2008-06-11-PB-min - Laserfiche WebLink

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Page 4 Minutes for the Meeting of June 11, 2008 Mr. Waitt agreed that he would love to reduce the pavement, but the policy would need to come from within, not from the applicant. He said they met with approximately a dozen abutters and have been communicating via e-mail with the neighborhood representative. Mr. Zurlo wanted to know what the neighbors asked and what was addressed? Mr. Waitt said density was the biggest concern along with views of the backyard, the path and emergency access. The neighbors felt they did not need a path since they could use the historic path at the end of Wachusett. Some abutters felt like part of the property and were not advocating for screening, but rather an attempt to scale back the mass since screening would only add more stuff. Mr. Zurlo said a three dimensional Styrofoam model with the proposed homes and abutters on the topography would show the massing was inappropriate for the area. He felt there was some progress in the stepped units, but that they should seriously think about reducing the number of units. More three-dimensional models should be used early on. What was the proposed height of the porches on units 4 & 5? Mr. Lopez said they would be at grade. Mr. Timm said there would be steps down to the patio or a deck. Mr. Zurlo asked how the calculation of the average natural grade was done, and what would it be if it were one structure? Mr. Waitt said he wasn’t sure he wanted to go there; he said Town Meeting allowed the height to be calculated for each individual unit of an attached structure on a downhill slope. Mr. Zurlo asked about the treatment of the carriage house. Mr. Lopez said he was still working on it with the Historical Commission. Mr. Zurlo asked if the goal was to fully replace the cumulative caliper of the trees being removed, and Mr. Waitt said he believed in adding more than taken down. Mr. Hornig asked if they were bringing in gas service. Mr. Waitt said it would be on the definitive plan. Mr. Hornig said he wanted all electric utilities to be underground, including removing all existing above ground utilities from Wachusett Drive to existing homes. How much disturbance would there be for the extension of the water service? Mr. Waitt said approximately 10 feet for the water main and the sewer would be down the middle of the roadway. Mr. Hornig said to explore an historic preservation restriction on the exterior of the two historic houses. He commented that if the parking spaces were for the units they should not be in the common open space. Mr. Waitt said it was for the units and should not be in open space. Mr. Hornig also asked about bicycle access. He suggested that moving units 1-3 and 4-5 closer together and to the west might address issues. He liked the small units, but wanted to do something about the massing and preserve larger trees by making adjustments in units 1-5. Mr. Waitt said he now has a good tree survey; there were many trees leaning and some were dead.