HomeMy WebLinkAbout2008-07-08 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
Planning Subcommitt
Meeting Dated: July 8,1 2008
Location: Conference Room Town] Time= 7:30 PM
Members Present: David Tutt e (DT-);"'Chairma'n; B°rant Ballantyne ~lIB~ -John' Sass (JS)
Members Absent: Nicholas Safina (NS), and John Weston (JW)
Associate Members Present: George Katsoufis (GK)
Also Present: Carol Kowalski, Town Planner; Abigail McCabe, Staff Planner; and Michael Schloth,
Recording Secretary.
There being a quorum the Chair called the meeting to order at 7:30 PM
Planning Workshop: South Main Street
Planning & Design Guidelines
The consensus of the Board was to divide the business areas of South Main into two neighborhoods:
South Street to Summer Avenue and Summer Avenue to Minot Street. Their rationale being that the
two areas are naturally divided by the steep change in grade and the cluster of residential units
between Summer Avenue and Cross Street.
CK presented detailed maps of the neighborhoods created by GIS Administrator Kim Honetschlager.
The Board had asked for the maps to be created to help them better to see the relationships among the
location of current South Main commercial zoning, the parcels lining South Main Street, and the
abutting residential parcels.
Selectman Tafoya said it was the consensus of the Board of Selectmen to replicate the pedestrian-
friendly streetscape of the Downtown along South Main. Today, there is too much asphalt on either
side of the South Main corridor. Better sidewalks are needed with trees, tree lawns and benches.
The Board decided some guidelines would be common to both neighborhoods (sidewalks, benches,
lighting, landscape...) but others (building heights, setbacks...) may be specific to a particular section
of South Main:
South to Summer: The consensus was to move buildings closer to Main Street and place parking
behind them (following the PUD-B overlay bylaw [4.9.7.4.2.b &.c])
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Summer to Minot: The consensus was to consider a variety of access, setback, and parking layouts.
GK recommended the Board first decide on what the character of South Main should be. He
suggested considering other cross-sections, for example, reducing the number of lanes to three,
adding a bike-lane... This led to a discussion of "Complete Streets" and how accommodating Mass
Hiway would be to changing the cross-section of Main Street. DT noted the State's right-of-way is
wider than the roadway and the State has an initiative favoring "Complete Streets". [Complete Streets
have some or all of the following features. Sidewalks, bicycle lanes, wide shoulders, crossing islands,
many well-placed, well-designed crosswalks, reduction of curb-cuts, street trees...] Selectman
Tafoya asked if the State needed the extra width. CK said she would investigate how much of the
right-of way the State might allow the Town to work with.
Other items discussed:
• Incentives to parcel owners to develop parcels with the town's vision in mind rather than a
particular tenant's.
• Widening one of the two side-yards of a parcel (shallower side setback) to encourage access
to rear of buildings.
• Shared parking.
• Shared backyards: connecting rear parking lots of adjacent parcels.
• Fewer curb-cuts.
CK cautioned the Board some of what they are considering as design guidelines is not allowed under
current zoning. The Board does not want to be in the position of presenting guidelines for designs
zoning does not allow. She suggested the Board may want to consider form-based zoning in some
areas. Form-based zoning places controls on the physical form of a design rather than on land-use.
The consensus of the Board was they should have guidelines in place first. CK suggested proceeding
with guidelines and zoning changes along parallel tracks but emphasizing guidelines now. The Board
agreed.
Conclusions
Regarding changing the cross-section of South Main Street, the consensus of the Board was it would
be a long and involved process to reach an accommodation with Mass Hiway and further discussion
along those lines should be postponed until design guidelines are in place.
Regarding design guidelines, the Board decided their next step should be to work on language for
pedestrian pathways, sidewalks, tree lawns, trees, benches, lighting, pavers, etc...The Board agreed
they still need to discuss and reach a consensus on the issues of access, setbacks, and parking but to
get started they decided they should focus on items with fewer zoning complications and an
immediate visual impact.
BB said he would email the Board his outline of what guidelines from other towns he liked.
The Board directed CK to ask the Tree Warden specifics regarding tree lawns, tree grates, etc...
CK said she would summarize the Board's design goals.
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BB asked CK to make further discussion of South Main Street's design guidelines an item on the next
meeting's agenda [meeting of 6/23/08].
Administrative Rule
CK said she had not yet made the requested changes to the Board's administrative rule that would
grant her the authority to issue Signage Certificates of Appropriateness for minor changes to awnings.
She said she would discuss the Board's changes with Town Counsel before the next meeting. If Town
Counsel approves the changes, the Board could formally adopt the rule at the next meeting.
BB moved to adjourn.
JS seconded.
Voted Adjourned: 3:0:0
The meeting adjourned at 9:15 PM.
These minutes were prepared by Michael Schloth and submitted to the CPDC on June 23, 2008; these
minutes were approved as amended by the CPDC on June 23, 2008.
Signed as approved,
Nicholas Safiu~ ~ cret
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