Busa Land Use Proposal Committee Report 03-14-2011

Browse Search

14. Timeline The housing project as described should be able to be undertaken in 1 -2 years. 5.3 Evaluation of the Lexington Recreation Committee Proposal Introduction The Lexington Recreation Committee (LRC) presented three iterations of a plan to include an athletic field, trails, tot lot, affordable housing and community gardens, along with required parking and vehicle access. See the "Summary of the Proposals" (Section 4 of this report) for a detailed chronological description of the LRC proposal and modifications to it. During the past few months, there was much discussion and clarification of the figures for field use toward establishing a need for an additional field; but the bottom line is that the BLUPC accepts the LRC contention that additional facilities are needed, and that if built, a new facility would primarily serve Lexington school children. The community gardens, trails, park, and affordable housing elements of the proposal are also worthy additions to Lexington and the BLUPC very much appreciates the efforts of the LRC to address the other needs of the Town. However, the discussion here in the Summary will focus on the major goal of the LRC (per the January 31, 2011 email), the addition of a 300' x 195' multipurpose field to the Town's inventory of playing fields. Again, the most recent proposal illustrates the 300' x 195' multipurpose field along the north end of the parcel with an east -west orientation (see Figure 5.3.1). Along the east side of the multipurpose field, along the Borensztein property, the proposal shows a 40' buffer /safety zone, which is the standard for athletic fields. Along the north side, a 38' buffer is illustrated, which should be adequate not only as a runoff and spectator seating zone, but also to protect any trees on the abutters' property and the existing stone wall that runs along the property line. However, on the west side, a 14' buffer /safety zone between the southwest corner of the field and the Goldinger property is shown. The January 31, 2011, email states: "A 40 -foot buffer would not be necessary on the left side of the field since there is no home located in close proximity to the abutting property line because a residence is not currently located there." The Committee respectfully questions this assumption. As the property is privately owned, the parcel may be developed and /or the owner may not want Town activity on their property. If a fence is required, the 14' -foot buffer /safety zone may be inadequate for safe and convenient play (runoff, goal attempts, ball retrieval, etc.). More importantly, when the field above, as described in the January 31, 2011, email, is laid out on the survey (see below), the overall dimensions do not fit on the Busa property. The distance between the Borensztein property line and the easternmost extent of the Goldinger property measures about 343', not the required 354' (300' field + 40' east buffer + 14' west buffer). With the 40' buffer /safety zone positioned along the east property line ( Borensztein property) there is about 3' between the field goal line and the Goldinger property line, not the 14' dimensioned on the Recreation Department revised plan. (At the northwest corner of the field, the property line angles to the west, so there is actually a larger buffer as the property line moves to the southwest.) Busa Land Use Proposal Committee Report Page 32 / 52