2005-04-20-PB-min - Laserfiche WebLink

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PLANNING BOARD MINUTES MEETING OF APRIL 20, 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 Harden with members Manz, Galaitsis, Hornig, Canale and planning staff McCall-Taylor and Tap present. ************ ADMINISTRATION OF LAND DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS ************* SUBDIVISION OF LAND 58 Colony Road, Wisteria Lane Sketch Subdivision Plan, Homes Development Corporation: This was a continuation of the discussion of this sketch plan that had begun at the April 6, 2005 meeting. Mr. Harden laid out the eight issues that had been identified at that meeting as needing further discussion. The Board then discussed them in greater detail as follows: 1) Grading- Mr. Harden pointed out that the site is relatively flat and had an average of 1½ feet of fill over the site with a 2.4-foot average where there was cut and fill. Board members asked why this was necessary and were told that the high ground water necessitated it. Ms. McCall-Taylor said there was also an issue of the number of stories if too much of the basement/ground level was exposed. All the members shared the concern about the height of the finished first floor elevation. Ms. Manz felt that the houses would tower over the others in the neighborhood and Mr. Harden said that excessive grading would result in the unnecessary destruction of the existing vegetation. Mr. Hornig said he was reluctant to change the grade just to permit taller houses. Mr. Canale said he did not hear a need expressed as to why the fill was necessary. Mr. Harden said it allowed the floor of the basement to be above the seasonal high water table as well as for marketing and construction costs reasons. Mr. Larson said that the added fill was not designed to add a story but because of the infiltrator system for the road, which had to be above the seasonal high ground water table with room for the infiltrator as well as an 8 to 10 inch dirt cover. Mr. Hornig wondered if having the infiltrator system near the property line would create a problem. Mr. Galaitsis said there were catch basins there to solve problems in neighboring lots and that the new homes should be exposed to the same risk and that they should leave everything the same. Ms. Manz said the reason they were raising the road was to get the water into infiltrator A. Mr. Galaitsis suggested that modifying the road to make the tear drop turnaround the lowest point and putting the infiltrator in the middle would eliminate the need for extra fill. Mr. Canale said he was in favor of a solution that minimizes the cut and fill and he wanted to know the cubic yardage of fill in the next submission. Ms. Gail Anderson, who grew up on the property, said that when there had been a farm in the back, soil had been taken out for a school and adding fill would bring it back up to those levels. 2) Tree near Colony Road – In order to save the large oak tree near Colony Road it might be necessary to move the road pavement off-center within the right of way and possibly move the sidewalk to the other side of the proposed street. 3) Pavement width – the width was shown as 20’. Mr. Harden felt he could accept an 18’ width in the teardrop if it were made one way. The Board indicated that 20’ would be acceptable if it was required by the Fire Department, although the Board would prefer an 18’ width in order to reduce impervious surface. They would like the applicant to explore reducing the impervious surface and suggested that the applicant check with the Fire Department regarding a one-way teardrop with an 18’ pavement width. 4) Footpath - Although the applicant said that the school was not interested in an easement for a footpath through to the Fiske School at this time and that the issue of the intervening property was still unresolved, the Board members wanted to keep this option open. They suggested exploring a pedestrian path easement that could be exercised at some point in the future. 5) Lotting – Mr. Harden asked that lot 4, which is a sliver along the right of way, be incorporated into the right of way. 6) Drainage System Maintenance – the applicant will need to provide an Operation and Maintenance covenant that includes a requirement for annual certification of the maintenance by a licensed engineer.