HomeMy WebLinkAbout1981-06-18 Planning Board MinutesMinutes of the Meeti of June l8, 1981
At 7:00 PM in Room 19, 52 Sanborn Street (the Community Center),
Board members K. Messina and E. Childress reviewed the corres-
pondence, finances and applications for the Board vacancy. Due
to a lack of quorum, no business was conducted. At 7:30 PM, the
entire Board met with the Selectmen in their Town Hall office to
interview those applicants for the Board vacancy.
After interviewing the following candidates:
Mr. Robert Cutone, 87 Rustic Lane,
Mr. Alan E. Foulds, 9 Ide Street,
Mr. Jose Canto, 33 Berkeley Street,
Ms. Maureen Rich, 169.Haverhill Street, and
Mr. Frank P. Orlando, 210 Summer Avenue,
the combined Board nominated each applicant and by a majority
vote, Mr., Orlando was elected to fill the Planning Board vacancy
until the next election.
At 9:23 P.M., the Board members reconvened in
Board office. Chairman B. Mitchel called the
K. Messina, E. Childress, J. Shaw present and
member, F. Orlando in attendance. Mr. Orland,
Board and was asked to be officially sworn in
office at his earliest possible convenience.
Finances
Room 19, the Planning
meeting to order with
newly chosen Board
D was welcomed to the
at Town Clerk's
The Board reviewed the year-end supplies purchased by the Secretary.
Upon a motion duly made and seconded, the Board unanimously voted
to pay the following bills:
$76.88 for misc. expenses; $44.50 to US Postmaster for postage.
The Board also voted to pay-those bills presently outstanding and
the expected invoices for printing and office supplies currently
due.
After a brief discussion, the Board unanimously voted to increase
the secretarial rate from $5.43 per hour to $6 per hour; an increase
of $ 0.57 per hour. The summer work schedule was arranged. The
secretary will make periodic checks with the switchboard and will
review any correspondence. Any emergency matter will be handled.
The MAPC West Street study will be ongoing during the summer months
and the secretary will keep in contact with Mr. Lawton in that regard,
zoning
The Board discussed updating the zoning maps to include all new develop
menu since the maps were printed in November of 1978. The secretary
will check with Mr. Louanis of BPW to determine the cost of having
the maps updated by
street only
- street and house lots
street, house lots and buildings.
Page 2
6/18/81
After receiving the cost estimates, the Board will decide what
policy will be pursued.
Town Meeting Issues
Highland School-Building Reuse: The Board discussed the survey
results as compiled by E. Childress. The overwhelming concensus
was not to mothball the school but favored Town use for either
library, Town Hall or elderly housing.
Russell Farm, Woburn rezoning
MrC;,K. Messina reviewed the meeting with the City Council in Woburn.
There were approximately 25 people present. The petitioners pre-
sented their case and in response to the already congested and
dangerous traffic in that area stated that this complex would have
no impact. When further questioned in that regard, the response
was that the traffic was so bad already that it couldn't make it
much worse. Many of the. neighboring residents spoke in opposition
to the development of this project. They spoke of water problems
that already existed and the possibility of those problems increasing
with the proposed development, ,A sense of the meeting was taken
and the response was 3 in favor (the petitioners); 20 negative. r
The Woburn Planning Board will be holding their hearing on Monday,
June 22 at 7:30 PM. Mr. Messina will represent the Town at this
hearing and the secretary will compose a letter stating the following
concerns:
- with the elimination of the I-93 exit to the Woburn complex
area, the traffic caused by the increased development was
extremely dangerous
that proposals for rezoning must take into consideration the
safety impact and address the dangerous traffic.problems
- it is imprudent to consider any further development of this
area until the MAPC study is at least completed
that there is presently a large project under construction
on Washington Street near Cummings Park and that the traffic
from this project cannot be assessed
the present zoning requirement will offer the best use of
the land in relation to the safety issues involved.
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6/18/81
MAPC West Street Traffic Study
On Wednesday, June 10, Mr. Messina and Mr. Lawton of MAPC drove
the West Street area for approximately 45 minutes at 7:30 AM.
They found the peak time to be from about 7:45 - 8 AM. At that
time the traffic was extremely heavy and the obstacles and
problems of West Street were aggravated. They then parked the
car and walked the area in the vicinity of West and Woburn Streets.
On the northeast corner at that intersection is a fence which
obstructs line of site. Dragon Corner store parking and exiting
pedestrians were a great sense of danger in that area also.
Mr. Lawton thought that it would be approximately 3 weeks before
he would have a preliminary report ready on this study.
Mr. Messina has spoken with Ms. Ann Hart, a resident of West Street,
about the removal of the large oak tree in front of their house.
Their house is located near the County Road intersection which is
the most dangerous area on West Street (commonly known as "Deadman's
Curve"). BPW has marked the tree for removal and they are strongly
in objection as they feel that this is the only protection before
the cars come careening into their home.
Correspondence
Mail was reviewed. The training program from National Trust for
Historic Preservation will be forwarded to Reading Historical
Commission.
Minutes
The Chairman deferred action on the minutes until he reviewed them
at home.
Horizon Homes
The Horizon Home decision by the Board of Appeals is being appealed
to the State level. The Bay State Road citizens has asked the
Law Committee and Selectmen to allow their attorney to have access
to Town Counsel for coordination purposes. Mr. Peters will be
seeking co-defendant status for their group and will inquire about
that possibility with the Board of Appeals at their next meeting.
Interdepartmental Communication
The Building Inpsector has a question as regards the interpretation
of the Non-conforming lots By-law, Section 6.3.1.3• As the Board
interprets the facts, the Building Inspector should be allowed to
issue a building permit for new construction. The Board advised
the Secretary to have the inspector check with Town Counsel in this
regard.
Upon a motion duly made and seconded, the Board unanimously voted to
adjourn at 11:25 PM. The next meeting will be held on Thursday,
Tune 25 at 7:30 PM in the'Planning Board office. R-----