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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1995-09-26Planning Boar4 Workshop Keeting Sen£or Center September 26, 1995 Kembers Present Joseph Mahoney, Chairman; Richard Rowen, Vice Chairman; John Simons; Alberto Angles, Associate Member. Kathleen Bradley Colwell, Town Planner was also present. Alison Lescarbeau, Clerk, and Richard Nardella were absent. The meeting was called to order at 7:10 pm. Creation of the Planned Commercial District and rezoning the area bounded by Peters Street, Turnpike Street, Waverly Road, and the boundary with Andover from R-4 to the Planned Commercial District was discussed. Ms. Colwell presented a brief history of the rezoning. Last Spring two homeowners submitte~ a warrant article to rezone their property from R-4 to B-4. The planning Board was not in support of this as it is spot zoning and is also not the type of zoning the Board would support along Route 114 as it would promote many individual commercial uses with many curb cuts. The Board asked the homeowners to go back and discuss the issue with their neighbors. At the same time Mr. Ken Mahony, the then Director of Community Development, met with the homeowners and started discussions with the Town of Andover and the Lawrence Eagle Tribune. The Board reviewed the current zoning options found in the bylaw and determined that none of them were appropriate for this site. As a result the Board decided to create a new zoning district which would have limited as-of-right uses with large lot sizes and frontage however there would be a lot of flexibility for uses and lot dimensions under a special permit process with the Planning Board. The Board is now conducting public hearings to gather input on these suggestions. Mr. Stephen Connolly, 420 Winthrop Ave expressed concern about traffic and devaluation of property on Route 114. Would support rezoning all of both sides of that section of Rt 114. Mr. John Defusco, 38 Turnpike Street is not in favor of the rezoning, he is happy with the way things are. Mr. Bryan Ricketson, 56 Turnpike Street is concerned about traffic and the additional traffic a commercial use might create. Mrs. Annette Royal, 111 Peters Street asked what the tax implications would be of rezoning a residential property to commercial where the use remained residential. Ms. Colwell will call Mrs. Royal with an answer after consulting with the Assessor. Mr. Markus Pinney, Planning Consultant for the Lawrence Eagle Tribune made the following comments and expressed the following co~cerns= The Tribune owns approximately 26 acres in both North Andover and Andover with approximately 12.5 acres in North Andover. Approximately 40% of the entire acreage is a wetland resource area. Under the bylaw as proposed, given the wetland area and the required setbacks, only about 2 acres could be developed. He suggests that the Board review the dimensional requirements more closely given the wetlands and the topography. He also suggests that the Town of Andover be brought into the discussions. The Tribune is not opposed to the concept of the proposed bylaw and rezoning but believes that it is premature and needs some additional work and discussion. Ms. Colwell stated that the Town of Andover has been involved and although the Planning Board would not sponsor a warrant article the Board would review the concept. The Board agreed to hold another workshop meeting to work with the Tribune in two weeks on October 10 at 7:00 pm at a location to be determined. Other abutters expressed concern about the impact of a commercial use across from a residential area. Ms. Jeanne Bramanti, spokesperson for the eleven lots on the corner of Waverly Road and Route 114, discussed the difficulty those homeowners have had in selling their homes and the concern they have for raising children in that area due to the traffic and noise. Ten out of the eleven homeowners are in agreement about the rezoning and will work together to develop the parcel as a whole. The Board discussed the options available ie. withdraw the article and work with a committee to come up with a solution to bring to the spring Town Meeting or go forward with the current concept and with some changes to the current draft and see what happens at Town Meeting. The Board will continue to discuss these issues at the October 3, 1995 Planning Board meeting.