HomeMy WebLinkAbout2008-07-14 Community Planning and Development Commission MinutesTown of Reading
16 Lowell Street
Reading, MA 01867-2683
Phone: 781-942-6612
Fax: 781-942-9071
Email: ckowalski@ci.reading.ma.us
Community Planning and Development Commission
CPDC MINUTES
Meeting Dated: July 1
Location: Selectmen's
Members Present: David Tut
(BB); John Sasso (JS), and J
2008
Rool'_Town Half Time:
(DT);'Ehairman; Nicholas Salina s); Seeretary;
7:13 0 PM
Ballantyne,
Also Present: Abigail McCabe (AM), Staff Planner; and Michael Schloth, Recording Secretary.
Ms. Sharon Petersen (EDC Member), 25 Holly Road
Attorney Brad Latham of Latham, Latham, & Lamond, P.C., 643 Main Street
Mr. Al Couillard
There being a quorum the Chair called the meeting to order at 7:40 PM.
John Sasso informed the Board he would be abstaining from all votes because his prior term had
expired and he had not yet been sworn in as a Board Member under his current term.
Public Comment
Attorney Brad Latham informed the Board he would soon be submitting an application on behalf of
his client Austin Preparatory School requesting the Board approve a Site Plan Review Waiver for
plans to add a net 48 parking spaces to various locations around the campus. Austin Prep is
requesting a waiver because the site had undergone a full Site Plan Review within the past five years.
Mr. Latham expected the application would be on the Board's next meeting's agenda (7/28/08).
The Board's only direction to Mr. Latham was to remind him to have the Fire Department review the
plans.
Site Plan Review Waiver: 51 Symonds Way
Burbank Ice Arena
Applicant proposes to add locker-rooms increasing the footprint of the arena by apprx. 1,400 sq. ft.
The recording secretary said the abutters had been mailed notice of the meeting.
JS noted the applicant's request for a waiver is justified because the modifications do not constitute a
change of use.
There were no comments from the public.
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CPDC Minutes of 7/14/08
The consensus of the Board was to add a condition requiring the Town Engineer and Conservation
Commission review the plans.
BB moved the Board approve the Site Plan Review Waiver for the 1400 sq. ft. addition to the
Burbank Ice Arena as shown in the submitted, undated plans with the following condition:
The plans are to be reviewed to the satisfaction of both the Town Engineer and the Conservation
Commission for compliance with stormwater and wetlands regulations respectively.
NS seconded.
Voted Approved: 3:0:1 (JS abstained and JW had not yet arrived).
JW arrived and took his seat with the Board.
ANR (Approval Not Required): 186 Van Norden Road
Mr. Al Coulliard appeared for 186 VanNorden Road.
This was an ANR for the purpose of subdividing a lot.
The Board noted for the record that although the lot is able to be subdivided the created lots are not
necessarily buildable.
BB moved the Board endorse the ANR plans for 186 Van Norden Road dated 6/18/2008.
NS seconded.
Voted Endorsed: 4:0:1 (JS abstained).
The Board (with the exception of JS) signed the two mylar plans. After both plans were signed, Mr.
Coulliard was given a copy to record with the Registry of Deeds.
BB suggested the agenda item on Sailor Tom's Way be addressed out of order. DT agreed.
Sailor Tom's Way (Subdivision Forms "N" and "H")
The Board's recent approval of a Minor Modification to the subdivision plans for Sailor Tom's Way
requires the Board's signatures on Forms H and N ("Covenant Agreement" and "Conveyance of
Utility Easement" respectively)
The Board asked if their signatures needed to be notarized. AM said they did but in the past the Town
Planner had the next day vouched to a notary that she had witnessed the Board's signatures. She
would do the same tomorrow.
BB moved the Board accept and approve the updated covenant agreement as explained in a letter
from Chris Latham dated 6/23/2008 and sign Form "H" (Covenant Agreement") and Form "N"
("Conveyance of Utility Easement").
NS seconded.
Voted Approved: 4:0:1 (JS abstained)
The Board (with the exception of JS) signed Forms "H" and "N".
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CPDC Minutes of 7/14/08
Administrative Rule: Minor changes to approved signs in the Business-B zoning
district.
For signs in the Business-13 district already approved by the Board, this rule would grant the Town
Planner authority to approve changes that do not significantly alter the sign.
The rule had been submitted for review to Town Counsel who returned it with suggested changes.
The Board agreed to the changes.
JS noted this rule was created as part of the Board's continuing efforts to streamline the approval
process where possible.
Text of rule:
[QUOTE]
ADMINISTRATIVE RULE
Application for Minor Change - Approved Signs in the Business B District
Minor changes to signs in the Business B district that have already received a Certificate of
Appropriateness from the CPDC pursuant to Section 6.2.4 of the Zoning Bylaw are eligible
to receive administrative approval from the Town Planner provided that:
1) No change is proposed in the use category, for example, a new restaurant is proposed
in a former restaurant location, and
2) No changes are proposed in the type, materials, size, lighting, or audio/visual aspects
of the new sign, for example a blue awning with white letters will replace a green
awning of the same size, shape, type and materials with white letters of the same size,
shape, type and materials, and in the same sign location, and
3) No substantial change in the graphic design element is proposed, for example a single
solid-colored graphic will replace a different single, solid colored graphic. A new sign
with a multi-colored graphic replacing a solid colored graphic would require a hearing
for a new Certificate of Appropriateness, and
4) No outstanding sign or zoning violations are present and that the property is free and
clear of nonconformities that could reasonably be corrected at the same time.
If the application meets all of the above criteria, the Town Planner may issue a new
Certificate of Appropriateness. If the above criteria are not met or the Town Planner
determines that the sign change is not minor, the application will be referred to the CPDC for
a public hearing on the issuance of a new Certificate of Appropriateness in accordance with
Section 6.2.4 of the Zoning Bylaw.
Procedure:
Submittal of a written request for administrative approval accompanied by a copy of the prior
Certificate of Appropriateness, photographs of the existing sign(s), and color rendering of
proposed sign. The Town Planner will act on the written request within 21 days of receipt
[UNQUOTE]
BB moved the Board approve the use of this Administrative Rule.
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JW seconded.
Voted Approved: 4:0:1. (JS abstained).
CPDC Minutes of 7/14/08
Review of the Zoning Board of Appeal's (ZBA) Upcoming Cases
AM said there have been no new cases before the ZBA since last the Board reviewed the ZBA's
agenda.
2008 Fall Town Meeting
Bylaw Changes
After reviewing their Zoning Bylaw Priority List, the consensus of the Board was to work towards
presenting Town Meeting three separate articles:
1. Signage: clarify bylaw language where necessary
• 6.2.3.2.1: place "calendar" before "year"
• 6.2.3.2.b: minimum ground clearance of awning sign to match State Code for all awnings (i.e.
8 ft. above grade)
• When should all illuminated signs be turned off? (add as new bylaw or new definition of "Site
Lighting")
• 6.2.3.2.1: rewrite to clarify "internally illuminated" signs and "opaque" sign backgrounds
• 6.2.1.3.k: clarify "Sign Area" to.include structure to which sign is attached
• 6.3.2.2: Clarify "Awning Sign": better general definition; what constitutes its "sign area"
2. Lot Coverage: Noting "Building" is already defined, the consensus was to define Lot Coverage
as "the area of the lot covered by buildings"
• As Table of Dimensional Controls specifies residential max. coverage as 25% of lot, the
Board decided to determine how many properties would be made non-conforming by this
definition. BB said he would ask the GIS Coordinator Kim Honetschlager if she could provide
a map showing what properties would be made non-conforming
3. Errata/typo/numbering changes: The Board requests the Town or Staff Planner provide a list of
all such changes.
• Renumbering of Section 4 of the Zoning Bylaws (left from what was begun with the passage
of Article 7 at the Special Town Meeting on 6/3/08)
• Single-word changes etc...
Report on South Main Street Design Guidelines
To educate Town Meeting and general public on their ideas for South Main the Board decided to
present a report to Town Meeting.
Assignments:
• JS: Outline and executive summary
• JW: Signage and lighting
• BB: Landscaping, stormwater drainage (large grade changes), and amenities (benches etc...)
• NS: pull together Downtown's guidelines and re-purpose them for South Main (scale,
materials...). Board of Selectmen want downtown's improvements replicated on South Main
where possible and applicable.
• GK: Access and parking (shared curb-cuts and parking, connected rear lots, unbalanced side-
setbacks)
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• NS and GK together: Massing
CPDC Minutes of 7/14/08
Sustainable Design would also be a section of the guidelines and the Board would use "Cities for
Climate Change" as a resource.
The Board decided to schedule a Planning Subcommittee Meeting for Monday, August 4 at 7:30pm
for further discussion of both the Town Meeting items (bylaw changes and report on South Main) and
the South Main Street Design Guidelines.
Downtown 40R Smart Growth District
AM said the consultants were looking for feedback on their 6/2/08 presentation from the Board. The
Board's response was they had already given all the work they had done and NS had compiled on
guidelines for the downtown 40R to the consultants prior to their presentation and if the consultants
have further expectations the Board would be happy to provide what help they can but requests the
consultants be more specific as to what help they would like the Board to provide.
JW said he would like to know how the consultants intended to coordinate their development ideas
with the parking needs of the downtown. The Board agreed but noted the Parking Consultant for the
Downtown 40R had not yet been hired.
BB reminded the Board of what Mr. Talbot had said at the presentation: with an increase of approx.
500 units in the downtown, the increased traffic alone would become a much greater problem. The
Board agreed.
The Board requested a draft set of the consultants' design guidelines for the downtown as soon as it
was available.
BB moved to adjourn.
JW seconded.
Voted Adjourned: 4:0:1 (JS abstained).
The meeting adjourned at 9:10 PM.
These minutes were prepared by Michael Schloth and submitted to the CPDC on July 28, 2008; these
minutes were approved as amended by the CPDC on July 28, 2008.
Signed as approved,
Nicholas SafirL -S crew 7
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