HomeMy WebLinkAbout1990-11-01 Zoning Board of Appeals MinutesTOWN OF READING
ZONING BOA-DID OF APPEALS
. I1°a'1'T*1, S N 0 Vlz]~M BE 1 , 19 9 0
Members Present: Stephen Tucker, Chairman
John Jarema
Ardith Wieworka*
John Coote*
* indicates non--voting meynber
A meeting of the Zoning Board of Appeals was held in the
Selectmen's Meeting Room of the Town Hall, 16 Lowell Street,
Reading, MA at 7:00 P.M.
At 7.03 P.M. Mr. 9-1tacker reopened the continued public hearing
for Reading Gymnastics Acadeelmy.
Mr. Charles Arthur, representing the applicant, then stated
that at the previous hearing they had asked to increase the
number of students per hour from 40 per hour to 100 per hour.
As the neighbors had so many concerns, he stated that they were
now asking for 60 students per hour. He then discussed the
;parking lot concerns. He stated that they would reverse the
traffic flow around the building. A memo was then submitted
to the Board with the modifications.
At 7:10 P.M. Carol Scott joined the quorum.
Mr. Arthur then stated that they would have traffic humus
installed and also a. stop sign. He also stated that a newsletter
had been sent home with the students asking that rubbish be
disposed of properly.
Mr. Arthur then stated that a traffic study had been none at
the school for one week. He submitted the traffic study to the
?hoard. The traffic study was clone from 8:00 A.M. to 5:30 P.M.
They felt that the traffic increase would. be minimal-only .04%.
Mr. Arthur then discussed the hours of use. The new hours
proposed would be Monday through Friday 8:00 A. M. to 9:00 P.M.
and on Saturday 8:00 A.M. to 6°00 P.M.
Mr. Arthur ended by stating that they were trying to be good
neighbors and they felt that these changes would not adversely
effect the neighborhood.
Carol Scott then asked who had conducted the traffic study and
was told that adults had been hired to watch the traffic from
the third= floor of the building. Mr. Arthur stated that the
increase per hour would he 10-12 cars. Mr. Coote stated that
r
this would be a 50% increase.
'The Board then discussed the proposed changes and what type
of classes !'could be taught.
The public present was then asked for their comments. Mary
Daily asked if the Board had the authority to grant this Variance
or if it should go to Town Meeting. She was opposed to the
granting of the Variance. She thew read a letter from Nancy
Williams, who could not attend the greeting, stating that she
was opposed to the Variance. Ms. Daily then read a letter from
Bruce Williams who was strongly opposed to the Variance.
Mr. Valentine then presented to the Board a letter signet= by
531 neighbors who were strongly opposing the ;ranting of any
modification to the Variance stating that expansion of the
operation would: constitute a major hardship for the residential
neighborhood, such as increased noise, traffic, and non--resident
activity.
Mr. Tucker then stated that the Board did have the authority
to grant or :rod i fy the Variance.
The neighbors continued to voice their opposition to the
modification stating that traffic, loud music, horns beeping,
headlights in windows, lots of activity in the parking lot,
and safety were some of their concerns.
it was stated that an ad had been put in the yellow pages under
Beading Gymnastics Health and Fitness Academy which listed
programs that are not yet alloy=led under the present Variance.
Debbie Erickson, office worker at %GA, stated that the ads had
been called back but it had been to late and they had been
printed.
Mr. Valentine then discussed that construction had been going
on at night and questioned if the proper permits had been sought.
He also expressed the neighborhoods concern of waking up one
morning- and having the commercial expansion there and not knowing
what to do about it.
Mr. Arthur then discussed that 50% student increase sounds like
a lot, but the intent is that the parents of the children already
there for classes would enroll in a class. He also stated that
there have been no complaints for the eight years that the
Academy has been there. He reminded the public that this is
a school for children, it is not a "smoke stacke" commercial
use.
An employee from Reading Gymnastics stated that people are
forgetting that they do wonderful things with children there.
t
e
2
The Board then discussed how much of the building was currently
being used. it was discussed that they would like to use 4
or 5 classrooms located on the third floor. It was difficult
to figure how many square feet were in the building as the plan
did not have square footage on it.
E
The yellow pages ad was then discussed. Ms. McGonagle ;Mated
that she had to make a fast decision as to put the ad in or
not. She decided to do so, but later tried to withdraw the
ad but it had been too late.
Some of the neighbors were concerned that some of the building
could be sub-leased; but Mr. Arthur stated that this was not
in the lease and they had no intention of sub-leasing any part
of the building.
Carol Scott stated that she was tardy this evening because she
had taken a drive through the parking lot and there had been
parking on both sides of the fire lane.
Mr. Tucker asked Mr. Arthur if he had asked for an extension
of time. Mr. Arthur stated he had not but would do so this
-evening.
At 9:25 P.M. John Jarema moved to close the }gearing. Carol
Scott seconded and. the notion passed with a vote of 0-0.
The ?hoard then discussed that the property is still unique and
that the hardship has not changed. They would still consider
the detriment to the public good and also if the granting of
the Variance would derogate the intent of the By-Law.
Mr. Jarema stated that in 1901 when the first Variance was
granted it was limited in scope. He also stated that shot-zoning
is used very rarely. Mr. Jarerna also stated that land is an
expensive commodity, and the By-Laws are there to help keep
residential areas that way.
Carol Scott stated that residential zoning is to protect from
the intrusion of any business' from coming into a residential
neighborhood.. She felt that this intrusion was affecting the
neighborhood, and the intensity in use is derogating from the
ByLaw.
Mr. Fucker stated that in 1901 the Variance had been granted
to teach children. Now the Board is being asked to change the
scope of the activity to also include adults. He was concerned
that once the scope is widened it could not be limited.
it was discussed and decided to vote on the whole package instead
of each modification.
3
At 9052 P.M. Mr. Jarema moved to grant heading Gymnastics Academy
located at 172 Woburn Street, Reading, M4-i a modification of
the Variance granted in 1987 under Section 6.3.2 and 7.4.2.2
to reflect the use of the entire building, increase in the number
of individuals serviced, and increase in the hours of operation
as described in Exibit A but not limited thereto. Carol Scott
seconded the motion which failed with a vote of 0-3.
At 10:00 P.M. a motion was made and seconded to adjourn and
the Board voted unanimously to do so.
Respectfully submitted by wren Saporito, Recording Secretary
to the Zoning Board of T*ppeals.
t
Signed:
Date: Approved: -°0'
4
f