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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2004-07-12 Community Planning and Development Commission Minutes1~ CEIV D Town of Reading To ,d CLERK 16 Lowell Street r ADMG. MASS. Reading, MA 01867-2683 2004 AUG I I A 10; 2 Phone: 781-942-9012 Fax: 781-942-9071 Email: creilly@ci.reading.ma.us COMMUNITY PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION CPDC MINUTES Meeting Dated: July 12, 2004 Members Present: Chair, Susan DeMatteo (SD), Jonathan Barnes (JB), Richard Howard (RH), Neil Sullivan (NS), John Sasso (JS). Also Present: Chris Reilly (CR), Town Planner The Chair called the meeting to order at 7:40 PM. Certificate of Appropriateness (continued): Strong Insurance, 78 Haven Street JB felt that CPDC should be looking at this as a new application. RH agreed and expressed his belief that CPDC would not have approved the existing sign had it come in before it was installed. NS questioned why the building owner didn't advise the Applicant he needed a sign permit. Mr. Strong claimed Mr. Hodson did not tell him about the signage requirements and he was unaware of the regulations. JS suggested reviewing ways the signage regulations could be better disseminated. SD commented that there were no circumstances she was aware of where business owners claimed they were completely unaware of the signage regulations; usually the sign company is familiar with the requirements. CR explained that new business signage occasionally goes up without a permit but this is extremely rare with established businesses in Town, such as Strong Insurance. The Town wants compliance, not enforcement; the Applicant's sign has been in violation for some time and CR's attempts to get compliance have been difficult. RH suggested polling the Commission to determine whether they would approve the existing signage; there was a consensus to deny. CR stated that the Applicant would have to come back anyway and suggested that they be continued to 7.26 for modification of the existing signage to meet the CPDC standard, including raised lettering, a border and removal of text, so that the Applicant may be spared some of the expense of a completely new sign. RH moved to continue to 7:45 PM on 7.26. JB seconded. Voted 5-0, all in favor. Public Hearing: Site Plan Review Attorney Mark Favaloro, Engineer Chris Sparages, Traffic Engineer Vinod Kalikiri and Paul Caggianno represented George Danis. Mark Favaloro gave a presentation; they have filed the Notice of Intent with the Conservation Commission and attended a Design Review Team meeting on 6.21. The drainage and landscaping designs will be revised and a Traffic Study is being prepared; the engineers will describe the status of the site plans. Chris Sparages gave a presentation. Redevelopment of the existing site will provide more parking for additional retail uses. They have changed the shape of building by removing some square footage to accommodate better traffic flow. With the reduced footprint, there is 32% lot coverage. Additional handicapped spaces have been added. They will keep athletic club tenant For the 196,000 sq. ft. of proposed retail they will need 768 parking total spaces. In terms of wetland resources they have confirmed the wetland boundaries and propose direct, treated discharge into the intermittent stream. Some wetland will be filled for more parking and 3 to 1 replication will be provided on site. A small ATM will be located at entrance and a upland location for a temporary, public skateboard park has been provided as requested by the Town, which will be accessed by a 20' wide bridge across the steam. They are working with tenants on lighting and landscaping plans. Vinod Kalikiri presented the traffic findings. A Traffic Study is being prepared. Preliminary analysis indicates 200-300 additional cars during peak periods. Additional signalization at the main access on Walkers Brook Drive is proposed; the traffic study will reflect this proposal. RH wanted clarification on the square foot breakout. Mr. Sparages provided 284,000 sq. ft. total, including 240,000 sq. ft, for retail. SD asked whether proper access to Ash St. can be provided. Mr. Kalikiri stated the Ash St. and Main St. intersection will be included in the Traffic Study and access can be reviewed pending those results. RH noted that the Applicant is proposing very little landscaping in the parking field, which is contrary to most commercial developments these days. SD asked CR about the DRT results. Rather than going over the 6.21 DRT, CR suggested that another DRT be held after the Applicant revises existing plans and submits forthcoming plans. Changes will result to the site plan from the Conservation Commission process. Public Comment: Leon Osborne, 235 Washington St: why is the skateboard park proposed? There was a Town study and this location was not on the list. SD explained that the study locations were on public land and this is private. Joyce Kirk, 151 Village St: kids are drinking in woods, littering and lighting fires, etc. The skateboard park will make this worse. Mr. Favaloro explained that the skateboard park was included because the Town suggested it. Ernie Rogers, 145 Village St. who will maintain the park; what kind of lighting? What does temporary mean? Mr. Danis explained that the Town will be responsible for the park and it will only operate for a couple years until the Town can establish a permanent site. pavement and less open space will degrade the neighborhood, which has already seen a lot of redevelopment. More traffic out to Washington St. will overburden the area roads. Pedestrian 2 access to the park is not provided and security fencing is needed; the ATM stacking should be reviewed. Judy Royce, 221 Washington St: concerned about the skateboard park compounding an existing problem with kids up to no good in the woods. Tony D'Arezzo, 131 John St: lighting study should consider the seasonal effect. There is no signage plan. Why hasn't the site been included in prior traffic studies for the Crossing at Walkers Brook? Mr. Caggianno explained that further plans are forthcoming and the Applicant will work with the neighborhood to address concerns. RH commented that prior traffic studies were conducted and updated for the different modified uses for Phase 2 at the Crossing; General Way was included and growth factors were incorporated. Mr. Kalikiri explained that the prior traffic studies included numbers from Frugal Fannie's. Mr. Danis talked about the history of the property and how they cleaned it up after General Tire left. Courtney Evans, 128 John St: there's too much traffic and it will get worse once the landfill opens; traffic may become a disaster. RH moved to continue the public hearing until August 9 at 8:30 PM. JB seconded. Voted 5-0, all in favor. RH left at 9:20 PM. Public Hearing: Site Plan Review (continued) Mark Gilbert, 137 Main St. Attorney Brad Latham, Engineer Bill Bergeron and Architect Dominic Sicari represented Mark Gilbert. Mr. Bergeron went over the changes to the plans in response to staff and CPDC comments. After consultation with the Town Engineer the drainage design has been amended to meet DEP Stormwater regulations. They have made changes to landscaping design; the berm has been removed because it may effect sight lines. Mr. Sicari presented the changes to the building elevations; principally the columns have been added and the windows have been modified. Building lighting has been enhanced. CR suggested that CPDC review the draft decision he has prepared and went over the findings and conditions, which were reviewed and amended as appropriate. JB made a motion to close the public hearing. NS seconded. Voted 4-0, all in favor. JB made a motion to approve the lastly revised plans for 137 Main Street, subject to the Conditions amended in the draft Decision (attached). NS seconded Voted 4-0, all in favor. Auto Body Clinic, 17-19 High Street Joe Batten from Batten Signs, Inc. represented the Applicant, Auto Body Clinic. 3 He presented the signage application and some samples of what the sign would be made of; CR had instructed him on the design standard the CPDC had adopted and he described alternate, more durable materials that could achieve the wooden appearance. Auto Body Clinic has several locations and they have a standard lettering they want to maintain. JB expressed the intent of the CPDC to maintain their design standard of dark, bordered, wood backgrounds with engraved or raised lettering, however consideration could be given to alternative materials that would give the signage more longevity without sacrificing aesthetics. Mr. Batten described several synthetic materials that achieved the CPDC's intent and pointed out examples of downtown signage made with these materials that had a wooden appearance. CR recommended that the lettering be reduced and a border be added, both with beveled edges. JB moved to approve the signage as amended, subject to approval of the Town Planner. NS seconded. Voted 4-0, all in favor. The hour being late, the early risers overruled the night owls and the additional items on the agenda were continued to 7.26. JB made a motion to adjourn. NS seconded. Voted 4-0, all in favor. These minutes were prepared by Chris Reilly, Town Planner and submitted to CPDC on July 26, 2004; the minutes were approved as amended by CPDC on July 26, 2004. Signed as approved, NOS- Date 4