The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink About2002-03-25 Community Planning and Development Commission MinutesTOWN OF READING 16 Lowell Street Reading, MA 01867-2683 Phone: 781-942-9012 Fax: 781-942-9071 Email: akrie>?@ci.readhwnma.us COMMUNITY PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION CPDC MINUTES Meeting Dated: March 25, 2002 Members Present: Richard Howard (RH), Chairman; Kathryn Greenfield (KG), Secretary;): Jonathan Barnes(JB); Neil Sullivan, (NS) Also Present: Kelley Meier (KM), Recording Secretary, Joseph Delaney, Town Engineer (JD); Anne Krieg, Town Planner (AK) The Chair called the meeting to order at 7:32 PM. The following minutes were approved with amendments: May 16, 2001 August 20, 2001 March 11, 2002 CONTINUATION OF PUBLIC HEARING: SITE PLAN REVIEW (4 MINOT STREET) Joe Delaney spoke briefly about the curbing and its re-location. There is a dumpster and five parking spaces on the side, which are on someone else's lot. The applicant indicated the side parking and the dumpster can be taken out if there is a problem with their location outside the property line as shown on the plan. JD indicated the four parking spaces in the entry are angled incorrectly to the flow of traffic. The applicant indicated the current parking spaces have been on the lot for the past forty years. There are ten spaces in the back of the building. .Jo.e_Delane-y--indicated he-will, figure out the cost-for the curbing. The-front-is about 52 feet, and is expected to cost about two thousand dollars. C:\ My Documents\CPDC\Agenda-Minutes\3.25.02 minutes.doc Last printed 06/1.7/02'10:14 AM Created by ggrplus Created on 04/05/02 3:42 PM TOWN OF READING COMMUNITY PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION Minutes for Meeting dated: March 25, 2002 The architect showed the plan for the facade and site to the Commission. The site plan for 4 Minot Street dated 20 Mar 02 was approved by a motion made by KG, seconded by NS, approved under following conditions: 1. -on corner of street, a post and chain/fence be installed along property line 2. -granite curb shall be installed along Main Street at edge of travel way around corner to first curb cut and the applicant shall donate the cost to do this work prior to occupancy 3. -the dumpster enclosure and the parking spots along west side of building be on adjacent property and should be relocated if a problem arises 4. landscaping should be subject to Town Planner 5. -proposed lighting shall have shields to protect to prevent spillage onto other properties 6. -signage conform to present by-laws, each sign should be of similar size, color, design 7. -rear of property be cleaned up 8. -parking spots be relined 9. -standard construction hours be in place, construction vehicles not on Minot Street All in favor, 4-0-0. Decision filed with Town Cleric and attached to the minutes. STAFF BRIEFING AK discussed the following items with the Commission: -potential for a 40B application at Fraen Corporation -request by Town Meeting member to take a look at affordable housing percentages and number of units needed to reach 10% affordability goals -land fill closure plan - two lots that are willing to have their houses moved. There may be two buildable lots-on Governor's Drive. CONTINUATION OF PUBLIC WORKSHOP: LONGWOOD POULTRY FARM (list of those in attendance are attached) RH commenced the workshop and spoke about the intent of the workshop that evening to analyze the potential office build-out for the rear portion of the parcel o. ___.and-to_ in to provide rovide staff -with-resp.nes-to land-use - olicy- - issues: Page 2 of 5 TOWN OF READING COMMUNITY PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION Minutes for Meeting dated: March 25, 2002 The applicant reviewed their progress. Jim Valleco, architect for the applicant, addresses the following: There were handouts that were passed out to the Commission and to the residents attached to these minutes. What are the immediate physical impacts from an office development was reviewed. There are about 10 acres in the rear portion of the property for possible uses for commercial and/or apartments. Due to some vernal pools, the layout will have to be modified to accommodate requisite setbacks. . Parking will consume a large portion of the land area. If there is to be an office space, there would be a 3 or 4 level garage, measured in height of 11 feet floor to floor.. The architect displayed a shadow study and it reflected no effect on the roads that surround it. The handouts that were passed out were reviewed. Section numbered Two the architect reviewed is along Kelch Road. The land topography itself will keep the residents from not seeing the five-story building. From the end of Enos Circle, there is very little topography, thus Enos Circle would see the office buildings if they were to be built. However, it was noted the townhouses may end up blocking the view of the office buildings. A shadow study is not done during the summer or December. The best time would either be October or February due to the rotation of the earth and the angle of the sun. The study with the shadow was only directed toward one building, not two. Public Comment on the Office Build-out -concern with the management of the overflow of cars for residential use using the parking garage -if the town was to rezone the back land to residential, how would it affect the area -comments on distance between buildings,, closer in density or setback to Enos Circle, -how much tax revenue would the town get for this development, would this bring down the tax burden on the Town of Reading. (The applicant indicated there would be 2 dollars a square foot or 440,000/450,000 dollars.) AK speaks about the By-laws and the zoning issues with Commissioners. There are two parts of this: the map amendment and the text amendment. Page 3 of 5 TOWN OF READING COMMUNITY PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION Minutes for Meeting dated: March 25, 2002 She indicated the first part would look at the residential section of a PUD. She reviewed the following points with the Commission: What are the traffic problems, with the new office space, or the school. There are factors to compare. There are some things that might benefit the residential population, like an ATM, convenient store, dry cleaners, etc. Utilize the text of a PUD and split it into a PUDI and a PUDR (residential), optional layer. The Commission to be the ones for the PUD-R. Woburn 's zoning is not residential, thus having an office component to the zoning district would likely not constitute spot zoning. The option of having a hotel was discussed, noting it would generate more tax revenue and have a different traffic peak hour, but may would cause some bus traffic. Restaurant to serve office and/or hotel Emergency access issues - necessary provision for size of parcel and for Reading response to Inwood Office Park, discourage and/or prohibit cut-through traffic Pedestrian access encouragement to Inwood and West Street Encourage car pooling Visitor parking for rear residential building with structured parking for the office Possible credit card type access to the parking garage for residents/ visitors. This would be a coordination issue Parking provision concern - current requirement is 1.5, CPDC indicated a desire to raise it to 2 spaces per unit to accommodate the typical 2 car household Drainage provisions Signage provisions - ground and building markers for residential portion, office signage facing Woburn only (public comment) comment was made the Conu-nission should require the parks to be built first because of the unfinished parks that have been in Melrose and Quincy, would like parks to be funded first Brad Latham indicated the developer may delay the construction of the office buildings due to the current economy condition related to the suburban office market. It is possible it would be built in a few years if the economy improves. There is at least 250 feet from West Street to the first condo. The larger structures would start at the location of the existing chicken coops. This workshop will continue on April 8th at 8:15 PM at the Selectmen's - - room. Page 4 of 5 TOWN OF READING COMMUNITY PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION Minutes for Meeting dated: March 25, 2002 The Commission takes a recess at 10:06 PM. RH calls the meeting back to order at 10:16 PM. Motion to adjourn at 10:33 PM, made by JB, seconded by NS. All in favor, 4-0-0. These minutes were prepared by Kelley Meier, Recording Secretary, and submitted to the CPDC on April 1, 2002. Minutes were approved by the CPDC on April 8, 2002. Signed as approved: Page 5 of 5