1985-04-10 - Laserfiche WebLink

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PLANNING BOARD MINUTES MEETING OF APRIL 10, 1985 The meeting of the Lexington Planning Board, held in Room G-15, Town Offices, was called to order at 7:11 p.m. by the Chairman Mrs. Smith with members Cripps, Flemings, Sorensen, Uhrig and Planning Director Bowyer present. Four members of the Junior Class of Lexington High School, Mssrs. Allen, Gaudet, Hagopian and Sandy, who were designated as members of the Planning Board for Student Govern- ment Day, were also present. ARTICLES FOR 1985 TOWN MEETING 112. Article 21, RD, Woburn Street: Peter Kelley and Richard Perry of Woodhaven Realty and Landscape Architect, Gary Larson were present to show a revised site plan to the Board. Six residents of the area were also present. Mr. Kelley stated there were 3 principal commitments: 1) the provision of afford- able housing for 50% of the units, 2) a system to monitor the development so those units remain affordable in the future and 3) granting a full conservation easement to the Town over the wetlands. Mr. Larson showed how the interior drive had been relocated away from the property lines and how a buffer strip with screening and planting had been provided for along the side lot lines adjacent to two abutting houses and along Woburn Street. On the suggestion of the Fire Chief, steps leading to the buildings in the upper section of the site had been replaced by ramps to make access easier for emergency vehicles. In response to a question from Mrs. Flemings, Mr. Kelley said the developer would make a legal committment through the site development and use plan to maintain the unit for rental housing. Any change to another form of ownership would require action of a subsequent Town Meeting. Mr. Sorensen mentioned a 1980 hydrologic report that said no dwellings should be located below elevation 200. Mr. Larson said no finished floor levels were below elevation 200 and that would comply with the Zoning By -Law. There was some construction, such as foundations, below elevation 200. He also noted that the elevation 200 was an artificial target because the 100 year flood elevation was well below that, around 195. In response to Mr. Sorensen's question about grad- ing on this steep site, Mr. Larson said that all of the road and all of the parking lot have slopes of less than 5%. In an informal poll of the Board, Mrs. Smith said she had no reason not to sup- port the proposal. Larson had done a good site analysis and the proposed design treated a very difficult site well; the issues of screening of the neighborhood and abutting property had been dealt with; there was much need of rental housing and 50% of the housing units would be in the affordable category. Mrs. Uhrig said her concern had been that the site plan conform with what the Planning Board proposed in Article 11, Planned Residential Development. She understood that the development technically was subject to last year's RD District requirements but she did not feel comfortable in supporting a proposal that would conflict with what the Planning Board was recommending. As it now appears that the site plan will conform with Article 11, she is inclined to support the proposal. Mr. Sorensen said it was a very difficult site which will require too much grad- ing to develop; he is opposed. Mrs. Flemings was interested in the amount of