2003-04-28-PB-min - Laserfiche WebLink

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PLANNING BOARD MINUTES MEETING OF APRIL 28, 2003 The meeting of the Lexington Planning Board held in the Carpenter Room of the National Heritage Museum, was called to order at 7:00 p.m. by Chairman Galaitsis with members Chase, Davies, Harden., Kastorf and planning staff Garber and McCall- Taylor present. MINUTES Review of Minutes The Board reviewed the minutes for the meetings of February 5 executive session, March 12 and 19 and April. 14, 2003. On the motion of Mr. Davies, seconded by .Mr. Harden, it was voted unanimously 5 -0 to approve the minutes for February 5 executive session, March 12 and April 14, 2003, as amended. The minutes of March 19 will be corrected and brought back to the next meeting. PLANNING DIRECTOR'S REPORT Mr. Garber informed the members that Elissa Tap had agreed to be the recording secretary for the Selectmen's Meetings. She had arranged back -up coverage if needed. This work will be done in addition to her Planning Board position, Article 12 — This article will be indefinitely postponed. Article 14 -- Mr. Davies said that it was his understanding that the article would ask for $30,000 to be appropriated for architectural programs and schematics. Mr. Harden said that given the discussions about the Worthen Road site that had been on the TMMA e -mail that afternoon such studies could be helpful. There was a question of whether a senior center would even fit on the site. Ms. Chase wondered about how useful a programmatic design unrelated to a site would be, and how much it might cost. Mr. Davies said that something worthwhile could be done for $10,000 but he doesn't want to have the Council on Aging have to wait a year if they get a site, so he thinks releasing $30,000 would be fine. Board member speculated about what the money would be used for. Ms. Davison who was in the audience and has been active on the siting committee, said that they wanted a program analysis with square footage requirements, a spaces need analysis for a senor /community center. Ms. McCall- Taylor referred the members to the memo from Mr. LaPointe which outlined the tasks the money would be used for as follows: validate the social services and activities that the senior center should provide; confirm space needs; and, develop the architectural program and create alternative conceptual building and site designs. Mr. Kastorf asked if there was a planning issue in this and Mr. Harden responded that if asked, the Planning Board could endorse the article. On the motion of Mr. Kastorf, seconded by Mr. Harden, the Board voted that if the Planning Board is asked for a position on Article 14 they should respond that it represents careful planning and it should trove forward. The motion passed 5 -0. Article 25 — Mr. Kastorf asked if it were true that the Planning Board would not be asked for a report during the discussion scheduled for the recess. Ms. McCall- Taylor said it was her understanding that that was the case and that Town Meeting would not vote on the motion until the next session. Mr. Kastorf suggested putting the article aside until Wednesday night, after they had heard the discussion. Mr. Galaitsis suggested making comments tonight but not voting. Mr. Harden said that the substantive issue here is the traffic issue generated by moving the DPW to Hartwell Avenue. Mr. Galaitsis said it is hard to know what to say without a traffic study of some sort. Mr. Galaitsis expressed concern that it might give political ammunition to Hanscom if the town were to allow more traffic on Hartwell Avenue. Mr. Davies said he felt it was worth it to move the DPW and free up the Bedford Street site. Mr. Harden said that if this were a commercial proposal it probably would not pass, traffic would be a major concern and traffic studies would be required. Tlie consensus was to defer a vote on the article.