2005-02-02-PB-min - Laserfiche WebLink

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PLANNING BOARD MINUTES MEETING OF FEBRUARY 2, 2005 A regular meeting of the Lexington Planning Board held in Estabrook Hall, Cary Hall, was called to order at 7:30 p.m. by Chairman Kastorf with members Davies, Galaitsis, Harden, Manz and planning staff McCall-Taylor and Tap present. ************************ ARTICLES FOR 2005 TOWN MEETING ************************ Article 22, Resolution re Fast Track Auction of Surplus State Property, Citizen's Petition, Ms. Jill Stein: Mr. Kastorf recognized Ms. Jill Stein, 17 Trotting Horse Drive, who had asked for time to explain her warrant article and to solicit the Planning Board's support. The articles ask the Town to adopt a resolution that expresses its concern regarding the fast track auction law, enacted as part of the State's FY 2004 Budget, and which reduces the Town's ability to purchase or influence the disposition of State property within its borders, and other related actions. The section allows the State to ignore environmental, historical and other quality of life issues when disposing of surplus property without regard to community wishes. A case in point is land at Middlesex County Hospital that the State is eager to sell, which represents not only open space but is known to be a part of a wildlife corridor through the region. Ms. Stein pointed to the loss of transparency in government and loss of local control. A number of people in the audience concurred. Ms. Stein said she would formulate a motion and give to the Planning Board for further input. Article 9, Lot on Waltham Street (Map 5, Lot 11A) RO to CD. Ernest Rogers and Company, Inc.: The public hearing on the property owner's petition to rezone the parcel shown as Lot 11A on Town Property Map 5, on the Lexington/Waltham municipal boundaries, was opened at 8:25 p.m. Present were Mr. Ernest Rogers, the applicant, Mr. Edmund Grant, attorney, Mr. Michael Dryden, engineer, of Meridian Associates, Mr. Ed. Nilsson, architect, of Nilsson & Sider, and Mr. Charles Kalauskas, traffic consultant, of the BSC Group. Mr. Grant outlined the justification for rezoning the 30,019 square foot property, which has been vacant and often an eyesore for years. Mr. Rogers would like to build a three-story office building, including a bank with drive-through service. The intended uses would be those allowed in the surrounding CL O zoning district. Projected floor-area-ratio (FAR) would be .20. On top of improving the appearance of the land, which is at a gateway to Lexington, the Town would gain more tax revenue than the vacant lot provides. A traffic mitigation plan has been submitted and a donation to Lexpress of $12,500 will be made as well as money toward a pedestrian light. The applicant will work with Gravestar, Inc. (which owns the adjacent Waltham Plaza) and Waltham officials and area residents on putting in place a safe way to cross Waltham Street. Mr. Dryden presented plans reflecting small changes since the proposal was filed in the Planning Department on December 23, 2004. He described the stormwater management system and noted that they are working with the Conservation Commission on certain changes it is requesting. The fire lane will be widened to 18 feet at the Fire Department's request. Mr. Nilsson described some of the building's features: 45 feet tall at the highest point, steel frame with brick and glass skin; its shape defers to the wetland buffer zone. A six-foot fence is shown between the plaza and Mr. Rogers' land. Mr. Kalauskas presented results of traffic studies. He noted that 'traffic' of 150 pedestrians/hour is one of the prerequisite conditions for installing a signaled crosswalk.