HomeMy WebLinkAbout1999-09-13 Community Planning and Development Commission MinutesCPDC MINU'T'ES
Town of Readi
16 Lowell Street ng
Reading,
Phone: MA 01867-2683 -
one: 781-942-9012
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8 n►a•us
53
Community Planning and Development C
ommission
Mee&7g Dated.- S,epteznber 13,1,999
lemhers Present.
Richard Schubert athan Barnes, Chairman
(RS); Richard Ho ward ( (lB) ~ Neil Sulhvan, Secretary (NS)
;
Also Present Joseph Delaney, 7o,,, En
gineer (JD)
The Chair called the meeting to order at 7:35
PM.
Public Comment
There was no public comment.
Staff Briefing
The following request was made for staff;
The Commission indicated
they can s that it would like
spend more time prior it
the to get the packets earlier so that
Due to the meetings reviewing the information.
large workload this fall, the Cor
October 4, 1999, mission added an extra meeting on
Parking in the S-15 Zone
Brad Latham made a
presentation on allowing circumsu g parking in the 5-15 Zone under
were around the issues eof shot Zdoicated
p nln a aat the Commission's primary concerns
housing on the subject properties, g the later construction of single family
DicHoward was concerned that this re
gh he didn't believe that it was regulation could
be used in likely. other areas
C.\MY D0cuments\CPDC\Agenda-Minute6\9.13.99 minutes.doc
CMCMinutesformeetingSeptember13,1999
Rick Schubert thinks that it makes sense for the CPDC to sponsor zoning articles
to be consistent. He believes that the language in the article is restrictive enough
so that others will not be able to use it. He also expressed concern with requiring
buffering against abutting residential zones.
Neil Sullivan asked for clarification regarding the language about lot coverage.
Jonathan Barnes was concerned whether CPDC should sponsor all zoning
articles just for the sake of CPDC acting as a clearinghouse of zoning articles. He
also expressed concern regarding the potential of spot zoning.
The meeting was then opened up for public comment.
Nancy Eaton from the Conservation Commission was concerned with wetlands,
floodplain and the Rivers Act on the lot in question.
A motion was made by Howard, seconded by Schubert to recommend the
subject matter to the Board of Selectmen to place an article on the annual Town
meeting warrant. The motion was voted 4:0 in favor.
Dick Howard also instructed the Town Planner to schedule a public hearing on
this article and refer it to the By-Law Committee.
Harold Avenue Certificate of Compliance
Joe Delaney gave an update on the status of the project. He indicated that the
applicant still had some work to do mostly relating to Conservation issues. He
stated that the decision regarding the project only allowed the CPDC to issue a
certificate of compliance after all items in the decision were addressed. Since the
applicant has not completed all of the Conservation work, it was recommended
to withhold the Certificate of Compliance until after the Conservation
Commission had signed off on the project.
Brad Latham made a presentation regarding the project and asked that the
Commission direct the Building Inspector to issue certificates of occupancy for
the two dwelling units.
The Commission then discussed the issue of private utility ownership versus
public utility ownership. Delaney indicated that there was no prohibition from
allowing a PRD to privately own their utilities. Latham indicated that the
homeowners agreement stipulated that the homeowners would be responsible
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CPDCMinutesformeetingSeptember13,1999
A motion was made and seconded to continue the hearing to September 27,1999
at 9:30 P.M. The Commission voted 4:0 in favor of continuing the meeting.
Danvers Savings Bank
The Public Hearing was re-opened at 8:17.
A presentation was make by the representative of Danvers Savings Bank, which
focused on the issues of landscaping, screening the HVAC system on the roof, an
analysis of the cueing length and the loss of parking. The applicant indicated
that three parking spaces would be lost.
New plans were then presented that showed the revised layout of the drive
through. A landscaping plan was also presented.
The applicant indicated that they might need to go to Town Meeting to get an
easement to use the Municipal Parking Lot for the drive through.
The applicant also asked the Commission to consider approving both the original
concept for the bank and the latest plan so that if an easement could not be
obtained, the applicant could proceed with the original plan.
Howard raised a question regarding the loss of parking. Delaney indicated that
a total of four spaces would be lost - not the three the applicant had stated.
The meeting was then opened up for public comment.
Virginia Adams from the Historical Commission wanted to remind the
Commission that this building will be facing the Common which is on the
National Register of Historic Places and asked the Commission to be sensitive to
this.
Peter Simms, speaking for the Chamber of Commerce, stated that any loss of
parking in the Downtown area was unacceptable. He also indicated that the
Town did a parking study that showed an overall lack of parking downtown.
Simms stated that the loss of spaces would be objected to by the DHCD because
a private party would use the spaces.
Peter Hechenbleikner stated that there were no contingencies attached to the
grant for the construction of the blight parking lot.
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CPDCAImutes for meeting September 13,1999
Don Corwin of A-Plus Printing expressed concern with the loss of parking in
front of his business that will result from the Main Street Improvements. He also
asked if sight distance was taken into account at the exit from the drive through.
Delaney indicated that it had not been considered. Corwin was also concerned
with parking restrictions in the blight parking lot.
Peter Hechenbleikner stated that the Board of Selectmen will regulate that
parking lot at some future time.
Mr. Simms was concerned that the police would use the blight parking lot as
overflow parking on shift changes.
Mr. Howard asked whether the tradeoff of having a new building was worth the
loss of some parking.
Mr. Schubert indicated that a bank would have a low parking demand.
Tom O'Connor questioned the necessity of the drive through. Danvers Savings
Bank stated that having a drive through was a must
Mr. Howard stated to the applicant that he supported the current plan but was
not in favor of the previous plan.
A motion was made by Howard, seconded by Sullivan to continue the hearing to
9:30 on September 27,1999. The vote was 4:0 in the affirmative.
139 Walnut Street
The public hearing was opened at 9:10 P.M.
Neil Adams of 139 Walnut Street made a presentation showing the proposed
changes at 139 Walnut Street.
Dick Howard said that he thought what was proposed was a good idea.
Jonathan Barnes summarized the requirements of the Scenic Roads By-Laws and
how this proposal met those requirements.
Rick Schubert thought that this work would enhance the scenic quality of the
road.
The hearing was_then__Qpened up to the public.
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C-MCMmutes for meeting September 13,1999
Virginia Adams from the Historical Commission agreed that the property is not
historic. She asked whether the Commission should require an "old stone wall"
look.
Motion made by Howard, seconded by Sullivan, to close the public hearing. The
vote was 4:0 in favor.
Motion by Howard, seconded by Sullivan, to approve the plan for grading
changes and wall construction at 139 Walnut Street dated August 3, 1999 with
the provision that the wall follows the grades indicated on the plan and that the
wall be similar to the wall presented in Figure 5. The vote was 4:0 in favor.
Javin Circle
The public hearing was opened at 9:30 P.M.
Introductions by Barnes.
A presentation was made by David McBride, the applicant's Counsel.
Delaney summarized his comments on the project and those of the Development
Review Team.
Howard read into the record a letter from the Historical Commission
recommending the name of the road be changed to Foster Circle.
Schubert asked for a response on the Development Review Team notes.
McBride indicated that the applicant had no problem with changing the name.
John Ogren made a presentation regarding the proposed drainage system and
retention basin.
The hearing was then opened up for public comment.
Maureen Sheehan of 423 Grove Street expressed concern on the retention basin.
She is concerned about the affect on the water table.
Al Barker of 438 Grove Street also expressed concerns about water problems.
Al DiCampo of 432 Grove Street was concerned with water runoff and the
infiltration system.
Page 5 of 7
CPDCMrnutesformeetmgSeptember13,1999
Judith Jackson, representing the owner of 455 Grove Street was concerned with
the infiltration basin. Specifically, she was concerned that the infiltration basin is
located on the ANR lot that is not part of the subdivision. She wanted to know
what mechanism could be used to ensure the proper construction of the basin.
Dick Howard discussed the waiver request for an extension of a cul-de-sac. He
indicated that he was not in favor of granting the waiver.
Schubert was also concerned with the cul-de-sac waiver.
Motion by Howard, seconded by Schubert to continue the public hearing to 7.45
on October 4, 1999. The vote was 4:0 in favor.
Melendy Drive
The public hearing was opened at 10:20 P.M.
Introductions by Barnes.
John Ogren made a presentation showing the changes to the storm water
management area.
- Delaney indicated that he had no concerns with the changes.
The hearing was then opened up for public comment.
Roz Post of 20 Governors Drive asked whether the road would be constructed
before fill was brought in for the lots. She indicated that trucks have been using
her driveway to turn around because the road is not wide enough.
Schubert expressed concern about the affect of the project on the abutters.
Motion by Howard, seconded by Schubert to close the public hearing. The vote
was 4:0 in favor.
Motion by Howard, seconded by Schubert to approve the modifications to the
definitive subdivision plan for Melendy Drive as shown on revised drawings
dated May 23, 1999, subject to the condition that the roadway be brought to
gravel grade prior to the import of any fill material for the house lots. The vote
was 4:0 in favor.
The Commission wanted to remind Anne Krieg to be attentive to the proper - -
routing of plan submissions to the proper Boards.
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CMCMmatesformeetingSeptember13,1999
The meeting was adjourned at 10:45 P.M.
These minutes were prepared byJoe Delaney, Town Engineer, and submitted to
the CPDC on November 12, 1999
Minutes were approved by the CPDC on November 22,1999.
Signed as approved:
Neil Sullivan, Secretary
Date
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