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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1979-05-14 Planning Board Minutes86 decided not to amend this motion to include a minimum price. Article 43 - The main motion, adopted by the prior Planning Board, was reviewed. Mr. Mayerson was requested to supply J. Zorabedian with back up information from the files. Correspondence Bills for Town Counsel received from the Board of Selectmen were approved. Flood Insurance Program A memo summarizing the program and current issues was distri- buted, discussed and then tabled until the next meeting. On a motion duly made and seconded, the meeting was adjourned at 7:30 P.M. Respectfully submitted,- Johrk 12d`rAbedian, Nr,. Minutes of the Meeting of Ma`s, 1979.. Chairman Sturm convened the meeting in the first floor teachers' room at Parker Junior High School at 7:02.P.M. with G. Paynter, J. Zorabedian, P. Andrus and B. Mitchel present. Minutes The minutes of the meeting of April .30,.1979 were approved unanimously. Flood Insurance Program A draft statement to Town Meeting regarding the necessity of a zoning map change was distributed and discussed. Mr. Mayerson was requested to prepare a letter to the Board of Selectmen supporting the program,_ but also expressing the members' concern about future changes; and a revised statement including a reference to Town Meeting's earlier adoption of the program and listing some of its benefits, both for review at the next meeting. Annual Town Meeting - Issues and.Assignments Pending Articles were discussed and assignments made as follows: Article 43 - Town Hall and Library It was decided to attempt to have Article. 43 discussed and voted on prior to the Articles relating to the sale of the The Board recesged to Room 17 at 7x57.M, Reading Center Plan Public Meetin At 8:00 P.M. Chairman. Sturm convened a public meeting on the Reading Center Plan. Thirty-five citizens were in attendance. The Chairman introduced the members and then presented and explained the 13 policy proposals which make up the Plan. 35mm slides and an overhead projectorwere used to supplement the Chairman's presentation. Key issues raised and discussed by participants at the meeting included: I. - Priorities - A. - Preservation of historical character of Woburn Street - low B. - More parking - high C. - Ease traffic flow - high D. - Preserve existing parking - high E. - Mall concept - lukewarm F. - Pedestrian safety high G. - Access by emergency vehicles - high - H. - Alternate transportation lukewarm I. - Reduce thru traffic on Main, Lowell and Salem Streets J. - Peripheral, parking vs decentralized parking - lukewarm K. - Require commercial establishment to accept larger portion of parking burden - high L. - Depot parking relocation - lukewarm II. - Specific objections and/or Concerns A. - Taking of "residential" land vs "commercial" land B. - Concentration of traffic flows on Main and Salem Streets C. - Loss of storefront parking D. - Enforcement of parking, pedestrian, one-way and other regulations The meeting was recessed at 10:15 P.M. and reconvened in Room 19 to continue discussion of agenda items. Annual Town Meeting Positions were decided upon and assignments of presentations were made, as-follows: Article 2 - Reading Center Plan Progress Report It was decided that the Reading Center Plan presentation by Mr. Sturm should be a voice-over slide show including an overview of the 'Central Loop' street system, but without dwelling on details of the implementation measures. Article 9 - Budget The Annual Report will be given by Mr. Sturm as part of the budget presentation after he makes the main motion, and cite key points from FY80 Staff Work Program. Article 16 - New Fire Station. The members voted to adopt the April 9, 1979 draft as the position of the Board. Mr. Sturm will present the Board's position. 8 Article. 19 public TranSporation Service Mr. Mayerson reported that the Finance Committee will not recommend the $135,000 appropriation requested. After some discussion, including amending the main motion to strike everything except the portion of the Article which calls for more study, the Board decided to defer action on this subject until the Article was presented, and more information became available. Mr. Sturm will present whatever position the Board later decides upon. Articles 22 and 23 - Lowell Street School The members decided to neitherpostpone Article 22 nor strike the phrase "with priority of purchase given to a provider of subsidized housing for the elderly to meet local needs". Article 23 without the anticipated amendments by the Finance Committee was viewed as the fall-back position in the event Article 22 does not pass. B. Mitchel will -make the procedural and main motions as well as the presentations of Article 22 and Article 23. Article 24 - ProspectStreet School The Board voted not to recommend this Article becauseof pending studies on recreation and, its possible need in connection with the Board's Community Center.-Town Hall-Library proposal. Mr. Mitchel will present the Board's position. Articles 38 and 39 - Non-conforming Lots Mr. Mayerson advised the members that Town Counsel had ruled that their latitude in amending either Article at this stage in the proceedings was confined to making one of the proposals more restrictive. Further consideration of the Board's posi- tion was tabled until the next meeting. Planning Board Schedule The Board decided to hold a meeting on Monday, May 7th at 7:30 P.M. at the high school to preview Town Meeting presentations. Mr. Mayerson was requested to make the necessary arrangements. On a motion duly made and seconded, the meeting was adjourned at 11:35 P.M. Respectfully submitted,