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a�a �riN Town ofLexington PLANNING BOARD Robert D.Peters, Chair a 1625 Massachusetts Avenue Michael Schanbacher, Vice Chair j< f � ' Lexington MA 02420 Melanie Thompson, Clerk 'F t 1 ; ' ,�' Tel (781) 698-4560 Robert Creech,Member Charles Hornig, Member APRIL If � plannin CO,lexingtonma.goy www.lexingtonma.gov/planning Michael Leon, Associate Member RECOMMENDATION REPORT OF THE LEXINGTON PLANNING BOARD ARTICLE 33: AMEND ZONING BYLAW — SPECIAL PERMIT RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT RECOMMENDATION On Wednesday, March 1, 2023, after three Public Hearings, the Planning Board voted four (4) in favor, none (0) opposed,and one abstension(1)to recommend that Town Meeting approve Article 33 to amend the Zoning Bylaw relative to Special Permit Residential Developments (SPRDs). JUSTIFICATION FOR RECOMMENDATION The amendments under Article 33 were developed by staff and consultants under the supervision of the Select Board's Special Permit Residential Development(SPRD)Ad Hoc Committee.They update§6.9 of the Zoning Bylaw, which provides alternatives to conventional subdivisions, by replacing Special Permit Residential Developments (SPRDs)with two types of Special Residential Developments (SRDs). All SRDs: • Permit a variety of housing types(detached, attached,and multi-family)to create a diverse housing stock; • Within the existing 40-foot height limit, permit 3-story buildings to gain flexibility in design; • Limit the total gross floor area (GFA) of the development to what would be permitted in a conventional subdivision plus a 15% bonus to subsidize the inclusionary dwelling units; • Limit the GFA of each dwelling to maintain the scale of the development; • Require provision of inclusionary dwelling units with price and income limits to provide housing low- income and workforce housing; • At least 15%of the developable site area must be set aside for common open space; and • Be permitted through Site Plan Review rather than by Special Permit to streamline the approval process. SRDs must provide inclusionary (subsidized) dwelling units with a GFA at least 15% of the total GFA permitted in a conventional subdivision, with at least two-thirds of that GFA incorporated into dwelling units that are eligible for inclusion on the Subsidized Housing Inventory. Where there are six or fewer market-rate dwelling units, a payment to the Affordable Housing Trust calculated in accordance with Planning Board regulations may be made in lieu of providing a dwelling unit. Site Sensitive Developments(SSDs)are similar in purpose to the current provision of the same name.They require preservation of natural features, mature native trees, habitat areas, sloped areas, and historically or Page 1 of 3 Planning Board Report with Recommendation to Town Meeting Article 33