HomeMy WebLinkAbout1981-03-05 Planning Board MinutesMinutes of the Meetng of March 5, 1981.
Chairman Zorabedian called the meeting to order at 7:40 P.M. in
Room 19, 52 S-- - -with John Shaw, Joseph Sturm, Ellen Childress,
Barry Mitchel and Phil Pacino from FinCom present. There was
no representative from Reading Chronicle present.
The Board unanimously voted to discuss the sale of the Town -owned
buildings out of order on the agenda
Town Meeting Warrant Articles
Mr. William C. Brown presented his viewpoint on the following
articles:
Article 46 — Transfer of Highland School to Board of Selectmen
Article 47 - $80,000 to convert the Highland. School to the
Town Hall
Article 48 — Public auction of Community Center for no less
than $500,000 by June 30, 1984
Mr. Brown stated the following concerns:
- Town Meeting members do not have any information as to
plans the Town may have for retaining public and school
property
- feels that TM will have a chance to hear any and all plans
from any Town Board or agency for any reuse of these buildings
- that it has been advertised since before the beginning of 1981
that he plans to put the aforementioned articles on TM Warrant
- Since no plans and /or ideas for reuse of these buildings has
come forward, he feels they should be converted and /or sold
as appears above
- that $80K will probably not do the job of conversion, but it
will help with moving and other related costs, even though
more may be needed
- at present there are 72 employees of the Town including the
Superintendent's office, all of which will fit into the High -
land school building, he contends
the savings of time, fuel and efficiency will be enormous
that the motions from Town Meeting are only instructional,
not mandated, but Mr. Brown wants Town Meeting to be informed
of future reuse plans by the Town or sell.
Mr. Tucker, one of the sponsors.of Article 6 (retn t.on of the
Highland School) also spoke:
- the figures on school population within the community are in
conflict
—2190 is the projected enrollment for next year, thus over-
crowding some of the elementary schools
that the Town would be foolish to turn over complete control
of the Highland school at this time, without assessing the
impact beforehand
,- they feel that the school should remain as is until the
declining enrollment figures can be substantiated.
Mr. Brown responded that he feels that the studies on.building reuse
in this town have been exhaustive. At present he feels that the
Highland School building is in good shape and could easily accommodate
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3/5/81
all Town Hall - Community Center employees as well as School Super --
intendent's office in this space,
Mr. Zorabedian presented the following details pertinent to this
discussion:
Community Center - 4 floors plus attic with 40,000 sq ft floor
space; 3rd floor presently closed; basement is divided; 1/2 for
storage /heating., the other 1/2 for COA. Replacement value is
approximately $500,O0O.with current assessed value of $227,000.
Highland School - 3 floors plus attic, 26,000 sq ft of floor area
not including detached portable classrooms. 1967 replacement
value was $81,000. $541,000 current value for land and buildings.
Oil for Highland - $12,000 -� 71� per gallon
Comm. Ctr - 17,000 @ 71� per gallon
Library has approximately 9800 sq ft of floor area
Town Hall has approximately 9828 sq ft of floor area
There could not be possibly enough room at the Highland School
to accommodate all employees into 15 -16 offices at the school.
The $80,000 figure for renovations is far offbase. Elevators,
lavatories, lighting, etc. without moving costs would more than
use up the $80,000. Plus handicapped provisions would have to
be made because of the change of use.
After discussion continues on some of these matters, lair. Zorabedian
iyik /oOlx¢n asked Ms. Joanne Braica to speak.. Mrs. Braica states:
- that there is a safety standard established by the State
and that with present redistricting plans and the closing
of the Highland School the Town will be inv- iolation of
this code;
- that although the state has issued a building occupancy
rate certificate it does not mean that it has,met.the
classroom occupancy rate certificate
- at present her husband., a safety engineer, has calculated
conservatively`x�lX¢g¢ / /�X /s
and finds that the Birch Meadow school will be overcrowded
by 90 students; Eaton by 55; and Pearl will also be over.
She has sought legal opinion and declares that her child does
not have to be put into jeopardy to actively pursue a lawsuit.
Thus she will sue the Town for $5 million if they plan to go
ahead with the closing of the Highland School. She is also going
to bring suit against each member of the Declining Enrollment
School Study personally,
Also present was Mr. Hank Bardahl who said that his address is
presently on Sanborn Street and he feels that the Community Center
should not change use. That the area is already highly used and
should remain as is. He opposes any reuse for low and moderate
income housing for elderly or any others. Also is opposed to
sale for conversion into apartment use
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Mr. Sturm asked Msc� Braica if double- sessions would negate the
violations she stated and her response was yes - but the Towns-
people would not stand for such action.
After thanking all present for attending this meeting, the Board
resumed its discussion of listed agenda items.
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Minutes
Minutes of 2/5/81 were authorized for corrections and redistri-
bution. Upon a motion duly made and seconded, the Board unani-
mously voted to accept the minutes of 2/5/81 as corrected
Minutes of 2/12/81 were accepted unanimously.
Minutes of 2/23/81 were accepted uannimously.
Procedural Rules
The Board discussed charging petitioners for zoning changes for
advertising costs. After discussion the Board unanimously voted
to authorize the Reading Chronicle to directly bill the petitioners
for any and all advertising costs related to zoning changes and
pbulc hearings related to these matters.
Also discussed was the wish of the Chairman to have all those who
wished to present something to the Board at their meetings to make
such a request in writing before being placed on the agenda. As
it is presently, the Chairman has the right to set the agenda.
The Chairman also wished to inform the Board that no official response
can be accurately given to callers on the telephone, but shouldbe
written out and then presented to the Board so that they may then
have all the necessary facts to make an official response.
Bills Payable
from the 'encumbered account
The Board unanimously approved Bills Payable /in the amount of
$93.00 to B.L.Makepeace for recopying the 1942 Zoning Map with
negatives and reproductive mylars. The Board unanimously approved
Bills Payable in the amount of $35.87 for related office expenses.
Comprehensive Permit Congregational Church /Horizon Homes
The Board reviewed the correspondence forwarded to this office re:
the above - mentioned comprehensive permit. Chairman Zorabedian
directed the discussion as for the zoning change (A40 with height
variance). As the plans are presently drawn, they are looking at
A80 redistricting. Again the Board restated their opposition to
the plan because of the present narrow access. Another access road
from Haverhill Street, the main access, should be provided, with the
Bay State Road access used as the emergency access.
The Chairman drafted a letter in response to Col. Anderson's request
for input from each Board on this project. with minor corrections,