Planning Board minutes 03-11-1996

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PLANNING BOARD MINUTES MEETING OF MARCH 11, 1996 The meeting of the Lexington Planning Board, held in Estabrook Hall, was called to order at 7:50 p.m. by Chairman Davison, with members Canale, Davies, Grant, Merrill, Planning Director Bowyer, and Assistant Planner Marino and Secretary Tap present. Steven Colman, a candidate for the Planning Board, was present. ************************ ARTICLES FOR 1996 TOWN MEETING ************************ 54 PUBLIC HEARING. Article 28. Zoning By-Law Living Facilities for Seniors: Mrs. Davison opened the public hearing at 7:50 p.m. She explained the purpose of Article 28, Living Facilities for Seniors, the Planning Board's proposed amendment to the Zoning By-Law It is a technical amendment to make the terminology in the Lexington Zoning By-Law consistent with that used by the State agencies that license and regulate the various types of housing for senior citizens. Some of that terminology has changed since the terms were first introduced into the Zoning By-Law and there are new types of living facilities and terms that are not defined in the By-Law The amendment was prepared by the Board based on the study of state regulations prepared by the Executive Office of Elder Affairs, the supplement to M.G.L. Chapter 19D, and a Metropolitan Area Planning Council study of assisted living facilities. Assisted living, a concept for elderly living that is halfway between independent living and a nursing home, is a new term that will be added to the Definitions section. Assisted living is less costly than a nursing home because the units are smaller and there is no medical staff. Rather, there are support services available to assist the frail elderly with daily living needs for an hour or so a day Other changes to the Zoning By-Law include redefining "living facilities for seniors", adding it to the Use Table and changing the way parking spaces are calculated. Assisted Living facilities will only be allowed in an RD district, with a special permit. Frank Sandy, Town Meeting Member for Precinct 6, asked about the legal ramifications of referring to state laws, which change from time to time, in the Zoning By-Law Mr Grant answered that the changes would be monitored and cross references would change with state laws, which have supremacy In answer to a question about parking calculations, Mr Bowyer stated that the parking requirement is based on studies done at other facilities and that employees of the facilities are no longer included in the calculation. There being no further questions, Mrs. Davison closed the hearing at 8:09 p.m. 55. PUBLIC HEARING: Article 29 Residential Development in Subdivisions and RD Districts: Mrs. Davison opened the hearing at 8.10 p.m. Mr. Merrill explained why the Planning Board is proposing this comprehensive revision of Section 9, Planned Residential Development of the Zoning By-Law, and showed a series of slide illustrating the benefits of cluster type developments compared to conventional subdivisions. He said there are 400 acres of privately owned, vacant land, and 1,600 underdeveloped acres of land left in Lexington. This revision is an attempt to see that land is developed in the most attractive way possible. This comprehensive revision of the existing Section 9 of the Zoning By-Law provides incentives to permit "cluster subdivision" to be an attractive alternative to development by a "conventional" subdivision. Subdivisions constructed in the one-family zoning districts in recent years have been, almost exclusively, "conventional" subdivisions in which very large single family houses are built on individual lots. Houses and roads are often sited to provide the maximum number of lots without respect to the natural features of the land being subdivided. No common open space is provided. The Planning Board wants to encourage cluster subdivisions because they provide an opportunity to maintain some open land in its natural state and the flexibility to site buildings better in relation to the natural features