2004-12-22-PB-min - Laserfiche WebLink

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PLANNING BOARD MINUTES MEETING OF DECEMBER 22, 2004 A regular meeting of the Lexington Planning Board held in the Selectmen's Meeting Room, Town Office Building, was called to order at 7:45 p.m. by Vice Chairman Harden with members Davies, Galaitsis, Manz and planning staff McCall- Taylor present. Mr. Kastorf joined the meeting a few minutes after it started but Mr. Harden continued to chair the meeting for the evening. * * * * * * * * * * ** ADMINISTRATION OF LAND DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS * * * * * * * * * * * ** 58 Colony Road Sketch Plan - Mr. Joe Marino, Mr. John Esserian, Mr. Gary Larson and Ms. Linda Barnes were present as the development team for 58 Colony Road. Mr. Larson gave an overview of the site. It is a two and three - quarters acre site in an RO zone with Fiske Common to the north. The existing house is located near the street with a setback similar to the other houses along the street. Much of the level lot is secondary growth. Mr. Larson explained how they had looked at a variety of options for the site, both conventional and cluster, and had decided upon a four -unit cluster concept with individual units toward the back of the site and heavy planting toward the street. He said that a sidewalk and a path to the Fiske school property would provide improved pedestrian circulation. Mr. Davies asked about the nature of the wooded area depicted on the plans. Mr. Larson said that it was not large trees, that he would want to do some clearing out and then do underplanting of rhododendrons to screen at eye level. Mr. Galaitsis said he was concerned about then many and long driveways and suggested connecting at least two units and pulling them in. There was some discussion about the size of the units and whether any were small enough to be "attainable" or affordable to first time homebuyers. Mr. Harden commented that he did not see the use of a cluster here. It is a flat site and he questioned why it would be better developed with four cluster units rather than three conventional units. He said with three units there would still be a special permit with site plan review process that would allow the Planning Board to look at site issues. There was discussion of the context of this development and whether single or multi- family was more appropriate for the site. Mr. Marino felt that it was more a part of Meriam Hill than the abutting Fiske Common and therefore the size the units was not pushing the envelope. After further discussion, the consensus of the Board was that if all of the units were going to be detached single- family units it should be a conventional subdivision. Mr. Davies said that he was troubled by the common open space as a strip along the back. Mr. Galaitsis added that all of the buffer is on someone else's land. Mr. Davies said his thought was if the development was going to be big houses, the fewer the better. Mr. Kastorf agreed and said it should be a conventional subdivision if it is large units. Mr. Larson asked if he could file a definitive plan next and the board members said they would prefer a preliminary plan so they could see the details of the footpath and the open area. If Mr. Esserian should decide to do smaller attached units he should submit another sketch plan. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ** INTERBOARD COOPERATION * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ** The next Planning Board meeting will include a session with the Board of Selectmen to discuss the Selectmen's goals. ***** * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ** MINUTES ******* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ** Review of Minutes The Board reviewed and corrected the minutes for the meeting of December 1, 2004. On a motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to approve the minutes as amended. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ** ARTICLES FOR 2005 TOWN MEETING * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ** Accessory Apartment_ Bylaw_ - The Board reviewed the latest draft of the accessory apartment bylaw. After considerable discussion they decided they wanted Larger Apartments to require a special permit and owner occupancy. The staff will redraft the bylaw accordingly for submission prior to the close of the warrant.