HomeMy WebLinkAbout1984-12-10 Planning Board MinutesMinutes of the Planning Board Meeting of December 10. 1984.
Chairman Rich called the meeting to roder at 7:30 P.M. in the
first floor meeting room of the Old Library building, 6 Lowell
Street with Board members J. Wood and B. Mitchel present. Also
present was Reading Chronicle reporter, Mark Pillsbury.
Correspondence
The Board reviewed a letter from 0. Bradley Latham, Esq.,
regarding the petition by Edward Callan before the Zoning Board
of Appeals for a variance to allow an access roadway over
residential land on West Street, Reading to adjacent industrial
land in Wilmington/Woburn. Board will consider this request for
an informational meeting with the petitioner and Mr. Latham later
in the meeting.
Instruction to forward a copy of the Dundee/Woburn notice to the
Hazardous Waste Committee was given.
Finances
Bills payable were unanimously approved for payment, as
presented.
Townhouse SP in Residential S-10 District
The Board reviewed the draft by-law proposal prepared by Attorney
0. Bradley Latham regarding a special permit process to allow
townhouses to be built in residential S-10 districts. The Board
questioned the following points:
* by allowing only common walls, this by-law proposal would
only allow row houses;
* exactly who owns the land? Do you own just the building and
the common walls? Does common ownership apply to land only?
* are there public roadways to private driveways?
* Is common land set up to be a non-profit organization with
each owner's share of the common charge for maintaining the
common land equal to his share of ownership? a perpetual
restriction on each deed? failure to pay common charge
written as a lien against their real estate and having
priority over all other liens with the exception of municipal
liens and the first mortgage of record?
* density impacts - under current wording ratio would be 2:1
* impact of such dense growth on ability to service the area
with water, sewer, etc. This area has consistently had sewer
discharge problems, flooding during high water/spring rains.
* In order to develop the marginal parcels of land that are
available in town, new design layouts for roadways would have
to be established. Would Board of Survey approve such a
proposal? What impact would this have on standard
developments within town?
* market analysis of prospective buyers of these properties.
The Board then made up a list of questions to be asked of the
proposed developer in regard to this project. A copy will be
made for each Board member for the meeting, and a copy attached
to the minutes of this meeting.
Site Plan Review - Cluster Developments
Because of the absence of Board member David Devine, further
discussion on these items was deferred to a subsequent meeting.
Chairman Rich felt that the current thinking is that a cluster
zoning development by-law should be written by the Board. In
this way, the interests of all the townspeople will be protected.
By allowing piecemeal approaches to higher density developments,
it can be said that only particular interests are being served.
John Street Industrial Land
MAPC representatives will be meeting with Ms. Rich and Mr.
Ensminger of the IDC to tour the available industrial land in the
John Street area.
Water Stud
Board decided to grant permission to the water consultants to use
the Town's Zoning Maps for their research of the aquifer areas
within the town. Eventually, a by-law proposal will be written
to protect these aquifer areas.
A letter to be sent to the Union President regarding the
additional time required of the Board's administrative assistant
to cover the office was approved for release and signed by the
Chairman.
West Street Variance Request
The Board agreed to meet with Attorney Latham and Mr. Callan
regarding their request for a variance (which is currently before
the Zoning Board of Appeals) where the petitioner seeks to gain
access to industrial zoned land in Woburn and Wilmington over
residential land in Reading. This meeting was scheduled for
December 19, 1984 at 7:15-7:45 P.M.
Repetitive Petition - 46 South Street. Larrv Rice
The Board will hear the repetitive petition regarding the request
for a special permit for an accessory apartment at the
above-named address on Wednesday, December 19, 1984 at 8:00 P.M.
A copy of the notice has been sent to the abutters, posted in
Town Ball and advertised in the Reading Chronicle.
Affirmative Action
Because of the Town's non-concurrence with the State mandated
affirmative action program, this Board may not be eligible for
State grant monies that are available. We may also have a
problem with the technical assistance from MAPC.
The Board noted that in the first publication of the Selectmen's
committee on fair housing, a member of the Planning Board was to
be appointed. To date no member of this Board has been asked to
serve, nor any word heard from the Selectmen's office in this
matter.
Criterion Road Litigation
Chairman Rich reported that there has been no action on this
matter. The Board has two options to consider: allow the action
to continue or press the matter and take it to court. A final
decision in this regard will be made at the January 9, 1985
meeting.
Meeting Schedule
The following schedule for the Planning Board was approved:
12/12/84 - 7 PM, meeting with Attorney Latham and Edward
Callan;
12/19/84 - 7 PM, Board convenes,
7:15-7:45 P.M., Attorney Latham and Edward Callan;
8 PM, repetitive petition on 46 South Street,
Attorney William Wagner representing Lawrence Rice.
Further meeting schedule deferred until 12/19 meeting.
There being no further business before the Board, it was
unanimously voted to adjourn at 10:20 P.M.
Respectfully submitted,
John D. Wood, Clerk