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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2010-11-01 Community Planning and Development Commission MinutesTown of Reading 16 Lowell Street . O t ~ ~'L E f Reading, MA 01867-2683 TOWN c~~ c Phone: 781-942-6612 r 1 , t~ J J Fax: 781-942-9071 Email: jdelios@ci.reading.ma.us Z09~ JUN 21 Q 0 52, Community Planning and Development Commission CPDC MINUTES Meeting Dated: November 1, 2010 Location: Selectmen's Meeting Room Time: 7:30 PM Members Present: John Weston (JW), Chairman; Joseph Patterson (JP), Secretary; David Tuttle (DT); and Nicholas Safina (NS). Associate Members present: George Katsouhs (GK) Members Absent: Paul Bolger (PB) Also Present: Jean Delios (JD), Town Planner; and Michael Schloth (MS), Recording Secretary. Ms. Virginia Adams, 59 Azalea Circle, member of the Historical Commission Ms. Christine Brungardt, 324 South Street __.,,Mr. Joe D'Alessio, 58 Curtis Street Mr. Anthony D'Arezzo, 130 John Street Mr. Doug Malone, 149 Walnut Street Ms. Stephanie Malone, 149 Walnut Street Mr. Paul McCarthy, 287 South Street Ms. Joan Neary, 355 South Street Mr. Tim O'Connor, 96 Curtis Street Ms. Krista Pierce Mr. Andrew Pywell, 46 Walnut Street Mr. Mark Schneider, 337 South Street Ms. Molly Thornton, 291 South Street Ms. Diane A. Weggel, 277 South Street Mr. Reid Blute, representative of Pulte Homes Mr. Mark Mastroianni, representative of Pulte Homes Mr. Mike Rosati, Engineer, associated with Pulte Homes There being a quorum 'the Chair called the meeting to order at 7:30 PM. Public Hearing: Modification to a property on a Scenic Road 46 Walnut Street Owners Andrew and Merritt Pywell had submitted a request for approval to widen their driveway to align it better with their garage. The curbcut would be shifted with no change in width. Andrew Pywell was present. The Town Planner reported that the Conservation Commission had issued an Order of Conditions on the proposed garage and driveway changes; the Tree Warden had no issues with the proposal; and the Town Engineer had written a memo dated 11/1/2010 detailing how the applicant must construct the driveway. Page 1 of 5 CPDC Minutes of 11/1/2010 Ms. Virginia Adams of the Historic Commission reported the changes would have no adverse effect on any historic properties. There was no other public comment. DT moved the Board approve the draft decision for the alterations to the Scenic Road at 46 Walnut Street conditioned on the Town Engineer's memo of the 11/112010 and the Conservation Commission's Order of Conditions. NS seconded and the motion carried 4:0:0. Discussion: Presentation of proposal to redevelop One Jacob Way Reid Blute, Mark Mastroianni, and Mike Rosati of Pulte Homes were present to discuss conceptual plans for the redevelopment of the former Addison-Wesley property into occupant-owned flats and townhouses. The Town Planner emphasized that tonight the CPDC was not reviewing a formal application from Pulte Homes and provided some background. Town Staff had met with Mr. Blute and his associates for a preliminary Design Review Team (DRT) meeting on 10/14/2010 and the notes of that meeting had been distributed to the Board. When Pulte Homes's plans are more fully developed another DRT will be scheduled and based on feedback from that meeting Pulte would make a formal application for site plan review to the CPDC. The deadline for a project to have started under the 40R Gateway Smart Growth District (GSGD) is June 3, 2011. If a project has not started by that date, the town would have to return an approximately $300,000.00 incentive payment to the State. NS noted that even pulling a permit to 'demolish one of the existing structures would qualify as having started a project. Mr. Blute summarized the proposal. All units would be occupant-owned; no units would be rental. The northeast quadrant "A" would contain 16 townhouses (4 buildings of 4 units) with garages. The northwest quadrant "B" would contain two four-story buildings for a total of 86 senior housing units. The southwest quadrant "C" is the GSGD and would contain four four-story buildings of 50 units each, 200 units total (20% would be affordable units). The southeast quadrant "D" would contain three four- story buildings for a total of 122 senior housing units. Mr. Blute noted that approximately 50% of the parking spaces would be located under the buildings and emphasized that site would be very walkable with pedestrian walkways throughout the site. Construction would be phased over a number of years and driven by market conditions. Pulte's goal is to complete the 40R GSGD section first (quadrant "C"). Mr. Blute informed the Board that, to date, Pulte Homes' representatives had met twice with abutters, once with the Board of Selectmen, and once with Town Staff (pre-DRT). Mr. Mastroianni summarized what comes next: they expect to have plans ready for a formal application within 60 days. They hope to begin demolition late winter or early spring 2011 and break ground in spring 2011. The Board noted that the Smart Growth district requires a separate application. JW asked if the MEPA (Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act) certificate obtained based on the prior proposed project (National Development's) would be transferred to this project or would Pulte Homes ,have to go through the application process again. Mr. Blute said that issue was under review and added that an updated traffic study would be conducted and roadway and intersection changes would be based on it. Page 2 of 5 CPDC Minutes of 11/1/2010 %NS asked if there would be rental restrictions on the condominium owners. Mr. Blute replied that homeowner rights cannot be restricted but the Homeowner Association document can specify guidelines on short-term leases. NS asked if the parking under the buildings would be below grade as shown in the submitted.building renderings. He emphasized that the formal application should show what the buildings would actually look like. Mr. Blute said the grading plans were not yet complete. GK reminded the Board that when National Development made its proposal there was an expectation that there would be more mixed-use and that the southeast district (quadrant "D") would contain a non- residential use. He expressed concern over the proximity, scale and number of buildings proposed and noted that although the town would have some control over the design of those buildings within the GSGD quadrant (through the GSGD's design guidelines), he asked what if any control the town would have on the buildings in the other quadrants. Also, would the town have any control over site features, topography, etc. The Board noted that there are no-build setbacks, buffer zones, and height restrictions in place across the entire site. Public Comment Some abutters expressed concern that the proposed pedestrian access to South Street may disrupt their neighborhood. Mr. Mastroianni noted that a key feature of the Development Agreement is to provide public access to the surrounding neighborhood. He also noted that each individual abutter's property :would be reviewed with regards to meeting the abutter's buffer needs. Joan Neary of 355 South Street also expressed concern over the size, proximity, and style of the buildings. Tim O'Connor of 96 Curtis Street: noting that construction would be done in stages by quadrant, Mr. O'Connor expressed concern that at some future date Pulte Homes might decide residential units are no longer profitable and construct office or retail in one or more of the quadrants. The Board noted that such a change would have to be approved by the CPDC and possibly other Boards and Commissions. Tony D'Arezzo, 130 John Street asked if there were plans for an MBTA bus stop at the site. Mr. Blute said there were no plans for a bus stop at the present. No action was taken by the Board Request for a Minor Modification to an approved Site Plan Review Waiver 1321 Main Street The request was to be allowed to reduce both the length of the center landscaping island and proportionately the amount of landscaping on the site agreed to in the waiver. Jack Sullivan, engineer for the applicant, was present. He explained that although the Board had. approved reduced curbcut widths the Massachusetts Department of Transportation has repeatedly rejected his client's request to reduce the widths. In fact, the Mass DOT has determined the curbcut must be approximately 80 feet wide which .is wider than they are today. The only way to widen the curbcut is to reduce the island. The applicant 'still intends to repave and restripe the parking lot and add what landscaping he can. Page 3 of 5 CPDC Minutes of 11%1/2010 The Board was unanimous in condemning the Department of Transportation's decision noting that wider curbcuts would only encourage customers to enter the parking lot at speed. DT moved the Board determine the proposed modification to the approved site plan review waiver is a minor modification. JP seconded and the motion carried 4:0:0. DT moved the Board approve the minor modification as specified in the request dated 1012112010. JP seconded and the motion carried 4:0:0. Other Business: Scenic Road procedures: 149 Walnut Street Doug Malone, owner of 149 Walnut Street was present. The Town Planner reported that the owner had removed a large tree on his property at 149 Walnut Street which is a property on a scenic way without contacting the CPDC first. It was subsequently determined by the Engineering Division that none of the trees were in the public right-of-way. However, the situation brought to her attention that residents of scenic roads may not be aware 1) that they live on a scenic road; and 2) what responsibilities that places on them. She suggested the Board approve the drafting of a letter to be sent from the CPDC to all residents living on scenic ways making them aware of these two points. The Board agreed. OT moved the Board recommend the distribution of such a letter to all residents of scenic roads.JP -seconded and the motion carried 4:0:0. The Town Planner also noted that because the trees were near wetlands, the owner had sought and received permission from the Conservation Commission to remove them. In the future, anytime the Conservation Commission reviews work on a Scenic Way, the CPDC would be notified. ZBA Case Review: 107 Main Street, Sam's Bistro The owner of Sam's Bistro wants to develop an area behind the restaurant for employee parking. This has been denied by the building inspector on the basis that it does not meet required setbacks. The owner is going to the Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) to appeal the building inspector's decision and also to request a variance, and a special permit to be allowed to develop the area in question. The Town Planner has drafted a memo from the CPDC to the ZBA outlining the points where the site as-built deviates from what the CPDC approved and suggesting that instead of increasing the pavement into a buffer zone the owner should revisit the possibility of shared parking. The Board approved the memo with some changes: the memo should note that the site plan as presented is both problematic and highlights the other deficiencies of the site. Updates: 285 Main Street, Perfecto's Cafe The Town Planner reported that the long-delayed project may soon start moving forward. A long outstanding issue with the project is that the CPDC is still waiting for a lighting plan and a signage plan. Regarding the signage, Perfecto's still claims the entire sign is their logo and therefore may be internally `illuminated with none of the sign area opaque. The Board was unanimous in its opinion that Perfecto's 'be told that if it wants to internally illuminate the sign, then light must shine through only: the letters, the pastry graphic, and the muffin graphic. All other parts of the sign area must be opaque. Page.4 of 5 CPDC Minutes of 11/1/2010 Minutes: NS moved the Board approve the minutes of 81912010 as amended. DT seconded and the motion carried 4:0:0. DT moved the Board approve the minutes of 812312010 as amended. JP seconded and the motion carried 4: 0:0. DT moved to adjourn. The motion was seconded and carried 4:0:0. The meeting adjourned at 10:30 PM. These minutes were prepared by Michael Schloth and submitted to the CPDC on November 29, 2010; these minutes were approved as amended by the CPDC on November 29, 2010. Signed as approved, 1-7 ZQ Jo Weston, Chairman Date Page 5 of 5