HomeMy WebLinkAbout1983-10-04 Planning Board MinutesMinutes of the Meeting of October 4, 1983.
Chairman Messina called the meeting to order at 7:30 P.M. in
Room 19, 52 Sanborn Street (the Community Center) with Board
members B. Mitchel and C. Arthur present. Also present were
Mr. Messenger, FinCom, Ms. Nitzche, LWV, Mr. McIntyre, Ms. Wood,
Mr. Griffin, BPW.
Finanr.P.
Bills Payable in the amount of $336.47 was unanimously approved
for payment.
Board reviewed status of accounts, including Special Article
account for updating the Zoning Maps.
Correspondence
A letter from Mr. Robert Tassinari of Andover requesting a staff
position with the Planning Board was reviewed and -a response was
directed thanking him for his consideration but at present there
is no full-time planning staff.
Continental Cablevision will be broadcasting meetings of local
interest to Reading residents and the Board asked that they be
informed of the schedule for the public hearings.
The Board unanimously approved the purchase of a report from the
Planners Bookstore entitled "The Cluster Subdivision" and reviewed
the report on "The Mechanics of Sign Control", but deferred purchase
on that item.
Scenic Roads
Mr. Arthur is awaiting a response from Town Counsel regarding
liability involved in "Scenic Roads". Until such time as a
response is received, the Board deferred any further work on
the proposed "Rules and Regulations for Scenic Roads".
Mr. Bob Griffin, BPW, inquired as to what, if anything, will be
presented to Town Meeting. Chairman Messina said that the Board
had sent an article to Town Counsel for his review and the Board
was informed by him that the rules and regulations for scenic
roads is the purview of the Board, formulated to their discretion
to answer the enacted by-law. At Fall Town Meeting the Planning
Board will be presenting the formulated regulations for their review.
Ms. Wood took exception to this as Pearl Street reconstruction has
been held back awaiting action at Fall Town Meeting. The Board
informed Ms. Wood that the Pearl Street residents have not met with
any of the 3 so-designated Boards nor has an article been placed
on the Warrant by petition. Ms. Wood felt that the residents were
waiting for the regulations to be established before any action by
them. The Chairman explained that whatever action, an article
would have to be placed before Town Meeting to have Pearl Street
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considered for a "Scenic Road". Mr. Griffing said that the
point was moot and that BPW would proceed with the work as
intended.
Fall Town Meeting Warrant
Board reviewed the articles as presented pertaining to space
needs, land sales and rezoning which have been placed on the
1983 Subsequent Fall Town Meeting Warrant.
Articles dealing with zoning are:
#34 - Zoning Map date; PH scheduled for 11/1/83 @7:30 P.M.
#35 - Nursing home allowance in S20 District; PH for 11/1/83 @7:45 P.M.
#36 - Parking for nursing homes; PH for 11/1/83 to run consecutively.
Board questioned withdrawing without prejudice, Article 34. Will
check with Town Counsel to see if a public hearing must be held
even if such action is contemplated.
Mr. Messenger inquired to broadening the tax base of the Town with
additional zoning for business and/or industrial uses. Chairman
Messina explained the present function of the IDC as pertains to
the John Street land currently zoned for Industrial use. Mention
was made of the census taken in 1978 as to what way the Town should
grow and the almost unanimous concensus of the Reading residents
was to keep this a single-family residential town as much as
possible. All efforts to rezone land for higher density use have
been traditionally defeated by Town Meeting vote.
Meeting schedule - next meeting will be on Tuesday, October 11,
1983 at 7:30 P.M. in the Planning Board office. Mr. Mitchel has
been appointed to the MDC Wasterwater Pumping Station citizen
committee and will have a conflict with their scheduled meeting.
On a vote duly made and seconded, it was the unanimous vote of
the Board to adjourn at 8:45 P.M.
Respectfully submitted,
Barry J. Mitchel, Clerk
READING PLANNING BOARD