2021-11-08-STM#1-min-as Amended June 2022

Browse Search

November 8,2021 Special Town Meeting#1(2021-1),cont. 8:34 p.m. The Moderator opened the floor for discussion and debate on the Amendment. Melinda Walker,Pct. 8,asked whether they should wait to hear the report from the CPAC and wondered if it would be an Article or recommendation and and how far along in the process it had gotten. Mr.Hornig stated that they currently had a subcommittee(CPAC)and they were working to build a draft comprehensive plan for adoption and it would hopefully be available early next year. Data had been collected but it hadn't been rolled out to the public or Planning Board and that they would be discussing at a high level in an upcoming meeting. The CPAC was due to give a presentation with more details at their public forum on December 7ffi and then the Planning Board would be discussing in further detail at their meeting on the December 151'. He noted that they were hoping the Planning Board would be able to adopt the Comprehensive Plan in the first quarter of 2022. Mr.Horning stated the Plan was just a document that gave recommendations for Town goals and implementation steps. These steps would hopefully be enacted in the late 2022/early 2023. 8:37 p.m. Mr.Leonard Morse-Fortier,noted a Point of Order that Mr. Creech was a liaison from the CPAC to the Planning Board and hoped he would answer the question. Mr. Creech stated that the Comprehensive Plan had a housing section and defined housing needs,and made recommendations,but would not include the bylaw. 8:43 p.m. Allain Levine,Pct. 8,asked what level of discretion the Special Permit granting authority would have if the Amendment were passed and asked to what extent they would be bound to approve/disapprove a Special Permit. Counsel Marshall stated that the bylaw had some general criteria for the granting of Special Permits and also specific criteria for specific sections,so the Special Permit granting authority would be subject to that general criteria,but nothing specific to the proposal. 8:45 p.m. Mr.Hornig stated that under Site Plan Review,the Planning Board reviews the proposal,and if it complies with the Zoning and Planning Board recommendations, they must approve it,but they could impose reasonable conditions that didn't prohibit the development. They could also further the goals of the Regulations and bylaw but they couldn't touch the fundamental characteristics but could ensure that as it was built,it conformed with the letter and spirit of the bylaw. Mr.Levine asked whether the Planning Board needed to approve a project if it meets the criteria. Mr.Hornig noted that the Special Permit can be granted if it complies with all the rules and they would need to have a very good reason to deny it. 8:50 p.m. Deborah Strod,Pct.6,asked for confirmation that the vote would require 2/3 ds- The Moderator stated that as this was an Amendment it would require a simple majority. Members continued to debate and discuss the Amendment. 8:57 p.m. The Moderator noted that thirty minutes of debate/discussion had ended. 8:58 p.m. In summation,Mr. Creech,stated that builders had plenty of incentives working in the Lexington market with the current house prices. 9:00 P.M. Voting commenced on the Amendment to Article 15,Motion 1.