2004-04-26-PB-min - Laserfiche WebLink

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PLANNING BOARD MINUTES MEETING OF APRIL 26, 2004 The meeting of the Lexington Planning Board held in Room 227 of the Clarke Middle School was called to order at 7:05 p.m. by Chairman Harden with members Davies, Kastorf, Manz and planning staff Garber and McCall - Taylor present. ****** * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ** MINUTES ******* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ** Review of Minutes The Board reviewed and corrected the minutes for the meetings of April 7, 12, 13 and 14, 2004. On a motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to approve the minutes as amended. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ** ARTICLES FOR 2004 TOWN MEETING * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ** Article 13 Report - Metropolitan State Hospital Rezoning: The members reviewed a draft of their report on Article 13 beginning with the fiscal impacts section. Mr. Steve Swartz, an attorney from Goulston and Storrs who represents the AvalonBay development team, reported that the state had agreed to drop the current enrollment number as a part of the standard to be met before the guaranty on school -age children applies. In discussing the revenue figures Ms. Elizabeth Smith from AvalonBay explained how the Assessor generates the value of the property for tax purposes. She said that I & E (income and expenses) statements are submitted on an annual basis. These are used along with a cap rate to generate value. In response to a question she said that there is partial assessment during the construction phase. Mr. Kastorf said the question of the assessment will come up on Town Meeting floor and the Town Manager will need a response. Mr. Garber said that he was providing the Town Manager with background information. Mr. Harden said Al Levine of the Appropriations Committee may be doing an independent fiscal analysis. Ms. Manz said that she felt the content of the fiscal section was fine but the tone was not positive enough. Members suggested various edits that might make the report more persuasive. Mr. Harden suggested that the order of the section in the report might be rearranged and the housing section moved toward the back. Mr. Kastorf said that the reason to support the development was for the housing it provided and therefore housing should be addressed first. He said that the major concerns expressed as the project was discussed in the Town were fiscal issues, density, and traffic and transportation as if affects the neighborhood. He had put the development alternatives later in the report as they might be seen by some as a threat, although they were offered only to inform. Ms. Manz said she thought the alternatives were strong at the end. In discussing the dimensional controls section members commented that much of it related to the density discussion. Mr. Harden said that the report should read as an argument so the technical part of the dimensional controls section should go in the appendices and the rest should be merged with the density section. Members agreed that the changes discussed should be made to the report and that they would let the planning staff know if there were any other changes to be made in time to have the report printed for Wednesday. On a motion duly made and seconded, the Board voted unanimously t/adjourn Q5 p.m. ohn L. Davies, Clerk