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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2004-03-22 Community Planning and Development Commission MinutesTown of Reading 16 Lowell Street Reading, MA 01867-2683 Phone: 781-942-9012 Fax: 781-942-9071 Email: creilly@ci.reading.ma.us COMMUNITY PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION CPDC MINUTES Meeting Dated: March 22, 2004 Members Present: Chair, Susan DeMatteo (SD), Neil Sullivan (NS), Jonathan Barnes (JB), Richard Howard (RH). Also Present: Chris Reilly (CR), Town Planner; Joan Langsam (JL), Town Counsel; Peter Hechenbleikner (PH), Town Manager. The Chair called the meeting to order at 7:40 PM. Administrative Review: Summit Village Drainage Bond PH described the problem with the Summit Village drainage and explained that the bond needs to be taken to fix the design. JL advised CPDC to vote to take the bond for nonperformance regarding the drainage. JB moved to take the bond. RH seconded. Voted 4-0, all in favor. Crossing at Walkers Brook Ed Shaw and Attorney Brad Latham represented Walkers Brook Crossing, L.L.C. They requested approval of a minor amendment to the PUD special permit involving changes to a retaining wall and landscaping as necessary to address abutter concerns on the visual impact from the Jordan's/Home Depot building. They have filed with DEP as required for a project change to extend the retaining wall, which would create a 3-1 slope and allow easier long-term landscaping maintenance. The revised plan would alter approximately 75' of sloped area and will not effect the landfill cap. As an incidental effect parking will be increased by about 30 spaces. There were also constructability issues regarding the grading plan that necessitated the revised design; technical engineers came up with the proposed solution. They may also be able to get more treed landscaping in with the revised plan. The detention basin design will be unchanged. RH moved to approve the request for minor modification as outlined in the letter from Attorney Latham, dated March 11, 2004, and shown on drawing C-5, lastly revised March 10, 2004, subject to the approval of the Conservation Commission and DEP. JB seconded. Voted 4-0, all in favor. RH moved to approve the request for minor modification to the approved Landscaping Plan as indicated on drawing C-11, lastly revised march 10, 2004, subject to a letter of acknowledgement on the revisions from the Greenhouse Acres Association Trust. NS seconded. Voted 4-0, all in favor. SD moved to approve the minutes of the February 9, 2004 meeting with the noted amendments. JB seconded. Voted 4-0, all in favor. Public Hearing, Site Plan Review: 10 Haven and 7 Chute Sts., (Former Johnson's Hardware) SD opened the public hearing and NS read the legal ad. Mark Hall from M.G. Hall Contracting is the Applicant, represented by Attorney Mark Favaloro and Engineer Jack McMilken. Attorney Favaloro made a presentation and requested a modification of the original application to incorporate additional property addressed at 2 Haven Street (Chew Chews Building). The application will be updated prior to the next hearing to reflect the added property. They intend to work with the Historical Commission to address their input. SD outlined the usual procedure and explained that public comment would be allowed after the presentation of the site plan and questions from the Commission. Engineer Jack McMilken described the proposed site plan. The site is entirely impervious. The Drainage Report was submitted with the application and will be revised to incorporate the additional property. The drainage design will infiltrate roof runoff; DEP stormwater management best practices will be employed. The existing sewer connection they will tie into will be adequate. The water main may need improvement. The aesthetic design will be colonial with numerous windows to filter natural light. Attorney Favaloro acknowledged that parking is a problem but they qualify for the parking space waiver given the proximity of the municipal lot and they are looking at financially feasible alternatives to increase the 12 proposed spaces. CR reviewed the Design Review Team (DRT) results for the original application; the main concern was the limited parking. Underground parking is considered too costly; off-site parking will be considered. SD would like any mechanicals on the roof hidden. Signage would be contained in a band above the storefronts. RH stated that a signage master plan should be consistent and asked about the possibility of awnings; the Applicant indicated they are not proposed but will be considered. Street lighting should be consistent with other historic fixtures in the downtown. The dumpster should have a roof and be gated and made of the same materials as the primary building, with a larger gate for trucks and a smaller gate for people. JB would like to look at more parking alternatives such as the Chute Street parking the DRT discussed. t Public Comment: Janet Carusso, business owner: Have they identified any uses? Attorney Favaloro explained they don't want to identify any tenants but they are receptive to any input from the Commission or the Town. Paul Duffy, Atlantic Supermarket: Parking is a concern given that the Atlantic doesn't have all the parking they would like. Adelle Blunt, business owner: Employees don't have any place to park as is; the proposal is likely to make it worse. Clay Dowell, abutter: He is worried about the impact to parking-will it be accessible for everyone? Denise Forrestor, Atlantic Supermarket employee: What will the construction impacts be? How will this affect the Atlantic? What happens to Quarterbacks? Attorney Favaloro explained that existing tenants will have to find new space during construction, which should last a year, but they will try to minimize construction impacts. Ron Mini, Quarterbacks: Will there be another meeting? He claimed many residents couldn't attend or didn't know about the meeting and provision for 5,000 to 15,000 people who have concerns about the proposal is needed for the next hearing. RH moved to continue the public hearing to 8:00 PM on April 12, 2004 and have CR arrange for a larger venue, to be noticed by the planning webpage and press release. SD seconded. Voted 4-0, all in favor. Pre-Application Site Plan Review Presentation: Mark Gilbert, 137 Main St. Attorney Brad Latham represented Mark Gilbert. Mr. Gilbert recently purchased 137 Main Street and would like to redevelop it into a small, brick, office building. He intends to relocate his insurance agency there. The curb cuts to Main St. would be removed and landscaping would front the site. The slope won't allow parking in the rear so most of the parking spaces are in front. Employee parking will be on the side. The Commission would like to see architectural renderings and landscaping plan; the proposal was generally viewed favorably. Staff Briefing: CPTC Seminar NS and RH attended the seminar and there was a brief review of their comments. The Seminar covered multi-use, cluster zoning and inclusionary subdivision regulations. RH commented that the Commission might want to look at zoning or subdivision options for affordable housing requirements and nodal development. CPDC Signage Site Walk The Sgnage site walk that was rescheduled for April 24 at 9:30. RH moved to adjourn. NS seconded. -Voted 4-0, all in favor. The meeting was adjourned at 10:45 PM. These minutes were prepared by Chris Reilly, Town Planner and submitted to CPDC on April 12, 2004; the minutes were approved as amended by CPDC on April 12, 2004. Signed as approved, Neil Sul Date