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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2002-04-08 Community Planning and Development Commission MinutesTOWN OF READING 16 Lowell Street , Reading, MA 01867-2683 Phone: 781-942-9012 Fax: 781-942-9071 Email: akrieg@ci.readu1g.ma.us , COMMUNITY PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION CPDC MINUTES Meeting Dated: April 8, 2002 Members Present: Richard Howard (RH), Chairman; Kathryn Greenfield (KG), Secretary; Michael Flammia (MF): Jonathan Barnes (JB) Also Present: Joseph Delaney, Town Engineer (JD); Anne Krieg, Town Planner (AK); Kelley Meier (KM), Recording Secretary The Chair called the meeting to order at 7:38 PM. PUBLIC COMMENT Russell Graham, of the Reading School Building Committee spoke about the building of the new high school within the next few years. He requested both staff and CPDC participation at their meetings in order to plan a building with full public involvement. ADMINISTRATIVE REVIEW AK updated the Commission about 122-126 Main Street. AK didn't recommend the Commission vote on the issue tonight. They are allowed open storage on the lot for the buildings. AK met with the Town Counsel on April 8, 2002, along with the Town Manager, the Building Inspector, the applicant and their attorney, Brad Latham. The open storage would be in the front, but not in the back. AK will advertise the meeting for this application on the 24f of April. Brad Latham, attorney for the applicant reviewed the issues with the Commission. Mr. Latham showed the Commission the lot with a color code showing changes. Mr. Latham also showed the Commission pictures of the building of Calareso's. There is a sign for cars to enter the parking lot for both Harrows and Calareso's. There are some signs for 40 Minute Parking, Function Meeting Parking, Exit as well. C:\My Documents\CPDC\Agenda-Minutes\4.8.02 minutes.doc Last printed 06/17/0210:23 AM Created by ggrplus Created on 05/01/02 5:08 PM TOWN OF READING COMMUNITY PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION Minutes for Meeting dated: April 8, 2002 8:05 PM-Public Hearing: Scenic Way Modification/Walnut Street & Strawberry Hill Lane JD made a presentation regarding this modification. He describes the accidents that have been occurring during the winter. Cars have been sliding and hitting the telephone pole at this location. The proposal is to put a six-inch high curb to "nudge" the car from the edge of the street. Public Comment -The property owner indicated people would sometimes hit not the telephone, but the lawn or shrubs, and the house is 15 feet back from the street Other comments included: -Was there ever thought about putting a 4-way stop sign at the Red Gate Lane/ Walnut Street/ Old Farm Road intersection? -The accidents never happened until the road was redone -Virginia Adams of the Historic Commission made a suggestion that maybe boulders or a wall would be a better solution to consider -Safety is a big issue on the street; there are many students that are walked to school (Joshua Eaton) MF makes a motion to close the public meeting, JB seconds. All in favor, 4-0-0. MF makes a motion to approve the use of granite curbing at the intersection of Strawberry Hill Lane and Walnut Street. The CPDC requests review of the adequacy of the curb installation to determine if the placement of a stone wall is necessary for further protection. JB seconds. All in favor, 4-0-0. AK requests a 2-minute break, RH grants the request. RH opens up the meeting. PUBLIC HEARING: ZONING AMENDMENT/CERTIFICATE OF APPROPRIATENESS FOR SIGNS IN THE BUSINESS B ZONING DISTRICT RH requests that we do this subject after Longwood. All in agreement. 8:34PM-Public Workshop: Zoning Analysis/Longwood Poultry Farm AK goes over the Zoning Issues booklet, starting on Page 12. (attached) Page 2 of 5 TOWN OF READING COMMUNITY PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION Minutes for Meeting dated: April 8, 2002 Public Comment 1. Bill Bergeron, engineer for the applicant, spoke about the open space requirement being problematic, they intend to create open space in the courtyards between housing 2. Fencing (not a chain link), rather than shrubs 3. Paths should be created to get from abutting open space properties (pedestrian access) 4. Open space access to everyone 5. Integrate the residential community on this site within itself and with the Town as a whole 6. The parks would need to be large enough to use 7. Retain existing vegetation 8. Concern about the Summer Ave curb/ sidewalk that needs to be redone 9. People want to get the most affordable housing here at this location and not off-site to prevent intrusion of high density to other neighborhoods 10. There was considerable discussions on "breaking even" with the affordable housing in order to reach the goal of 10% affordability throughout the Town Brad Latham mentions that the back end of the development is going to be commercial. It came up with the master plan from the Town of Reading, and not from the property owner. He indicated further if the neighbors do not want to have the back-end being commercial, then something could be worked out. AK continued discussion on the zoning issues. There was consensus the roadway will be privately maintained, and not commercially used. The neighbors would like the report on the study done on the traffic, produced by Mike Abend. People are concerned about having a Private Way this size in the town and not being allowed access to it. Of great concern to the attendees was what services are the Town going to supply. The reason why it was to be a private way is to have the Condo Association pay for all the services instead of the town. AK will have a draft available for the zoning, will put a copy at the circulation desk at the Library, it will be ready for April 18. CPDC does not know as of yet where the April 24th meeting is going to be at 8:30 PM, tentatively at the Senior Center. RH calls a five-minute break. RH calls the order back to order. Page 3 of 5 TOWN OF READING COMMUNITY PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION Minutes for Meeting dated: April 8, 2002 10:17 PM-Public Hearing: Zoning Amendment - Certificate Of Appropriateness MF moved to waive the reading of the notice, JB seconds. All in favor, 4-0-0. The Commission reviews the legal notice JB moved to close the hearing, MF and KG second. All in favor, 4-0-0. MF moved to forward a favorable recommendation to Town Meeting on said zoning article. JB seconds. All in favor, 4-0-0. The following minutes were approved with amendments or editions: March 25, 2002 JB moves to accept the minutes as amended, KG seconds. All in favor, 4-0-0. APPROVAL NOT REQUIRED PLAN - SALEM STREET AK shows the land that is under development. It went to land court. It was a perimeter plan. JB makes a motion to endorse the plan of land along Salem Street dated 3/7/02, MF seconds. All in favor, 4-0-0. Motion to adjourn at 10:46 PM, made by JB, seconded by ME All in favor, 4-0-0. A request was made by Virginia Adams of the Historic Commission to staff to use less paper. These minutes were prepared by Kelley Meier, Recording Secretary, and submitted to the CPDCon April 12, 2002. Minutes were approved by the CPDC onMay 1, 2002. Signed as approved: Page 4 of 5 TOWN OF READING COMMUNITY PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION Minutes for Meeting dated: April 8, 2002 1 -7.02-. Kathryn Date Page 5 of 5