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2004-03-29City of Beverly Meeting Minutes BOARD OR COMMISSION: Comprehensive Rezoning Committee DATE: March 29, 2004 LOCATION: Beverly City Hall MEMBERS PRESENT: Ron Costa, Richard Dinkin, Wendy Frontiero, Scott Houseman, Bob Nelson, Don Neuman, Don Preston, John Thomson MEMBERS ABSENT: OTHERS PRESENT: Consultant Ralph Willmer, City Planner Tina Cassidy RECORDER: Tina Cassidy The meeting commenced at 7:15 p.m. Cassidy welcomes the members and states she is glad to be back working with the committee on the implementation phase of the master plan. She says she expects to make several changes to the committee’s makeup to reflect the fact that several former committee members are no longer employees of the City. Costa asks about one of those previous members, Jack Murray. Cassidy said that she did not expect Murray to remain on the committee because he is no longer a City Councilor. Costa notes that he represented the interests of ward 6 residents on the committee, and would like to see him remain a member. Cassidy asks members if they have had a chance to read through the draft minutes of the Committee’s October 22, 2003 meeting. Neuman expresses concern that the draft may not accurately reflect the definition of “waterfront” that was finally agreed to at that meeting. Willmer says he will check the final version of the definition to ensure that it tracks the language in 310 CMR. Thomson: motion to accept the minutes of the October 22, 2003 meeting as drafted, seconded by Dinkin. All members in favor, motion carries. Next, the committee discusses the deficiencies in the master plan that were identified by the Inter-Agency Working Group (IAWG). Willmer explains the details of Executive Order 418 and the fact that the City requested equivalency status for its master plan. The IAWG requested additional information on several aspects of the housing and economic development components of the master plan before officially granting the City equivalency status. Willmer states that correction of the deficiencies will largely require data collection and analyses. Cassidy and Willmer state that they expect this work will not involve a great deal of committee members’ time; most or all of it will be handled by the consultant and planning staff. Thomson asks if this additional information will require formal modification of the approved master plan, since the local planning board must adopt the master plan in accordance with State law. Willmer answers that the changes will probably only need to be compiled into a report and submitted to the IAWG. However, the committee and planning board can review the report once it is drafted and decide whether formal modification of the master plan is necessary. Comprehensive Rezoning Committee Minutes March 29, 2004 Meeting Page 2 of 3 The committee then discusses the various zoning changes and initiatives outlined in the master plan. To date, the committee has been able to amend the definition section of the zoning ordinance. Cassidy refers to a handout that lists the different issues needing resolution, and suggests that they can be organized into two categories: short term (between now and the end of June) and long term (post-June, when the services of the consultant are no longer available). She suggests that some initiatives are easier to address than others, and that the “simpler” proposals could be drafted over the coming weeks. The work program for the rezoning committee can be summarized as follows: · Resolution of IAWG-identified master plan deficiencies · Zoning map changes for a new waterfront and Bass River districts with associated design guidelines, a non-profit zoning district, Cummings Center and IG-zoned lots in the downtown · New zoning provisions for use variances for estate and historic building conversions, residential uses in industrial buildings, conservation subdivision design ordinance, and inclusionary zoning · Revised zoning provisions for neighborhood centers, easier conversion of buildings to multi-family and mixed-uses, and non-conforming use provisions · New ordinances and regulations on watershed and groundwater protection standards, expanded historic districts and designations, historic preservation and design and landscaping standards for downtown residential development, design guidelines for waterfront districts, neighborhood centers, reuse of commercial/industrial buildings for mixed residential use, and water supply protection standards. Following a brief discussion, members elect to focus on waterfront and downtown-related issues in the short term to take advantage of the consultants’ technical support while it is available. In addition, planning staff and committee members hope to draft and discuss ordinances for inclusionary zoning, non-conforming use provisions, and conservation subdivision design before the end of June. In June, the committee will assess its progress to date and structure its longer-term efforts accordingly. Preston suggests that to the extent there may be other, “mechanical” issues (such as use variances for estate conversions, and watershed and groundwater protection standards), perhaps those can be handled in the shorter term as well. Next, the committee discusses its future meeting schedule. The committee plans to meet on stthth the following dates: Wednesday April 21, Tuesday May 4, Thursday May 20, Wednesday ndth June 2, and Thursday, June 17. All meetings will begin at 7:15 p.m. Finally, Cassidy distributes copies of a draft Open Space Residential Design ordinance that was developed by Houseman and Thomson. Houseman and Thomson provide a general overview of the ordinance, stating that it would offer density bonuses to developers who preserve a significant amount of open space over and above a pre-determined, relatively high standard of open space preservation. The Planning Board reviewed an earlier draft and offered input that has since been incorporated into the proposed ordinance. Comprehensive Rezoning Committee Minutes March 29, 2004 Meeting Page 3 of 3 Willmer offers to send electronic versions of the draft definitions previously revised, along with information from other communities that may be helpful to Beverly’s efforts. Dinkin offers to serve on any subcommittee that may be named to work on the inclusionary zoning ordinance. Cassidy asks if there is any other business for the committee to consider this evening. There is none. Dinkin: motion to adjourn, seconded by Houseman. All members in favor, motion carries. The meeting is adjourned at 9:00 p.m.