City of Lowell -Planning Board

Planning Board Agenda

Thursday, September 21, 2006 6:30 P.M.

City Council Chambers, City Hall

City of Lowell, 375 Merrimack Street, Lowell, MA

Roll Call of Neighborhood Groups

Site Plan: 790, 816, 824, 836, & 826.1 Chelmsford Street

The Lowell Planning Board will review an application by Connector Park Holding, LLC, National Development, and Lowe's Companies, Inc. for site plan review of the development of the property located at 790, 816, 824, 836, & 826.1 Chelmsford Street. The proposal includes the demolition of existing buildings on site and the construction of a 153,200 sqft retail home improvement store with a garden center and an indoor lumber yard. The entire site, including existing office buildings that will stay on site, is 26.33 acres of land area, located in the HRC (High Rise Commercial) zoning district. Access to the site is provided off Composite Way and Wellman Street, closing all direct access points along Chelmsford Street to the site. The proposal includes a landscaped buffer along Chelmsford Street and 554 parking spaces with associated landscaping. Site plan review is required for this project under Section 11.4 of the Lowell Zoning Ordinance.

Repetitive Petition & Special Permit: 1881, 1883, & 1857.1 Middlesex Street

The Lowell Planning Board will review an application by Middlesex Partners Limited & Lexy Development for repetitive petition and special permit review of the development of the property located at 1881, 1883, & 1857.1 Middlesex Street. The proposal includes the demolition of the existing buildings on site and the construction of 128 housing units in four (4) buildings on a 402,930sf lot, with associated parking and landscaping. The site will be accessed via a 426-foot long driveway, through a curb cut located at 1881/1883 Middlesex Street across from Dingwell Street. On July 17, 2006, the Planning Board voted to approve the site plan 3 votes to 1. The special permit for driveway length was therefore denied because it required 4 `yes' votes. The current proposal requires a repetitive petition review to determine that the new application contains specific and material changes from the first application, as well as special permit review under Section 6.7.2 of the Lowell Zoning Ordinance for driveway length. Repetitive petition and special permit applications will be heard concurrently for this project.

Zoning Amendment & Additions: Sign Ordinance, et al

In accordance with M.G.L. Chapter 40A, Section 5, the Lowell Planning Board will consider ordinances to amend “The Code of Ordinances City of Lowell, Massachusetts,” with respect to Appendix A thereof entitled “Zoning,” adding a Section 11.3.9: Notification of application before the Planning Board & ZBA, adding to Section 6.3.2a, #20: Request for Permit Sign, and other changes associated with these additions

Zoning Amendment Review: Accessory Dwelling Unit Ordinance

As requested by the City Council Zoning Subcommittee, the Planning Board will further review the proposed zoning addition regarding the addition of “Section 8.4: Accessory Dwelling Units.”

Planning Board Agenda

September 21, 2006 - Page 2