1983-05-18 - Laserfiche WebLink

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PLANNING BOARD MINUTES MEETING OF MAY 18, 1983 The meeting of the Lexington Planning Board, held in Room G-7, Town Offices, was called to order at 7:42 p.m. by the Chairman, Mrs. Smith, with members Flemings, Nichols, Uhrig and Planning Director Bowyer present. Mr. Sorensen was absent as he was out of town on business. APPLICATIONS TO THE BOARD OF APPEALS 99. 124 Spring Street, Beal Company; SPS: Irwin Barkan, Vice President of the Beal Company, Norman Abend, Traffic Engineer, and Gary Larson, Landscape Architect, were present. Mr. Barkan explained that the additional 100 parking spaces, in excess of the ratio of 3.5 parking spaces/1000 square feet of gross floor area, were because the prospective tenant insisted upon spaces for conferences held several times dur- ing the year. Mr. Larson commented that this occasional overflow parking need would be difficult to accommodate by parking on the shoulders of the driveways because there are steep slopes adjacent to many sections of the driveways. Mr. Larson explained that the system of driveways on the northeast side of the park- ing garage was really part of the circulation system of the garage. There are no interior ramps in the garage and to change from one level to another requires use of the exterior drives. Mr. Barkan said they had not previously investigated the use of compact parking spaces in the garage but would now do so with the objective of relocating as many open air spaces into the garage as possible. Norman Abend stated that a parking space width of 8'-9 feet is sufficient for all -day parking for either standard or compact sized automobiles. He suggested an average space width of 8.75 feet gives a flexible arrangement. ' Mr. Barkan said they had not really studied the additional 100 foot buffer strip recommended by the Planning Board. There was discussion about conservation restric- tions, a walking easement, and protection of the Davis property at 112 Spring Street. Barkan agreed to submit a plan of the entire site showing all the proposed restrictions, easements and setback lines. Mr. Bowyer reported on a meeting with Norman Abend on the methodology issues raised in the Planning Board's May 11 report. For "trip generation," Abend relied on case studies of other suburban developments in eastern Massachusetts and southern New Hampshire; the Planning Department staff relies on the trip generation manual pre- pared by the Institute of Transportation Engineers. On the effect of other addi- tional development on the intersections in the area, Mr. Abend described these as general area wide traffic issues and did not consider it appropriate, as the consul- tant for the Beal Company, to undertake studies of the effects of other develop- ments. The other issue dealt with a decline in the "level of service" at intersections. The Spring Street-Marrett Road intersection is the only one which declines to level of service "D". Mr. Abend pointed out that decline results from a change of a few per- centage points in the volume/capacity ratio, based on existing conditions. By the simple act of placing paint lines to create a left turn lane, that intersection could be restored to level of service "C", using accepted traffic engineering calculations. As for a financial contribution by the developer toward needed traffic and safety (sidewalk) improvements off the site, Mr. Barkan emphasized the Beal Company did not consider it their place to pay for traffic improvements in the area. He has agreed to make a contribution to a fund to be set up by the Town for improvements. The