HomeMy WebLinkAbout1991-01-17 Zoning Board of Appeals MinutesTOWN OF READING
ZONING BOARD OF P 'a rvALE ~ - ,
MINUTES JANUARY 17, 1991
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Members Present: Stephen Tucker Chairman
John Ja Yuma
john Coote
t5_ meeting of the Zoning Board of Appeals was he! in the
Selectmen's Meeting Room Room of 'Gz`1 r e oird_l Hall, r07 oell ip
Reading, MA at 7:00 P.M.
The first order of business was a Public Meeting on ..he petition.
of Recadi.?'ICj G'yre`€='_atics Academy, 172 Woburn Street Reading,, MA
who were seekinc, a :^eTil.ei=,% of their Limited Use-Variance.
Mr. Tucker stated that this was an information gathering not
a Public Hearing.
Ms. McC;ona le, owner of the Academy, read a letter to the Board
the -a
giving a history or w r.~'€u.le.~'i~~~< She sLatt~~:r: that she had
entered into ca 10 year lease for € e entire lower floor of the
buildin g She then h~'.'n Lre'a ea letter ''i'"om the Chief of Police
regarding the traffic 'he t.... i` f •iG C~~ ~ ry parking ~
it~. Gs~~:. at the ...~~,e Academy. She
also stated that she had tone some work on the inside of the
building which had amounted to $19f325.00. She also submit W
copies of the building permits an Certificate of inspection.
At 7:06 P. Mg Carol Scott arrived.
She also requested a ;partial use of the third :door area so
that teens could work out there. She also asked sG':? at`. now that
they have signed a 10 year lease if they could have a 5 or
10 year review rvJi h a yearly inspection t e ~~-r`uildix
y i? Building
Inspector
Hr. Tucker stated that any chances in the Use-Variance would
have to be heard at a public hearing
1"r„ Altman, representing the Academy, requested that they :;could
have a year review, "tie3 7 t^
like to have 5 <yea.~stating that it was Repetitive
to come :Dace each year. F`''=r. Tucker stated again that a public
hearing would be needed in order to change the review.
{r. z.Jare?a stated that he and Mr. Tucker had inspected the site.
There was a question that the third floor had been used. it
was also stated by Ms g ' cc onagle that a stop sign would be
installed on the property.
The public was concerned that the third floor was being used
an also that there was parking in the sire lane and also parking
>r
o=; _he? stree=t. There=' was also a question of use on Sundays.
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Mr. Jarema askeC 7. LeClaire if he had received any complaints
in writing. ~ r. -4 rnc stated Y?G. . _ s_ . ~#a rem
aC-'~~lc._.` _ that he . had ,_t _ta
then state' that complaints must be in writing to the Building
inspector if there is a violation of the Use-Variance.
M_'_`. Altman theme stated that his client wanted to be a goo
neighbor. She would have the stoG si n put in and also have
the limes painted in the pa.rkil"q lot. He stated that this was
a useful activity for the children in the area.
The neighbors then sti.ca..%,e that the Academy has not been in
compliance and therefore, the Use-Variance should be denied.
The neighbors also stated that they had seen people on the third
floor putting sheeting on the windows to keep out the draft.
Mr. jarema stated that the applicant is well within her right
to repair an keep up the building.
Mr. LeClaire stated that he had no problem with the Certificate
of inspection.
The Board staG= d :_Aat they expected he conditions of the Use-
Variance to be nc~ared to. They also asked the Building
J
inspector to keep S. file of fV review.
f complaints r .r. L45. next At 8W01 P.M. Mr. Tare= ~"c: mic 'C3v..,..L.~ ' i.. CJ extend t. e Limited Use-Variance
e
to Reading Gymnastics Academy under the conditions listed from
the decision of 1987-44 for premises located at 172 Woburn
Street. Such review to be held prior to October 1, 1991. Mr.
Coote seconded and the motion passe with a vote of 3-0.
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The next public hearing was on the petition of Reading Municipal
Light Department T.'Th a seeking a Variance under Section 6.1.1.2
an Section 6.1.2.2. of the Reading Zoning y--Laws to provide
parking and/or loading spaces on the property located at 244
Ash Street, Reading. MAm
Mr. James BlCJmley, representing the Light Department, submitted
rl letter from z the Light Department stating their case. He also
submitted a letter from the Police Department c'ater' 1-11-91.
Mr. Blo_rtley then showed plans for the pro°osed site. He stated
that they were planning to purchase the Lux Oimes Building which
is adjacent to their existing building and has 27 p 000 square
feet. The required parking would be 90 spaces. He stated that
there were 83 spaces on the lot. They were before the Boar'
to ask that t'_`"le remaining 7 spaces be on the adjacent lot.
Overall, _`_`€r. Blomey stated t~ ''i2at for th lots 143 spaces were
'_~z the ~ .~e~~'~'ired ar~.e~ they t'4oulc~= have 148 spaces.
rel.
Mr. lomiey also asked for a Variance or a loading zone as
the c°urre t loading zone encroached on a right of way.
_ :.try Ala asked if the Light Department was exempt from zoning
because they t'v''e're a public tis:ic..t ity a.~'x% owned by the 1C1C^7T''.
'E utility =tfC ,,,.t they wanted to conform in the case that
Mr. they want to sell the building in the future.
Carol Sco't`'. stated that she felt that when the property was
purchased it world become one lot and, therefore, would not
need any relief.
Mr. Blom ley stated that they the neighbors C '`c:3 ksio'v ~ t;~.ax
wanted L ~ . C
the property conformed..
Ms. Scott asked about
Mr. Blomley stated t h
spaces and they would
have 5 loading spaces
the overall requirements for both lots.
at they were required to have 143 parking
have 148. They were also requires= to
and they would have 7.
One of the residents concerned was aboU the 1t onto Ash sxx Street
an wanted. it to be closed off.
Mr. ,darema stated that they should check with their attorneys
to exercise their rights to be exeY:€-,s.3t from Zoning. `sr. Blomle y
stated that they did not want to be exempt. They didn't want
v
the a'''ei , ors to think that they were doing anything that wasn't
right. ."n also stated tT'iat they world be co"t`cin back to 'C'y?e
Board or 2 more issues-setback and buffer.
_."=s. a3coLC stated again that she felt C,.hc'3a.. t it would be one lot
and they would not nee relief. When they wc-._n to sell, then
they would have to cote pack to handle the parking.
The Hoare then discussed that the dock was gra.ndfathered in.
The Board also discussed that this was a very positive use but
they felt that they could not give a Variance for the sake of
going on record.
it was then discussed if the building was non-conforming when
it was built. It its decided to continue the hearing so that
Mr. Bloi.tftleyr cou!G check with Mr. LeClaire to see if the building
was iron-conforming when it was built.
At 9:13 P.M. Mr. Jarema, moved to continue the subject matter
of this hearing until February 21, 1991. Ms. Scott seconded
and the motion passed J7t''1 a vote of 3--0.
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'r. Tucker then read a letter in reference to the Settlement
of the Charles Fuller case.
At 9:20 P.M. Carol Scott moved to accept the Settlement of the
Charles Fuller Case. Mr. jarema seconded and the motion passed
with a vote of 3-0-1 with Mr. Coote abstaining.
Respectfully submitted b Karen Saporito, Recording Secretary
to the Zoning Board of Appeals.
Signed:_/~,'-
D t,,_ : /'0 / 5~' Q
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