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PLANNING BOARD MINUTES
<br /> MEETING OF MARCH 30, 1999
<br /> The meeting of the Lexington Planning Board held in Estabrook Hall in Cary Memorial Hall was called to order
<br /> at 7.45 p.m. by Vice Chairman Davies, with members Colman, Galaitsis, Bridge-Denzak, Planning Director
<br /> Bowyer, and Assistant Planner Garber present.
<br /> ************************ ARTICLES FOR 1999 TOWN MEETING ************************
<br /> 68. Article 9 CN and RO to CD, 903 Waltham Street,PUBLIC HEARING. Mr.Davies opened the hearing
<br /> at 7 45 p.m.There were 55 people in the audience. John Farrington, attorney,James McManus III,the applicant,
<br /> of Fox&Hounds Properties,Inc.,Richard Bechtel,architect of Bechtel,Frank,Erikson,Architects,Inc.,Richard
<br /> Waitt, engineer, of Meridian Engineering,Inc.,David Warner, landscape architect, of Larson Associates, Inc.,
<br /> and Steve Pernow,traffic engineer of Versent LLC,were present to explain their plans for developing land at the
<br /> corner of Waltham Street and Concord Avenue.
<br /> Mr.Farrington explained that a typographical error was responsible for confusion about the height of the proposed
<br /> buildings,the correct height being 18 feet.The PSDUP states the permitted height is 28 feet.Mr.Warner detailed
<br /> the site plan which shows a two-building commercial development that would replace the current building on the
<br /> site.Mr Bechtel explained the character and dimensions of the buildings and said the lighting plan complies with
<br /> the Zoning By-Law's Section 14,Outdoor Lighting. He said that changes were made in the plans in response to
<br /> suggestions by the Design Advisory Committee,before which they made two presentations.
<br /> Questions and comments from the Planning Board included:
<br /> Mr. Colman: Why are the figures presented tonight different from the PSDUP, which is a legally binding
<br /> document? Why is the list of uses so open ended? Mr. McManus replied that changes to the PSDUP were in
<br /> response to the Design Advisory Committee's suggestions and he wants to have many options for uses on the site.
<br /> He likes to create a synergy among the buildings'tenants.
<br /> Mr. Galaitsis commented that the range of possible uses is too wide and that the proposed tree buffer is less
<br /> protective than the trees currently at the interface with the RO zone at the rear,or west side,of the developed part
<br /> of the property in the CN district.
<br /> Mr. Davies said that the floor area ratio calculations are confusing.The area intended for building mechanicals
<br /> seems to be enormous.Mr Bechtel said the area under the first floor will be crawl space.
<br /> Questions and comments from public officials: One member and one associate member of the Design Advisory
<br /> Committee made positive comments on the plans. The unclear height of the buildings bothered a number of
<br /> people.
<br /> David Kanter, TMM, Pr 7, asked questions about the floor area of the buildings, the landscaped buffer, the
<br /> amount of parking,drainage and a number of other subjects. He suggested decreasing the size of the buildings
<br /> and increasing the landscaped buffer He asked how the desired and promised changes will be incorporated into
<br /> the PSDUP
<br /> In response to Jacquelyn Davison's (Precinct 3) question about the floor area of the Chadwicks building, Mr
<br /> Bechtel answered that it has an area of 2,500 square feet.The two new buildings will have a total of 11,000 square
<br /> feet.
<br /> Raffi Festekjian, 1 Schoolhouse Lane,presented the opposing neighbors'case against the development.There are
<br /> 138 signatories to this petition.Their concerns are about traffic at the intersection of Waltham Street and Concord
<br /> Avenue,which they feel is dangerous already,the reduced landscaped buffer between the CD and RO zone,and
<br /> other issues they feel threaten their neighborhood. Thomas DeNoto, chairman of the South Lexington Civic
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