Streamlined permitting for I-93 development likely for Town Meeting warrant

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December 12, 2007

Residents next year could vote on whether to make it easier for people to develop the land around the proposed Lowell Junction ramps off Interstate 93.

Giving the area a "priority development" designation is one of several ideas the Planning Board is considering for 2008 Town Meeting.

Such a designation would help attract interest among developers and ensure that local permitting decisions are made within 180 days, according to Planning Director Paul Materazzo. Such a designation could also open the door to technical assistance grants from the state, he said.

The Planning Board was expected to hear more about this type of expedited permitting (Chapter 43D under state law) from Materazzo at its Tuesday night meeting.

"We're all going to learn more about it," said Planning Board member Selena Goldberg. "Any input from the community is certainly welcome."

Anti-flooding plans

Another article likely to appear on the Town Meeting warrant is a stormwater-management bylaw affecting single, conforming lots that are not part of a subdivision. A similar bylaw proposal was withdrawn before Town Meeting last year.

If the bylaw is approved, developers would need the Planning Board to approve stormwater-management and erosion-control plans for their sites before work could begin. Under the previous bylaw language, which did not receive Planning Board approval last year, a committee made up of various town employees would have been responsible for approving stormwater-management plans.

"We've met extensively with town staff," said Goldberg of the revision process since last April. "Essentially, the main difference is that the Planning Board will be the permit-granting authority and hold the public meetings."

If Town Meeting supports the idea, a stormwater committee will provide written recommendation to the Planning Board.

"The same people will review it," Goldberg said. "Our goal was to make it a more efficient bylaw."

Update would affect home businesses

Updating a bylaw that affects the types of businesses that people can run out of their homes has also been discussed by the Planning Board recently, and will likely appear at 2008 Town Meeting.

According to town planners and board members, the changes would bring the town's home occupation bylaw up to speed with similar provisions governing professional home offices.

The bylaw would limit home businesses to occupying only one-third of existing gross floor area, and having no more than one employee who is not living in the home. Regulations on parking and signs are also being considered.

The changes proposed by the planning department would allow workers such as beauticians, real estate agents and dancing and musical instructors to work out of their homes.

"Currently a real estate professional can't have a small office out of their home, but a dentist can," said Town Planner Lisa Schwarz. "It's just trying to make it more consistent with what kind of professions are out there that aren't really intrusive on a neighborhood."

Planning Board Chairman Paul Salafia said the proposed changes would provide "much more specific guidelines."

"The main purpose was to bring it into line with the things that are actually happening today, which is people are working out of their homes," said Salafia. "It allows for more people to do it ... as long as it doesn't intrude on the neighborhood."

Salafia said the guidelines for professional home offices are geared more toward dentists and lawyers offices, which "traditionally probably have more traffic involved, whereas a home occupation wouldn't. It's not visible or outwardly noticeable to the residential community."

Goldberg noted the importance to her of protecting residential neighborhoods while making the proposed changes.

"If someone is trying to start a business up, sometimes they try to start it up in their home," she said. "Any occupation wouldn't be allowed to alter the residential character of a neighborhood. That's important."