2007-03-19
CITY OF BEVERLY MASSACHUSETTS
PUBLIC MEETING MINUTES
BOARD OR COMMISSION:
Planning Board, Joint Public Hearing and
Special Meeting
SUBCOMMITTEE:
DATE:
LOCATION:
MEMBERS PRESENT:
March 19, 2007
City Council Chambers, City Hall, 3rd floor
Chairperson Richard Dinkin, John Thomson,
Joanne Dunn, Ellen Flannery, David Mack,
Stephanie Williams
Eve Geller-Duffy, Charles Harris, Don
Walter
Planning Director Tina Cassidy
Andrea Bray
MEMBERS ABSENT:
OTHERS PRESENT:
RECORDER:
Councilor Donald Martin calls the meeting to order.
The City Clerk calls the roll.
All stand for the pledge of allegiance.
1. Joint Public Hearim!:: City Council Order #35: Prooosed Zonim!: Amendment:
Allow 75' buildim!:s on Rantoul Street bv Soecial Permit where 55' is allowed
Councilor Hobin recuses himself from this issue and steps down.
City Clerk Frances Macdonald reads the public hearing notice.
Councilor Martin invites the Chairperson of the Planning Board, Richard Dinkin to join
the Council. Dinkin takes a seat at the table.
City Planning Director, Tina Cassidy introduces the Zoning Amendment stating that it
would authorize the Planning Board to grant special permits for some buildings to be 20'
taller than allowed through the zoning ordinance. She describes the history of this issue
citing the master plan with its recommendations made for this area, specifically to
encourage development in the CC district and suggested one way to promote
development would be to allow additional stories on some of the buildings in the
downtown. Cassidy adds that there have been two issues that have limited this ordinance,
one has been the elimination of Cabot Street from this ordinance, and the other is the
development of design guidelines for taller buildings which were finalized in January
2007. She shows the map of Rantoul Street and describes the area which would be
affected by this ordinance (Rantoul Street between Bow Street and Edwards Street).
Planning Board Minutes
March 19, 2007
Page 2 of 5
Cassidy continues by highlighting the major components of this ordinance, which
include:
. The Planning Board would have the right to grant special permits only after a
public hearing, and a site plan review, and review by the parking and traffic
commISSIon.
. The ordinance only affects buildings which would not abut residential zoning.
. The ordinance also calls for clarification to some issues in the zoning ordinance.
Cassidy states that she believes that this new ordinance is very important for the future
development of the City because it offers an alternative to the continued development of
open land which would only shrink the City's limited availability of open space and place
the population away from the commercial district.
Councilor Martin begins calling from the list of people that have signed up to speak.
George Binns of 51 Baker Avenue speaks against the new ordinance stating that this
might just be the 21 st century's version of urban renewal and may result in "block
busting". He adds that he would rather see the City start to fix the fundamental problem
of looking for another revenue source to pay for the schools, and that having a high rise
condominium project isn't going to solve the revenue problems.
Ann Marie Casey, executive director of Beverly Main Streets, speaks in favor of the
ordinance.
Al Ditchner, President of the Beverly Chamber, of Commerce speaks in favor of the
ordinance, stating that there are currently three 75' tall buildings on Rantoul Street that
were built because of variances granted by the Beverly Planning Board, and this
ordinance would promote responsible development ofRantoul Street.
Rick Marciano of 141 McKay Street speaks against the ordinance stating that he knows
people that have given up with the whole process of the City. He states that the City is
getting deeper and deeper in debt and this development, although it will generate
additional taxes, it will also generate additional expenses.
Raymond Arsenault of39 Grant Street speaks in favor of the ordinance.
Phil Davidson of 1040 Portham Road speaks in favor of the ordinance.
Mary Roderick of 14 Peabody Avenue speaks against the ordinance, citing parking issues
and claiming that Rantoul Street will become a canyon. She shows pictures of tall
buildings and explains that there will be no light on the street.
Planning Board Minutes
March 19, 2007
Page 3 of 5
Pam Kampersal of 241 Dodge Street speaks against the ordinance stating that for every
$1. 00 of tax revenue we receive it costs $1.25 to maintain. She states that bigger cities
pay bigger taxes and warns the people against the notion that this new ordinance will
provide any additional revenue.
Scott Houseman of 27 Appleton Avenue speaks in favor of the ordinance stating that the
kind of development that could occur would have as favorable a result as the
development of the Cumming's Center.
Bill Howard of 2 Sylvester Avenue speaks in support of the ordinance stating that it is
well thought-out and that there will be adequate oversight for all development. He states
that the unit owners for these developments will not have children, and that the
marketplace is demanding this type of development.
Mark Glovsky representing Wind over Development speaks in favor of the ordinance. He
debunks the argument about the increased infrastructure costs because the infrastructure
is already in place and Wind over has paid over $65,000 for improvements in water lines
and sidewalks. He debunks the canyon effect on Rantoul Street with the stepping effect
of the buildings in the ordinance. He debunks the parking problem because the
Wind over executives have advised the Beverly Depot people and the City officials that
they will do everything in their power to enhance the parking situation instead of
exacerbating it.
Paul Fitzgerald of 60 Rantoul Street lives at the Gateway Condominiums and speaks
against the ordinance stating that his view will be destroyed by a new high-rise building
beside his building.
Rene Mary of 274 Hale Street requests that the City Council not vote on this issue
tonight. She speaks against the ordinance.
Pete Nuccio of 141 Park Street speaks against the ordinance stating that the people on the
top two floors will be in danger.
Rosemary Maglio of 30 Pleasant Street speaks against the ordinance. She speaks about
the City officials and Board members that attended the Wind over open house. She lists
16 reasons why she is against this ordinance.
Councilor Martin cuts Ms. Maglio off after 35 minutes. Maglio states that she as 65
photos and that she wishes to admit these photos into the record.
Planning Board member John Thomson states that he wishes to leave the Planning Board
portion of this meeting open after the City Council closes their hearing so that he will be
able to see Maglio's photographs.
Planning Board Minutes
March 19, 2007
Page 4 of 5
Duane Anderson of 41 Front Street represents the Ward 2 citizens group and speaks
against the proposal stating that he is specifically against the height and the density
allowed in this ordinance.
Councilor Martin reads a letter from Councilor Guanci in support of the ordinance. He
asks if any Councilors have any questions or comments.
Planning Board Chairperson Richard Dinkin states that the time limit for a decision will
be 30 days from the time that the Planning Board closes the public hearing. (Note: Later
clarified to be 21 days)
Councilor Troubetaris asks if it would be wise to hold this hearing open.
Councilor Martin states that he wishes to close the City Council portion of this public
hearing.
Coughlin: Motion to close the City Council portion of the public hearing, seconded
by Flaherty. All members vote in favor. The motion passes 7-0.
Councilor Martin closes the City Council portion of the public hearing.
Thomson: Motion to continue the Planning Board portion of the public hearing in the
Conference Room A tonight, seconded by Flannery. All members vote in favor. The
motion passes 6-0.
Dinkin states that the Planning Board will recess until 8:55 p.m., and reconvene in its
new location in Conference Room A.
Dinkin calls the special meeting of the Planning Board to order
Thomson: Motion to recess the regular meeting and continue the public hearing for
City Council Order #35, seconded by Flannery. All members vote in favor. The Chair
votes in favor. The motion passes 6-0.
Thomson: Motion to limit this portion of the hearing to 1Iz hour, seconded by
Flannery. All members vote in favor. The Chair votes in favor. The motion passes 6-0.
Dinkin asks Ms. Maglio to show her photos.
Maglio shows her 65 photographs, explaining each one. Many of the photos display the
way that currently sunlight can shine on some buildings and explains that this may stop
with the development of tall buildings in this area. She also shows photographs of some
shadows cast by the tall buildings that are currently in the area.
Planning Board Minutes
March 19, 2007
Page 5 of 5
Scott Houseman of 27 Appleton Avenue speaks in favor of the ordinance but shares a
concern about one point, the shadow impact on the Veteran's Memorial Park. He states
that he wishes to have the City avoid any development that will cast a long shadow on the
Veteran's Memorial Park and he wishes the park and the post office would be excluded
from this ordinance.
Thomson:
Motion to close the public hearing, seconded by Flannery
Thomson: Motion to table the discussion of this issue and all other agenda items until
the meeting tomorrow night, seconded by Flannery. All members vote in favor. The
Chair votes in favor. The motion passes 6-0.
Mack: Motion to adjourn, seconded by Flannery. All members vote in favor.
The Chair votes in favor. The motion passes 6-0.
The motion is adjourned by 9:40 p.m.