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Home My WebLink About2002-03-11 Community Planning and Development Commission MinutesTOWN OF READING, 16 Lowell Street_ . Reading, MA 01867-2683 r Phone: 781-942-9012 Fax: 781-942-9071 i Email: akrielz@ci.reading.mams COMMUNITY PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION CPDC MINUTES Meeting Dated: March 11, 2002 Meeting Location: Lecture Hall, Reading Memorial High School Members Present: Richard Howard (RH), Chairman; Kathryn Greenfield (KG), Secretary; Neil Sullivan, (NS) Also Present: Kelley Meier, Recording Secretary (KM); Anne Krieg, Toum Planner (AK) The Chair called the meeting to order at 7:40 PM. CONTINUATION OF A PUBLIC HEARING: Site Plan Review/306 Main Street (Getty Gas) Jim Giarrusso, engineer for the applicant, updated the CPDC about some of the changes to the drawings; including: 4 large shade trees to be placed on each corner of the lot; access to municipal sewerage on Minot Street; remaining questions about bringing the utilities to the building from the pole on the sidewalk are to be resolved with the RMLD. The sign is going to be red and remains as proposed, to be 15 feet in height, about the size of the Mobil Gas Station sign on North Main Street. The problem with the request for the sign to be lower in height would be the potential of it being hit due to its protruding into the traveled way, as well as visibility. The front curbing shall be granite. The dumpster will be enclosed in a six feet (6') height vinyl fencing with 2-five foot double gates on front. All the lighting apparatus will be shielded and focused downward. The electric pole would be eliminated if approved by Reading Municipal Light and Mass Highway Department. The staff-recommended conditions were reviewed by AK, and amended by the Commission. Getty added the communication system would not be audible off-site. NS moved to,close the public hearing. Motion seconded by KG. All in favor. C:\My Documents\CPDC\Agenda-Minutes\3.11.02 minutes.doc Last printed 06/17/02 9:51 AM Created by Kelley Meier Created on 03/22/02 3:29 PM TOWN OF READING COMMUNITY PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION Minutes for Meeting dated: March 11, 2002 NS moved to accept the plans submitted with conditions as noted on the attached decision. KG seconds. All in favor, 3-0-0. PUBLIC HEARING: Site Plan Review/4 Minot Street The applicant spoke about remodeling the current business. The architect showed the Commission pictures of past projects in other locations. They have a permit to replace the siding, but would like to renovate the front. There will be handicapped accessibility into the building. The lights would be the same ones that are there. The curb cuts would remain the same. There will be some new landscaping along Minot Street due to the residential area. NS moved to continue the public hearing to 7:45pm on March 25. KG seconded the motion. All in favor, 3-0-0. PUBLIC WORKSHOP: Zoning Analysis/Longwood Poultry Farm-Special Town Meeting 2002 KG read two letters from the West Street neighborhood community, attached to these minutes. Brad Latham responded briefly to both letters. RH updated those in attendance on the goals of the process. Public Comment -concern that the buildings may bring the appearance of the Town down and not entice people to move to the Town -there is concern about the extent and timing of the development on parcels 1, 2, or 3 -concern that the developer/ owner not representing himself at meetings -question of how many additional affordable units Reading needs in order to meet the State's percentage goal of 10% Traffic Study Mike Abend, traffic consultant to the developer presented his study on the traffic. Mr. Abend describes the criteria he uses in doing a traffic study. The area he studied was West Street, Summer Avenue, and Willow Street. The traffic Page '2 of 5 TOWN OF READING COMMUNITY PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION Minutes for Meeting dated: March 11, 2002 counts were completed last week in morning and evening and had the following results: -peak hours: 7:15-8:15AM, 4:45-5:45 PM -in the morning peak: 500 cars; half traveling north and half traveling south, in evening: slightly lower, 200 cars north, 240 south He further indicated in five (5) years, under a no-build scenario at the intersection, there would be 1050 cars in the morning, 940 cars in the evening. Inwood Drive in Woburn will be signalized in the future. The Town did a traffic study in 1998 and the traffic has decreased in both morning and evening. Mike Abend reviewed the number of accidents that have occurred in the area. Public Comment -there have been witnesses that have seen cars/ trucks that jump the curb and do some damage to yards in that area -concern of the amount of trips that are going to be taken via car -would like a traffic study done with Spence Farm traffic involved -was there ever contact made with the Reading Police Department for their opinions of the traffic -would like hard facts on the summary of traffic study that was done -concern on having a traffic study farther up the road where all the roads are fed onto West Street, here queuing is an issue -is someone going to talk to the Barrows Principal to see if it's going to affect the dropping off and picking up of the children - did traffic study consider the effect of afternoon programs at the Barrows School -people making more trips due to their kids going to school -has there been any other impacts due to the amount of traffic that have been going down West Street when it slows down Page 3 of 5 TOWN OF READING COMMUNITY PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION Minutes for Meeting dated: March 11, 2002 -people would like a more extensive traffic study and would like more input involved with the traffic study - with double or triple the amount of traffic, there will be a lot more accidents or "fender-benders", but cost per accident is less due to slower speeds -whose responsibility is the entire traffic issue -you will find that people with more kids buy "cheaper" houses Next Steps AK discusses that after the Commission evaluates the information, they will need to establish priorities, and then start crafting zoning. They meet on 3/25/02 to discuss all of these items. The meeting will be at 8:15 PM on March 25, and the Commission will meet in the Selectmen s Meeting Room. APPROVAL NOT REQUIRED PLAN: CHURCH OF THE GOOD SHEPHERD AK shows the plan for the Church. KG makes the motion to endorse the ANR, NS seconds. All in favor, 3-0-0. ADMINISTRATIVE REVIEW The CPDC spoke about Strawberry Hill Road, and a pending zoning article regarding the Sign Review Board. STAFF BRIEFING AK informed the Commission that there is a Board of Selectmen meeting on March 12, 2002. The meeting is a check in on planning division projects. Motion to adjourn at 10:45 PM, made by NS, seconded by KG. All in favor, 3-0- 0. These minutes were prepared by Kelley Meier, Recording Secretary, and submitted to the ea __CPDC on March 14, 2002................. Page 4 of 5 TOWN OF READING COMMUNITY PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION Minutes for Meeting date& March 11, 2002 Minutes were approved by the CPDC on March 25, 2002. Signed as approved: Page 5 of 5