGL Chapter 41 and case law supporting his contention that endorsement of such a plan would be legal and indeed mandatory. After review of the plan, the Commission noted that the proposed frontage on Lot B could have been delineated in greater conformity with the requirements of the Zoning By-Laws. Mr. Latham stated that in his view such variation from the zoning standards was not relevant. The Commission voted 4:0 to approve a motion by Mr. Howard, seconded by Mr. Baillie, to refuse to en- dorse said Plan of Land at 1503 Main Street, dated October 11, 1995, on the grounds that the plan does not conform to the Zoning By-Laws as nearly as possible with respect to frontage on Lot B. ADJOURNMENT At 11:56 PM a motion was made and seconded to adjourn and the Commission voted unanimously to do so. Respectful/Ay Submitted: Signed: pes,/Secretary Approved: January 11, 1996 Date: 1-,22 4