HomeMy WebLinkAbout1995-08-21 Community Planning and Development Commission MinutesCLERK
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TOWN OF READING
COMMUNITY PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION
MINUTES OF AUGUST 21, 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
August 21, 1995. In attendance were Bryan Irwin, Chair; Nancy
Shipes, Commission Secretary; and Member Richard Howard. Also
present were Town Planner.-'Jonathan Edwards and Town Engineer
Joseph Delaney. The meeting was called to order at 7:48 PM.
SUBDIVISION BONDS
Varney Circle and Autumn Lane:
In response to requests by the developer, the Commission con-
sidered possible reductions to the amounts of the bonds being
held in connection with the Varney Circle and Autumn Lane sub-
divisions. Several residents of these subdivisions presented
letters and photographs describing conditions therein unsatisfac-
tory to them, including in Varney Circle junk and debris left by
the developer in wetlands, and in Autumn Lane such items as the
slope, extent, and vegetative cover of the detention pond; lot
grading issues; exposed electrical wires; ponding and icing on
the street. The Commission voted 3:0 to approve each of these
motions by Mr. Howard, seconded by Ms. Shipes:
-to reduce the bond amount for Varney Circle from $25,500 to
$14,000, and
-to table action on any bond reduction for Autumn Lane until
such is recommended by the Town Engineer.
McMillan Way: In response to the developer's request, the Com-
mission considered the establishment of a bond amount for the
McMillan Way Subdivision. Neighbors raised the following con-
cerns with regard to this matter: that signs should be posted at
each end of the private Old Sanborn Lane stating that construc-
tion vehicles are prohibited from travelling on that way as is
specified in both the Roma Lane and McMillan Way subdivision ap-
proval conditions, and that some trees were removed in construct-
ing a sewer line through an easement from McMillan Way to the new
end of Sanborn Lane. The Commission voted 3:0 to approve a mo-
tion by Mr. Howard, seconded by Ms. Shipes, to establish a bond
amount at $120,000 and that a portion be set aside for restora-
tion of the Sanborn Lane easement and that the Town Engineer
specify such as a line item in the bond reduction estimates.
In addition, the McMillan Way developer agreed to install such
signs at each end of the private way and the Commission in-
structed Mr. Edwards that with the help of the Building Inspec-
tor, the developers of this and the other affected subdivisions
be notified of the construction vehicle prohibition and that
failure to abide by it would result in suspension of building
permits.
5
STREET ACCEPTANCE POLICIES
The Commission reviewed a draft of a Street Acceptance Policy
setting forth standards by which the Commission would decide
whether or not to recommend proposed street acceptances to the
Town Meeting. By vote of 3:0 the Commission approved a motion by
Mr. Howard, seconded by Ms. Shipes to adopt these standards as
its Street Acceptance Policy. The Commission requested Mr. Ed-
wards to notify the Conservation Commission, the Board of
Selectmen, and other appropriate agencies of this policy.
PROSPECTIVE ZONING WARRANT ARTICLES
The Commission briefly reviewed prospective articles to amend the
Zoning By-Laws to present to Fall Town Meeting. Such articles
include:
-Streamlining of review procedures for proposed PUD develop-
ments,
-Antennae and Satellite Dishes,
-Specification that property owners are responsible for
zoning compliance,
-Clarification of prohibition of brand names in permanent
window signs.
Mr. Edwards stated that he would discuss these with the Board of
Selectmen and would seek Town Counsel's quick cooperation in
drafting these articles. Three other non-zoning articles were
brought up:
-Roma Lane subdivision bond appropriation, and
-Reading Diner Site Plan bond appropriation;
-a proposed Demolition Delay By-Law being developed by the
Historical Commission.
ADJOURNMENT
Mr. Edwards was instructed to mail to abutters of the Strawberry
Hill Lane subdivision that the public hearing is to be continued
to 8:00 PM (not 9:00 PM) on August 28, 1995.
At 10:11 PM a motion was made and seconded to adjourn and the
Commission voted unanimously to do so.
Respectfully Submitted:
Signed:
Nancy hipes; Secretary
Approved : 9 { i 9 19 ~5
Date: q 2!