1999-03-01-TE-Warrant-and-1999-03-22-STM-and-ATM-Warrants

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DESCRIPTION: The State Zoning Act includes some limitations that prevent cities and towns from regulating the construction of larger houses on small lots. This article will authorize the town to file a "home rule petition" with the Massachusetts Legislature to modify the State Zoning Act as it applies to Lexington. If the Legislature approves the Act, a later town meeting will be required to amend the Lexington Zoning By-Law to adopt new regulations for the construction of larger houses on small lots. More information on the so-called "mansionization" or "tear down" phenomenon can be found in a report, "Larger Houses in Existing Neighborhoods," on the Town of Lexington Web Page at http://www.lexingtonma.ora/LexDir/towndocs/housinR/renort.htm ARTICLE 15 WETLANDS PROTECTION BY-LAW REVISIONS To see if the Town will vote to amend Article XXXII of the General By-Laws (Wetland Protection) by making technical corrections and changes to include additional wetland areas not currently protected under the by-law and by adding a new section 8 relating to a fee for the reasonable costs and expenses borne by the Conservation Commission for specific expert consultant services, all as shown on a document on file in the office of the Town Clerk; or act in any other manner in relation thereto. (Inserted at the request of the Conservation Commission) DESCRIPTION: Sections of the By-Law would be amended to add Riverfront Area as a protected resource area to bring the By-Law into compliance with State's Wetlands Protection Act, Chapter 131, §40; to organize and detail the definitions of each of the protected wetlands resource areas to conform more closely to the State's Wetlands Protection Act and its Regulations; and to correct omissions, typographical errors and to clarify interpretations and processes. The language inserted in Section 8 will permit the Conservation Commission to impose a fee on applicants filing to do work near a wetlands under the State's Wetlands Protection Act and the Town's By-Law for Wetland Protection to cover the cost of obtaining expert engineering and environmental consulting services and doing research on these projects. ARTICLE 16 TRANSFER OF HENNESSY FIELD TO CONSERVATION To see if the Town will vote to transfer the care, custody,management and control of all or any part of the land acquired by an order of taking dated June 25, 1962 and recorded in the Middlesex South Registry of Deeds, Book 10065, Page 405 and known as Hennessy's Field to the Conservation Commission for conservation purposes as provided by Section 8C of Chapter 40 of the General Laws, as amended, or act in any other manner in relation thereto. (Inserted by the Board of Selectmen) 12