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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1980-09-29 Planning Board MinutesMinutes of the Meeting of September 29, 1980 Chairman J. zorabedian called the meeting to order at 7:31 PM in R 19--- with J. Shaw, B. Mitchel and E. Childress present. Tracey Dwyer and Mr. William Brown were also in attendance. Correspondence Mail was reviewed. The Board noted a request from the Board of Appeals asking them to review the procedure for a Ch- 774 hearing. They anticipate an application from United Church Homes for a Special Permit under Ch. 774 for construction at Bay State Road. Mr. Zorabedian will meet with Mr. Treslow from MAPC on Thursday, October 2, 1980 at noon. FinCom has scheduled a meeting with. the Planning Board for ,October 7, 1980 at 7:30 PM to discuss the articles on the Fall Town Meeting Warrant. The secretary was requested to have Town Clerk verify the signatures on Article 16, which calls for a canopy exclusion for gas stations in Industrial and Business districts. Fall Town Meeting Warrant Articles Parking lot at Union and Middle Street The lot at Union and Middle could be designed to hold between 45-50 cars. This lot would not require a fence around the perimeter; there is presently a fence between this lot and Anton's cleaners property. At present there is no drainage in the lot, although there is some in the street. Asphalt curbing could be used. These estimates were obtained by Mr. Shaw in conversat-ion with Roger Louanis, Superintendent, DPW. The Board of Public Works wild,give the Planning Board an estimate for the cost of constructing a parking lot at this site. Roger Louanis requested that the lot be constructed to DPW specifications. This lot would be available to all Reading citizens, but the emphasis would be placed on having the Reading center businessmen and merchants park at this site, thus freezing up spaces in the center. Mr. Mitchel reported that the Industrial Development Commission did not take a position on this article. They did feel that it would be a good idea to have some spaces in the center area free for customer parking, but would await a decision until the cost estimates arrived. Parking regulations were discussed. Among the areas of concern to the Board members were: a comprehensive plan for parking, Town-wide; enforecement of existing regulations; inclusion of John St. CR facility in parking regulations - the availability of parking in the K of C parking lot; and the Town's liability in this,regard; John Street - Commuter Rail Facility Mr. Mitchel reported that by a vote-of 4-3 the IDC voted to support this article.' The IDC expressed the following views: -2- - a CR facility directly across the street from the proposed industrial development complex.would enhance the value of the industrial land; - the value of the-land and what the "T" would be willing to pay to the Town? - the cost benefit to the Town would not be seen until after development of the industrial site across the street; Is it correct for the Planning Board to request Town Meeting to authorize the Selectmen to negotiate with the "T" for sale of land that is presently under the control of the BPW? - especially land that BPW is not willing to give up? Mr. Brown requested that the deed be written to include a phrase that would have this CR facilty excluded from any assessment policy by the "T" to the Town of Reading. Mr. Zorabedian cited the following points in regard to this facility: this new lot would relieve the traffic and parking problems around the Depot; the Town will benefit by a CR faciilty directly across the street from the proposed new industrial complex; - the Town will benefit by the sale of a marginal piece of' land abutting the RR right of way - the uses of both lots (Inc & garage) will remain intact; - the increase in the CR parking'spaceswill relieve depot congestio: thus increasing parking for shoppers in and around the Depot, lower Haven Street, area. - the lot would increase the Reading area as a business area because of the increase in packers in this vicinity Chairman O'Brien believes that the "T" cannot act on this within the time frame they have established. She believes that this project will be 5-10 years away rather than the 3-5 years predoicted. Article 16 - Canopy exclusion The Board scheduled the public hearing on this Zoning By-law change for Wednesday, October 29, 1980 at 7:30 PM. Notices will be duly published 14 days in advance in.the Reading Chronicle. Ms. Childress will review this article and report back to the Board on October 6th. 128 Sales, Inc. The Board discussed Town Meeting's authorization to sell this piece of land at John Street.' Among the matters discussed were: providing access to the AM property behind the Dump should the Town allow 128 Sales to use this piece of land as access to their Wakefield land? the Town should maintain an access road to the back parcels of land at the Dump The secretary was instructed to compose a letter to the Board of Selectmen requesting that the Board give careful consideration to: maintain the existing "Old Dump Road: - Create a new public access road along sewer easement; -3- or consider some feasible alternative to provide public access to the back parcel of land. Also included in this letter should be a request that the Board be informed of any and all meetings with 128 Sales or their attorney. Meeting Schedule The meeting schedule for the Board for October is as follows: 10/2/80 at 12:45 PM, Chairman Zorabedian will meet with Mr. Treslow from MAPC 10/7/80 at 8 PM, Mr. Mitchel and Mr. Sturm will meet with the FinCom 10/9/80 - FinCom's Capital Outlay Program will be presented 10/16/80 - All Boards Meeting at 7:30 PM - Mr. Mitchel and Mr. Sturm Planning Board Meetings will be held on the following dates: 10/6/80 at 7:30 PM 10/20/80 at 7:30 PM 10/27/80 at 7:30 PM 10/2.9/80 at 7:30 Pm Public Hearing and an interdepart- mental meeting with Bd of Selectmen, TDC, BPW, CTPS and "T" reps re: CR facilty at John Street. Upon a motion duly made and seconded, the Board unanimously voted to adjourn at 9:28 PM R--- BM SYNOPSIS OF THE MEETING OF OCTOBER 29, 1980 Re: JOHN STREET COMMUTER RAIL FACILITY PROPOSAL The meeting was called to order by Chairman J. Zorabedian at 8:20 P.M. in the Community Center Auditorium, 52 Sanborn Street with Board members E. Childress, J. Shaw and J. Sturm present Those in attendance from the.Board of Public Works were acting chairman Gail Wood, Doug Barker, John Fallon and Superintendent E. Roger Louanis. Three members from the Industrial Development Commission were also present, including chairman Roc O'Connell. Representatives from the "T ", Nor. Gary Hebert, and from CTPS,. Charles, Xalauskas, were also present. Tracey Dwyer attended for the Reading Chronicle. The present Article on the Fall.Town Meeting Warrant calls for the Selectmen to enter into negotiations with the "T.' not sign any final agreements until they obtain subsequent approval from Town Meeting. These negotiations would give due consideration to security provisions, snow removal, maintenance and other related matters. Ms. Wood spoke on behalf of the BPW. Among the objections men- tioned were: - loss of this site would hamper the flexabi,lity for future use by the BPW - the overflow parkers from this parking lot would interfere with the efficient use of this area by BPW and other users. - that security in this area would be a very definite problem. At present there is vandalism which they have not been able to control. -- the increased traffic on the access road would inter- fere with any other use the BPW might have for the Incinerator site. that the BPW presently uses the area proposed for the parking lot on the B]W garage side. as open storage for the four seasons of the year. _ Gary Hebert responded to questions asked by members of the BPW stating that. this commuter rail facility could possibly be engineered and built within 3 to 5 years, especially with the availability of federal funds for mass transit now becoming available that the "T" was negotiating with Towns that were favorable to the idea of increasing commuter rail parking to speed up the development of the commuter rail line - that commuter rail was the most expensiva . service that the "T" had to maintain -2-- upgrading present "T" owned facilities, where feasible, h4s highest priority the "T" would negotiate with towns for the costs incurred for snow removal, maintenance, security, etc. The most cost effective way for the "T" to deal with these matters was to have the town involved provide the services for a consideration. Mr. Hebert referred to the negotiations the "T" was proceeding with for the city of Quincy - that this proposed project had a very good like - lihood of being accepted this year for engineering studies. Next year the proposal would be one of those in the.most favored category, if not accepted this year. This would be based on the fact that the town and the "T " were able to iron out there negotiations quickly. The discussion included: What this.parcel of BPW land located on the garage area was specifically being used for, presently. What was the total area needed for the BPW opera- - tions - asking specifics The possible use of other areas of town for alter nate sites for the present BPW activities at the garage. The present specific use of this area of land at the BPW garage and incinerator -- The proposed future use of the land in question The criteria used to determine this particular area of Town for use as a CR facility -- The availability of other areas of private and public land for this CR parking The impact of traffic on the feeder roads and the access road to the proposed CR facila py. Roc O'Connell spoke to the group on the determinations of the Industrial Development Commission. He stated that: - at present the CR facility would not have an immediate benefit to the Town the long range benefit to the Town would be an easily accessible CR facility in close proximity to the proposed development of the Industrial and/ or business development for the dump area