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Home My WebLink About1982-12-15 Planning Board MinutesMinutes of the MeetinQ of December 15, 1982. The meeting was called to order at 7:25 P.M. by K. Messina, Clerk with ,oar,- members M. Rich and J. Shaw present in Room 19, 52 Sanborn Street (the Com~tunity Center). Mr. Mitchel and Mr. Burne arrived at 7:35 P.M. Chairman Mitchel then presided over the meeting . Cor.resnondence hail as reviewed. The Board reviewed the order of conditions from the Conservation Commission on Horizon Homes at Bay State Road. Minutes Upon a moti. unanimously Meet iI"ig of Meeting of "leeting of Meeting of Dn duly made and s accepted: October 27, 1982 November 4, 1982 November 15, 1932 December 1, 1982. econded, the following minutes were with corrections; - 2`i~h correcti-ons; Bills Payable - Finances J Z Tjpon a motion duly made and seconded, the Board unanimously approved -he payment of bills in the amount.of $105.88 to Reading Chronicle .Eor advertising of Coln fro-prty.° The Board is in receipt of a check in the amount of $145.88 from Berger & Berger, Ms. Cogen's attorney, to cover the cost of the advertising and public hearing feel. Town. Meeting Review Article 32-Coggin Rezoning: Chairman was concerned that the Selectmen will hold off any legal action until after Spring 83 Town Meeting regarding the enforcement of the Town's Zoning By--laws and their violations by Mrs. Cogen. Chairman felt that the question of legality should be brought before Town Counsel. This could create another problem of "selective enforcement". Chairman was asked to pursue this matter_ with Town Counsel. Articles 30 & 31-Sign By-laws: Chairman felt that the Board should have more active support from other Town Boards and especially from the Building Inspector on these zoning change requests. More speci- fic information should be obtained from the Building Inspector as to the number and type of abuses. The Selectmen stated in open.meeting that the Town will enforce the by--laws as they read on. the books. Article 29-Political Signs: The Board was given.a ;_eguest from the floor of Town Meeting to come up with some sort of answer to the questions raised by this article, The Board was asked to clean up the ambiguities and make the article more easily understood and present it to next Town Meeting, Article 10--Traffic lights at Main and Summer Sts,: BPW has agreed to ,__include these lights under their road.and street improvements funds„ and therefore Article 1.0 was tabled. The question of what monies would be spent for this improvement was raised. The Board was con- cerned that,,,the improvements to West Street for traffic and safety would be diverted for this use, d 12/15/82 Page 2 Article 13-Space Needs Town Meeting voted not to provide funds for architectural fees. Space Needs Committee no longer exists as their charter was from Spring Town Meeting to Fall_ Town Meeting. It seemed that the mood of Town Meeting was to integrate and assess the avail- ability of all Town buildings. This went beyond the original charge given to the Space Needs Committee. FinCom stated they would be assessing Town space needs. The Board discussed the need to ass`:aa all. Town'Meeting members and other Town Boards and age.ncio s before brought up on Town Meeting The Board felt that they yuldr in the future dep ar.onen~ tuber from the Board wg.o-a: xac to or_l er tbwn Board. an explain?nq what we are seeking and asking for, their support. with the anticipated housing articles, the Board feels that informa- tional meetings, questionnaires and formal input from other Town agencies should be ready before Town Meeting and presented to Town Meeting to show support of the proposed change. Negative aspects as well as positive aspects should be addressed and responded to. Handouts on each proposal should be available well in advance so that Town Meeting members can review the matter before them. The Board agreed to detail a work program and schedule at next meeting so they will be prepared for Spring Towr. Meeting , Zoning Board Issues 885 Main Street request for permit was granted by Board of Appeals, Regarding this request, Mr. Diamond sent a letter to the Planning Board objecting to the letter sent to Town Counsel and his not having received a copy_ of the same. The Board discussed policy on this and .feels that the Board in seeking Town Counsel's opinion has no respon- sibility to send a copy of the letter to Town Counsel from th Planning Board to the questioner. They feel than the Board has the ,tight witnout question to seek opinion from Town Counsel with no obligation to inform any questioner as to exactly what is being sought. The final opinion from the Board to any other Board or agency should be sent to the questioner. Accessory Apartments LWV represenrative, Barbara Hewitt, spoke to" the Board about a phone call she had received from Colonel Anderson regarding his focus on accessory apartments. With a special permit Ign either elderly ore single parent families and/or low income families, sheA t was very limited and could be discriminatory. .The Board then discussed their plan to place an "accessory apartment" article on`ZSpr_my Town Meeting. With that in mind, the Board agreed to concentrate their efforts at their next meeting working on the mechanics, the wording and other specifics for an article which will be presented to Annual Town Meeting. 12/15/82 Page 3 Cluster-PUD--PRD Board also addressed the issues of both PUD, PRD and/or cluster develop- ments for their work program.. More final arrangements will be made at their_ next meeting. The Board agreed that this concept would defin- itely need more public relations in the way of informational meetings, newspaper publicity, etc. Ms. Hewitt promised to get all the LWV's background information on accessory abar_tments, Cluster_/PUD/PRD to the Board for their review. Ms: Rich presented the Board with a copy of the new Hazardous Waste By-law proposed by the State. Excess Buildings The Middle School Report, anticipated shortly, and the School Depart- ment's decision on the Pearl Street School and the Birch Meadow Elementary school will affect any planning on alternative uses for these "excess" bu_ildi_ngsa When the reports are issued, Ms. Rich will obtain a copy for distribution and review by the Board. Mi.shawum Road-State fundi The State is proposing improvements to.traffic safety in, the Burling- ton Mall area and is also seeking funds -to improve access and egress off 195/Rt 128 at Mishawum Road area. Specifics were not available and the Board postponed further-discussion on this matter until such time as they are available for their review. Spence Farm The Selectmen are taking Spence Farm-to Court for violation of the Zoning BV-laws with the sale of Christmas trees and wreaths from their West Street "farmstand". Also included in this "cease and desist" order was Eric's Greenhouse. Spence Brothers have submitted another plan to build a farmstand in the area where the present garage now stands. Town Counsel will. review this latest proposal and report back to the Selectmen, and the Planning Board, - if necessary. Population Studv Ms. Rich presented her final report on the population study and asked that the Board accept this report as writtep. Upon a motion duly made and seconded, the Board unanimously accepted Ms. Rich's report` on the population study and on accessory apartments as, final reports. The Chairman thanked-Ms. Rich for her efforts in preparing these reports for the Board. Finances Budget forms are due back to FinCom before December 31, 1982. FinCom has suggested a 2 1/2° increase,~from FY 83. Upon a motion duly made ex, J Page 4 12/]_5/82 and seconded, the Board voted to have the Chairman work with the Secre- tary on the final preparations of the FY84 Budget, To be specially noted is the updating of both the Zoning Maps and texts after January) 1983< Meeting Schedule January 5, 1983 @ 7 PM is set for the Board's next meeting and this meeting will be devoted entirely to Eec°essay-,7~ ~elat 1 preparing an article for Annual `I'oY{?n Meeting on 'accessory apartments"There being no further business before the Board, they voted to adjourn at 10 PM. Respectfully submitted, Kenneth G. Messina, Clerk