M I N U T E S
Tuesday, February 15, 2005
Mr. Christopher Hayden, Chairman, called the Tuesday, February 15, 2005 meeting of the Community Planning Commission to order at 7:31 p.m. in Room 10 of the North Reading Town Hall, 235 North Street, North Reading, MA.
MEMBERS
PRESENT: Christopher Hayden, Chairperson
Neal Rooney, Vice Chairperson
Patricia Romeo, Clerk
M. Shepard Spear
STAFF
PRESENT: Robert J. Rodgers, Planning Administrator
Debra Savarese, Administrative Assistant
CPC February 15, 2005 Page 2
Minutes
Mrs. Romeo moved, seconded by Mr. Spear and voted 4-0: (Mr. Pearce absent)
that the Community Planning Commission vote to accept the minutes of January 18, 2005.
Mrs. Romeo moved, seconded by Mr. Hayden and voted 2-0: (Mr. Rooney and Mr. Spear abstained) (Mr. Pearce absent)
that the Community Planning Commission vote to accept the minutes of February 1, 2005.
Zoning Board of Appeals
3 Bow Street – On the petition of Michael May for a special permit for a small engine repair shop in the local business district.
The Community Planning Commission supports the application provided it meets the following requirements:
1. No noise.
2. Oil and grease storage must be provided.
8 Swan Pond Road – On the petition of James Toothaker for a variance/special permit for an addition.
The Community Planning Commission was not provided with enough information regarding this request to render an informed decision.
1. No plan provided.
2. Not enough information.
1 Winthrop Street, 21 Wilson Avenue, 184 & 186 Main Street – On the petition of James Senior for Landmarks, LLC for a variance from the frontage requirement of 125’ to 90’, a variance from the side yard requirement 20’ x 25’, a variance from the required 10’ x 20’ parking space size to 9’ x 18’ and a special permit to reduce parking to 80% of normal requirement.
The Community Planning Commission requests that the Zoning Board of Appeals wait for the Community Planning Commission to complete the Site Plan Review so that all relief may be properly and specifically identified.
1 Winthrop Street, 21 Wilson Avenue, 184 & 186 Main Street – On the petition of James Senior for Landmarks, LLC for a special permit aquifer.
The Community Planning Commission requests that the Zoning Board of Appeals wait for the Community Planning Commission to complete the Site Plan Review so that all relief may be properly and specifically identified.
CPC February 15, 2005 Page 3
Olde Coach Road – ANR
Mrs. Romeo read the public hearing notice into the record.
Mrs. Romeo moved, seconded by Mr. Spear and voted 4-0: (Mr. Pearce absent)
that the Community Planning Commission vote to endorse as “Approval-Not-Required”, the plan entitled “Plan of Land in No. Reading, Mass”; dated January 25, 2005; drawn by Hayes Engineering, Inc. and that the recordable mylars be held in the Community Planning Commission office until after the applicant has completed the purchase of the property from the town.
157 Main Street – Confirmatory FPD Certificate of Compliance
Mrs. Romeo read the public hearing notice into the record.
Mrs. Romeo moved, seconded by Mr. Rooney and voted 4-0: (Mr. Pearce absent)
that the Community Planning Commission vote to endorse the Confirmatory Floodplain District Certificate of Compliance for the North Ridge condominium development located at 157 Main Street.
28 North – Definitive Subdivision – P.H. 8:00
Mrs. Romeo read the public hearing notice into the record.
Luke Roy of O’Neill Associates stated that the proposal is to create 5 residential lots on approximately 6 acres. Parcel A will be given to the town as a highway easement. There is a pre-existing house on the site. The site is zoned (RA) and 75% of the site is in the Aquifer Protection District. The grading plan shows the high points in the middle of the property, with site sloping. Two detention systems have been designed. A conventional detention pond will be placed at the rear of the property which would be fed from two areas and drain into a primary sedimentation tank and then into the pond and finally into the existing wetlands in the southeast corner of the site. The second system is proposed as a subsurface system and will be placed at the front of the property. This system will be fed by two catch basins near North Street. All systems were designed up to the 100-year storm, with little increase in run-off.
Mrs. Romeo read the Planning Administrator’s (2/9/05), School Department’s (1/27/05), Fire Department’s (1/26/05) memos and Richard Wichmann’s (2/9/05) letter into the record.
Mr. Spear read the Water Department’s (2/1/05) memo into the record.
Mr. Rooney read the Town Engineer’s (1/31/05) memo into the record.
Mr. Hayden read the Conservation Commission’s (2/15/05) memo into the record.
Mr. Hayden stated that he does not like the connection to the southeast wetland system.
CPC February 15, 2005 Page 4
Luke Roy stated that there should be no increase in the run-off.
Mrs. Romeo stated that she is concerned with the drainage.
Mr. Hayden asked why the cul-de-sac is so large?
Luke Roy stated that the right of way is 120’ and the paved diameter is 100’.
Mr. Hayden stated that the cul-de-sac should be the standard size.
Mr. Hayden asked if there were any sidewalks on North Street.
Mrs. Romeo stated that there is a sidewalk on the opposite side.
Mr. Hayden asked if there would be a way to have a sidewalk connected to Stonecleave Road with a bus stop incorporated into the plan?
Luke Roy stated that this is something that could be looked at.
Mr. Spear asked how the subsurface detention system would be maintained.
Luke Roy stated that at first a metal pipe system was proposed, after speaking to the Town Engineer, an option of doing a plastic pipe for the detention system is being investigated. Maintenance and operation are in the planning stages.
Mr. Rooney asked if the trees would be saved.
Luke Roy stated that the trees in the front area would be removed.
Mrs. Romeo stated that she is opposed to all of the trees being taken down. The trees add value to the property. The Community Planning Commission needs to implement a plan to stop the developers from taking down the trees.
James Demetri of 11 Oscars way stated that the topography is tough and proposal is too dense.
Mr. Hayden stated that lot 1 is badly designed.
Thomas Widmer of 38 North Street stated that the location of the new street intersection is poor. North Street is a busy street and many accidents already occur in this area. He would like to see the trees saved as they act as a buffer. There are too may lots for this site.
Robert Vozzella of 6 George Root Way stated that the property abuts his property and he is concerned with additional water having access to his property.
Gloria Surette of 20 North Street stated that she is concerned with the drainage.
Richard Wichmann of 31 North Street stated that he is opposed to the street being directly across from this home. There is also a very high ground water table.
CPC February 15, 2005 Page 5
David Martin of 15 Stonecleave Road stated that he would like a buffer between the new houses and his.
Ms. Rooney stated that the proposal is far too dense.
Mr. Hayden agrees that the plan is too dense.
The Community Planning Commission has requested the following:
1. Traffic site distance calculations.
2. Independent engineer review of drainage proposal.
3. Police accident report for this area.
4. No island in the cul-de-sac.
5. Reduce the number of lots being proposed.
Public hearing continued to March 15, 2005 @ 9:00PM.
271 Main Street – SPR – cont. P.H. 9:00PM.
Mrs. Romeo moved, seconded by Mr. Rooney and voted 4-0: (Mr. Pearce absent)
that the Community Planning Commission vote to grant the applicant’s request of February 9, 2005 to withdraw their application for construction of a telephone sales building at 271 Main Street without prejudice.
ADJOURNMENT AT 9:10P.M.
Respectfully submitted,
_______________________________
Patricia Romeo, Clerk
| 
