2006-03-14-PB-min - Laserfiche WebLink

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PLANNING BOARD MINUTES MEETING OF MARCH 14, 2006 A regular meeting of the Lexington Planning Board held in Estabrook Hall was called to order at 7:40 p.m. by Vice Chairman Hornig, with members Galaitsis, Canale, Zurlo and planning staff McCall-Taylor, Schilt, Tap and Tapper present. Ms. Manz arrived at 8:00 p.m. ****************** PLANNING BOARD ORGANIZATION, SCHEDULE ******************* Signature sheets for Registry of Deeds and Land Court As required by State statute, the Board endorsed signature sheets, required to be on file with the Registry of Deeds and the Land Court, reflecting the current membership of the Board and staff members authorized to sign for the Board. ************ ADMINISTRATION OF LAND DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS ************* SUBDIVISION OF LAND Cedar Street- Ms. McCall-Taylor gave a brief preview of the definitive subdivision plan that has been submitted. A public hearing will be scheduled. ************************ ARTICLES FOR 2006 TOWN MEETING ************************ PUBLIC HEARING Article 5, Zoning By-Law, Impervious Surface Amendment: Mr. Hornig opened the public hearing on Article , Impervious Surface, at 7:45 p.m. There were five people in the audience. 5 Mr. Hornig explained that the Planning Board's proposed amendment to the Zoning By-Law would adjust the maximum impervious surface ratio (ISR) permitted in cluster subdivisions. The area of a proposed subdivision street is not included in the ISR calculation for conventional subdivisions, but it is included for roadways/driveways in clusters. In past approvals of cluster subdivisions the Planning Board has tended to relax the ISR permitted maximums of .15 in the RO district and .20 in the RS/RT districts, in order to get better site design. But developers contemplating development in Lexington find the permitted ISR a disincentive to using the cluster provisions, as roadway/driveway area represents the bulk of impervious surface in a development. The proposed amendment would raise the maximum ISR for cluster subdivisions in the RO district to .20 and in the RS/RT district to .30. Mr. Hornig provided examples of two recently approved subdivisions, one cluster and one conventional, to demonstrate that the proposed ISR would make the total impervious surfaces allowed in clusters consistent with that allowed in conventional subdivisions. The Board believes that equalizing ISR calculation factors for cluster and conventional developments would result in higher use of the cluster provisions and improved site layout. Mr. Frank Sandy, TMM Pr. 6, asked how many cluster subdivision applications were approved in recent years and how one could tell that developers were discouraged by the cluster requirements. He urged the Board to be ready to answer these questions and to provide other quantitative data, as Town Meeting members will surely ask for it when Article 5 is taken up. Mr. Galaitsis indicated that he does not agree with the majority of the Board about impervious surface in cluster subdivisions. He believes that cluster subdivisions, which typically result in more units and greater impacts than conventional subdivisions, already provide great incentives to developers; therefore he finds the additional advantages offered to developers under Article 5 unnecessary and permissive. He pointed out that for years the majority of the Planning Board misinterpreted the cluster by-law and, despite his objections, and permitted higher ISR values than specified in the existing by-law. He said the way to fix the past problem is to enforce the existing by-law rather than legitimize its past misinterpretation. For a level playing field with conventional developments, the ISR should be equal, but it would be substantially higher for clusters should Article 5 pass. He also cited the “Equal ISR Option” (that he submitted to the Planning Board Members and Planning Office staff on 12/7/05), which would ensure nearly equal ISR for conventional and cluster subdivision, while giving an additional small advantage to the cluster