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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2003-09-08 Community Planning and Development Commission MinutesTown of 16 Lowell Street Reading Reading, MA 01867-2683 Phone: 781-942-9012 Fax: 781-942-9071 Email: crielly@ci.readulg.ma.us Community Planning and Development Commission CPDC MINUTES Meeting Dated: September 8, 2003 Members Present: Chair, Susan DeMatteo (SD), Secretary Neil Sullivan (NS), Jonathan Barnes (JB), Richard Howard (RH) Also Present: Chris Reilly (CR), Town Planner; Linda Boutoures (LB), Recording Secretary Administrative Review: Foster Circle Subdivision - Release from Covenant It was noted that the Agenda should have said Foster Circle, not Pondview. CR presented a written request by Atty. Steven Cicatelli for a Release from Covenant for Foster Circle. CR said this is a straightforward administrative issue. NS asked if all work was complete. CR said not yet but there is a bond for the remainder of the work that needs to be done. There is one lot remaining, all the electrical work is done. JB wants updates on the status of outstanding matters with subdivisions. CR said it would be put on Agenda next time under Administrative Review; he spoke with Joe Delaney about following up with CPDC on various uncompleted subdivisions. RH read a section of the Tri-Partite Agreement for the record that states that all work should have been completed by 1/29/03 or CPDC can be released from their approval. JB moved to release the Covenant Agreement dated 1/29/01, with the understanding that the subsequent tri-partite bond agreement superceded it and remained in full effect. NS seconded. 4-0-0 all in favor. Zoning By-Laws Text Amendment- Section 6.3.11.1 CR read the relevant Town Zoning By-Law, 6.3.11.1, regarding nonconforming buildings, 1 or 2 family dwellings. The request came from ZBA to clarify the intent of subsection a.. The proposal is to replace a. with the following: CAMy Documents\CPDC\Agenda-Minutes\Minutes\Minutes 9.08.03.doc "The site line of the dwelling within that minimum setback may be increased to the extent that an (the) extension of the structure is either parallel or divergent - from the effected lot line." Leave b. as is. ZBA Chairman John Jarema explained that this would allow what the by-law intended. JB asked how "divergent" is defined? Mr. Jarema defined as "going away from;" in some cases the line is not parallel and moves away from the nonconforming setback, creating less of an encroachment. NS thought you could not change footprint of existing building. Mr. Jarama explained you can by variance or special permit, but a variance was hard to give. The ZBA wants more discretion to grant reasonable requests rather than deny variances. RH recommended this to the Board of Selectman to place as an Article on the Warrant for next Town Meeting, JB seconded. 4-0-0 all in favor. JB asked if ZBA would be willing to present the Article at Town Meeting; John Jarema said this would not be a problem. Approval Not Required: Thomas Bringola, 40 Harvest Road The Applicant wants to combine 2 lots that contain 1 dwelling on the lot line. This project is currently before the ZBA for a special permit to voluntarily demolish in order to rebuild; the ZBA is holding their decision until they came before the CDPC. JB asked whether they will be able to build on it if the lots are combined. CR explained they will with a ZBA Special Permit. RH asked where the frontage is, which is on Harvest Road. CR said that the Conservation Commission has reviewed along with the Town Engineer and there are no problems. RH moved to endorse a Plan of Land in Reading, MA known as Harvest Road dated 9/4/03. NS seconded. 4-0-0 all in favor. Public Workshop: Zoning/Business A District, Atlantic Tambone Corp. Properties on south Main Street Present for the Applicant: Atty. Brad Latham, Property Owner Tony Tambone Atty. Latham explained the options for the redevelopment of South Main Street. The property is 31h acres on westerly side of Main Street. Currently there are 3 CAMy Documents\CPDC\Agenda-Minutes\Minutes\Minutes 9.08.03.doc antiquated. He showed the Commission architectural renderings proposing a 68,000 sq. ft./4- story office building; single curb cut access off of Main St. with 228 parking spaces behind the building. RH asked how high the Carter & Coleman building is and what the front setback is. CR and Atty. Latham were not sure; the information would be provided. Atty. Latham went over the prospect of a Planned Unit Development (PUD) overlay to allow the proposed development. The PUD would provide flexibility to the Town and tight control on the developer. JB asked why the proposal can't be done under existing zoning. Atty. Latham explained that existing, Business A district zoning only allows you to go back 30' into the S15 District; they can't conform to S15. Public Comment: Joan Neary, 355 South Street - the increase in building height would increase the traffic; this is a heavily traveled road, very concerned. Also there is major concern regarding drainage on Haystack Rd. B. Hunter, 11 Haystack Road - drainage is a concern, are there plans to build parking in the rear? Gerry Barnubea, 141 South Street - concerned about mosquito control due to standing water in retention basins. Atty. Latham stated that the owner would adhere to Wetland Reading bylaw and with Conservation; DEP Stormwater Management would have to be met. John Drinkwater - 392 South St. - with 4 stories, are they in violation of the by- laws? JB observed the Applicant is looking to increase height from 45' to 50;' not much of an increase. He is also concerned about water being piped out to Haystack Road. Atty. Latham explained that the buffer has to satisfy the town. The site is currently designed for a 100-year storm; normally you would not see anything like that. Mr. Drinkwater asked how far in the future would this project take place. Atty. Latham stated it was hard to tell; there is an extensive approval process to go through and the market for office space would dictate the timetable. CR told the public that the Town boards are very familiar With drainage issues. C\My Documents\CPDC\Agenda-Minutes\Minutes\Mtnutes 9.08.03.doc Atty. Latham stated he would look into other examples in Town of drainage designs similar to what they're proposing. CR said the proposed development would require a traffic consultant. The abutters are very concerned with the traffic in this area. JB asked how the Applicant proposed to move forward. Atty. Latham and Mr. Tambone will review the notes from this meeting, they will have discussion re: hot issues and will then come before the board with a PUD overlay proposal. SD suggested the Commission continue the workshop to a date certain when PUD language can be reviewed. RH suggested identifying areas to focus on as laid out in current zoning, tackling a few at a time. The objective is to draft something that can be used Town-wide rather than only for this particular project. RH moved to continue this Public Workshop to October 20, 2003, JB seconded. 4-0-0 all in favor. Staff Briefing: The Master Plan Economic Development Forum is scheduled for 10.15.2003 RH moved to adjourn the meeting at 9:45 PM, NS seconded 4-0-0 all in favor This minutes were prepared by Linda Boutoures (LB) Recording Secretary, edited by Chris Reilly, Town Planner and submitted to the Community Planning and Development Commission on October 20, 2003. The minutes were approved as amended by the CPDC on October 20, 2003. Signed as approved, Neil Sullivan Date CAMy Documents\CPDC\Agenda-M nutes\Minutes\Minutes 9.08.03.doc