HomeMy Public PortalAbout09-10-2014 EDP report_201409021243533425MEETING MINUTES
COMMITTEE ON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT and PLANNING
Meeting: August 14, 2014, 7-9 PM
Report: September 10, 2014
Attending were: Economic Development Committee members Steven Corbett, Chair, Vincent
Piccirilli, Vice Chair, and Susan Falkoff, Secretary; and Planning Director Stephen Magoon.
Also present were Council President Sideris; Councilors Dushku, Palomba and Woodland; and
approximately 25 members of the public. An attendance sheet is attached.
Councilor Corbett opened the meeting by stating that referral to discuss Transition Zones had
been made by Councilor Dushku and inviting him to elaborate. Councilor Dushku stated that he
did not come prepared with specific suggestions but wanted to have a general discussion on ways
we might protect our neighborhoods from encroaching development. He mentioned massing
density, and bicycle and pedestrian connections as specific areas of concern. He referenced the
Harvard development on Western Avenue in Brighton that does a nice job of reducing the size of
residential structures as they go step down toward an established neighborhood.
Mr. Magoon read the current rules in the Zoning Ordinance that govern setbacks for buildings in
Industrial zones. (This information can be found in Watertown's Zoning Ordinance,
http://www.watertown-ma.gov/DocumentCenter/Home/View/3364, Section 5.05 (k) on page 44.)
It was noted that while these rules pertain to the Industrial zones, there is no comparable section
that regulates Commercial areas.
Councilor Falkoff suggested looking at the town map and drawing lines around each residential
district and then naming the neighborhoods so we would have a way to speak more specifically
about particular neighborhood concerns.
Councilor Piccirilli gave some history of our zoning regulations and said that as the rules have
evolved, we are left with many buildings that don't conform to the rules in the ordinance. He
spoke of the difficulty of trying to write uniform rules for "everything." He noted that any
change in the law is likely to leave some people unhappy and that we are not Weston or
Wellesley (and don't want to be ) and "can't guarantee peace and quiet and no traffic."
Councilor Corbett asked Mr. Magoon if we could ask the about -to -be hired design consultant to
work on this. Mr. Magoon readily agreed this would be a wise way to go and expressed concern
about starting another new process before this one is even begun.
Many members of the public spoke. Some of the points mentioned were:
• Noise and light pollution should be considered along with traffic.
• San Francisco concluded that laws and guidelines are insufficient to protect the city's
architectural assets and created a document that integrates a set of principles and values
and needs that are designed to protect the quality of life in the city. (See
http://www.sf-planning org/ftp/general_plan/I5 Urban Design.htm for more
information.)
• The ZBA needs sharper tools to deny a permit; the tests we have available are weak
• We have rules for front and side setbacks but rear setbacks are especially important in
transition zones
• The height of a building should be related to the depth of the lot.
• Buffers are needed between lot lines and surface parking, not only buildings.
• A blank wall is not an appropriate transition.
• It would be helpful of developers presented 3 -dimensional designs to help the public
understand the impact of a particular development
• If we could have separate zoning for specific neighborhoods, perhaps each neighborhood
could have stakeholder meetings and/or walking tours led by the District Councilor
and/or the bike/ped committee.
Mr. Magoon noted that the developer of the Pirolli property has agreed to be the "guinea pig" and
see how new design rules work for their site. He also mentioned the Notify Me section of the
town's website where residents can sign up to be notified of new proposals. They are all put
online as soon as they are received in the Department.
Councilor Falkoff made a motion that this committee work with the Design Consultant on issues
of transitioning and continue this discussion if the need exists for further action steps after the
Design Guidelines have been presented to the Council.
Councilor Piccirilli seconded and the motion carried 3-0.
Respectfully submitted,
Susan Falkoff, Secretary