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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2010-10-18 Community Planning and Development Commission MinutesTown of Reading RECEIvEo 16 Lowell Street TOWN, CLERK Reading, MA 01867-2683 R E A D IN, G, M A S S. Phone: 781-942-6612 Fax: 781-942-9071 11 JUN r~ P 12C~ ^ , Email: jdelios@ci.readmg.ma.us d I t Community Planning and Development Commission CPDC MINUTES Meeting Dated: October 18, 2010 Location: Selectmen's Meeting Room Time: 7:30 PM Members Present: John Weston (JW), Chairman; David Tuttle (DT); and Paul Bolger (PB). Members Absent: Joseph Patterson (JP), Secretary; and Nicholas Safina (NS) Also Present: Jean Delios (JD), Town Planner; Abigail McCabe (AM), Staff Planner; and Michael Schloth (MS), Recording Secretary. Ms. Michelle Williams, 31 Melbourne Ave Economic Development Committee (EDC) Ms. Krista Pierce Ms. Nancy Twomey, 23 California Road Ms. Megan Young, 40 Oak Street, Economic Development Committee (EDC) Mr. Anthony D'Arezzo, 130 John Street Mr. John Douglass, 25 Sanborn Street Mr. John Douglass II, 46 Bainbridge Road Mr. William F. Crowley, 42 Locust Street Mr. William Childress, 105 Green Street Ms. Ellen Childress, 105 Green Street ,Mr. Charles Gray, 431 Main Street There being a quorum the Chair called the meeting to order at 7:30 PM. Public Hearing: Proposed Zoning Amendment 6.3.3.1 Nonconforming Structures The Chair opened the public hearing. DT read the legal notice. This amendment, known as Article 22, concerned only a typographical change to a zoning amendment approved last spring: it inserts the word «not DT moved the CPDC recommend the content Article 22 for approval by Subsequent Town Meeting. PB seconded and the motion was carried 3:0:0. DT moved the public hearing for the discussion of amendments to Section 6.3.3.1 of the zoning by- laws be closed. PB seconded and the motion was carried 3:0:0. Public Hearing: Proposed Zoning Amendment 6.2 Signage The Chair opened the public hearing. DT read the legal notice. The amendments would be presented to Subsequent Town Meeting as Articles 18 through 21. The Board reviewed the articles with the aide of a Powerpoint presentation created by the Planning Division. Page 1 of 5 CPDC Minutes of 10/18/2010 Article 18: this amendment allows for the application of a special permit for freestanding signs that don't meet the twenty foot side-setback. The Chair asked for public comment. Mr. William Crowley presented the case of someone owning two adjacent lots with the freestanding sign of a business on one of the lots within the 20 foot side-setback. If the second lot is sold to another business, would it be disqualified from using this amendment or would the existing sign be forced to comply with the setback? The Board responded that through the special permit process it would be able to add conditions to suite the particular site. Mr. Crowley asked if the Board had considered the economic impact on property owners for relocating a sign. The Board noted that as the by-laws are now written an owner of a non-conforming sign must relocate it. Through the addition of the special permit language, this amendment would offer that owner the possibility of not having to relocate the sign. DT moved the CPDC recommend the content of Article 18 for approval by Subsequent Town Meeting. PB seconded and the motion was carried 3:0:0. Article 19: this amendment allows for freestanding signs in the Business-B and residential districts through the application of a special permit. It also reduces the height and surface area of the signs to 14 feet and 35 square feet respectively. There was much public comment on this article. Someone in the audience noted that the language "40 feet from the centerline of the street" was not precise enough since the road layout does not always match the legal right-of-way. Mr. Crowley agreed and suggested footnote "J" containing the language be struck from the amendment. He pointed out that the Board would still have the ability to grant a special permit on a site-by-site basis. Douglass Funeral Home's freestanding sign was used by Mr. Crowley, Megan Tafoya, and Michelle Williams as an example of a sign that has stood unobtrusively for many years but probably did not meet the 40 foot requirement. They suggested language should be added either grandfathering or exempting it outright (two other similar signs - in age and unobtrusiveness - were mentioned). Mr. Tony D'Arezzo noted that part of the problem is that enforcement of the existing sign by-laws has been lax for many years. He applauded the CPDC's efforts to accommodate existing signs and added he too agreed the signs in question should be grandfathered. The Board was unanimous in its opposition to grandfathering particular signs but it did agree there are valid reasons for exempting long existing signs. The Town Planner suggested adding to footnote "J" the following language. "The CPDC may waive the 40-foot business entrance setback requirement for signs existing as of the effective date of this amendment" or words to that effect. DT so moved. PB seconded and the motion carried 3:0:0. DT moved the CPDC recommend the content of Article 19 as amended for approval by Subsequent Town Meeting. PB seconded and the motion was carried 3:0:0. Article 20: this amendment removes the requirement that address numbers must be on signs. It also specifies the minimum ground clearance of flags over sidewalks, walkways, etc. in business and industrial districts. The public had no comment. DT moved the CPDC recommend the content of Article 20 for approval by Subsequent Town Meeting. PB seconded and the motion was carried 3:0:0. " Article 21: this amendment allows businesses in single tenant buildings in the Business-A district to have a second sign of a different type (i.e. wall sign and freestanding) as long as the second sign,does not exceed 8 square feet in area. The Board agreed a minor change should be made to the language: the Page 2 of 5 CPDC Minutes of 10/18/2010 word "smaller" should be added before "second sign". Ms. Young thanked the Board for placing this particular article before town meeting. There was no other public comment on this article. DT moved the CPDC recommend the content of Article 21 for approval by Subsequent Town Meeting. PB seconded and the motion was carried 3:0:0. DT moved the public hearing for the discussion of amendments to Section 6.2 of the zoning by-laws be closed. PB seconded and the motion was carried 3:0:0. Meghan Young. noted that the Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) had issued variances on signage to businesses in the Planned Unit Development (PUD) districts and asked if the CPDC would suggest that such variances might be a course some businesses should pursue. The CPDC stated it does not have the ability to grant variances, has little desire to increase the number of signs in the town, and would prefer the ZBA not grant signage variances but instead allow requests for specific site signage to be put before the CPDC which, if tonight's amendments pass, possibly may be done through special permits. Ms. Young asked if the Board had considered changing the size of real estate signs. The Town Planner noted there may be a need for allowing exemptions for particular short-duration signs (e.g. "Coming Soon") but it should be a discussion for a future town meeting. Ms. Young said the EDC may have something for the CPDC to consider on this issue before the next town meeting. Ms. Young asked how sign permits issued in error would be handled. The Chair noted that if the error falls under what could be allowed for through a signage special-permit then the Board could take that into consideration during its review. Otherwise, the Board and the offending sign's owner must abide by the existing by-laws. Request for Waiver from Site Plan Review 1 General Way, The Wine Bunker Appearing for the Wine Bunker was Mr. Ken Hysack. Appearing for Danis Properties was Ms. Jody Heyward. Mr. Hysack explained a tenant fit-up would be performed on roughly 7300 square feet of interior space. The door will be made a double-door and windows will be exposed which were previously covered. In the ensuing discussion the Board determined there were no issues with handicapped access, lighting, signage, or parking spaces. The Town Planner then noted that the Board of Selectmen, in its review of the Wine Bunker's liquor license, had mentioned a restriction on the window` treatment: the windows must provide visibility to the whole retail area. The CPDC had no issue with the window treatment as presented but was uncomfortable approving plans on which another Board had placed conditions. DT moved the CPDC approve the request for a waiver from site plan review for the work proposed by The Wine Bunker, at One General Way on the condition that the plans as presented are acceptable to the Board of Selectmen. On further reflection, the CPDC decided it had no basis in zoning for withholding the approval. The Board unanimously agreed to a friendly amendment presented by DT to strike the condition that the applicant first obtain approval of the plans from the Board of Selectmen. PB seconded the amended motion and it was carried 3:0:0. Page 3 of 5 _ CPDC Minutes of 10/18/2010 The Board noted for the record that this waiver request had revealed the need for some way to keep all Boards and Committees apprised of each others actions as an applicant moves through the various approval processes. Approval Not Required (ANR) Causeway Road The Staff Planner informed the Board that this was not ready for its review. Other Business: Approval of Minutes DT moved that the Board approve the minutes of 911312010 as amended tonight. JW seconded and the motion was carried 3:0:0. The Board decided to postpone the review of the other sets of minutes (8/8, 8/23, 8/30, and 10/4) until such time as more of the members present at those meetings were present. Updates The Economic Development Committee (EDC) Summit has been cancelled and tentatively rescheduled for the night of 11/16/2010 at the Senior Center. Addison-Wesley Site: A developer is interested in adding over 400 residential rental units. More information to follow. 107 Main Street, Sam's Bistro: Members of Town Staff are scheduled to meet with the owner of Sam's Bistro to discuss discrepancies between the plans approved by the CPDC and the as-built plans. The owner is also scheduled to appear before the Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) for relief to expand into the area to the rear of his property that extends into the buffer and residential zone. The Town Planner expects the site will be back before the CPDC in the near future. 1349 Main Street, Elite Karate: The owner is scheduled to appear before the ZBA to be allowed to place a second wall sign on its building. The Chair noted the CPDC had written a memo on this. 1321 Main Street, Reading House of Pizza: Mass. Highway has decided the curbcuts must be significantly wider than the town, the CPDC, or the owner of the site would like. The Board was unanimous in condemning Mass Highway's decision noting that wider curbcuts would only encourage customers to enter the parking lot at speed. 285 Main Street: This is the future site of Perfecto's Cafe. The Fire Department may fine the site's owner if proper disposal procedures are not started on the buried tanks discovered while investigating the feasibility of using the existing foundation. Numerous business openings: Sammy Jo's Bakery, Oye's Restaurant, Grumpy Doyles's, Em*Belle*ish Hair Salon, and The Salon on Haven Page 4 of 5. CPDC Minutes of 10/18/2010 Administrative. The Town Planner suggested cancelling next Monday's meeting (10/25/2010) as there is nothing on the agenda. The Board agreed. DT moved that the Board cancel the meeting of 1012512010. PB seconded and the motion was carried 3:0:0. PB moved to adjourn. The motion was seconded and carried 3:0:0. The meeting adjourned at 10:30 PM. These minutes were prepared by Michael Schloth and submitted to the CPDC on 12/13/ 2010; these minutes were approved as amended by the CPDC on 12/13/2010. Signed as approved, John Weston, Chairman Date Page 5 of 5