The Planning Board voted last night to send a positive recommendation to the City Council pertaining to a zoning ordinance amendment that would add further control for projects in industrial areas.
The board vote followed a public hearing at which City Council President Christopher Keefe, the sponsor of the ordinance change, presented information about the intent of the amendment.
That intent, Keefe said last night, is to “add teeth and clarification to the existing ordinance, to make the intent clear and to provide leverage we don’t normally have now.”
The amendment will trigger a special permit review by the Planning Board for what is a by-right use of industrial property if explosive, toxic and other materials need to be transported through a residential area to the facility in the industrial area.
“We’re trying to keep explosive and toxic materials out of residential neighborhoods, even if those materials are a by-right use in the Industrial A zone,” Keefe said. “The amendment would make it necessary to obtain a special permit to transport those materials though a residential area.”
Keefe had proposed a similar amendment in May of 2010, but that amendment expired after it was tabled by the City Council and the 90 day period, in which the council needs to vote on a Planning Board recommendation, expired.
“The activity on (the Industrial A) site may be legal, but if they’re hauling (explosive and toxic materials) through residential area, the special permit requirement gives the Planning Board more control,” Keefe said.
The proposed zoning amendment will now be the focus of a public hearing slated for tomorrow night before the City Council.
Keefe said that Principal Planner Jay Vinskey has suggested language to differentiate between toxic and flammable materials and to allow transport of materials, which would be prohibited under the amendment, by commercial vehicles if it is for household use.
Keefe said that he may offer additional changes to the proposed zoning amendment based upon the discussion by the Planning Board members last night, although no amendments were approved by the board which voted 7-0 to send a positive recommendation to the council.
