AGENDA

LAND USE COMMITTEE MEETING

NOVEMBER 14, 2002

COUNCIL CHAMBER

Convened: 7:07 p.m.

Adjourned: 9:04 p.m.

 

RE: Design Review, Conservation


 

Present were:      Chairperson Councillor Stephen T. Patton

Councillor Paul P. Clancy, Jr.

                   Councillor Joseph M. Petty

                   Councillor Barbara G. Haller

 

Also: Assistant City Manager Paul LaCava

Chief Development Officer Philip J. Niddrie

Housing Director Scott Hayman

Code Director Jill Dagilis

Deputy City Solicitor Michael Traynor

Staffpeople Judy Stohlberg, Kathleen Donovan, Paul Moosey, Joanne Kennedy Valade

Chairperson Worcester Planning Board Joe Boynton

City Clerk David J. Rushford, clerk

 

DISCUSSION

 

1.       Communication of the City Manager transmitting communication relative to Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance.

#7D CM  June 11, 2002

In Committee September 18, 2002 - Held

In Committee September 30, 2002 - Held

In Committee October 10, 2002 - Held

In Committee October 24, 2002 – Held

Recommend Hold

 

COMMUNICATIONS OF THE CITY MANAGER

 

2.       Relative to Law Concerning Unrelated Persons Occupying Premises.

#16D CM  June 25, 2002

In Committee September 18, 2002 - Held

In Committee September 30, 2002 - Held

In Committee October 10, 2002 - Held

In Committee October 24, 2002 – Held

Recommend Hold

 

3.       Relative to “Item for Sale” Lawn Signs in a Residential Area/Yard Sales in a Residential Area.

#15A CM  July 16, 2002

In Committee September 18, 2002 - Held

In Committee September 30, 2002 - Held

In Committee October 10, 2002 - Held

In Committee October 24, 2002 – Held

Recommend Hold

 

4.                 Relative to Seasonal Sidewalk Sales and Yard Sales.

#15B CM  September 3, 2002

In Committee September 18, 2002 - Held

In Committee September 30, 2002 - Held

In Committee October 10, 2002 - Held

In Committee October 24, 2002 – Held

Recommend Hold

 

5.       Relative to Discussion Points from the Chairman of the Planning Board Regarding the Zoning Ordinance.

          #8CM  October 15, 2002

In Committee October 24, 2002 – Held

Recommend Hold

 

6.       Relative to Manufacturing Zones.

#7F CM  September 24, 2002

Recommend Hold

 

7.       Relative to Developers Compliance with Subdivision Requirements.

#23F CM  September 24, 2002

Recommend Hold

 

8.       Relative to Protocol for Maintaining Dumpsters Located on Private Property.

#21B CM  October 15, 2002

Recommend Hold

 

9.       Relative to Copies of State Building Code – Pertaining to Group Residences and Group Dwelling Units.

#6A CM  October 29, 2002

Recommend Hold

 

REPORTS

 

10.     The Committee on Housing and Neighborhood Revitalization Upon the Communication of the City Manager relative to Article VII – Inclusionary Zoning and Density Bonuses to Promote Affordable Housing.

#58 CC  February 5, 2002

In Committee September 18, 2002 - Held

In Committee September 30, 2002 - Held

In Committee October 10, 2002 - Held

In Committee October 24, 2002 - Held

Recommend Hold

 

11.     The Planning Board Upon the Order of Councillor Stephen T. Patton requesting the Zoning Ordinance be amended so that Table 4.1, line 12 is changed so that semi-detached dwellings known as duplexes are no longer “allowed by Special Permit” in RS-10 and RS-7 zones and are instead designated as “not allowed”.

#106 CC  June 25, 2002

In Committee September 18, 2002 - Held

In Committee September 30, 2002 - Held

In Committee October 10, 2002 - Held

In Committee October 24, 2002 – Held

Recommend Hold

 

Speakers:

1.     Aldo, Riggieri, 15 Winneconnet Road, Worcester

2.     Lawrence Freed, 214 Weatherstone Drive, Worcester

 

Chairman’s Orders:

 

1.                 Request the Administration provide the City Council with a report detailing which Special Permits for uses listed in the permitted use table have been most frequently brought before the Planning Board and the Zoning Board of Appeals, and further, request the Administration for a recommendation as to which types of Special Permits might be eliminated.

 

2.                 Request the Administration consider re-writing the letter that is issued by them as a result of decisions of the Zoning Board of Appeals so that the public is more clearly informed of the appeals procedure.

 

3.                 Request the Administration consider changing the notification procedure in the instances of continuations of hearings before the various Boards and Commissions so that abutters of interest are re-notified at the expense of the petitioner each time a continuation is granted, and further, that petitioned properties be physically posted with notice of hearings.

 

4.                 Request the Administration consider addressing the problematic pre-existing, non-conforming uses and changes that may restrict, in certain instances and neighborhoods, the continuation of these uses exclusive of the 2-year period wherein a like use might be continued based on the previously existing non-conforming use.

 

5.                 Request the Administration consider adding retail sales as an allowed use in all zones where the Arts Overlay District occurs and that said allowance be added to the proposed zoning text in Section 4, paragraph A.

 

6.                 Request the Administration report to the City Council the ramifications of changing housing zone designations so that RG-5 zones are eliminated and all other zones in the existing map and ordinances are incremented upwards using current square foot minimums, and that the proposed zoning text be adjusted accordingly.

 

7.                 Request the Administration to provide the City Council with it’s recommendations concerning the Cluster Zoning component of the current ordinance and it’s inclusion in the proposed zoning text.

 

8.                 Request the City Clerk provide the City Council with copies of all rules and regulations on file as approved by and for City Boards and Commissions.

 

Chairman’s Resolution that the City Council and it’s Land Use Committee begin review of the Zoning Map.