2005-03-02-PB-min - Laserfiche WebLink

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PLANNING BOARD MINUTES MEETING OF MARCH 2, 2005 A regular meeting of the Lexington Planning Board held in Cary Memorial Hal, was called to order at 7:40 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 4, Rezoning of Battle Green Inn Property, CB to CD, Public Hearing: Mr. Kastorf opened the public hearing on the property owner's petition to rezone the Battle Green Inn site at 1720 Massachusetts Avenue. (Lot 36A on Assessors Map 48). There were 40 people in the audience. The development team included: Mr. Eric Shapiro, the applicant, Mr. Arthur Klipfel and Ms. Gwen Noyes, Oaktree BGI, LCC; Mr. John Farrington, attorney; Mr. Erik Rhodin, Architect, Line Company; Mr. Peter Gammie and Mr. William Carlson, engineers, Design Consultants. Mr. Farrington briefly described the process the Battle Green Inn rezoning proposal has been through thus far. The development team has met with and incorporated suggestions from the Planning Board, Historic Districts Commission, Design Advisory Committee, and other town bodies, public and private over the past several months. He indicated that Oaktree Development has much experience with this type of project. Mr. Shapiro indicated that the team now wishes to focus on the future of Lexington Center and the vitality that The Commons in Lexington would bring. He provided information about the history of previous residential use in Lexington Center and listed the positive aspects of the proposal relative to parking spaces provided, the potential number of school age children, projected revenue to the town, the "green" building materials and other environment-friendly aspects of the building. The team met with the Selectmen regarding mitigation of the impacts of the development. The Selectmen deferred to the Planning Board to negotiate them. The team offers $100,000 "seed money" for center improvements and four dwelling units to sell according to State affordability guidelines. Mr. Shapiro noted that the project couldn't support donating the units to the town. Mr. Peter Gammie, engineer of Design Consultants, gave a brief overview of the site utilities. He noted that the existing site has essentially 100 percent impervious while the proposed building offers ten percent pervious surfaces. In order not to endanger trees at the south lot line, they altered an aspect of the drainage system. The system as designed exceeds State Stormwater Management standards. Mr. Carlson presented the results of traffic studies, including an additional study requested by Selectman McKenna at the February 16 Planning Board meeting, regarding traffic from the high school at the end of the school day. That study showed 30 percent less traffic in the study area than at the a.m. and p.m. peak traffic hours. In sum, Mr. Carlson indicated that the project would have minimal impact on traffic at the intersection of Waltham Street with Massachusetts Avenue and with Vine Brook Road. Regarding moving entry/egress for the site to Waltham Street, Waltham Street carries only half the amount of traffic that Massachusetts Avenue does. During peak traffic hours, trips into or out of the site would be minimal. Fewer drivers would have to "go around the (Winthrop Road-Vine Brook Road) block" to get onto Waltham Street from The Commons. One (net) on-street parking space would be lost. Architect Erik Rhodin presented revised plans and compared them to earlier drawings. As Mr. Shapiro had said in his opening remarks, the building has been "shrunk" by nine percent. Existing site coverage is 98 percent, proposed is 79 percent. The partial fourth floor has been moved away from Massachusetts Avenue. The south building façade has been moved twelve feet back from adjacent Vine Brook Road lot lines. Mr. Rhodin stressed the high quality of the materials going into the building, indicating that it will be a structure that Lexington can be proud of.