2023-09-18-PB-min - Laserfiche WebLink

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Lexington Planning Board September 18, 2023 Meeting Minutes Page 1 of 2 Lexington Planning Board Monday, September 18, 2023 Select Board Meeting Room 1625 Massachusetts Avenue, Lexington, MA 022420 And Hybrid Participation via Zoom The Planning Board members attended the Select Board’s public meeting to participate in the public hearing on the proposed amendments to the Stormwater Management Regulations, Article VI of Chapter 181 of the Code of Lexington. Mr. Peters called the meeting of the Planning Board to order at 6:45 pm on a roll call vote (Mr. Peters- present in-person, Mr. Creech-present in-person, Mr. Hornig – present via zoom, Ms. Thompson – present via zoom, and associate member Mr. Leon-present in person). Planning Director Ms. McCabe and Town Engineer Mr. Livsey were also present. Public Hearing: Review Amendments to the Stormwater Management Regulations, Art. VI of Chapter 181 of the Code of Lexington Ms. McCabe explained that they were proposed amendments to the Stormwater Management Regulations after recent zoning amendments from Annual Town Meeting. She explained that the current Stormwater Regulations only require a full stormwater permit where the drainage report and calculations are submitted for a permit for projects that 1) disturb more than one acre; 2) proposing a new dwelling on a vacant lot or involves a teardown; 3) requires a special permit or subdivision approval, or unless a project is under the Conservation Commission’s jurisdiction. The proposed amendments are to add a fourth category by requiring the full stormwater report and drainage improvements at “above threshold” for when a project requires site plan review and disturbs more than 10,000 square feet of land area. Ms. McCabe explained that stormwater came up during the Planning Board’s updates to their Regulations and since we are expecting more redevelopment on smaller lots, staff and the Planning Board felt it was important to require stormwater review and improvements during the Planning Board’s site plan review approval process. She added the stormwater review would be consolidated into the Planning Board’s site plan review approval and not require a separate stormwater permit. Mr. Peters reported that the Planning Board voted 4-1 to support these changes because it is important to upgrade drainage systems when new development is before the Planning Board. In response to a question as to why one member of the Planning Board did not support these changes, Mr. Hornig explained that he felt the lower land disturbance threshold should apply to all projects and not just projects that require site plan review. In response to a question on what land disturbance means, Mr. Livsey responded that it’s not necessarily the lot size but how much of a project is changing the soil and read the definition of land disturbance from the Stormwater Management Regulations as “any action that causes a change in the position, location, or arrangement of soil, sand, rock, gravel, or similar earth material.”