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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1980-09-15 Planning Board MinutesI Minutes of the Meeting of September 1980 Chairman Zorabedian.called the me=eting to order at 7:34 P.M. in Room 19, 52 S---- with..Joseph Sturm, john Shaw and Ellen `Childr-e=ss present. Mr. Phil Pacino from the Finance Committee and Ms. Maria Silvaggi from the Reading Chronicle were also in attendan=ce. Correspondence mail was reviewed. A latter from Mr. Sid Rubin from the Atlantic Food Mart re: parking in the lot behind AtlanticYwas received. No action was taken on this matter. The Finance Committee has requested that the Planning Board appear on October 9, 1980 at 7:30 PM to discuss the articles the Board has on the Fall Town Meeting Warratn. Input is due on 'these matters by Sept. 23, 1980 and should be presented to Chairman Zeigler for.Fin Com''s review. Finances Bills Payable in the amount of $21.27 was unanimously approved for payment. Union and Middle Street - Parking lot Discussion on the construction of a prking lot at Union_and Middle `Street included: - specifications for construction of such a lot suggested was 3 inches of gravel with a 3 inch asphalt top, striped, lighted and fenced - security procedures - request that the BPW provide preliminary estimates on cost for such construction and also the cost impact for snow removal for this lot establishment of parking regulations for the downtown area and this proposed lot - After discussion of this matter, the Board unanimously voted to place an article on the Fall Town Meeting Warrant for construction of a parking lot at this site. The secretary will `prepare this article and present it to the Chairman for his review. CTPS Commuter Rail Parking at John Street Joseph Sturm gave an overview of some of the problems with the current administration at the "T". He suggested that this project could possibly take longer than the 5 year projection currently made by both CTPS and the "T" because of the financial troubles of the 'IT" -2- The presentation focused on the CTPS's Alternative 4C, as described in their final report on the Fringe Parking Study. This alternative has the potential for 97 parking spaces on land adjacent to the MBTA right of way behind the Incinerator site and also the Reading BPW's garage. The unanimous opinion of the Board that this was the best option for the Town, giving BPW greater flexibility with the remainder of their 15.4A site. Mr. Sturm noted several interesting provisions for negotiations with the "T" that the Town would have as described in the new report on the Transit Park-Ride Improvement Program, (TIPS). This report states that the "T" will negotiate with Towns for snow removal, security and maintenance. Also noted in this report was the estimated total cost of the Reading project at $490,000.00. The CTPS report without land acquisition costs is estimated at $250,000.00. The difference in the $ value could be the projected cost that the "T" is willing to pay to the Town for this parcel of land. A discussion ensued as to whether or not to place this article on the Fall Town Meeting Warrant. Upon a motion duly made and seconded the Board unanimously voted to ask. Town Meeting to authorize the Board of Selectmen to enter into negotiations with the "T", but not sign any final agreements until subsequent approval of Town Meeting. The secretary will prepare a final copy for submission to the Fall Town Meeting Warrant and submit it to the Chairman for final approval. - The Chairman noted that the meeting with the Selectmen is scheduled for 8:30 PM on September 18, 1980. At this time the article should be ready for the Selectmen's review. Buffer Strip The Board discussed the projected new development in the Industrial District and addressed the issue of a buffer area between abutting Residential and Industrial districts. There has been no input from neighboring residents as regards a buffer area. Ms. Childress will contact the Industrial Development Commission's Chairman, and discuss this matter in greater detail with them. No other action was taken on this matter pending a report from Ms. Childress. Housing According to a recent article in the Reading Chronicle, the Congregational Church has been awarded a HUD grant in the amount of $4,3 million to construct 97 units of elderly housing off Bay State Road. As yet there has not been any action on this issue. The Town Boards will have to address the various areas of concern, namely, traffic and safety, drainage, water, adequate water pressure, adequate sewerage facilities, accessability to the site, access and egress, among them. The Chairman discussed the Town-wide problem of providing sub- sidized family housing. There is presently no plan for -3 family housing in this Town. The Chairman is presently inves- tigating the possibility of blocking out an area East of the Center for high density housing to possibly answer the Town's family housing problem. As these buildings become available they could then be converted into family units. The Chairman will be meeting with the Housing Authority on October 7, 1980 at 7:30 PM at Tannerville and will again discuss this matter. The Board noted that at some future point they would have to make a policy statement on family housing for the Town. South Main Street A report was prepared by Ms. Childress from the '76 TAMS report on Main. Street. Much of the $ values were outdated but after some investigation Ms. Childress provided the following: - the State presently has no money for traffic lights - that the Police Chief is not in favor of any more traffic lights on Main Street; he feels that there already are too many. that if any accident statistics are to be given by the Chief to the Board they must first be approved for release through the Board of Selectmen, - accident statistics are public records and therefore could be obtained by this Board from the MAss. DPW. As Mr. Sturm reported, the State had come before the Town and presented a program for reconstruction of Main Street, At that time the Town vetoed any such construction and would now be - hardpressed to get the State to reconsider this area. Conservation Commission The Conservation Commission members and the Conservation Administrator, Mr. Carl Gardner, appreared before the Board to discuss utility uses under the Flood 'lain District. The Board members suggested that the Conserveration Commission not compose a hastily written article for Fail Town Meeting, but rather the Article should be careffully considered and written and be presented at Annual Town Meeting in spring '81. The Conservation commission discussed this matter further and agreed that the more carefully considered approach to be the better one. 1942 Zoning Map The chairman has received a report that the Town Clerk has a copy of the 1942 Zoning Map which has been retrieved from some- body's garage sale. This map is reportedly not in very good condition. The secretary was instructed to see if the Planning Board could have this map so that they could have it restored or a. mylar made from this copy as it is supposedly the only copy of the 142 Zoning Map in the Town. The 1942 Zoning Map is the basis of all zoning maps since that time. -4- Synopsis on South Main Street by Ellen Childress September 4, 1980 From the TAMS report of 1976, the follwoing intersections on Main Street were the most dangerous (1976)° 1) Main Street-Charles Street 2) Main Street-Ash Street, Bolton Street 3) Main Street-Summer Avenue 4) Main Street-Pearl Street-Mill'-Street 5) Main Street-Washington Street I also looked at the information on South Street (where TASC would cause increased traffic) and at the time it was felt that only a warning signal could be used. Listing improvements by cost'was more difficult because it is broken down into parts and I realized the figures would be out of date. The TAMMS report dealth only with Main Street and I think that it would be helpful to know what other intersections have a high rate of accidents or particularly dangerous accidents. There- fore,,I requested an update of accidents statistics for the above intersections and also which intersection had 3 or more accidents or fatalities. After being referred.from one party to another the chief wishes for the reque=st for statistics to go through the Selectmen. However, I dial gain the following:u TASC has requested through the police, a light at South Street and a light at Summer Ave. The. State has no money for lights so if they are installed they must come from the Town pocket (Guess about $50--60,000) [How much.will the new building bring in taxes?] Accident statistics are kept on a State computer and because of the above request some of this stuff has been pulled already. I called the registry of Motor Vehicles and their official opinion is that those records are public information as long as no names are requested. They are available. from the.Mass. DPW Traffic Engineering Division (727-7246). Good Luck Ellen