HomeMy WebLinkAbout1994-06-20 Community Planning and Development Commission MinutesTOWN OF READING
COMMUNITY PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION
MINUTES OF JUNE 20, 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 June
29, 1994. In attendance were Richard Howard, Chair; Thomas
Baillie, Commission Secretary; and Members William Goodrich, and
Jonathan Barnes. Also present was Town Planner Jonathan Edwards.
The meeting was called to order at 7:34 PM.
APPROVAL OF PREVIOUS MINUTES
The minutes of the Commission's meeting of June 6, 1994 were ac-
cepted. Ms. Shipes joined the quorum at this point.
CARRIAGE ESTATES II SUBDIVISION BOND
Mr. Howard opened continued discussions about the establishment
of a bond for the Carriage Estates II subdivision and about
issues involving compliance with subdivision approval conditions.
Mr. Mark Favaloro, the developer's attorney, stated that the
developer wished to proceed for the time being with street and
utility construction without a bond, the DPW estimate of which
the developer felt was too high. He stated that the developer
was withdrawing the bond request. The Commission told Mr.
Favaloro that it was not satisfied with the developer's com-
pliance to date and admonished him to provide satisfactory plans
and schedules that all condi.t.ions, especially 6 and 7, would be
fulfilled forthwith. The Commission reminded the developer
through his attorney that the prohibition of construction traffic
on Emerson Street must be fully complied with, and it asked Mr.
Edwards to identify bonding and enforcement options with Town
Counsel. It also authorized Mr. Edwards to enforce violations
with tickets or fines.
PUBLIC HEARING---REQUEST TO REVISE SITE PLAN CONDITIONS:
SCHOOLHOUSE CONDOMINIUMS
Mr. Howard called to order a public hearing to consider a re-
quest by the residents' association of the Schoolhouse Con-
dominiums to amend a provision in the site plan review and Spe-
cial Permit to allow outside storage of rubbish, instead of
storage in an interior basement, rubbish room. Mr. Charles Giac-
chetto, management agent, presented the proposal that after ex-
amining various options an outride dumpster, enclosed by fencing
and landscaping, together with truck and personnel gates be al-
the inside storage no longer be allowed. Mr. Edwards read plan-
ning comments and the Board of Health decision and meeting
minutes. Various neighbors raised objections to the proposal in-
cluding possible litter, rodents, noise, and unsightliness, and
pointed out various aspects of site noncompliance. Mr. Goodrich
stated that outride storage should be considered only on proof
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that inside storage is not workable, that required parking spaces
are not .lost, that the enclosure be harmonious in appearance,
that a credible estimate of rubbish volume and dumpster capacity
be provided, and that all other options were fully explored. The
Commission voted 5:0 to approve a motion of Mr. Barnes, seconded
by Mr. Baillie, that the hearing be continued to 8:00 PM on July
25, 1994.
PUBLIC HEARING--PRELIMINARY PRD-M PLANS: BEAR HILL
Mr. Howard called to order a Public Hearing to consider prelimi-
nary plans for a 169-unit multi-family complex under the Planned
Residential. Development--Municipal Zoning By-Law proposed by the
Do.lben Company. The developers representatives, Attorney 0.
Bradley Latham, Engineer Frank Ford, Landscape Architect David
Hawke, Architect Laura Staines, and Traffic Consultant Vahid
Karimi, presented various aspects of the proposal, concluding
with an explanation by Drew Dolben of proposed justification for
increased development density up to 160 units.
Mr. Edwards presented planning staff comments. The Commission
asked him to check with DPW--Engineering for review of drainage
calculations, and to provide the Commission with conies of the
Purchase and Sales Agreement. Mr. Larry Cresta, operator of the
Exxon Station at Main and South Streets, objected to the use of
Exxon property for a new turning lane. Mr. John Dri.nkwater sug-
gested that traffic issues be dealt with after the number of al-
lowed units is determined. Mr. Gerry MacDonald, speaking for the
single-family neighbors raised a number of issues, including ac-
ceptance of 100 units (the basic density) but not 169 units,
prohibition of further subdivision of additional parcels, off-
site costs shared by the Town according to the Purchase and Sales
Agreement, increased traffic volumes and safety hazards iden-
tified by the traffic study, digging and blasting and any effects
on the integrity of the water tower, height limitation to 48
feet, school impacts, potential development, of Fourth Street and
its effects on Proposed building setbacks, strain on public
safety resources, and need for separate emergency access to the
site. The Commission voted 5:0 to approve a motion of Mr.
Barnes, seconded by Mr. Baillie, to continue the public hearing
to 8:90 PM on June 27, 1994, and it voted 5:0 to approve a motion
of Ms. Shipes, seconded by Mr. Barnes, to commission McDonough
and Scully to review the applicant's traffic study at cost to the
applicant as allowed by the Zoning By-Law.
ADJOURNMENT
Commission voted unanimously to do so.
Respectf "ubmitted: Approved:_ S igne Date: 4_
Thomas Baillie, Secretary C7
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