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PLANNING BOARD MINUTES MEETING OF FEBRUARY 13, 2002 The meeting of the Lexington Planning Board held in the Selectmen's Room, Town Office Building, was called to order at 7:35 p.m. by Chainnan Galaitsis with members, Chase, Davies, Harden, Kastorf and planning staff Garber, McCall- Taylor, Tap and Tyson present. There were 25 people in the audience. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ** PLANNING DIRECTOR'S REPORT * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ** Metropolitan State Hospital Site Reuse Mr. Garber reported that the stakeholders in the Met State reuse process have been meeting weekly of late, trying to come to agreement on the second amendment to the reuse plan for the hospital site. * * * * * * * * * * ** ADMINISTRATION OF LAND DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS * * * * * * * * * * * ** RECOMMENDATIONS ON APPLICATIONS TO THE BOARD OF APPEALS Applications To Be Heard on February 14 2002: Ms. Chase gave an oral review of the following applications: ■ 44 Bloomfield Street — Special permit to restore original front porch and expand the second floor of an existing nonconforming single- family dwelling ■ 92 -100 Boston Properties — Special permit to install new, proposed signage on the existing sign base ■ 79 Hancock Street — Variance to construct additions to a single - family dwelling that will have a front yard setback of 21' and a side street side yard setback of 12.7', and a special permit to expand nonconforming portions. ■ 7 Hartwell Avenue — Special Permit with Site Plan Review for the rezoned parcel The Board agreed to snake no comment on the applications ARTICLES FOR 2002 TOWN MEETING PUBLIC HEARINGS ON ZONING AMENDMENTS Article 16, Change of use to allow athletic facilities in the CRS Distric Mr. Galaitsis opened the hearing at 7:50 p. m. As the proponent was not present, he asked for comments from the audience. Mr. David Kanter, town meeting member in Precinct 7, asked why the proponent asked for the use to be allowed in only the CRS zone. Why not all of the commercial zones? He asked if there was a particular business wanting to use a particular site. Referencing the Planning Board's recent Comprehensive Plan draft, he asked if this change would further the plan's stated goals. Deirdre Neimann, Niemann Associates, the proponent of Article 16, arrived at 7:55. She presented reasons why she has requested the Board to add athletic facilities to the allowed uses in the CRS zoning districts. Showing photographs of existing commercial development the CRS zones, she argued that the use would be suitable in all of them. She said she realizes that the Zoning By -Law was designed to protect residents but that this change to the use table should be allowed, as it would support a local business person. She said there is adequate parking space behind the building and on town -owned land on the other side of the bike path. Planning Board members asked if there would be a size limitation and how big was the lot? Ms. Niernann answered that the building has 2,850 square feet of space and that the lot was small, perhaps 5,000 square feet. In response to Mr. Galaitsis' question about parking, Ms. Niemann answered that there is plenty of parking in the surrounding area. Ms. Niemann said the Town owns the parking area land adjacent to Mal's Autobody. Ms. Dawn McKenna asked for more information about parking. She said the neighbors should not be burdened with parking on residential streets. Mr. Frank Sandy, town meeting member, precinct 6, asked what the parking requirements in that zone are. Mr. Garber that the parking is &termined by use, not