2008-01-02-PB-min - Laserfiche WebLink

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PLANNING BOARD MINUTES MEETING OF JANUARY 2, 2008 A meeting of the Lexington Planning Board in Cary Auditorium, Cary Hall was called to order at 7:35 p.m. by Chairman Hornig with members Zurlo, Canale, Galaitsis, Manz, Mr. Carl Valente, Town Manager, and planning staff McCall-Taylor, Henry and Kaufman present. The following Selectmen were present: Chairman Krieger, Mr. Kelley, Mr. Cohen, Mr. Manz, and Mr. Burnell. The following Zoning Board of Appeals members were present Mr. Barnett, Vice Chair, Ms. Uhrig and Ms. Wilson. **** JOINT MEETING WITH BOARD OF SELECTMEN AND ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS**** Presentation on Nonconforming Buildings and Lots: Mr. Carl Valente introduced Garry Rhodes, Building Commissioner, David George, Zoning Administrator, Maryann McCall-Taylor, Planning Director, and George Hall, Attorney with Anderson & Kreiger, Town Counsel. The purpose of the meeting was for the three Boards to discuss a proposed change in the interpretation of the non-conforming use sections in the Zoning Bylaw. The Building Commissioner had noted that recent case law indicated that grandfathered non-conforming lots could lose that status once an existing house on the lot is torn down. Despite ambiguities in the wording of our bylaw, Mr. Hall believes that the Town’s long-standing policy of approving permits for demolition and rebuilding on non-conforming lots can be legally supported. He noted that the statewide trend is the other way. Mr. Canale feels this is a good incentive to look at current bylaws, get feed back and look into the future to address state and local laws and how they are working for the town. The joint meeting ended at 7:50 p.m.; the Planning Board recessed for 10 minutes. At 8:00 p.m., the Planning Board meeting was reconvened in the Selectmen’s Meeting Room, Town Office Building.