2024-02-08-ZBA-min - Laserfiche WebLink

Browse Search

Minutes of the Lexington Board of Appeals Virtual, Via Zoom February 8, 2024 Board Members: Chair – Ralph D. Clifford, Nyles N. Barnert, Norman P. Cohen, Martha C. Wood, and Associate Member Kathryn Roy Alternate Member: David Williams Administrative Staff: Julie Krakauer Moore, Zoning Administrator, and Olivia Lawler, Administrative Clerk, Mina Makarious, Town Counsel Continued from the 1-11-2024 Meeting: Address: 43 Blossomcrest Drive, also referred to as 790 Waltham Street The petitioner is requesting a SPECIAL PERMIT MODIFICATION in accordance with the Zoning By-Law (Chapter 135 of the Code of Lexington) section 135-9.4.7 to allow modification to a previously granted SPECIAL PERMIT dated October 13, 2022. The petitioner submitted the following information with the application: Nature and Justification, Plot Plan, Floor Plans, Photographs, Massachusetts Historical Commission Letter, Previously Granted Special Permit Dated October 25, 2022, Certified As-built Foundation Plan, and a Continuance Request Form dated January 12, 2024. Prior to the meeting, the petitions and supporting data were reviewed by the Building Commissioner, Conservation Administrator, Town Engineer, Board of Selectmen, the Planning Director, the Historic District Commission Clerk, Historical Commission, Economic Development, and the Zoning Administrator. Comments were received from the Assistant Town Manager to the Land Use, Housing and Development Department, Zoning Administrator, Historical Commission, and Planning Department. Board Chair, Ralph D. Clifford, summarized the history of the Hosmer house and its hearings with the Board of Appeals. He gave a detailed review of the January 11, 2024 Board of Appeals meeting that the hearing was continued from. Mr. Clifford outlined that the January 11 Public Hearing was closed and if there will be more testimonial issues during this meeting then the hearing will be reopened. He emphasized that the Board was not satisfied with the proposal from the Applicants to just remove conditions 7 and 8 from the Special Permit due to that effectively removing the longer-term historical preservation of the building which they do not wish to see happen. Leaving the conditions in place would effectively leave the Hosmer House empty, leaving it to either be demolished in time or allowed to deteriorate over the years. Mr. Clifford stated that in the discussions with Town Staff and Town Counsel, a fairly simple way to achieve their goal is to remove the current language found in Conditions 7 and 8 of the Decision dated October 25, 2022 and replacing them with the associated Historic Preservation Restrictions (RFP) signed by the Carrols and the Town November 8, 2022. He stated that Massachusetts Historical Commission could not be counted on to do the work.