Town of North Reading, MA - Community Planning Commission Minutes 08/16/2005

Tuesday, August 16, 2005

Mr. Chris Hayden, Vice Chairperson, called the Tuesday, August 16, 2005 meeting of the Community Planning Commission to order at 7:30 p.m. in Room 10 of the North Reading Town Hall, 235 North Street, North Reading, MA.

PRESENT: Christopher Hayden, Vice Chairperson

Patricia Romeo, Clerk

PRESENT: Heidi Griffin, Planning Administrator

Debra Savarese, Administrative Assistant

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Cobblers Lane - Street Acceptance – P.H. 7:30PM

Mrs. Romeo read the notice into the record.

Mrs. Romeo moved, seconded by Mr. Pearce and voted 5-0: (Mr. Rooney absent)

that the Community Planning Commission vote to recommend favorable action to the October 2005 Town Meeting regarding Cobblers Lane street acceptance.

Deer Rune Drive – Street Acceptance – P.H. 7:35PM

Mrs. Romeo read the Public Hearing notice into the record.

Heidi Griffin stated that the following issues need to be resolved:

1. Common land should be mowed and cleaned.

2. Street trees need to be replaced – one is dead.

3. There is a gap between the retaining wall and granite curbing that should be replaced or installed.

4. Street sweeping and catch basin cleaning need to be completed.

5. Path between Deer Run and Valley Roads should be cleared and delineated.

6. Roadway shoulder area needs to be loamed and seeded.

Tom Hurley representing the developer stated that all requests would be completed.

Mr. Pearce stated that the loaming, seeding and cleanup could be added to the tree bond, if the weather does not permit completion.

Mr. Hayden asked what was being done about the completion of the outlet?

Tom Hurley stated that a representative from O’Neill Associates would be meeting with the Town Engineer and Dave Giangrande of Design Consultants tomorrow to discuss the outlet.

Scott Sawyer of 14 Deer Run Drive stated that there is a light post directly in front of his home and would like to have it moved.

Mr. Hayden stated that he would need to contact the Reading Municipal Light Company.

Mr. Spear stated that if they cannot move the light, perhaps a hood cover would eliminate the glare of the lights from his home.

Scott Sawyer asked who would maintain the common area.

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Mr. Pearce stated that the deed would need to be looked at to see if the land was parceled out and to whom.

Public Hearing continued to September 20, 2005 @ 7:45PM.

Furbish Pond Lane – Street Acceptance – P.H. 7:40PM

Mrs. Romeo read the Public Hearing notice into the record.

Heidi Griffin stated that she met with the town engineer to discuss the following issues:

1. Sidewalks are not ADA compliant.

2. Guardrail on Redmond Avenue needs to be repaired.

3. Frame on manhole needs to be centered.

The developer stated that he would comply with all of the above before Town Meeting.

Maureen Doherty of the Transcript asked if this was a cluster subdivision and if there is any common land?

Mr. Hayden stated yes, it is a cluster subdivision and the deed would need to be checked for common land ownership.

Mr. Hayden stated that the Community Planning Commission would make a recommendation at Town Meeting.

Deerfield Place – Street Acceptance – P.H. 7:45PM

Mrs. Romeo read the Public Hearing notice into the record.

Heidi Griffin stated that the streetlights are not standard for Reading Municipal Light Department. She did meet with the developer who stated that they were working on a Homeowner Association to maintain the lights.

Tom Hurley stated that there is a homeowner who stated he would donate the lights to Reading Light.

Mr. Pearce stated that a Homeowner Association and reputable company would be needed to maintain these lights.

Mr. Spear stated that he is disappointed that the developer did not use the RMLD standard lights, and suggested that use of standard lighting should be added to the Subdivision Rules & Regulations.

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Maureen Doherty asked prior to street acceptance is the developer required to turn the lights on if the homes are occupied?

Tom Hurley stated no.

Mr. Hayden referenced Dan & Lisa Pulver’ letter (8/15/05) into the record.

Public hearing was closed. Recommendation will be made a Town Meeting.

Plymouth Street – Citizen’s Petition – Rezone – P.H. 7:55PM

Mrs. Romeo recused herself from the Public Hearing.

Mr. Spear read the Public Hearing notice into the record.

Ryan Fitzgerald of 7 Plymouth Street stated that they had compiled enough signatures to request that the zoning on Plymouth Street be changed from commercial to residential.

Mr. Hayden stated that he did not recall from the last meeting the Community Planning Commission recommending that the whole street be zoned residential. He stated that the Community Planning Commission only wanted to change one parcel to residential. He will not support the rezoning of the entire street at Town Meeting.

Mr. Pearce stated that he also assumed that the entire street would be rezoned to residential. All of the lots are non-conforming now and will be non-conforming for a business. He would like to see some of the parcels rezoned at Town Meeting. An amendment should be made to the petition for M26/P11 and M26/ P12 (partial)

Maureen Doherty stated that everything she has heard at the public hearings has been to rezone the entire street.

Mr. Pearce stated that these changes would be easier to support at Town Meeting.

Mr. Pearce explained to Ryan Fitzgerald that he would have to stand at Town Meeting and request that the petition be amended.

Public hearing was closed @ 8:23PM. Recommendation will be made at Town Meeting.

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8 Plymouth Street – SPR – cont. P.H. 8:00PM

Heidi Griffin stated that no new information had been provided.

Tom Romeo stated that he is satisfied with the decision to rezone some parcels on Plymouth Street and will wait to hear the results at Town Meeting before continuing with his SPR.

Mr. Pearce moved, seconded by Mr. Spear and voted 3-0: (Mr. Rooney absent and

that the Community Planning Commission vote to continue the public hearing on 8 Plymouth Street until September 20, 2005 @ 8:00PM. (this will allow the applicant time to revise their plans based on the Town Meeting action on the rezoning.

7 Rahnden Terrace/Phillis Terrace – Determination of Access – P.H. 8:30PM

Mrs. Romeo read the Public Hearing notice into the record.

Jack Lougee of Dana F. Perkins, Inc. stated the proposal is for Determination of Access to two streets currently listed as paper streets. The land is located between Old Andover Road and Rte. 125. There is approximately 46,000 sq. ft. of land, this provides enough land for two lots. The houses were positioned in the wider area of the land to retain the natural buffer between Rte. 125 and the existing neighborhood. At the end of Rahnden Terrace there is a 32’ high hill. The proposal for two wide driveways would minimize the impact, cutting of trees and removal of gravel from this hill. He met with the building inspector who stated that he is concerned with the flooding of Burroughs Road and having no emergency access. He asked if one of the streets could be extended to provide this emergency access. If this were done, the applicant would prefer that it be done from Phillis Terrace.

Mr. Hayden stated that the emergency access does not really exist.

Jim DeCola stated that these are the only two paper streets that connect to the emergency access. The State will allow the access to be relocated, but no permit would be given.

Mr. Pearce stated that the lots do not have frontage because of the paper streets.

Jack Lougee stated that there is frontage on both streets.

Mrs. Romeo read the Town Engineer’s (8/16/05), Conservation Commission’s (8/16/05), Fire Department’s (8/3/05) (reference dimensions) and Planning Administrator’s (8/16/05) memos into the record.

Mr. Hayden stated that a T-turnaround would have to be in place for the emergency vehicles.

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Mr. Pearce stated that frontage has to be created for these lots.

Mr. Spear stated that he disagrees with the Conservation Commission’s memo. Phillis Terrace offers a better physical layout for drainage and access to Rte. 125.

Jack Lougee asked if the two roads were built would they then have legal frontage?

Mr. Pearce stated yes.

Don Stomegra of 94 Old Andover Road stated that he has safety concerns with the road on Phillis Terrace being built too close to his property.

Harry Hobby of 4 Flash Road stated that the access is not for residents, only emergency vehicles.

Leane Scott of 83 Andover Road stated that she lives directly across from Rahnden Terrace and is concerned for the safety of the children in the neighborhood with construction traffic that will be going through the neighborhood.

Charles Benevento stated that the proposed plan would have little impact on the area.

Caroline DiDonatis of 86 Old Andover Road asked if the access for these properties would be driveways or streets? She is also concerned with drainage.

Mr. Hayden stated that they would be streets.

Margaret Hagerty of 87 Old Andover Road stated that she opposes the road being built on Phillis Terrace.

Public Hearing continued to September 6, 2005 @ 8:30PM.

John Bickford Way – Definitive Subdivision – 9:30PM

Rich Williams of Hayes Engineering reviewed the Conditional Approval and asked for the following waivers:

Mrs. Romeo moved, seconded by Mr. Pearce and voted 4-0: (Mr. Rooney absent)

that the Community Planning Commission vote to GRANT the requested waiver of Subdivision Rules and Regulations Section III..C.8.c.10 to allow the electrical distribution to be put on the plans after approval but prior to endorsement.

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Mrs. Romeo moved, seconded by Mr. Spear and voted 4-0: (Mr. Rooney absent)

that the Community Planning Commission vote to GRANT the requested waiver of Subdivision Rules & Regulations Section IV.A.2.C. to allow a reverse curve tangent of less than 150’.

Mrs. Romeo moved, seconded by Pearce and voted 4-0: (Mr. Rooney absent)

that the Community Planning Commission vote to GRANT the requested waiver of Subdivision Rules & Regulations Section III.C.2.m. not to require to show the highest known watermark contour.

Mrs. Romeo moved, seconded by Mr. Pearce and voted 4-0: (Mr. Rooney absent)

that the Community Planning Commission vote to GRANT the requested waiver of Subdivision Rules & Regulations Section IIIC.2.m. not to require that the contour line 4’ above high watermark be shown.

Mrs. Romeo moved, seconded by Mr. Spear and voted 4-0: (Mr. Rooney absent)

that the Community Planning Commission vote to GRANT the requested waiver of Subdivision Rules & Regulations Section IV.D.(1) to allow a center line grade less than 1%.

Mrs. Romeo moved, seconded by Mr. Pearce and voted 4-0: (Mr. Rooney absent)

that the Community Planning Commission vote to GRANT the requested waiver of Subdivision Rules & Regulations V.C.3.D. to allow less than 2½ ‘ cover over the drain.

Mrs. Romeo moved, seconded by Mr. Spear and voted 5-0:

that the Community Planning Commission vote to approve the Definitive Subdivision Plan entitled “Definitive Plan, John Bickford Way, North Reading, Mass”; dated January 20, 2005; drawn by Hayes Engineering, subject to the terms and conditions of the Certificate of Conditional Approval dated August 16, 2005 as amended this evening.

Holt Lane – Informal Discussion

Heidi Griffin stated that there has been some confusion for the inspections of Cerrone Way. David Giangrande is the engineer who inspects subdivisions and other projects that are being developed in North Reading. Mr. Giangrande did no receive a copy of the plan for this subdivision. Mr. Giangrande was unaware of the work that needed to be done. His first estimate of the project was bases solely on the bridge being installed. He then realized after visiting the site that more inspections would be needed. He then revised his estimate of $600.00

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to $5,000.00 for the costs of inspecting this project. Mr. Cerrone was notified of this change and was not satisfied.

Paul Cerrone stated that he has spoken to Mr. Giangrande in regard to this change. He does not agree to this estimated amount.

Mr. Pearce stated that Mr. Giangrande did not receive a copy of the approved plan. He explained that the amount of work being done in this subdivision does require more inspections. (A copy of the new contract was given to Mr. Cerrone with the break down of inspections.)

Paul Cerrone stated that he now understands the work involved and is willing to pay the amount requested.

Ryers – Informal Descission

Mark Hall stated that he had spoken to the foreman working on the Rte 62 project. He was informed that the State would install the curbing, and the curb cuts have been marked. But he would still need the approval of the town engineer. The town engineer would then have to apply to the State.

ADJOURNMENT AT 11:00PM.

Respectfully submitted,

_______________________________

Patricia Romeo, Clerk