Planning Board Minutes, 1999-07-14

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PLANNING BOARD MINUTES MEETING OF JULY 14, 1999 The meeting of the Lexington Planning Board held in the Selectmen's Room Town Office Building,was called to order at 7:30 p.m. by Chairman Davies with members Bridge-Denzak, Colman,Galaitsis, Planning Director Bowyer, and Assistant Planner Garber present.Mr.Merrill was absent. ************ ADMINISTRATION OF LAND DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS ************* SUBDIVISION OF LAND 105 Old Smith Farm James Gaklis.Definitive Cluster Subdivision Plan:PUBLIC HEARING: Mr Davies opened the public hearing at 7.45 p.m. Present for this item were James Gaklis and Daniel Smith, Fidelity Builders,the applicant;Ronald Wood,RLA, Guidelines,Inc., landscape architect;and Frederick Russell, Professional Engineer. There were 17 people in the audience. Mr. Wood outlined the proposed cluster subdivision for those not familiar with it and handed out a revised public benefit description.A discussion of the public benefit, in the form of affordable housing units,ensued with various confusions being expressed.Mr Garber attempted to clarify whose responsibility it is to build the unit to be conveyed to LexHAB.Marshall Derby, chairman of the Lexington Housing Assistance Board, voiced his frustration, saying he began talking with Mr Gaklis in October of 1998 about the housing unit. There was also discussion of a second affordable unit attached to the LexHAB dwelling,with the additional house being a private, below-market sales unit. Mr Bowyer pointed out that the Lexington Historical Commission, Conservation Commission and the Housing assistance Board are all advisory to the Planning Board in this process.Mr. Smith said that they are being asked by too many agencies to provide benefits. Mr. Colman responded that the cluster subdivision process is new and everyone is learning together He asked the applicants to regard it as a positive process. Questions from the audience had to do with the grade and ownership of the open space,price of the market rate units(+/- $400,000)and the creation of access to the privately-owned lots adjacent to the Minuteman National Historical Park. There was further discussion of the two units in the rehabilitated Schumacher barn having originally been intended to be rental units,but the demands for public benefits had changed the applicant's economics. Mr Davies declared the hearing continued to a future date to allow the public benefit issue to be resolved. 106. 87 Hancock Street.Halyard Builders. Definitive 7 4.5 Subdivision Plan.PUBLIC HEARING: Chairman Davies called the public hearing to order at 9.10 p.m. Present from the applicant team were Gerard Moloney,Hancock Farms Realty Trust, landscape architect Gary Larson,Larson Associates Inc., and Engineer Richard Waitt,Meridian Engineering,Inc., each of whom addressed the Board. Abutter Anne Ripley was also in attendance, as were Nancy Seasholes and David Kelland of the Historical Commission and a number of others. The plan shows two residential lots sharing a common driveway In lieu of road construction,the applicant proposes, as a public benefit,to fully restore the existing Nathan Chandler House on Lot# 1, and to inhibit the further development of 68,336 square feet of lot area by imposition of conservation restrictions thereupon. Summary of questions asked by Board members and the audience: Mr. Colman: is the conservation restriction in place already?Answer: It's been accepted by Commission but awaits recording.Mr. Galaitsis: what is the living area of the new house?Answer: in excess of 5000 square feet.Ms. Bridge-Denzak: what assurance can you give that trees and vegetation will be protected?Answer: while the site is tight to work in,