1985-10-21 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Minutes, October 21, 1985 page 2 paved all -season route which would reduce the walking distance to Bowman School by about 1/2 mile. The footpath would cross land now in the Willow Ridge subdi- vision, the edge of the Dunback Meadow conservation land, and the Bowman School site. In order to construct the footpath through conservation land, Town Counsel has indicated it will be necessary to have the permission of the Town Meeting and of the Legislature. The Chairman had requested that an article be submitted earlier in the day, when the Warrant for the December 2 Special Town Meeting closed, with the understanding that further work on this matter may result in the article being withdrawn or deferred until the Annual Town Meeting. The Board concurred in that action. COMPREHENSIVE PLANNING, POLICIES 232. Comprehensive Plan, Housing Element: The Housing Needs Advisory Committee, with members Klauminzer, Adler, Clarke, Hays, Nablo and Spencer attending, were present for work on the draft of the Housing Element dated October 18, 1985. Mr. Hays thought there was a conflict between the residential character object- ive, which appears to stress maintaining the status quo, and the other three objectives, diversity, equity -fairness and local responsibility, which appear to argue for change, particularly toward more affordable housing and socio-economic diversity. His point triggered an extended discussion of whether the residential character objective was fundamentally in conflict with the other three and how the sequence of presentation of the objectives might need to be organized. Mrs. Smith responded that while there might be tension between the two points of view, they can be reconciled and for the housing element to be politically viable, they must be reconciled. She noted the Kelly -Perry proposal on Woburn Street had to be acceptable from both an environmental -design -density perspective and from the affordable housing perspective. The Town will not ignore design and density criteria because a proposed development contains affordable housing. That does not make the production of affordable housing any easier but it is a political fact of life. It was agreed the Board would work through the entire draft and then review the best sequence of the four sections on objectives. Another general topic of discussion was reduction in lot sizes or increase in density to promote affordable housing. Mr. Sorensen advocated that any such treatment should be done in an evenhanded manner on a town -wide basis. Due to the historical development pattern, any special treatment for smaller lots or large older homes may result in a concentration of affordable housing in the older neighborhoods near the center of town or in East Lexington. Mrs. Nablo questioned why a new two-family dwelling could not be constructed in a single-family neighborhood if appropriate design and density standards are met. The Zoning By -Law now permits the creation of two-family houses in the single family districts by the conversion of the single-family house to either an acces- sory apartment or a two-family. It does not now permit the construction of a new two-family. It was agreed that would be studied further. In policy 1.8 it was agreed to delete any reference to any acceptable numerical targets for density. The policy will be rewritten to state that maximum density has to take into account both affordable housing and a design compatable with the natural features of the site and the effect on public services.