HomeMy WebLinkAbout1992-03-23 Community Planning and Development Commission MinutesTOWN OF READING
COMMUNITY PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION
r MINUTES MARCH 23, 1992
A. meeting of the Community Planning and Development Commission of
the Town of Reading was held in the Selectmen's Meeting Doom of
the `Sown Hall, 16 Lowell. Street in Reading, Massachusetts on
March 23, 1992. In attendance were Nancy Shipes, Chair, and Mem-
bers William Goodrich, Richard Howard, and Thomas Stohlman. Also
present were `Sown Planner Jonathan Edwards and Town Engineer Wil-
liam Robertson. The meeting was called to order at 7:40 PM.
PUBLIC MEETING: SOUTH STREET SCENIC ROAD
Ms. Shipes opened the public meeting concerning South Street
Scenic Road street improvement ideas by explaining to the
thirty-four people present that the purpose of this meeting was
for mutual information as to the status of current ideas concern-
ing the potential -improvements to South Street, with a view of
the impact thereon of the Scenic Road status of the street.
Mr. Robertson briefly explained the a.llotment and allowed uses of
Chapter-90 road improvement funds and presented two plans based
on a 33-foot general right-of-way width, varying from 26 to 40
feet. The first plan showed two 11--foot travel lanes, with a
one-foot berm on either side,, and a sidewalk; this could cause
the elimination of 20 to 22 existing trees and would cost
$361,000 including catchbasins and manholes and including $50,000
for the sidewalk. The other plan showed two ten-foot travel
lanes meandering as much as possible within the right-of-way,
with a two-foot berm with gutter on either side and no sidewalk;
this could cause the elimination of at most six existing trees.
He also showed alternative alignments of the intersection with
Jacob Way.
Bill Weimar explained a petition shortly to be presented to the
Board of Selectmen, signed by 41 out of the 50 residents of the
street, calling for no change in the paved footprint, no
sidewalks, a "No Through Street" sign at the easterly end and
prohibition of AM peak-hour through traffic from that end, and
Home Rule legislation to allow Scenic Road standards as deter-
mined by CPDC to supercede Chapter-90 improvement standards.
Bill Locke stated that there was consensus to keep the paved
footprint as is, and that a state waiver would be needed but
could be obtained. Paul O'Neil, of Senator Tisei's office, ex-
plained -t,hat such legislation is not time--consuming or lengthy
but would need the Board of Selectmen to place an article on a
Town Meeting Warrant, and Town Meeting to endorse entering such
legislation. Mr. Robertson pointed out that Federal standards
may well apply to the use of Chapter-90 funds. He stated that
professionally he would have serious problems stamping engineer-
ing plans showing substandard design.
There followed a general discussion about the relationship be-
tween width, volume, speed, and safety, and about the possibility
of South Street becoming a major commuter cut-through route.
Mr. Barnes joined the quorum at 8:28 PM, after which the Town
Manager directed. attention to specific design options at the in--
tersections at each end of this Portion of South Street.. Shows
of hands indicated opposition to a sidewalk and a 90-degree in-
tersection with Jacob Way, due to Addison-Wesley traffic possibly
going westbound, and indicated general agreement with putting a
four-way "Stop" sign at South and Curtis Streets.
LONGWOOD ROAD ANR PLAN
Mr. Robertson. presented a previously endorsed Approval-Not-
Required Plan of land off Longwood Road and asked the Commission
to re-endorse the plan. as the original had been misplaced by
either the surveyor or the owner. The Commission voted 5:0 to
approve a motion made by Mr. Stohl_man and seconded by Mr. Howard
to endorse a Plan of Land in Reading off Longwood Roast Extension
dated May 23, 1990.
SANBORN VILLAGE ITT & IV SURETY
Mr. Edwards explained that with the financial departure of the
original developer, causing a bank that had held the Tri-Party
Agreement surety funds for the completion of Sanborn Village
Phases III and TV improvements to become the only other party to
the Agreement., and with the recent seizure of that very bank, the
Town was not sure of the existance or possession of these funds,
now totalling about :115,000. He asked that until these could be
determined and the Town be sure of their availability the previ-
ously granted lot released for the two remaining unsold lots be
rescinded. The Commission voted 5:0 to approve a motion of Mr.
Stohlman, seconded by Mr. Howard, to rescind the lot releases for
Lots 103 and 105 of Sanborn Village Phase IV. The Commissions
then voted 5:0 to approve a motion by Mr. Goodrich, seconded by
Mr. Howard, to instruct Town Counsel to investigate placing a.
lien attachment to said lots and advise the Commission.
ADJOURNMENT
At 9:52 PM a motion was made and seconded to adjourn and the Com-
mission voted unanimously to do so.
Respectfully Submitted: Approved: April 8, 1992
Signed: Date: 1
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