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PLANNING BOARD MINUTES <br /> MEETING OF MARCH 8, 1993 <br /> The meeting of the Lexington Planning Board held in Room G-15, Town Office <br /> 1 Building, was called to order at 7:33 p.m. by Chairman Williams, with members <br /> Canale, Davison, Domnitz, Planning Director Bowyer, and Secretary Tap present. <br /> Mr Grant arrived during Item 25. <br /> ******************* PLANNING BOARD ORGANIZATION, SCHEDULE ******************* <br /> 27. Welcome to New Board Member• Mr. Williams welcomed Richard Canale, <br /> elected to the Board on March 1, 1993. <br /> The Board planned a retirement party to be held in Mrs. Wood's honor on <br /> Thursday, May 6 at Mr Williams's house. <br /> The following schedule of meetings was set Wednesday, March 17, 29 and 31, <br /> and April 7, 12, and 14 at 7 00 p.m. <br /> 28. Signature of Members for Registries: Mr. Bowyer presented letters <br /> addressed to the Registry of Deeds and the Land Court which the Board members <br /> signed. The signatures will be on file at the respective registries. <br /> *********************** ARTICLES FOR 1993 TOWN MEETING *********************** <br /> 29. Article 24. Golf in Residential Zoning Districts. Mr. Domnitz explained <br /> 1 the thinking behind his memo on this subject. The current use table was <br /> adopted in 1987 as part of an omnibus amendment dealing with commercial <br /> districts. Its predecessor in the 1986 Zoning By-Law permitted standard and <br /> par-three golf courses in residential districts and explicitly prohibited <br /> driving ranges, miniature golf, etc. There is no mention in the Planning <br /> Board report for the 1987 amendment of a desire to legitimize these uses in <br /> residential districts. Therefore, Mr. Domnitz believes this to be an argument <br /> for going ahead with this article to amend the Zoning By-Law <br /> Mr. Grant pointed out that an argument for a driving range in a residential <br /> zone could be made by comparing the 1986 Zoning By-Law and the current By-law. <br /> In 1986 miniature golf, pitch-and-putt, etc. were specifically prohibited <br /> under institutional, recreational educational, uses. The current By-law <br /> refers to these as commercial uses in a residential district They are uses <br /> allowed by special permit, whereas the 1986 By-Law prohibited them. <br /> Mr Domnitz responded that the Planning Board report in 1987 indicates no <br /> intent to widen the commercial activities permitted in residential zones. <br /> Mr. Grant said commercial uses in residential districts are very limited to <br /> begin with but it could be argued that the intent in 1987 was to allow certain <br /> exceptions, one of them being a golf facility. Golf is a use that one associ- <br /> ates with residential districts. <br /> Mr Williams thought the issue of a commercial activity is a zoning district <br /> matter rather than a Board of Appeals matter. Mr. Domnitz said that the <br /> Board's report to Town Meeting could approach the issue either as a historical <br /> question What did the by-law say in 1986? Was the 1987 intent to change it? <br />