City of Lowell -Planning Board

Planning Board Agenda

January 4, 2007 6:30 P.M.

City Council Chambers, City Hall

City of Lowell, 375 Merrimack Street, Lowell, MA

Roll Call of Neighborhood Groups

Zoning Amendment: 550-570 Bridge Street

The Lowell Planning Board will review a proposed zoning amendment to extend the existing TMU (Traditional Neighborhood Mixed Use) zoning district to include the area of 550-570 Bridge Street. The area is presently zoned NB (Neighborhood Business) and comprises 550 Bridge Street and 570 Bridge Street. The area is located at the corner of Bridge Street and West Sixth Street in Lowell.

Site Plan & Special Permit Review: 685-686 Lawrence Street

The Lowell Planning Board will review an application by the Frawley Realty Trust for site plan approval and special permits for the development of the property located at 685-689 Lawrence Street. The proposal includes the construction of twenty-four (24) residential units, with associated landscaping and parking. Four (4) units will be located in the existing building at the corner of Lawrence and Andrews Street, nine (9) units will be located above a portion of the building on Andrews Street, and eleven (11) new townhouse units will also be constructed along Andrews Street. This project is in the TMU (Traditional-Neighborhood Mixed Use) Zoning District and requires Special Permit review under Article XII and Site Plan review under Section 11.4 of the Lowell Zoning Ordinance.

Site Plan Review: 94-106 Rock Street

The Lowell Planning Board will review an application by Middlesex North Resource Center, a subsidiary of Bridgewell, Inc., a non-profit educational corporation serving disable individuals, for Site Plan Approval for a project located at 94-106 Rock Street. The proposal includes the rehabilitation of an existing building with site laundry facilities, a recreation/community room, and 12 bedrooms. The proposal also includes the construction of a new 6,900 sqft building with 12 efficiency units, classroom and office space, as well as a fifteen (15) space parking lot and associated landscaping. The project is located in the UMF (Urban Neighborhood Multi Family) zoning district, and requires Site Plan approval under Section 11.4 of the Lowell Zoning Ordinance.

Site Plan Review: 40 Perkins Street

The Lowell Planning Board will review an application by Pilot Perkins LLC and Pilot Perkins Corp. for site plan review of the development of the property located at 40 Perkins Street. The proposal includes the construction of a new 277 space, multi-level parking structure and the renovation of the remaining portion of the site into 118 surface parking spaces, for a total of 395 parking spaces to serve the proposed apartments located at 21-39 Perkins Street. The proposed plan will provide required handicapped parking and landscaped open space, and will reduce the number of curb cuts accessing the lot. The site is located in the INST (Institutional Mixed Use) zoning district. Site plan review is required under Section 11.4 of the Lowell Zoning Ordinance.

Edit to Approved Special Permit: 900 Lawrence Street

The Lowell Planning Board will review a request for a minor architectural change to a project with an approved special permit at 900 Lawrence Street.

Minor Amendment: Hale Howard Urban Renewal Plan

The Lowell Planning Board will review a request from the Division of Planning and Development to make a minor plan change to the Hale Howard Urban Renewal Plan, to change the end date of the plan.

Discussion of Adoption of the “Mullin Rule Bill” under MGL 39 Section 23D

The Lowell Planning Board will discuss the option of requesting that the City Council adopt the ordinance allowed under MGL 39 Section 23D. This would allow a Board to proceed with a public hearing when one member of the Board is absent, and allow that Board member to later participate in deliberations and voting on that matter, provided that Board member review the video or other transcript of the meeting that was missed. Adoption of such a regulation for the Planning Board would require a City Council ordinance.

Planning Board Agenda

January 4, 2007 - Page 2