HomeMy WebLinkAbout1992-03-16 Community Planning and Development Commission Minutes1 s,.
a
TOWN OF READING
COMMUNITY PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION
MINUTES MARCH 16, 1992
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 16, 1992. In attendance were Nancy Shipes, Chair, Jonathan
Barnes, Commission Secretary; and Members William Goodrich, and
Thomas Stohlman. 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 March 2, 1992 were
amended and accepted. Mr. Howard joined the quorum at 7:45 PM.
FLOODPLAIN RECOMMENDATION: 62 BAY STATE ROAD
Ms. Shipes opened discussions concerning a request by the owner
to the Zoning Board of Appeals, to which the Commission is re-
quired by Section 4.2.2.2. of the Zoning By-haws to mare a recom-
mendation, to determine that property located at 62 Bay State
Road is not in fact subject to flooding although it is shown on
the Zoning Map as subject to a Floodplain Overlay Zoning Dis-
trict. Attorney 0. Bradley Latham, representing the owner, ex-
plained the request and introduced Mr. Jay Corey, an engineer,
who explained the hydrological analysis he had conducted of the
site and the associated watershed. His conclusion was that the
property is located entirely above the contour to which a 100°-
year flood elevation would in fact reach. He fielded questions
as to methodology and base data, and weir flows over and culvert
sues under Salem and Haverhill Streets. Mr. Robertson stated
that he had reviewed the analysis and concurred with its
methodology and conclusions. Mr. Herbert Converse of United
Church Homes, adjacent to this property, pointed out that
groundwater elevations were high in the area relative to the sur-
face of the land, a fact also attested to by Mr. Corey. After
further questions and discussion, Mr. Goodrich, seconded by Mr.
Stohlman, moved that the Commission report to the Zoning Board of
Appeals that in the Commission's opinion the applicants' land
area, according to the presented hydrological analysis as
reviewed and recommended by the Town Engineer, is not subject to
flooding during a 100-year storm and is considered suitable for
human occupancy; there is concern about high groundwater levels
that need to be addressed in review of any proposed development
of this land. This motion carried by a vote of 5:0.
SITE PLAN REVIEW WAIVER REQUEST: 400 MAIN STREET
Ms. Shipes then opened discussion of a request by Mr. Joe Bates
for a waiver from site plan review of his property at 400 Main
Street, the bottom floor of which he had recently converted from
office to retail use. The Commission assured itself that this
change in use remained in the same use category and therefore
could be considered for a waiver. Mr. Sam Vitale, the owner's
attorney, made a brief presentation, citing a 1976 Zoning Board
7 of Appeals decision allowing three parking spaces for office use
C of the property except for utility use only of the cellar. In
response to Commission Members' questions, he stated that
deliveries were made by van, that delivery times could be
managed so as not to coincide with business hours, that the
dumpster could be relocated to the rear of the property, and that
the property layout was constrained by size and location of the
parcel and the building, and that both retail and office uses
were allowed by zoning. Mr. Goodrich questioned the safety and
convenience of the parking layout, with parked cars exitting the
site only by backing into Main Street. Ms. Shipes expressed con-
cerns that there be at least four spaces, as required by zoning,
and that a store sign be reviewed. Mr. Howard stated that fur-
ther review was needed particularly in regard to the extent of
the curb cut, layout of four parking spaces, dumpster location,
landscaping, and addressing the safety issues for vehicular and
pedestrian traffic. He then moved, seconded by Mr. Stohlman,
that the request for Waiver from Site Plan Review be denied due
to a demonstrated failure to show safety of vehicular and
pedestrian traffic, including parking, access, egress, and cir-
culation, both on the lot and on adjacent ways, and further that
the applicant is asked to amend his application for waiver from
Site Plan Review to meet these requirements or restore full of-
fice use of the building. The applicant was asked to clarify the
status of any rights in the right--of-way on the northern side of
the property, and that the applicant is further requested to do
either of the above or to apply for Site Plan Review by May 18,
1992. This motion carried by a vote of 5:0.
OTHER BUSINESS
The Commission reviewed and amended Mr. Edwards's draft of PUD
Questions and Answers concerning Articles 12 and 13 of the Annual
1992 Town Meeting Warrant, and asked that he have this included
in the Town Meeting Warrant mailing.
Ms. Shipes produced a lengthy letter from the Reading Rifle and
Revolver Club concerning the proposed siting of an Ice Rink on
the Haverhill Street Nike Site, and asked Mr. Edwards to retain
it in the Commission's files for use at an appropriate meeting.
ADJOURNMENT
At 10:16 PM a motion was made and seconded to adjourn and the
Commission voted unanimously to do so.
Respectfully Submitted: Approved: May 5, 1992
Signed:
J(gha# han Barnes, Secretary
Date:
2