HomeMy WebLinkAbout1993-12-13 Community Planning and Development Commission MinutesTOWN OF READING
COMMUNITY PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION
MINUTES OF DECEMBER 13, 1993
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, 15 Lowell Street in Reading, Massachusetts on
December 13, 1993. In attendance were Richard Howard, Chair;
Thomas Baillie, Commission Secretary; and Members Nancy Shipes,
William Goodrich, and Jonathan Barnes. Also present were Town
Planner Jonathan Edwards and Town Engineer William Robertson.
The meeting was called to order at 7:32 PM.
APPROVAL OF PREVIOUS MINUTES
The minutes of the Commission's meeting of November 29, 1993 were
accepted.
SITE PLAN WAIVER REQUEST--YMCA, ARTHUR B. LORD DRIVE
Messrs. Russell Graham and Tom McGrath, architect, presented the
proposed plans to expand the YMCA by building a gymnasium on the
paved area which used to contain the tennis "bubble". Following
a. discussion amongst the Commissioners during which they
satisfied themselves that there would be minimal, if any, adverse
impact as defined in Section 4.3.3. of the Zoning By-Laws, the
Commission voted 5:0 to approve a motion made by Mr. Goodrich,
ably.seconded by Mr. Barnes, to grant the request for waiver from
site plan review.
PUBLIC HEARING: SITE PLAN REVIEW---READING ICE ARENA
Mr. Howard, at 3:92 PM, called to order a Public Hearing to con-
sider a site plan presented by the Reading Ice Arena Authority to
construct an indoor ice skating facility on the Town-owned
Haverhill Street Nike Site. He outlined the scope of this site
plan review and the items which did not fall within the
Commission's purview.
Messrs. O. Bradley Latham and William Jennings presented the
plans, giving a history of the project which has led to the
proposal to build an ice rink with seating for approximately 1()99
spectators, with support, facilities such as lockers and showers,
skate shop, and snack bar. The site contains 4.5 acres, on which
328 parking spaces are proposed. Details as to signs, lig'hting,
landscaping, traffic and pedestrian circulation, emergency ac-
cess, building design and exterior finishes, and refrigerant
system (including noise mitigation) were presented. The
proponents explained that the access road would be provided by
the Town, funded by a PWED grant. Mr. Ken Cram, traffic consult-
ant, the traffic study and outlined the proposed mitiga-
tion consisting of site distance improvements and a vehicle-
actuated traffic light, at the intersection of the access road and
Haverhill Street.
Mr. Edwards presented reports from the Board of Health, the Fire
Chief, the Town Engineer, and himself. Mr. Howard read letters
received from the public. Peter Hechenbleikner, Town Manager,
informed the Commission that the applicant, has been duly
authorized to submit an application for this proposal on Town
lance, and Selectman George Hines stated that the arena will be a
public facility, beneficial to Reading citizens.
Commission questions to the applicant involved pedestrian access,
handicap parking and access, traffic signal operations, sight
distances at the access road intersection with Haverhill Street,
and warning signs approaching this intersection. Mr. Jennings
stated that wheelstops would be provided for the handicap spaces
and that staff would help direct parking for major events.
Mr. Howard opened the hearing to comments from the public, most
of which concerned the proposed traffic light, its operations,
and whether or not it would really be necessary. The Town
Manager said that the light would include a Pedestrian-crossing
phase. Mr. Goodrich had several questions about drainage, hand-
icap parking lighting, and any needed soil remediation of the
former acid storage shed.
The Commission voted 4:1 (Mr. Goodrich dissenting) to approve a
motion made by Ms. Shipes, seconded by Mr. Barnes, to close the
public hearing. Ms. Shipes, seconded by Mr. Baillie, made a mo-
tion to approve the site plan with conditions as specified in a
Notification to Town Clerk dated December 14, 1993. Mr.
Goodrich, seconded by Mr. Barnes, moved to amend condition 1 by
adding „and a public hearing held by the Board of Selectmen on
the signalization plan"; this motion was defeated by a vote of
1:4. The main motion was then approved by a vote of 5:9.
ADJOURNMENT
At. 19:51 PM a motion was made and seconded to adjourn and the
Commission voted unanimously to do so.
Respectfully Submitted:
Signed:
Thomas Baillie, Secretary
Approved: January 19, 1994
Date:
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