HomeMy WebLinkAbout1989-01-19 Zoning Board of Appeals MinutesTi LjJ
Zoning Board of Appeals
Minutes- January 19, 1989
Members Present: Catherine Quimby, Chairman
Stephen Tucker
Sally Nitzsche
John Jarema
Indicates Non-Voting Member
Chairman Quimby opened the scheduled public hearing at 7:40 PM in
the Selectmen's Meeting Room, 6 Lowell Street, Reading, MA,
This Public Hearing was on the petition of Continental Health
Care who was seeking a variance or special permit under Section
4.3.1.4 of the Zoning By Laws of the Town of Reading for the pur-
pose of expanding parking on the site located at 1364 Main
Street, Reading.
Mr. Brad Latham, representing the applicant, then showed the
plans of the Somerset Nursing Home and explained the history of
the nursing home. When the nursing home was built the required
parking spaces were one space for each three beds, making the
required parking spaces 41 or 42 spaces. When the plan was
designed the maximum spaces allowed were 45 spaces which are on
the southerly side of the building. The parking has become a
problem as the visitation is higher than expected. The nursing
home is also planning to have two additional activities which are
day-care and respite care which will add even more traffic.
There are even times when there has been parking on Main Street.
The proposal before the Board is to provide for an additional 19
parking spaces on the northerly side of the building. Mr. Latham
explained that this would be designated for employee parking
only. He then asked the Board for a new special permit or a
modification of the existing special permit.
The Board then discussed whether to issue a new special permit or
to modify the existing special permit.
It was then mentioned
spaces did not belong to
Glen Associates. Mr. La
the additional parking
Cedar Glen Associates.
signed the application.
that the land
the nursing hom
tham stated that
they would be
He also stated
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proposed for the parking
but belonged to Cedar
should the Board approve
purchasing the land from
that both '"parties had
At this time John Jarema joined the quorum.
Chairman Quimby then stated that the comprehensive permit for
Cedar Glen prohibited then from selling any of their land. Mr.
Latham stated that Cedar Glen would have to come before the Board
regarding this matter.
Mr. Latham then went through the preconditions for Section
4.3.1.4, telling how they addressed each one. He also felt that
it would not be detrimental to the public and there would be
ample screening around the new parking area. He also stated that
there would be activity only three times a day when the shifts
changed. There were no houses in the immediate area and they
were not proposing any new curbcuts.
The Board decided to discuss this case as a special permit and to
maybe continue this case along with an appeal from Cedar Glen to
change their comprehensive special permit.
Chairman Quimby stated that she had tried to get the site plan
for Cedar Glen but had been unable to do so. She also stated that
the applicant has filed with the Conservation Commission for a
"Notice of Intent".
The Board asked if the proposed 19 spaces would be sufficient for
employee parking. Keith Rodgers from Continental Health Care
stated that they would like an additional 5 or 6 more spaces and
their engineer had felt that this would work well. He also
stated that during the overlap between shifts some people do park
in the Marshall's parking lot.
The Board asked if they had explored the possibility of leasing
parking spaces with Marshall's. Mr. Rodgers said they had tried
but Marshalls felt strongly that they did not want to lease park-
ing spaces.
There was discussion of where the new lot line would be and that
the drainage ditch would now be inside the nursing home property.
Chairman Quimby then read a letter from John Floyd of 1437 Main
Street, Reading, stating that the nursing home should rent spaces
from Marshalls to solve this problem.
Mr. Doug Brown from 32 Sanborn Lane then asked about the lighting
of the proposed parking facilities. He was told that there would
be 4 additional lights on poles that would face downward and
would not shine on the single family homes on Sanborn Lane.
The Board felt that leasing parking spaces from Marshalls could
possibly solve the problem and suggested to the applicant to
present substantial information to Marshalls about this matter.
Chairman Quimby also stated that she would discuss the legal
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ramifications with Town Council.
At 8:58 PM Stephen Tucker moved to continue the public hearing of
Continental Health Care, 1364 Main Street until 7:30 PM on
February 23, 1989. Sally Nitzsche seconded and the motion passed
with a vote of 3-0.
The Board then had an informal discussion on amendments to the
Rules and Regulations of the Zoning Board of Appeals.
The Board then approved the minutes from October 6, 1988 by a
vote of 2-0 and also the minutes of December 7, 1988 by a vote of
2-0.
At 9:30 PM a motion was made to adjourn and the Board unanimously
agreed to do so.
Respectfully submitted by Karen Saporito, Recording Secretary to
the Zoning Board of Appeals.
Signed:
Date:
Approved: