Planning Board minutes 06-10-1996

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PLANNING BOARD MINUTES MEETING OF JUNE 10, 1996 The meeting of the Lexington Planning Board held in Room G-15, Town Office Building, was called to order at 7.39 p.m. by Chairman Davison, with members Canale, Colman, Davies, Planning Director Bowyer, and Assistant Planner Marino present. Mr Merrill was absent. **************************** COMPREHENSIVE PLANNING **************************** 117 Land Use Element, Site Analyses: Before beginning discussions about the three sites on the agenda, and for the benefit of Mr. Colman, the newest member of the Board, the Board reviewed the reasons for undertaking the site analyses and the process they are following to assess the undeveloped sites left in Lexington. Considered for each site are appropriate uses, where it fits into the overall land use picture, the Town's needs, and potential public benefits. As the sites are considered, the Planning Board's discussions help to formulate general attitudes toward development, or nondevelopment, that will create a framework on which to draft a comprehensive land use plan. a. Burlineton Street/Route 128. The Board agreed that if development does occur, cluster development is most desirable for the properties that make up this "site" While several lots were defined for the staff analysis, the Board's attitude could apply to any of the group of lots along Burlington Street that back up to Route 128. Low density residential development is preferred. Commercial development or more intensive residential development is not desirable because of the limited access through an established neighborhood. Cluster development will allow housing to be located a greater distance away from the noise of Route 128. Mr 1 Canale thought this was a good opportunity for a trade-off- development clustered in one part of the site in exchange for protection of wet lands and open space at the rear of the site. He thought this was not a site that ranked high enough in priority for the Town to spend money to protect. The protection can be obtained through cluster developments. Mr. Davies added that there are steep slopes and upland that need to be protected as well. h Lincoln Street: The Board agreed that this land should have a high priority for protection or public ownership. Beside hosting a variety of wildlife, it has "rural" characteristics like the Town of Lincoln. Mr Canale observed that the single most important feature is its close proximity to the Cambridge Reservoir The Board believes the current use of the site, a body shop and a sawmill, is very inappropriate. The Board concluded that the City of Cambridge Water Board should be encouraged to purchase the site if possible, but at the least, to monitor activity there to assure that the environment and the reservoir are not being harmed. c. Elks/Sellars Land: This site is a combination of two properties. A parcel owned by John Sellars on Concord Avenue is the subject of frequent development inquiries but is undevelopable by itself because it has only 27 feet of frontage. When combined with the Elks Club property, access could be obtained from Waltham Street. Mr. Canale commented on the changing character of the strip of Waltham Street between Concord Avenue and the Waltham City line. While much of it is zoned single family, there are very few single family houses and due to the high traffic volumes and other land use characteristics, the strip is not a good location for new single family housing. He urged that the Board develop a land use plan for the whole strip. In general, the Board thought that multi-family housing, commercial development, or institutional development may be an appropriate use of land in the strip and of this site. When the Town looks for places for tax generating uses, this may be a location to look at. Mr Davies suggested regional institutional uses that are not appropriate for single family neighborhoods might locate here. The Board thought the combined site might have a mixed use with residential in the rear of the site near the Concord Avenue neighborhood with more intensive use at the front oriented to Waltham Street.