HomeMy WebLinkAbout1991-03-07 Zoning Board of Appeals MinutesTOWN OF READING
ZONING BOARD O APPEAT S
MINU'L ES MARCH 7, 1 0,91
Members Present: Stephen `?pucker, Chairman
John Jarema
John Coote
A meeting of the Zoning Board of Appeals was held in t e
Selectmen's Meeting Room of the 'own J:rall, 16 Lowell Street,
Reading, MA at 7 z OO P.M.
The first hearing was the continued hearing on the petition
of Winchester Hospital who was seeking a Variance under Section
6.1.1.2 to allow parking on another lot separated by a proposed
road < Mr. Tucker states' that one of the reasons that the hearing
had been continued was to get a decision from CPDC.
Winchester Hospital was being represented by Andrew I.T. Ley and
also Dave CiocTrandeo Mr. Ley stated that they would like to
request a Special Permit instead of a Variance.
Dave Giogrande then submitted the ;Mans to the Loam' and
discussed that 107 spaces would he required for the site. He
stated that the plan showed 65 spaces on Lot 2 and they would
like to have 130 spaces on ljot 1 with a total of 195 spaces,
Fie also discussed --hat Enterprise G`'i'ay (the roadway dividing
the two lots) is now a paper street that will be built and. will
he a right of way to the abutting properties.
?`fro Jarema discussed that two lots held in common ownership
are allowed to use both lots to meet the required Dar1king.
H?e questioned whether Winchester Hospital really needed to have
a Special Permit w
Mr. Ley stated that they had come before the Board because the
two lots will be separated by a Roadway. Mr a Jarema stated
that it did, not matter if the roadway divided the two lots,
as long as they are in common ownership.
The Board discussed some similar cases and also if the roadway
would be a substantial harrier. Mr. `"i~ucKer felt that the roadway
would be a substantial harrier. Mr. Jarema felt that it was
not as the roadway would stop at the end of the property.
?after much discussion it was decided that there would be no
harm in granting a Special Permit with a condition that Lot
1 be for parsing only.
. At 7,50 P.M. Mrs Jarema moved to grant a Special Permit under
6.1.1.2 to Winchester Hospital for Lots 1 and 2 as defined on
the final revision Site Man dated 2-13-91, same plan produced
by Design Mate Survey Corporation, for the purpose of.;. deciding
accessary parking on Lot 1 to include 1 30 parking sites for
tide purpose of serving the building to be located on Lot 2 under
the condition that Lot 1 be only used for parking. Mr. Coote
seconded and the motion passed with a vote of 3-0.
Members Present: Stephen Tucker, Chairman
John Jarema
Ardith Wieworka
John Coote*
* Indicates a non-voting Member
The next hearing was on the petition of Henry A. Higgott to
appeal the decision of the Building Inspector, and or to seek
and or accessary apartment
a Use Variance under Section 7.4.2.2 '
Special Permit under Section 4.3.2.8 of the Zoning By haws on
the property located at 533 Summer Avenue, Reading, iu_tA.
Mr. Chris Coleman, representing Mr. Higgott, stated that they
would like to remove their request for an accessory apartment
Uses
and. also to change the Section of the By-~~a~~ to Viable of
7.4.2.2. Mr. Coleman then submitted a packet to the Board and
discussed: that the original house was built in 1916 and had
8 rooms. He also submitted a copy of a Building Permit issued
by the Building Inspector to convert to a two-family dated
January 28, 1991. Mr. Coleman°s reason for submitting this
was to show that the Building Inspector -recognized that the
house had 8 rooms at the time it was built.
Mr. Coleman went on to discuss the second structure that was
built in 1954. He stated that the second structure was used
as a separate unit for grandparents of the people who owned
the property at the time. the Higgotts bought the property
in 1967 and used the both structures. Mr. Coleman stated that
the structures have adequate exits and adequate parking. He
also submitted pictures of the house.
Mr. Coleman went on the discuss the conditions for conversion
to a two-family. He stated that the house was built in 1916
and had 8 rooms. The structure was altered but kept the
appearance of a single family. He stated that their problem
is that the Building Inspector has restricted what rooms can
be used for which structure. He stated that the by-law does
not restrict how the structures would be divided. They would
like to have the front structure as one unit and the back
structure as one unit.
s 1,
?r. Jarema stated that 1:-ie had done a site inspection and
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discussed that the back structure appeared to have fixtures
and decor of the 19-50's. He then discussed.' that the front
structure had 3 bedrooms on the second floor and a bathroom.
Downstairs there was a kitchen, living room, dining room, hallway
with a stairway and also 2 rooms that he considered to be a
sunroom that had been a porch at one time that was now enclosed
and petitioned. Mr. Jarema stated that he felt that the house
had been built as a six room house with a sunporch that was
later enclosed.
Mr. `pucker react a letter from John and Delia Quinlan stating
that they approved the conversion to a two family. He also
react a letter from Ron and ;Nancy Stortz stating that they
approved the conversion to a two family.
Mrs. Hopkins, a neighbor, stated that she was against the
conversion as there would, be more parking on the street. She
also stated that the house is on a hill and in the winter the
tenants have trouble going up the driveway. She was concerned
with the safety of her child.
MaryEllen Be
not aware of
at the house
to the house
Mrs. Higgott
the driveway
sker, the tenant in the house, stated that she was
a parking problem. She stated that she has lived
since ?august of 89 and has cone many improvements
with Mr. Higgott.
then stated that they have redone and re-graded
and that there is little trouble with the driveway.
Bill Dunham, a neighbor, then stated that the Higgotts were
excellent neighbors. He also stated that there are other 2
family homes in the area.
Mr. Higgott -then stated that he has -permits for the electrical
work and also permits for the second burner and plumbing work.
Mr. Coleman then stated that he would like the Board to accept
the Building =nspectors opinion of judgment regarding the number
of rooms that are there, but he questions his interpretation
of the By---maw which he says restricts the use of the two family
or implies that the alteration can not be used as a separate
unit.
Mr. Fucker then staters that the file copy of the permit had
been voiced.
Mr. Jarema stated that he felt that the By Law reads that some
of the original 8 rooms must be used in each unit.
Mr. 'ducker stated that he would like to know why the Building
Permit had been voiced. He also stated that the Building
Inspector was out of Town and could not be here tonight.
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Mr. Coleman stated that he had discussed, the project with Mr.
Edwards, the Town Planner. He stated that Mr. Edwards could
possibly shed some light on the matter.
Fir. Edwards stated that the hous
that was enclosed at some time.
of it on the assessors card. He
discussed this with Tyr, ~eClaire
enclosed some time before 1942.
was built in 1916 with a porch
'He stated there was no record
also stated that he had
who felt that the porch was
she B=oard then discusser the issue of which rooms would have
to he divided.. Mr. Edwards stated that he felt that it did
not make a difference how they were divided.
The ?hoard discussed that some of the other Members should visit
the house for a site inspection. It was also discussed that
the Board would like testimony from the Building Inspector and
possibly the opportunity to discuss this with sown Counsel.
At 9:35 P.M. Ardith Wieworka moved to continue the subject matter
of the petition of Henry Higgott to March 21, 1991 at 7:00 P.M.
in the Selectmen's Meeting Room. Mr. Coote seconded and the
motion passed with a vote of 4-0.
Respectfully submitted by Karen Saporito, Recording Secretary
to the Zoning Board of ppeals®
Signed:
Date:
Approved.
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