Appropriations & Oversight Committee — 2023-04-10

Appropriations and Oversight Committee Meeting

This meeting starts at 34:01 in a recording that covers several meetings.

Attendance

Christopher Cinella present; Jack Eccles present; Mark Garipay present; Jen Grigoraitis present · President, Ex Oficio; Maya Jamaleddine remote · Vice Chair; Manjula Karamcheti present; Shawn M. MacMaster present; Leila Migliorelli present · Chair; John Obremski present; Robb Stewart present; Ryan Williams present

Agenda

Minutes

CITY OF MELROSE APPROPRIATIONS & OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE CALENDAR● APRIL 10, 2023 Council Chamber, First Floor, Melrose City Hall Committee Meeting 7:46 PM 562 Main Street, Melrose, MA 02176 Attendee Name Title Status Arrived Leila Migliorelli Chair Present Maya Jamaleddine Vice Chair Remote Shawn M. MacMaster Present Christopher Cinella Present Jack Eccles Present Mark Garipay Present Robb Stewart Present Manjula Karamcheti Present John Obremski Present Ryan Williams Present Jen Grigoraitis President, Ex Oficio Present

APPT-2023-5 Appointment Appointment of Daniel Gelormini, 20 Pilgrim Road, to the Melrose Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) as an Associate Member for a two year term set to expire on the last day of February 2025. Ought to Pass City Council

APPRO-2023-21 Appropriation An Appropriation to the planning department to fund the School Facilities Master Plan. Ought to Pass City Council

ORDER-2023-59 Amending Revised Zoning Ordinances Per Council vote to divide this order, this original order has been duplicated into ten other orders reflecting each Zoning Amendment: Amending Melrose Revised Zoning Ordinance, Chapter 235, Corner Lot Setbacks Ought to Pass City Council City Council

ORDER-2023-81 Amending Revised Zoning Ordinances City of Melrose Page 1 4/19/2023 1:22 PM Minutes Appropriations & Oversight Committee April 10, 2023 Previously under Order 2023-59 until a vote by Council divided order into eleven different orders reflecting each Zoning Amendment: Amending Melrose Revised Zoning Ordinance, Chapter 235, BA-2 Zoning District Line Change at 521-529 Franklin St. Ought Not to Pass City Council

ORDER-2023-82 Amending Revised Zoning Ordinances Previously under Order 2023-59 until a vote by Council divided order into eleven different orders reflecting each Zoning Amendment: Amending Melrose Revised Zoning Ordinance - General Code Amendment, Vegetation Height for Corner Lots & in Yards along Streets Tabled City Council

ORDER-2023-83 Amending Revised Zoning Ordinances Previously under Order 2023-59 until a vote by Council divided order into eleven different orders reflecting each Zoning Amendment: Amending Melrose Revised Zoning Ordinance, Chapter 235, Structure Definition Ought to Pass City Council

ORDER-2023-84 Amending Revised Zoning Ordinances Previously under Order 2023-59 until a vote by Council divided order into eleven different orders reflecting each Zoning Amendment: Amending Melrose Revised Zoning Ordinance, Chapter 235, Definition of Retail Food Establishment Ought to Pass City Council

ORDER-2023-85 Amending Revised Zoning Ordinances Previously under Order 2023-59 until a vote by Council divided order into eleven different orders reflecting each Zoning Amendment: Amending Melrose Revised Zoning Ordinance, Chapter 235, Definition of In-law Apartment Ought to Pass City Council

ORDER-2023-86 Amending Revised Zoning Ordinances City of Melrose Page 2 4/19/2023 1:22 PM Minutes Appropriations & Oversight Committee April 10, 2023 Previously under Order 2023-59 until a vote by Council divided order into eleven different orders reflecting each Zoning Amendment: Amending Melrose Revised Zoning Ordinance, Chapter 235, Votes for Special Permit Approval & Term Ought to Pass City Council

ORDER-2023-87 Amending Revised Zoning Ordinances Previously under Order 2023-59 until a vote by Council divided order into eleven different orders reflecting each Zoning Amendment: Amending Melrose Revised Zoning Ordinance, Chapter 235, Site Lines and Fence Height in Front Yards On Corner and Non-Corner Lots Ought to Pass City Council

ORDER-2023-88 Amending Revised Zoning Ordinances Previously under Order 2023-59 until a vote by Council divided order into eleven different orders reflecting each Zoning Amendment: Amending Melrose Revised Zoning Ordinance, Chapter 235, Site Plan Review Criteria Ought to Pass City Council

ORDER-2023-89 Amending Revised Zoning Ordinances Previously under Order 2023-59 until a vote by Council divided order into eleven different orders reflecting each Zoning Amendment: Amending Melrose Revised Zoning Ordinance, Chapter 235, Unit Size Ought to Pass City Council

ORDER-2023-90 Amending Revised Zoning Ordinances Previously under Order 2023-59 until a vote by Council divided order into eleven different orders reflecting each Zoning Amendment: Amending Melrose Revised Zoning Ordinance, Chapter 235, Definition of Family & Dwelling Units Ought to Pass City Council City of Melrose Page 3 4/19/2023 1:22 PM

Transcript

▶ 33:31 Leila Migliorelli: discussion. all in favor I opposed all right. This will be sent to the full Council as recommended. Look at that Ocean Road Journal. Second motion to turn may be a concert garapay seconded by Vice chair sonella all in favor. opposed we are adjourned. Good evening. Everyone time is 7:46 on Monday, April 10th. This is a meeting of the Appropriations and oversight committee and I am chairwoman. Migliarelli. Pursuant to current allowances under the open meeting law enacted under chapter 2 of the acts of 2023 signed into law by Governor Healy on March 29th. 2023 Vice chair. Jamala. Dean is participating in this meet tonight remotely via the city Zoom platform. Joining me in person. Our counselors. Sanela Eccles

▶ 34:32 Leila Migliorelli: garape. Karamchati McMaster o bremski Stewart Williams and president Grigoraitis exophysio. This serves as a notice of the Quorum for the record. Please note that because we have a member participating remotely all motions will require a roll call vote in accordance with open meeting lab this meeting is being recorded and broadcast live on mmtv. I would also ask my colleagues and guests to make sure they're speaking clearly into the microphone while speaking so our remote colleague can fully participate. I will now entertain a motion to open the floor for public comment so moved. Second motion to open public comment made by counselor. Snella seconded by president Grigoraitis Mr. Clerk. Will you please call roll?

▶ 35:20 Vice chairman Yeah counselor McMaster here. Counselor cinella, yes. counselor Eccles your counselor garpy here counselor Stewart Yes. counselor Carm s***** here councilor bremski here councilor Williams what? Oh present. Sorry. well president gregarness. Yes and chairman. Literally. Yes, that's unanimous unanimous. So this is public comment is now open. Thank you for everyone announcing their attendance. If there's anyone here to speak in public comments. This is the time where you can comment now on any agenda any item on our agenda. Seeing no one here in person. Is there anyone online? No one's online besides the mayor at this point. Okay, I'll entertain a motion to close public comment. So

▶ 36:28 Leila Migliorelli: moved second. Motion of close public comment made by counselor. Snella secondary president Grigoraitis Mr. Clerk. Will you please call the role to close public comments? Vice chair Jamaleddine Yes. Counselor McMaster. Yes counselor. Sonella. Yes counselor Eccles. Yes Council. Gerepe. Yes counselor Stewart. Yes councilor. Crime, Jetty. Yes counselor bremski. Yes counselor Williams president greitas. Yes. And chair Migliorelli. Yes, that's unanimous. Public comment is now closed. Since we have members of the administration here tonight to speak on the items before us I'll entertain a motion to suspend the rules before we proceed so moved second. Motion has to spend rules have been made by counselor. Sonella

▶ 37:13 Leila Migliorelli: seconded by counselor Eccles. Vice chair Geraldine Yes. Counselor McMaster. Yes counselor. Sonella. Yes counselor Eccles. Yes Council. Gerepe. Yes counselor Stewart. Yes counselor Carm s*****. Yes. Councilor remsky. Yes counselor Williams. Yes. President agoritis. Yes and chair Migliorelli. Yes, that's unanimous as well. Okay, the rules are now suspended first item on our agenda tonight is appointment 2020 23-5 appointment of Daniel jellormini, and I will let you correct my pronunciation later 20 Pilgrim Road to the Melrose zoning board of appeals the zba as an associate member for a two-year term set to expire on the last day of February 2025. I don't okay. The mayor is here logging back in.

▶ 38:10 Paul Brodeur: Hello mayor border. Oh good evening Madam chair and at the members of the committee and at the result of sounding like a broken record just to let folks know that I'm not with you this evening because I have been diagnosed with covid. However, I am regardless of my physical condition very excited to offer Daniels because I'm going to defer on his last name as well Daniels. Into the sea in the submission for an associate position on our zba as you can see from his extensive resume. This is what he does. He is an architect by training and trade he has worked on projects all over the country he has Not just the academic experience but the professional experience and the teaching experience that will make

▶ 39:09 Paul Brodeur: him I think an invaluable asset to the to the board and to the community again, this is a situation where the administration Administration put out a call for interest and the caliber of the candidates who step forward or folks that showed interest was truly extraordinary and now we are very fortunate to have a deep well to draw from in terms of filling these jobs now and in the future these volunteer positions I should say, but I'm delighted to offer Daniels candidacy for your consideration as he rose to the top of that process. And again if you'd like to make a statement, I mean obviously as I said I commend his An ancient to you and look forward to the deliberations. Thank you very much. So it is jellormini, by

▶ 40:06 Ryan Williams: the way, so thank you. I think everyone got it correctly. I'd like to thank mayor Broder for Nominating me for this position. You know, I have about 20 years of experience professionally as an architect. I have plenty of experience going before the zoning board of appeals. So I am familiar with the process and I'd like to basically use my experience to help improve our community. Thank you. counselor Williams Hi, thanks for stepping up. It is great that you have the technical knowledge to integrate into the the board easily. I think that's a really good really good plus so I want to ask you a little bit more about the community Improvement piece. Sure, so I guess to start. I want to hear a little bit more. If you wouldn't mind about your

▶ 41:01 Ryan Williams: perspective on the role of the zoning board in the overall development and growth of Melrose. As a built Community sure. Well, you know as far as development goes I think progress is important for our community. I think the zoning board plays an important role in that in that it's on us to understand special special uses special circumstances and to understand the Ordinance intent not necessarily make it a blanket statement that applies to all unique projects. And so I'd like to use my experience interpret interpret projects and help guide the community and correct direction. and share with us a little bit. Your thoughts on what that direction would look like. Well, I think that there's a lot of opportunity in our

▶ 41:59 community. I think there's a lot of opportunity for housing for retail. And what I'd like to do is I'd like to be part of the part of the community that helps steer that in the right direction. I think that there's a lot of unique instances in our community where the zoning board doesn't necessarily the zoning ordinance doesn't necessarily apply cleanly or there's changes in uses and I think I could help weigh in on those instances. and if you've been following CBA meetings recently, you must have you been off and on I don't think I don't attend them regularly. Sure. Have any of the cases that you've seen since you're not going to be a part of the past cases of any of the past cases that you've seen particularly caught your eye or picture interest.

▶ 42:51 Was there anything in particular that made you want to reach out to run for this position? Um, so not particularly, I think what I really enjoys the process so I like to understand the unique circumstances of someone either going for a variance or an appeal and I like the process of understanding if that is going to be a public good for the public good or not. So I I hate to say it but I never go into one of those meetings saying this is how it should be or this is how it should be able to this how it should be rejected. I really enjoy the process of understanding the intent understanding how it applies to the parcel and then understanding if the project will benefit our community or not appreciate that for me. Thank you.

▶ 43:33 Manjula Karamcheti: counselor Chrome JD Hello there. Thank you so much for for being here with us tonight. I'm Angela carmichudi. I'm the counselor for Ward one and we have had quite a few cases going before the zoning board of appeals and the planning board of the late and something that I've observed and I'm just sort of interested in regards to your experience is often with the zoning board and appeals it involves interfacing interacting connecting with the community particularly when we're considering what is for the good of the neighborhood and I've just love either within your professional practice or in thinking about your role on the zoning board. Just some art. What are your principles and best practices for engaging with the community?

▶ 44:21 Sure. So I I be the first to say that change is very difficult for people. I have certainly been on the presenting end where we're pursuing either a variant or relief from zoning and I think that what's important is to be transparent to discuss a little bit of the greater good that the project will provide rather than to I don't know in this instance somebody that's across the street or a direct butter. It's not an easy thing. But I think if we're doing something for the benefit of Melrose as a whole then I think it's worth it and to have that discussion into clearly explain to people how the community will benefit from this project is what I think is important. Thank you counselor. Karmchatie any other

▶ 45:07 questions? Seeing none. What is the will of the committee? motion recommend for seconds motion recommend made by counselor Eccles seconded by counselor Williams on discussion seeing none. Vice chair Jamaleddine Yes. Counselor McMaster. Yes counselor. Sonella. Yes counselor Eccles. Yes counselor garpy. Yes, that's Stewart. Yes councilor. Crime Shady. Yes. Tell Sarah bremski. Yes counselor Williams president greitus. Yes and chair. Migliarelli. Yes. That's unanimous. Yes, so your appointment. will be present in front of the council at our next council meeting. Thank you. Thank you very much. Next up is appropriation 2023-21 inappropriation of the planning department to fund the school facilities master plan.

▶ 46:06 Denise Gaffey: Tonight we have Denise Gaffey here director of planning department to speak on this order. Thank you. Miss. Kathy. Good night. Good evening. So this is a request from free cash for funds in order to perform a comprehensive school facility master plan study. The last time I studied like this was done was about 25 years ago and at that time the city in the school department collaborated on bringing an architectural firm in to take a comprehensive. Look at all of our school facilities both in terms of their condition, but also in terms of how they were meaning the needs of this of the student population that study back in 1997 was the set the stage for our rebuilding process a couple of our school buildings that were rebuilt including

▶ 47:05 Denise Gaffey: the Lincoln and the Roosevelt, excuse me, the Roosevelt School and then of course the Middle School so so fast forward to today, we are kind of in a different situation we have. Um, we have some buildings that basically, you know, as you know, we have the BB school which is currently being used temporarily as a library space and that is going to become available again next year. And so there's a question about exactly about how that school will be will be used again in the future and there's also some some pretty significant facility needs both at the BB school which we studied extensively last year through a feasibility study process, but also at some of our other facilities, I know you've heard from DBW on

▶ 47:56 Denise Gaffey: and off about some some funding needs in order to meet some of the facility needs and those buildings as well. But I think it's also just a chance to kind of step back and sort of look big picture at where we anticipate enrollment going in the future and how to best serve the needs of the community. Um, and also we we want to be able to set the stage. I think the goal of this study will be to set the stage to apply to the mass School building authority for their next round of core capital projects. The deadline for that is April and so we're obviously not going to be applying this year because we really don't have a great grasp on what our next priority project would be which school facility we would we

▶ 48:43 Denise Gaffey: would would be applying for whether it would be for the BB which we know needs a complete overhaul. Or the Winthrop school, which was also a school that was always considered our sort of the next school on the list for elementary schools for for major Capital project. So we want to take this opportunity between now and then we and next year rather we have about a year to do this kind of comprehensive study bring different members of the community together including obviously the school committee and school department. And community members and kind of study study these issues in a comprehensive way so that we can make a sound decision. When we do apply to the mspa for funding understanding that it can

▶ 49:28 Jen Grigoraitis: take years for projects to get off the list. So we really need to start thinking about this about this now. Happy to entertain any questions you might have. Thank you. First I have President Garipay greatest. Thank you madam. Chair. Thank you Denise for being here tonight. I'm thrilled to see this order because I think it's long overdue. So my first question was just it's been since 1997 that we did this what typically would you say is best practice for how often we should be going through a comprehensive study like this to determine, you know feasibility and usage of the buildings. Say I mean 20 25 years is a sort of a reasonable amount of time. Okay, so it's that it's yeah and can you and you mentioned the msba timeline.

▶ 50:15 Denise Gaffey: Can you when you say years are we talking one year three years seven years in terms of from when a project is accepted to to actually breaking ground. Just well, I believe it can be a couple years before it even gets invited in to the into the program. And then it's then you you know, you have to go through the different phases of design. So then it's going to be another, you know, probably another couple of years before you actually break ground. so we could so is it fair to say it could be almost a decade between I'm hoping it's not gonna be okay that long right but it can take quite a few years. Okay. I'm sure if I made might be able to be a little bit helpful on this as members of the school committee know about maybe the members of the council aren't quite

▶ 51:02 Paul Brodeur: as aware of the SBA program is under significant financial challenges right now mostly due to the unprecedented rise in Capitol building costs and so yeah, they're approving fewer projects and they have at least temporarily eliminated partner duct temporarily eliminated the Rapid Repair program, which is a real blow to Melrose for some of our for some of our plans. But I think you captured the beginning we need we need that long term plan regardless because whatever that program looks like we need to be in the best position to take advantage of that. Thank you. My only other question was just in terms of using this study to determine the usage of our buildings. That's something that's of the final decision rests with the school committee on

▶ 52:03 Paul Brodeur: what type of programming occurs in those buildings, or is that more of a collaboration with the city? Well, we would hopefully I mean the intent would be to collaborate very closely with them through this process so that we were all on the same page one when the study was complete and making recommendations. Great. Thank you. Counselor there wasn't likely any major project is gone is going to require at least bonding potentially a dead exclusion. And that is the sole power of the city council to to move forward that you know, as you know, the school committee has no independent. Funding or borrowing capacity. So it would almost by definition require that Cooperative effort. Thank you. Mayor Broder. I'm counselor garapay and then councilor

▶ 52:55 Denise Gaffey: karmchati. Thank you madam. Chair. Thank you, Ms. Kathy for being here. Just one quick car to a couple quick questions was it last time? We did a study on all the all the city buildings. Is this something that really Should be separate or could we combine it all or is that too much of an undertaking to do all the city buildings? I think it would be a major undertaking to try to combine it with municipal buildings. I think we would also be targeting a consultant that really focuses on school facilities. I think that is kind of a distinct area of architectural study. So I think plus factoring in the enrollment projection piece of that. I think we were best off. Just keeping it to school facilities.

▶ 53:44 Mark Garipay: So the last school one was done in 1997 have we ever done one on any on the city of the city buildings or do we just handle those individually as things as I things arise, I believe they're it's primarily done on an individual basis. And if this is to get approved, when when do you think the the bid would go out? I think we want to get it. I think we're going to want to get moving on a pretty quickly to try to get try to hit the ground. So we're ready for like again for then for the deadline next April. Thank you. No more questions. Thank you. I'm counselor crime chady and then councilor Williams. Thank you so much for being here. I'm also excited to see this on our agenda today. I get a lot of comments from my children about

▶ 54:37 Manjula Karamcheti: the State of Affairs in many of the school buildings. Just like a very simple question for clarification just to make sure I understand and that the community understands this. Feasibility study is really. required and necessary for there to be a proposal for a new high school building to get funding for that or to move forward with any plans for the BB that kind of thing like this study is essential to any any of those types of processes. Well, I think it's essential for the in order for the community to make the best decision about which direction to go in. I don't think it's not per se of central to the mspa for them to see that we've done this comprehensive master plan, but they would but it is helpful to have the communities Buy in

▶ 55:28 Ryan Williams: on what the priorities are and what we're our focus should be and so from that sense. Thank you for that for that. That's very helpful. And then The there isn't a company we would have in mind to run that for us. It would go out to bid as yeah, we would put out a request for proposal, right? cancer Williams also We're thrilled for this because like president said and like I mean, everybody has said it's it. We all had a lot of us have kids in schools and you know when talking about the public safety buildings. The next thing that comes to mind is like my kids school is all so built in 1964, right? has a bomb shelter sign on the side just in case the you know Russians anyway, so my question about

▶ 56:23 Ryan Williams: this, is it limited to the Structure does it look at the footprint? In terms of additional uses of land or space so, you know at Hoover we have this big like turnaround that nobody can use anymore and that is just a bunch of asphalt. It just doesn't do anything. Is it comprehensive like that? Are we going to be looking at recreational space or other structures that are like not necessarily put your retaining walls things like this or is it just four walls School building? So I think the primary goal is is to look at it from a facility standpoint. I mean certainly would have to understand the way the site works and see what opportunities there are on each individual site to whether it's to expand

▶ 57:08 Denise Gaffey: the footprint or rebuild on another site part of the site or something like that. But the primary goal is to look at the the actual the spaces the classroom space the educational spaces and you mentioned in April deadline. So is this part this is part of a plan to file a specific application to the SBA msba, so yeah, the msba the school building assistance program has they typically and actually they could change their mind next year, but typically their deadline for the What's called the core Capital project. That's when you're applying for either a new school building or a like comprehensive renovation of a school building. They call that the core Capital distinct from The Accelerated repair program, which you know, we also have applied for

▶ 57:59 Denise Gaffey: in the past but the core program is typically their deadline is in April. And do you have an idea of what the application will be focused on or is that the purpose of this? Project. So the application actually it's one it's it's a similar to when we we have a we come to the council for a statement of interest to apply the the application itself is not particularly onerous. It's but there are some forms. We need to fill out just describing what the need is and so it'll be help this process will be really helpful for us in terms of identifying that and identifying there'll be very interested in knowing to what our enrollment projections are and whether we are squeezed for space in any particular

▶ 58:48 Denise Gaffey: location because that ends up becoming a priority as a mayor mentioned they get a lot of requests for these these projects and so they do prioritize enrollment issues or constraints like like that. So at the end of the day we take this report and it has a recommendation or we as a you know Community decide that this is the best bang for our buck and then come April. We apply for a grant for that. And do something rebuild it build a new one fix it whatever right? That is our that is a goal. Yeah. Okay. Thank you. Counselor McMaster, thank you. Madam. Chair. Good evening, Miss Kathy. The order is reflected on the agenda does not include an appropriation amount of the bottom of page two lists cost

▶ 59:33 Denise Gaffey: of 125,000 is that that is that is correct. Yes, and that's and that's an estimate. That is an estimate. That is the same estimate that we carried a year ago. When we did the CIP process and I meant to just mention that it is this project did rank highly by the CIP committee last year when it was presented as one of the 60 or 70 projects that we the committee ranked. I think it ranked as the project project link number 12, but yes that is based on an estimate based on some conversations that I've had with other fur with firms that do this kind of work. Does that come in on the lower end of an estimate? Is it more than average and I'm wondering whether it's not the council will kind of more on an average. It feels like an appropriate

▶ 1:00:18 Denise Gaffey: number. with the possibility that We could see you in the future for additional money if the cost succeed. Well, it would only be if I mean if we put it out to to bid and got numbers that were higher than that. We would know right away. In other words. It wouldn't we wouldn't be in the middle of the process and run out of money. All right. Thank you. Sure. counselor Eccles and counselor Stewart Thank you. Madam. Chair. Thank you. Miss. Gaffy for being here. Is it deliverable for this project actually filling out the application or is it just the master plan? And then your office it's the study and like I said the application itself is not all that is not particularly onerous. So that's something we would

▶ 1:01:01 Robb Stewart: do with the school department in that application would come before the council. Yeah. Yeah, they they always require a vote of both the school committee and the council. Counselor Stewart. Thank you madam chair. Thank you for being here this evening. The outcome of this study will it have Financial ramifications? In other words? Will they? Provide estimates of current day. Yeah across the board of what's going to take. Yes, we will we will raise across the different schools and we provide options we will include that we will include they will provide options. Yes. When you anticipate this to be done. So again, I mean the goal is for to set us up for for next April so sometime by February or

▶ 1:01:54 Paul Brodeur: so next year. Okay, and so you have to go put out the bids establish and start how long how long it is this take? I mean, I think it would take about. six months six to eight months for architect affirm to work on okay, so we would need to get going by August we need to get going. That's right. Okay. All right. Thank you. anyone else I'm sure if I may as I want to mention something about Council gaffes excellent question about what about everything else which is always something we should keep in mind and candidly some we haven't done a great job at as a community but to a certain degree the good news. Is this over the past several years. We have gone through this process with the library with Memorial Hall

▶ 1:02:58 Paul Brodeur: with the salt shed. And when the midst of it with our public safety building, so to a certain degree the good news is In the short term, there isn't a heck of a lot left. We certainly always need to be thinking about. City Hall itself and our other DBW facilities, but the attention to Capital needs has to be sustained and it's led to some of the things we've been able to do and I think this fits that model very well. I hope the council approves the measure. man, brother, I just have Two questions for you, Denise, you mentioned Community involvement. Was that something that happens with the like so you before you get this plan, you'll be inviting members of the community to participate in assessing

▶ 1:03:53 Denise Gaffey: it or later on in the process. I think it would be nice to put together a committee that had a kind of a cross section of people on it. I haven't given a lot of thought to that. I don't think it would be my decision. But when looking back in 1997 and how they structured that effort, they look like they had sort of a cross-section of people on a committee. Okay, and just I guess maybe looking thinking back to 1997 the involvement of the superintendent. What would that be in that? We're in the middle of a superintendent? Is that how critical is that person? I mean ideally the superintendent would be on the committee. Okay, but you know, I'm if it's an interim superintendent, then that person certainly the business manager, you

▶ 1:04:36 Leila Migliorelli: know. We wouldn't encourage his participation. Thank you and just want to Echo my colleagues and saying that this is I'm excited. This is coming forward. I also have a child to complains regularly about the facilities. So I look forward to being able to go home and tell him that something is being done. So thank you any other questions or of entertain a motion motion to recommend passage second. Most rank men beat by counselor snellas second of my counselor Eckles. Vice chair Jamal Dean Yes. Counselor McMaster. Yes counselor. Sonella. Yes counselor Eccles. Yes kelsegrity. Yes counselor Stewart. Yes councilor. Karmchetti. Yes counselor bremski. Yes counselor Williams. Yes, president agoritis. Yes and cheer

▶ 1:05:23 Denise Gaffey: legally. Yes, that's unanimous. Thank you. Thank you Kathy. Thank you. And I guess it tight. For our next order which is ordered 2023-59 amending Melrose revised or zoning ordinance chapter 235 various provisions. Thank you. Great Lord's yours wearing. My other hat. I'm also going to welcome Greg Sampson up here if that's okay. Yes, Greg is the chairman of the planning board. Thank you, Mr. Samson. So we're happy to be here tonight to follow up on the the zoning initiative that the planning board sent down a couple of months ago. Just to refresh everyone's memory. There was a public Hearing in front of the Council on the Sony amendment in early March and then there was a second public Hearing in

▶ 1:06:20 Denise Gaffey: front of the at a planning board meeting in in bin March and at that time the planning board reviewed the zoning Amendment proposal again, and neither case for there any was there any participation from members of the public? I just want to mention that but we did have an opportunity at the public Hearing in front of the planning board to also talk about some of the comments that were raised by the counselors at the early March public hearing and so as a result of that we put together a report we talked about the comments. We kind of talked through them. We put together a report and then we put we brought the report back to the planning board at their last meeting at the end of March was March 27th, and they voted.

▶ 1:07:08 Denise Gaffey: To send it to the council. So that's why we're here today is to talk about the report that the planning board has issued and essentially again there was not as I mentioned there weren't any public comments per se so we didn't we didn't have any comments from the public to to report on but there were several items that the councilors had raised at the public hearing. So we just we did a little bit of research. To respond to some questions that were asked and also just summarized or some of the issues that were raised just to to document the documents of comments. Essentially. We don't recommend any changes from what was originally presented. We didn't see any need to make any changes to the to the link to the Amendments that were sent

▶ 1:08:00 Denise Gaffey: down based on either one of the public hearings, but I can kind of quickly go through with some of the things we did talk about in the report if that's helpful. It was we were asked to To find out exactly how many in-law apartment applications were received over the past 10 years or so because one of the Amendments is to to modify the language for in-law apartments slightly. And so we determined that there were 14 applications for in-law apartments since 2010. So not that many we maybe get one application for in law apartment per year and of those eight of them requested variences, so they needed variances from the more restrictive language that we're asking to this counsel to consider modifying so

▶ 1:08:53 Denise Gaffey: all in all of those I think all but one of the eight were approved by the zoning border of appeals. So so again it we don't get many applications. We don't think the proposal is the amendments are going to change that all that much but it would still be helpful for the for the handful of owners who have had to come in front of the board for variances to not have to meet that standard again. They still have to still require a special permit in any district for an in-law apartment and they still have to meet all the other standards that are that are outlined in the in the zoning. We talked about we we just some a member of the council had asked about deed restrictions. So we just reiterated that Decisions

▶ 1:09:40 Denise Gaffey: by the zba on offer in law apartment approvals are filed with the registry of deeds. So there's a record that is tied to the property at the registry. We also there was a comment at the public hearing about whether we should not include the suggested map change that the Zone the planning board was recommended was recommending and we basically just reiterated we thought that it was important to keep that that request in this package of zoning amendments. It is the only it is the only amendment of this whole package that deals with the map. That is true. But it's still it's still we think a very useful change to make it this time because we recognize that it's not good practice to have the boundary line

▶ 1:10:40 Denise Gaffey: for the zoning District dissect the property and that would be this particular parcel would be better student in the ba2 zoning District. So we would recommend keeping that in the amendments. There was a question about corner lot setbacks and sorry some a member of the council had asked us to review with the police chief and the fire chief whether they had any concerns about the modifications that we were suggesting for Corner lots. And so I had conversations with both Chiefs and so that they fully understand the intent and neither one of them were concerned about any hazards or or any other concerns related to that change. We just there was a question about a discussion at the first public hearing about lodging homes lodging units

▶ 1:11:33 Denise Gaffey: versus dwelling units. And so we attempt to clarify in this report the distinction in the fact that they are distinct uses in our zoning ordinance ordinance and that also that if lodging homes and lodging units require permits by the city council In addition to special permits. I think it is and only certain zoning districts. So we just clarified that let's see in terms of fences. We had a discussion last time about How the Building Commissioner might interpret this new language vis-a-vis and property owners who have a pre-existing non-conforming fences. So we did have a conversation with the Building Commissioner about that and you know, he did. You know, he acknowledged that there are some people there

▶ 1:12:28 Denise Gaffey: are some property owners who have probably installed illegal offenses our fences that are currently not you know, when they installed them were not done according to the code so that they if they were modifications to those fences. He would not necessarily uphold that you know, the fact that it was done illegally, so they might be asked to bring it into conformance if however it is just pre-existing non-conforming once the zoning changes. Once we make these changes to the zoning then they could they could make they could do they could do maintenance on the fence and they wouldn't have to bring it up to the current standards. It was only if they were just completely replacing the fence. So I know there was

▶ 1:13:16 Denise Gaffey: some current concern about that mentioned for somebody who might be doing a property owner who might be just doing a small maintenance project and he also confirmed that Compliance with the fence regulations is is mainly driven by complaints. He does not drive around the community looking for. people who may have installed fences out of compliance with the zoning, but it also that we don't actually get a lot of complaints about that. So but we're hopeful with these changes that we've recommended and some Outreach that we can do to the community that that'll be very clear in the future what the requirements are. Let's see. I think the other issue was about the special permit timeline. There was some discussion about whether whether it's

▶ 1:14:08 Denise Gaffey: advisable for this for us to opt into that extra year if you recall the amendment is suggesting that we extend the deadline for Permitting approvals from two years to three years the when the state state legislature made a change to allow for that and it's something we could opt into and we were recommending making that change to allow for the extra year just because we understand we hear it all the time in the planning office because we we are you know coordinating with with property owners frequently, especially for the bigger developments that they they oftentimes it takes a long time to get projects off the ground. So we think by adding that extra year actually might might facilitate projects

▶ 1:14:55 Denise Gaffey: getting done instead of having to come back at two years and get redo their permitting. So we would recommend keeping that in at three years. Those were the primary. discussion points and again just to summarize we don't recommend any modifications Beyond. The original amendment that we sent down. Anything to add or you could cover everything. All right. Well, happy answering questions. Yes. Thank you. Any questions from the council? Councilor McMaster, I don't have a question Madam chair, but at this time I'd make a motion to divide the order so that we can vote on each part of it separately. Second motion to divide the order so we can vote on each part separately made by counselor McMaster second of my counselor

▶ 1:15:52 Leila Migliorelli: garapay just to clarify counselor to clarify your motion all of the in the package everything that is defined with a bold title to to defy divide that correct amount of chair. There's 11 parks to the order. on discussion Motion to divide the order by 11 parts. Vice chair gemology Yes. Counselor McMaster. Yes counselor. Sonella. Yes counselor Eckles. Yes counselor garepe. Yes. Counselor Stewart. Yes Council crime Shetty. Yes. Counselor bremski. Yes counselor Williams. No President your greatest. Yes. And chair Migliorelli. Yes, that's 10. Yes one opposed. Okay. so the passes I'm speaking then we move forward with the first order divided part of the order which is corner lot setbacks. questions on that order

▶ 1:17:18 Leila Migliorelli: Or I will. See, none of counselor eckels. I was gonna make a motion to recommend. 2023-21 is a dash one or just first part of that divider order. I mean 23 - 59 -- one a okay motion made for passage for just say Corner a lot setbacks. Push Me by counselor Eckles second second by President Grigoraitis on discussion all in favor or sorry well vice-chromaldine yes, and I'm sorry. I just want I had a question on discussion. Yes. I'm not sure question. Can I ask it now? Yes. Okay, so I would I just for clarification purposes. How many order are we spreading? There'll be 11 total now. one order split 11 ways for each of the sections within the order So we're going to vote on 11 order, correct? So that's what that was the vote that we just took and now

▶ 1:18:36 we're voting on part one. the corner lot setbacks and the motion on the table is to recommend made by counselor Eccles second and by president Grigoraitis. Councilor McMaster. Yes. Counselor sonella. Yes counselor Eccles. I'm sorry. Council serpe. Yes counselor Stewart. Yes councilor Karamcheti. Yes counselor bremski. Yes. Councilor Williams. Yes, president Grigoraitis. Yes and chair nuclearelli. Yes. That's 11. Yes. So corner lot setbacks passes. The next divided part of the order is structure definition. Ocean recommend second. Most recommend made by counselor Eccles secondary by counselor Williams Mr. Clerk Vice chair Jamal Dean Yes counselor McMaster. Yes counselor. Sonella. Yes. Yes, sir.

▶ 1:19:43 Mark Garipay: Councilor Eccles. Yes Council Carpe. Yes counselor Stewart. Yes Council crime Shetty. Yes counselor bremski. Yes counselor Williams. Yes, president Grigoraitis. Yes and chair. Migliarelli. Yes, that's unanimous. next one ba2 ba2 zoning district line change at 521 529 Franklin Street Council grapes Yes, I had some questions on this when it was. In front of us earlier, I think I think it should be on its separate in front of us separately not part of this. And for that reason I will be voting. No on this particular one. If it comes back in front of us on a separate order down the road. I will I will support it, but I don't think it should be within this within this order. I think it should be on a standalone separate order.

▶ 1:20:41 Manjula Karamcheti: Yes, just I want to Echo the sentiments of counselor Gare pay as this location is in Ward one. It just this doesn't seem like the appropriate place for it to be decided. And so would look forward to addressing this in a different place and time in a different process to be able to ask particular questions and explore the impacts of this zoning change in Ward one particularly as that area is currently under excessive or not excessive but in development in a lot of different ways regarding building and Zoning, so just want to Look at it separately and not bundled in this. Document as as it has been okay, I guess I would say that this is sort of unbundled but that just is my own commentary on that, but I hear you

▶ 1:21:39 both. Councilor Eccles, um, I feel fine voting on this tonight is part of this. I feel if people felt really strongly about it. They would have shown up to the city council of public hearing and Made their voice short or reach out to the council. So I'll make a motion recommend second. oh shrank men made by counselor Eccles seconded by counselor Williams on discussion Mr. Clerk Vice chair Jamal Dean Yes. counselor McMaster no Counselor sonella. Yes counselor Eccles. Yes Council grape. No. counselor Stewart, no councilor crime Shady. No councilor bremsky, no counselor Williams. Yes. president Uranus no and chair. Miglielli. Yes. Five. Yes, six opposed so motion fails. And next is definition of retail food establishment.

▶ 1:22:54 Robb Stewart: Ocean's recommend motion second. Most recommend me by President Greer seconded by counselor Eccles, Mr. Clerk. Vice chair Jamal Dean Yes counselor McMaster. Yes counselor. Cinella. Yes counselor Eccles. Yes counsel. Gerupe. Yes. Yes, sir Stewart. Yes Castor crimshady. Yes counselor bremski. Yes counselor Williams. Yes, president Grigoraitis. Yes and chair. Migliarelli. Yes, that's unanimous. definition of inlock apartment councilor Stewart Thank you, Mr. Chair as I expressed in our previous open meeting. I have concerns of excuse me about the in-law apartment and particularly in my ward. I I just think that it might be taken advantage of I would not want to see that so I am reluctant to support this at this evening. Thank you manager.

▶ 1:24:01 What is the will of the committee on this I'll make a motion to recommend second made by counselor Williams secondary by counselor Eccles, Mr. Clerk. Vice chair Jamal Dean Yes councilor McMaster. Yes counselor. Sonella. Yes counselor Eccles. Yes counselorpe. No. counselor Stewart, no Councilor Cassidy, yes. counselor bermski yes Council Williams yes president the greatest. Yes and chair Migliorelli. Yes. That's a nine. Yes, two opposed motion passes. votes for special and I'm considering this is one order and see there's votes for approval special permit term. This is one order before us. Motion to recommend second most recommend made by President greet a second of my counselor. Sonella, Mr. Clark

▶ 1:25:03 Vice chairman. Yes. Counselor McMaster. Yes. Counselor sonella. Yes counselor Eccles. Yes, Council grapes. Yes counselor Stewart. Yes Council scrum Shetty. Yes councilor bremski. Yes councilor Williams. Yes, president Gratis. Yes and chairmanelli. Yes. That's unanimous. Next up is sight lines and fence height in front yards on corner and non Corner art Lots. What is the will of the committee? ocean recommend and most recommend made by counselor Eckles seconded by councilor. Cinella, Mr. Clerk or on discussion. Mr. Clerk Vice chair gemaldine Yes counselor McMaster. Yes counselor. Sonella. Yes counselor Eccles. Yes Council Gary pay. Yes councilor Stewart. Yes Council crime Shetty. Yes counselor

▶ 1:26:00 bremsky. Yes counselor Williams. Yes president greitus. Yes. And chair Migliorelli. Yes, that's unanimous as well. Next up is site plan review criteria. What is the will of the committee? second most recommend made by counselor eccleseikaner by President Grigoraitis on discussion seeing none, Mr. Clerk. Vice chair Jamal Dean Yes. Counselor McMaster. Yes counselor. Sonella. Yes counselor Eccles. Yes. Yes garpy. Yes counselor Stewart. Yes Council grandchetti. Yes. Yes. How's our bremsky? Yes counselor Williams. Yes president the greatest. Yes and chairmanelli. Yes. That's unanimous. I vegetation height for Corner Lots in yards along streets General code Amendment. What is a well? No, that's a general

▶ 1:26:59 Shawn M. MacMaster: code amendment. That would have to be done. Through the general code. I believe it was a separate order as a separate order actually zoning, but I think that was already wasn't that already there. the general code Amendment so and discussion Madame chair. I think it'd probably be appropriate with this one to maybe table it and I think this would require an order from a counselor in order to move it forward which I'd be happy to do having worked with miscophy and the planning board Mr. Sampson to get this before us, so I think we just table it at this point and I can work with with them to file Incorporated order. anyone else on discussion Okay motion to table made by counselor McMaster. seconded by counselor Eccles

▶ 1:28:10 Mr. Clerk Vice chair gemology Yes, Pastor McMaster. Yes counselor. Sonella. Yes counselor Eccles. Yes. Counsel. Gerepe. Yes counselor Stewart. Yes councilor Carm s*****. Yes councilor bermski. Yes Council Williams. Yes, president greatest. Yes and chair legally. Yes. That's unanimous. Okay. will committee He recommend thank you. Second motion recommend me by counselor Echols secondary by counselor Williams. on discussion Vice chair Jamal Dean Vice chair Jamaleddine human be frozen Can we why don't we continue with the role and then we'll see if we can get it back. Counselor McMaster. Yes counselor. Yes. Counselor Eccles. Yes Council security. Yes counselor Stewart. Yes calstrate. Yes counselor bremski.

▶ 1:29:41 Leila Migliorelli: Yes. Counselor Williams. Yes president greitas. Yes. And chairmanelli. Yes. That's 10. Yes one. I would just given that we have a member. I think according to our remote meeting rules. We have to wait until we get our back online before we continue. Counselor jamaladin, we took a vote on the unit size and that past just so you know. I can't hear anyone just in case you hear me speaking. You're muted. Hi. Counselor Germany, we just voted on the unit size part of the order and that passed. So we're moving on we're on definition of family and dwelling units. Entertain a motion potions second most Shrek recommend made by counselor Greta seconded by counselor Eccles. Once again, this is under the definition of family and dwelling units

▶ 1:31:10 on discussion. Seeing none. after clerk ready Vice chair gemology Yes, Castle McMaster. Yes counselor. Sonella. Yes counselor Eccles. Yes. Counsel. Gerepe. Yes counselor Stewart. Yes councilor. Crime Shetty Yes concert remski. Yes counselor Williams. Yes, president Grigoraitis and chair. Miglielli. Yes, you know, Miss, okay. so to recap all 11 of those of the 11 One is not moving forward recommendation and one is being tabled until a different time. So. That's in in conclusion. Thank you very much, Ms. Gaffy. Thank you for bearing with us. Okay, Ocean Road chair. I'll make a motion to a gym motion adjourned Me by counselor Stewart secondary by counselor Garibay. Vice chair Jamal Dean councilor McMaster. Yes counselor. Sonella. Yes

▶ 1:32:23 counselor Eccles. Yes. Castlegarapy. Yes counselor Stewart. Yes Council crime s*****. Yes counselor bremski. Yes counselor Williams. Yes, president Grigoraitis and cheerle. Yes, that's unanimous. Okay. Thank you.

Appropriations & Oversight Committee — 2023-04-10

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