2008-10-22-PB-min - Laserfiche WebLink

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Minutes for the Meeting of October 22, 2008 Page 3 adjacent residential areas need to be protected; there should be mitigation measures set in place such as traffic calming; Spring Street should be used only for emergency access and have speed tables; left turns on to Shade Street should be prohibited between 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.; and, traffic details should be utilized to enforce the turning restrictions. Mr. Hornig said that turning restrictions fell under the Board of Selectmen’s jurisdiction. ?? Someone stated that traffic concerns were raised in 2003, and wondered what changed for the better now. He questioned whether one can conduct an accurate traffic study with an empty building on the other side of Hayden, with Shire ramping up, with Ledgemont Two only partially occupied, and with the addition of Ledgemont Three. He also added that the presentation did not include the effect of major bottlenecks such as Marrett Road and Waltham Street, and Trapelo Road and Spring Street. Mr. Hornig said the Town was pursuing a signal at Spring Street and Marrett Road. Mr. Nichols said the traffic study was based on full occupancies. ?? There was opposition to Ledgemont Three being 6-7 stories high, and a statement that the process was being rushed, and that the proposed plan would lead to overdevelopment of the Town. ?? The building would be enormous (86 feet high) and its proposed location was too close to the wetlands as well as very close to residential buildings. ?? There were safety concerns about the children due to increased traffic and also about health issues such as emphysema and asthma. ?? There was a major concern about traffic and that the traffic studies were not representative of the morning back up of traffic on Spring Street as shown in the pictures presented to the Planning Board. There were more concerns about a building on conservation land, and about the building height from bottom to top. Mr. Gloski said the lowest grade would be 245 feet and the top of the building would be 336 feet. ?? The trees could not hide this building and it would be destroying conservation land. ?? Spring Street’s single lane in each direction would cause a huge traffic backup, which would create a large amount of emissions and work against the anti-idling rule in Lexington. ?? Concerns were reiterated about the safety of children and residents due to lack of sidewalks, noise pollution from the building’s industrial fans, light pollution at night time, loss of natural wooded area, and reduced real estate value. The urgency of the process was questioned and the petitioner was urged to wait for Spring Town Meeting. ?? Someone pointed out that it has been impossible to get out of driveway and the usual wait has been five minutes, and the safety for children walking to school is an issue. He added that the proposed plan is premature, and that sidewalks be provided and TDM be done first.