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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2003-06-30 Community Planning and Development Commission MinutesTown o Reading t t 16 Lowell Street Reading, MA 01867-2683 A So. Phone: 781-942-9012 Fax: 781-942-9071 It r FI 9 9 1 L! Email: crielly@ci.reading.ma.us Community Planning and Development Commission CPDC MINUTES Meeting Dated: Monday, June 30, 2003 Members Present: Jonathan Barnes (JB), Chair; Michael Flammia (MF), Secretary; Richard Howard (RH), Neil Sullivan (NS), Commissioners Also Present: Chris Reilly (CR), Town Planner; Kelley Meier (KM), Recording Secretary. The following minutes were approved with/without amendments or editions: 6.9.03 Administrative Review: Walker Brook Crossing Parking Requirements Attorney Brad Latham represented Ed Shaw from Dickinson Development and John Hanley from Jordan's Furniture. They were seeking a Finding that clarifies the parking requirements in the Special Permit. The approved Special Permit Conditions are consistent with the Applicant's submitted design. The Applicant sought to clarify that the access areas, etc. would not be included in the gross floor area calculations for the required parking spaces. For the theater the By- Laws requires 1 parking space for every 4 seats; 115 spaces are required based on Applicants' calculations. Their calculation for the total required parking is 763 spaces; they met the minimum required. Ed Shaw verified that handicapped spaces are included. JB asked if 162,000 sq. ft. as reflected on the plan was the literal amount for the calculation, minus non-sales area (mechanical rooms, etc.) RH moved that CPDC accept the parking interpretation as set forth in a letter to CPDC from Attorney Brad Latham, dated June 30, 2003. MF seconded. Voted to approve, 4-0-0. CAMy Documents\CPDC\Agenda-Minutes\Minutes 6.30.03.doc Site Plan Review Exemption Request: Reading Depot Applicants Jason Madden and James V. D'Amico, Jr. from Century 21, North Shore were present. They discussed their Site Plan Review Exemption request and the state of the Depot. There was some damage done by the previous restaurant owners. The Applicants considered a site plan application, but the coffee operation in the kitchen is not proposed at this time, so they are requesting an Exemption due to the limited scope of the change of use. RH asked if an Exemption can have Conditions. CR explained that it can't. JB considered whether Site Plan Review is required, rather than an Exemption. CR mentioned that the kitchen can potentially be used by the Applicant, which is why the Commission might consider it more appropriate to consider this a Waiver request given that the floor area in total exceeds the Exemption threshold. The Applicant is willing to work with the Historical Commission and the CPDC. CR advised that CPDC has the authority to grant a Waiver with Conditions if it determined that an Exemption doesn't apply. NS asked if there will be a final blueprint. The Applicant is leaving the building as is except for removing a booth or two and updating the phone and electrical lines. The interior is in very good condition. They will open a real estate office in part of the building; a Century 21. They need to close soon and need a determination by CPDC to do so. They will apply for the sign permit in the future. Public Comment -Pat, one of the owners of the building: would like to be cued in on the topic; are the buyers able to do anything inside the building?; the kitchen was damaged years ago. -Clayton Jones, Historical Commission: is the Exemption automatically granted for interior construction under 1,000 sq. ft? -Virginia Adams: SOS is in charge of the deed restrictions, feels that full Site Plan Review is needed. The building has a deed restriction that requires public access to a bathroom for commuters during peak periods. MF asked if the Applicant needed a building permit for the project. He questioned whether the project would be exempt if it weren't for the kitchen and wondered how the CPDC should deal with mixed-uses that apply for piecemeal Exemptions to avoid full Site Plan Review. CR suggested that the Commission grant an Exemption as requested, with --instructions to-theTown-Planner and-Building-Inspector- that-a-building-permit - - - - - CAMy Documents\CPDC\Agenda-Minutes\Minutes 6.30.03.doc can't be issued for the remaining use unless the Applicant goes through full Site Plan Review. The kitchen is about 1/ of 1/2 of the building; not more than about 15%. The authority lies in the hands of the Commission. Public Comment -Pat: this is a beautiful building that should not go to waste, it's a landmark in the Town. -Clayton: the Historical Commission prefers a Waiver with Conditions. MF moved to grant an Exemption to Site Plan Review for the property known as the Reading Depot at 32 Lincoln Street, for all of the building except for the kitchen. There should be no building permit issued until the Applicant comes back again for the Site Plan Review; the Town Planner shall enforce as Clerk to the Commission. NS seconds. JB moved that the Exemption be granted upon reliance of the Applicants' acceptance of Items 1, 2, 3 from the Historical Commission memo to CPDC, dated June 30, 2003. MF seconded. JB shared RH's concerns on the potential impact on future deliberations, but felt there has been consistency in CPDC's approach to these requests. He feels comfortable voting on the Exemption request. There is no further discussion. Voted in favor, 3-1-0. RH opposed. 9:10 PM - Continued Public Hearing: Site Plan Review / 8 Walkers Brook Drive; Applicant: Petroleum Group Exxon (Filed 5.27.03, Action Date 8.24.03) CR updated the Commission on where this left off in the public hearing before being continued. There were abutter concerns with the existing lighting. Present were Jon Lamoureux from Bohler Engineering and Applicant Joe Prizio from Petroleum Group Exxon. They presented an updated site plan. Mr. Lamoureux went over some of the comments from last meeting and what they did to fix the problems. They reviewed the site lighting to see what was necessary for safety and security. They proposed to shut off the blinding light at the southwest section of the property. The light is now recessed. To address safety they need adequate lighting for the site, especially given the poor lighting in the public way, but they propose to turn off the two most offending lights. They are keeping the lights in back of the property, the north end and the wall mounted fixtures. CAMy Documents\CPDC\Agenda-Minutes\Minutes 6.30.03.doc A lot of evergreen shrubs are in the back of the property. On the other side of the fence are some mature evergreen shrubs that are evenly scattered. The shrubs on the Exxon side will fill the gaps. There are three existing shrubs and trees on the north side of the property that will be taken out and replaced. MF asked if Town Engineer Joe Delaney looked at the updated plan. CR mentioned that Joe Delaney was supposed to be here tonight, but was on vacation. Mr. Delaney told CR that the plan looked good in all aspects and he . had no concerns to comment on to the CPDC. Public Comment -Tony D'Arezzo,130 John Street: do the lights confer with the by-laws? How much more traffic does the Applicant think this will generate? Will the traffic go both ways in and out of the property? Are there going to be any loudspeakers? Has the garbage truck pick-up schedule been established? -Doug, 151 Village Street: what are the hours of deliveries? He does not want gas deliveries at 2:00 AM. RH moved to close the Public Hearing. MF seconded. Voted in favor, 4-0-0. RH mentioned that there is a draft decision and went over it. Condition 5 was struck. The 20 foot height limitation on site lighting in Condition 6 was struck; it just can't shine onto adjacent properties. Granite curbing in Condition 7 was struck; concrete curbing shall match all the other curbing. The trash pickup at 6:30 PM was allowed via the Town, Monday through Friday. Gas deliveries were restricted to 6 AM to 10 PM. Additional restrictions: no public telephone; the volume of the speaker system shall be adjusted so that it not be audible beyond the property line. RH moved to approve the above. MF seconded. Voted in favor, 4-0-0. As a minor modification to these site plan conditions, RH moved to amend the Condition referencing gas deliveries to seven days per week. MF seconded. Voted in favor, 4-0-0. Approval Not Required: John Aldrich - 40 Prescott Street (Action Date: 7.14.03) CR updated the Commission. The Applicant would like to adjoin two lots. Joe Delaney took a look at the plan and had no concerns. RH approved the ANR on 40 Prescott Street, dated May 30, 2003. MF seconded. Voted in favor, 4-0-0. Certificate of Appropriateness: Goodhearts - 642 Main Street _ Action Date &-L-03) CAMy Documents\CPDC\Agenda-Minutes\Minutes 6.30.03.doc RH had a conflict of interest for this application. He left at 10:12 PM. CR updated the Commission. Goodhearts is moving across the street to the former Katie's Hallmark. It will have the same signs and design, just the letters will change. MF moved to approve the Certificate of Appropriateness. NS seconded. Voted in favor, 3-0-0. Pierce Street CR updated the Commission on the bond issue. There were some required street and sidewalk improvements in the Pierce Street settlement; which was supposed to be done June 1, 2003. The $25,000 bond needs to be taken to do the work. JB would prefer to have RH in attendance to make a decision. JB would like this to be on the July 14 agenda with Town Counsel's recommendation to CPDC. Motion to adjourn at 10:23 by NS. MF seconded. Voted in favor, 3-0-0. This minutes were done by Kelley Meier, Recording Secretary, edited by Chris Reilly, Town Planner and submitted to the Community Planning and Development Commission on August 4, 2003. The minutes were approved by the CPDC on August 4, 2003. Signed as approved, Michael Flammia Date CAMy Documents\CPDC\Agenda-Minutes\Minutes 6.30.03.doc