HomeMy WebLinkAbout1995-03-20 Community Planning and Development Commission MinutesREO E
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TOWN OF READING
COMMUNITY PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION
MINUTES OF MARCH 20, 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
March 20, 1995. In attendance were Thomas Baillie, Chair; Bryan
Irwin, Commission Secretary; and Member Richard Howard. Also
present were Town Planner Jonathan Edwards and Town Counsel H.
Theodore Cohen. The meeting was called to order at 7:37 PM.
APPROVAL OF PREVIOUS MINUTES
The minutes of the Commission's meeting of February 27, 1995 were
amended and accepted and those of January 30, February 6, and
March 13, 1995 were accepted.
APPROVAL-NOT-REQUIRED SUBDIVISION PLANS
After review of the plans, the Commission voted 3:0 approve a mo-
tion of Mr. Irwin, seconded by Mr. Howard, to endorse a Plan of
Land at 146 Summer Avenue dated March 8, 1995 and did so endorse.
CONTINUED PUBLIC HEARING--ZONING WARRANT ARTICLES
Mr. Baillie called to order a Continued Public Hearing to con-
sider Articles relative to zoning amendments placed on the War-
rant for the Annual 1995 Town Meeting:
Article 19 (Neon Sign Prohibition):
Ms. Leslie McGonigle and Mr. Bob Childs, merchants, stated
that the Chamber of Commerce and the CPDC had devised the
Sign By-Laws through consensus, that it was important to
maintain that consensus, and that neon signs are restricted
in the by-laws and are important to businesses. The Commis-
sion voted 0:3 on a motion of Mr. Howard, seconded by Mr.
Irwin, to recommend this article to Town Meeting.
Article 22 (PRD on VanNorden Road and Harold Avenue):
Mr. Michael Larkin spoke on behalf of the owner of Lot 2 and
showed a sketch of a prospective PRD development. No repre-
sentative of Lot 1 appeared and no development plans were
presented, and Mr. Edwards reported that this.owner told him
he was not certain whether he wished to proceed. He and
Town Counsel pointed out that Lot 2 by itself did not have
sufficient frontage for a PRD by itself. The Commission
voted 0:3 on a motion of Mr. Howard, seconded by Mr. Irwin,
to recommend this article to Town Meeting.
Article 23 (by petition to amend Section 6.3.1.3.):
Mr. Ralph Meuse, petitioner, explained his intent behind the
article, which would be to allow the last remaining lot of a
group to become a building lot by special permit regardless
of whether it met other special permit criteria.Mr.
Baillie objected as to the effect that this article could
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have on residential overcrowding. The Commission voted 0:3
on a motion of Mr. Howard, seconded by Mr. Irwin, to recom-
mend this article to Town Meeting.
Article 21 (grandfathering period for PRD's and ANR lots):
Mr. Cohen explained that this article would afford to PRD's
and ANR subdivision lots the same nonconformity protections
afforded by state law to definitive subdivision lots which
have been approved prior to a by-law change that wouldmake
them nonconforming. The Commission voted 3:0 on a mot.'on of
Mr. Irwin., seconded by Mr. Howard, to recommend this article
to Town Meeting.
Article 18 (Goldhirsch article--restoring nonconforming rights):
Mr. Cohen explained that this would restore the practice of
granting building permits for additions or modifications to
nonconforming houses and houses on nonconforming lots that
existed prior to the Goldhirsch vs. McNair decision, with
the exception that additions over nonconforming portions of
houses would need Board of Appeals approval. The Commission
voted 3:0 on a motion of Mr. Howard, seconded by Mr. Irwin,
to recommend this article to Town Meeting.
Article 20 (conversion of S-10 to 5-15):
Messrs. Edwards and Cohen discussed the background of this
article, and pointed out that in conjunction with Articles
18 and 21, already established nonconforming rights would be
protected while requiring increased lot size and frontage
for new building lots and decreased density allowance for
PRD's. The Commission voted 3:0 on a motion of Mr. Howard,
seconded by Mr. Irwin, to recommend this article to Town
Meeting.
The Commission made the following assignments amongst its members
for the reports and presentations to be made to Town Meeting:
Article 18: Mr. Howard
Article 19: Ms. Shipes
Articles 20 and 21: Mr. Baillie
Article 22: Mr. Irwin
Article 23 (report only): Mr. Baillie
ADJOURNMENT
At 9:59 PM a motion was made and seconded to adjourn and the Com-
mission voted unanimously to do so.
Respectfully Submi ted: Approved: ATcX 3,(99
Signed Date: ~ /2~Al
Bryan
n, Secretary
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