2005-01-12-PB-min - Laserfiche WebLink

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PLANNING BOARD MINUTES MEETING OF JANUARY 12, 2005 A regular meeting of the Lexington Planning Board held in the Selectmen's Meeting Room, Town Office Building, was called to order at 7:35 p.m. by Chairman Kastorf with members Galaitsis, Harden, Manz, Davies and planning staff McCall-Taylor and Tap present. ************************************* MINUTES ************************************** Review of Minutes: The Board reviewed and corrected the minutes for the meeting of December 8, 2004. On a motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to approve the minutes as amended. ***************************** AFFORDABLE HOUSING ****************************** Piper Ridge Local Initiative Program Proposal : Mr. John Esserian, President, and Mr. Joseph Marino, both of Homes Development Corporation, were present. Mr. Marino presented the company's plans for a Local Initiative Program development proposal for land bordered by Route 2, Waltham Street and Piper Road. The plan shows eight dwelling units in three structures, two of which would be affordable and eligible for Lexington's DHCD Affordable Housing Inventory. Six units would be priced at approximately $650,000. Mr. Marino said that the Housing Partnership has seen the plans and has offered input. According to AvalonBay's methodology, there would be nine school-age children; using the Battle Green Inn's methodology, only 2 school-age children would live at Piper Ridge. The units are intended for "empty-nesters”. Annual tax revenue to the Town would be approximately $14,000. However, Mr. Marino declined to put in a clause that would limit the units to empty nesters. Mr. Marino noted that impervious surface could cause site plan issues in the LIP development scheme, but the developer could build dwellings by-right on the site with the same site coverage. He wants to work with the Town on this project. Homes Development is committed to building a development that reflects well on the company. Eight units are needed in order to create two affordable ones and have a financially viable project. Profit on this scheme is the same as one with two-single family homes. The developer hopes that the Planning Board will make a favorable recommendation to the Selectmen, the SPGA for LIP projects. Board Questions and Comments Concerns raised by the Board had to do with mitigating traffic noise from Route 2, blasting needed to connect to town sewer in Waltham Street, eight units are too many for the site, potential for a high number of school-age children, emergency vehicle access and traffic safety. Mr. Robert Bicknell, Housing Partnership chair, reported that the Partnership's interactions with Homes Development have been positive, due to the inclusion of two affordable units. It also favored the idea of providing an accessory apartment, though they also realize that parking for the unit would be a problem due to added impervious surface. The Board would like to see a preliminary plan next, as that would provide more engineering data. Fewer units would be desirable as eight creates a majority of the site design problems. Mr. Harden commented that eight smaller units would alleviate some of those problems and offer valuable attainable dwellings, which Lexington lacks. Mr. Davies suggested varying the sizes of the units, as a plan with eight identical footprints makes him suspect that insufficient thought went into site design. Mr. Galaitsis said he preferred a four-unit plan, with one of those affordable. It was agreed that some noise measurement and mitigation information is needed. Mr. Kastorf summed up the Board's comments. He indicated that the preliminary plan should show more thoughtful site planning; with less impervious surface and a greater range of unit sizes and prices, e.g. $500,000 to $800,000.