HomeMy WebLinkAbout1994-11-28 Community Planning and Development Commission MinutesTOWN OF READING
COMMUNITY PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION
MINUTES OF NOVEMBER 28, 1994
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 28, 1994.. In attendance were Thomas Baillie, Chair;
Bryan Irwin, Commission Secretary; and Member Richard Howard.
Also present was Town Planner Jonathan Edwards. The meeting was
called to order at 7:39 PM.
PUBLIC INPUT
Mr. Mark Favaloro, attorney representing the developer of the
Roma Lane subdivision, requested that the Commission authorize
and endorse a lot release for the remainder of that subdivision
pending the completion of specified work items scheduled for
completion before the Commission's next meeting in order to
facilitate a lot transfer. The Commission voted 3:0 to approve a
motion of Mr. Howard, seconded by Mr. Irwin, to approve a lot
release for Roma Lane Extension, station 8+00 to end subject to
the completion of finish pavement, stone bounds drilled and cer-
tified, loam and seeding of the tree lawn, and delivery of five
street trees to the Forestry Division, all to the satisfaction of
the Public Works Department. The Commission then signed a lot
release and asked Mr. Edwards to hold it until the conditions are
satisfied. Ms. Shipes joined the quorum at this point.
DECISION--PRD-M, BEAR HILL APARTMENTS
Mr. Baillie opened a discussion toward reaching a decision con-
cerning the application of the Reading Bear Hill Limited Partner-
ship for a Special Permit to construct a Planned Residential
Development--Municipal on Town-owned property on Bear Hill. Mr:
Edwards read recent memoranda from William Robertson, the
Commission's consultant engineer, and the Engineering Division.
Mr. Baillie questioned whether the open space proposed met the
,qualification standards of the Zoning By-Laws. In response, Mr.
Frank Ford, the applicant's engineer, presented a detailed cal-
culation showing sufficient area, but that slightly over 50a of
the open space had natural grades of more than 10 percent. Mr.
Baillie also questioned whether the affordable housing proposed,
the proposed water line replacement to Tarrant Lane, and
sidewalks on Hopkins and South Streets should entirely be counted
as density justification rather than mitigation. He stated that
playground equipment is needed in the recreation area, that
drainage problems on North Street and Summer Avenue need to be
resolved, and that the water tank needed to have a preconstruc-
tion survey-and be monitored during "construction He and Mr.
Howard, citing the calculations of the Evaluation Committee, dis-
cussed the potential school impacts. He submitted his own cal-
culation of the mitigation and justification costs, and then
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proposed that Buildings 6000 and 6001, for a total of 132 units,
and the roadway around the west of the water tank be eliminated
and these areas, adjacent to the neighborhood, be devoted to
meaningful wooded open space. Mr. Irwin agreed, stating that
retention of usable, significant open space in this neighborhood
is important. He suggested the elimination of the proposed house
lot on Hopkins Street and adding that land to the recreation
area.
Ms. Shipes also agreed with the general direction of the discus-
sion, supporting the elimination of Buildings 6000 and 6001 for
increased open space and wooded buffer. She stated that the Tar-
rant Lane water line should be considered mitigation, not jus-
tification, and pointed out that it would have to be moved anyway
for the apartment construction. She stated that the alternative
transportation plan is still not acceptable or adequately com-
mitted to, that a realistic market survey is needed, that it
should not be based on service to Mishawum, and that sufficient
funding for an effective period of time is needed. Mr. Howard
stated that the revised justification values as weighed against
the risks to the Town would support the elimination of at least
- on 14-unit building.
The applicant, Andrew Dolben, and his attorney, O. Bradley
Latham, stated that the Commission had already committed itself
in its preliminary decision to 160 units, and that they had
relied on that decision in making the final application for 160
units. Ms. Shipes responded that the applicant could not have
been misled if he realized that the preliminary decision was con-
ditional and that further analysis showed proposal changes and
overestimation of justification values. Mr. Howard agreed,
pointing out that the preliminary decision relied on information
then given, and that the Commission reserved its right to make a
different final decision.
The Commission voted 4:0 to approve a motion of Ms. Shipes,
seconded by Mr. Irwin, to grant a Special Permit to Construct a
Planned Residential Development--Municipal to the Reading Bear
Hill Limited Partnership for 132 units subject to conditions and
qualifications as specified in a Notification to Town Clerk dated
November 30, 1994.
ADJOURNMENT
At 11:52 PM a motion was made and seconded to adjourn and the
Commission voted unanimously to do so.
Respectfully Submit~ed: Approved: January 30, 1995
Signed: l ,ice' ` Date : _2 Z6 Z~ S
Bryan rwin, Secretary
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