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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1972-04-18Tuesd&v. April 151 1~72 - Planning 'Beard Meeting - Hig~ School Cafeteria Members present and voting: Charles W. Trembly, Jr., Chai~; Donald N. Keirstead; Fritz Ostherr, William Chepulis and John J. Monteiro. There were appreL 75 people present. . Mr. Keirstead explained the section of the by-law having to do with the parking of commercial vehicles and screening of them. Ne said that section is the same as the present by-law, making no change in the number of vehicles ~lowed; just adding the screening provision. The proposed by-law allows presently existing uses to continue. John Mahoney thinks the by-law should be changed to allow more than two commercial vehicles. Joe Flynn asked if construction companies have been allowed. Mr. Ostherr said they are allowed in I-2. John Willis spoke about laws having a "grandfather" clause. He thinks the Board should be concerned about some of the situations that Mr. Mahoney and others have brought out. Mr. Trombly said they don't want to put anyone out of business. The wording of "legally non-conformin~' should be checked with Town Counsel. Forrest Smith said he has no room to garage or screen his vehicles. He has tried to purchase land where his vehicles would be ~owed and because of the zoning, the price of the land is sky high. The Beard was asked where trucking terminals or distribution type centers are allowed. Mr. Keirstead said I-2 allows warehousing and wholesaling. The B~ard interprets it that trucking terminals would be allowed even though not specifically stated. John Willis said trucking terminals should be included in I-2. Leng discussion was held on interpretations and most of the people felt they do not have enough protection if the law is left to a person's or board's interpretation; boards and officials can change and have d4fferent interpretations. Mr. Keirstead answered a man who was concerned with where the Adley trucking terminal is and said that the existing downtownindustrialdistrictwill stay under the present Industrial "S". The board has not voted on this matter yet; it will probably be resolved at the Friday meeting. Ken Bailey said people are afraid of zoning and being put out of business. They don't want to be pushed out of town and be stepped on. Mrs. Moschetto spoke again about her land on Rte. 125. Norman Lentz also spoke. Mr. Keirstead expi~ined that the area is being left as it is as far as Alco. April 18, 1972 -2- Ben Osgood noted that there is no definition for commercial vehicles. A possible definition could be to have it start from one ton and over. Mr. Keirstead said the board members have suggested that a possible change to that section of the by-law is to allow some increased number of vehicles by a special permit provision. The people seemed to feel this might work out. Forrest Smith noted that no outside storage is allowed in industrial areas which hampers a contractor's operations. Leonard Windle was ag~i~ concerned about the 100 ft. zone extension provision. Norman Lentz doesn't think it should be allowed; he said it makes a farce out of the zoning boundaries. Mr. Keirstead explained that the legislature is proposing this same thing and we would be in keeping with their proposal. The meeting adjourned at 9:00P.M. Fruckers, contl ' by prOposed NORTH ANDOVER -- Several truckers and private con- tractors hst night expressed concern over a proposed zon- ing regulation that would require them to screen com- mercia] vehicles in excess of one-ton capacity from neigh- boring residential uses. The complete bylaw requires the garaging of off-street parking, covered or open, of not more than four motor · hides. Two o! the vehicles m~y be commercial, with the exception of farm trucks, or motor-powered agricultural im. plements on an agrieqlturally active farm or orchard. This bylaw, with the exception of the screening regu- lation, was first implemented in 1956. The addition was proposed so that Such commercial vehicles would be screened from surrounding residences. Some of the truckers felt that the limit imposed on commercial vehicles would be detrimental to their business- Although the Planning Board took no formal action, Co- chairman Donald IV. Keirstead suggested that the regulation be kept as it is, andthat a special permit for additional ve- hicles be ava]]abe tot legitimate reasons. Keirstead emphasized that the present law was not being made more restrictive. He explained that the screen- ....~g regulation was meant to protect neighboring residences. }~.ive dump trucks parked together is not desirable," he 'roll'fid. The special permit would enable the board of appeals to view cases individually. One resident asked the board if the abutters would be contacted before a special permit was issued. Arty John J. Willis explained that the state gives the board the authority to contract anyone contact it deems necessary. The present board notifies anyone who lives within 200 feet of the property in question. One trucker told the board that the screening would prove eXpensive if several acres were owned. The board has not yet established the distance that would be Keirstead told the truckers that they would not be "in any worse shape than they are now." I'd hate this to be opposed at town meeting, because you believed that this regulation was more restrictive than the present one. The only difference is the screening, One contractor argued that since the town was ex- panding, private contractors should also be permitted to ex- pand. "We perform services for this town," he said. "If it we- ren't for us, the town would be snowbound a lot of the time. Mr. Nicetta (highway surveyor) just does not have enough equipment. You should let the private contractor Aust( . _.. ,..~,,,,, services for the town. I would think you'd try and keep them here." In another discussion, Keirstead explained the use of the term "lawfully non-conforming." A non-conforming use is one that was legal at one time, but was built on land that is later rezoned. For instance, a house could be eou- strutted on residentially zoned land, that is later rezoned for industry. The house would still be a hwful use, al- though the land is no longer suitable for residential use. Keirstoad said the term "lawful" was included in the proposed bylaws to emphasize that these non-conforming establishments are legal. Willis questioned the use of lawful, feeling that the tertr non-couformin~ was sufficient. Some residents were concerned that existing businesses would be jeopardized by the new regulations. Keirstead explained that in about 98 per cent of the cases, existing establishments iwould be protected. However, non-conforming uses are restricted from further expansion. He also explained that a change of owner, such as the transfer of property 'from father to son, would not effect the zoning status. A non-conforming use becomes unlawful after it has been abandoned for two years. One man attempted to tell the board why many resi- dents had attended the last of the five zoning meetings. "The minute someone hears the word zoning byiaw~ every- body gets nervous," he said. "We're afraid that everything's going to be changed, that we'll be put out of business." "About 50 per cent of us here are afraid we're going to be stepped on, afraid that some Gestapo is going to pass something that we can't do anything about. All we want is a little pacification, that we won't be put out of town." Keirstead repeated that the board had tried not to dis- turb any use tha~ has not caused problems. One woman, who owns 16 acres .of land on Rte. 125 complained that her land had been resorted to industrial therefore prohibiting the construction of houses. "Why should I be industrial, when I've been a farmer aH these years?" she said. "I've been here for 42 years, and no one will chase me out." The board told her that agriculture was a permitted use, and that the construction of a house could be taken up with the Board of Appeals. The board is expected to meet Friday night to discuss the past five meetings that have dealt with the proposed bylaws and the proposed map. Both of the proposals will be voted on at a special town meeting May 22. ednesday, April 19, 1972 ,ty key in 1973 school bud! -- The school committee began working -- and not necessarily with more money or staff, plaunipg ; IS-month school budget last night, only er getting [own meeting approval for this ti consensus of the board is to keep costs q3. Committeeman Frank Griggs suggested ease be kept to two per cent, and school- Lane recommended no more than a six per his year's $7 million plus budget. tso suggested freezing professional personnel ~el. Instead of hiring new teachers, he said, ;hould look to teacher aides, particularly for ~choois. Dr. Grigg~ added~ ff the school eommiRee its goal for tg?~ it ~l be able to face the Educalion Association} negotiating team on ~ointed out the budget increase for the 1971- vas 20 per cent; the increase for the 1972-73 ten per cent. ~gh cost of the individualized programs will e end of next year, he said, he looks to a .ase of two per cent in the expeuse portion said the number of teachers in the system : to be reduced, but if some of them could to .new ones would have to be hired. mittee chairman William F. King said next a time of "refinement and consolidation." King said the average enrollment for Andover class- state has rooms is 17 to 18 students which means some classes have long-term only eight or nine students. In a tight money situation, he He sug said, maybe some of these small classes could be com- could hal! bined. .yond nora Schoolman Richard Katz disagreed with the idea o! Lane scrimping on staff, saying the whole crux of the school sys- budget for tern is its professional people. In some cases, he said, in- ly what it creasing the size of classes means decreasing the effective- Dr. ness of the professional, individual Large group instruction works in some subjects, he said, able to a: but in courses like English and political science, a large committe~ group is less effective. He sa~ Dr. Kalz pointed out the increase of professional people in past ye hasn't been vet great during recent years, and said there specfficly are some situations where an enrollment of eight or nine Lane students is good. grams the "The minimum enrollment idea is ridiculous," he re- ff it doesl marked, he added. H he were given $10,OOO, and was told to choose be- Dr. Ss tween spending it on media, workbooks, musical in- have beco struments, or one professional person, he would choose the floor of t~ teacher, Dr. Katz told the committee. As far "What would you give him for tools?" Dr. Seifert built into asked. "God-given tools -- hands and a mouth," Dr. Kat~ an- thai'only swered, increase, "We discourage talking at the students," Dr. Seilert Dr. quipped, feelings o >ducing new programs, he said, the system ,me creativity with the programs it has now The conunittee also discussed how they will go about "Chea 't on town's drug ;o be given May 2 had a brief discussion on the policy of hiring certified teach- ers as teacher aides. Schoolman Frank Griggs asked if it' were "ethical to take advantage of a supply and demand situation." School committee member William L. Lane asked if court Andover Clapp pointed