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PLANNING BOARD MINUTES MEETING OF MARCH 20, 2002 The meeting of the Lexington Planning Board held in Conwell Hall at the First Baptist Church, 1580 Massachusetts Avenue, Lexington, MA, was called to order at 7:30 p.m. by Chairman Galaitsis with members, Chase, Davies, Kastorf and planning staff Garber, McCall - Taylor, and Tap present. Mr. Harden was absent due to illness. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ** ARTICLES FOR 2002 TOWN MEETING * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ** Article 18, Zoning By -Law, Setbacks for Sheds, Continued Public Hearing Mr. Galaitsis opened the continued hearing on Article 18, Setbacks for Sheds at 7:30. He asked the other members if they still wanted to withdraw this article as had been discussed at the February 27 hearing. A lack of support or of a need for such a change was evident at that time. Mr. Galaitsis polled the Board, which unanimously agreed to withdraw Article 18. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ** PLANNING BOARD ORGANIZATION, SCHEDULE * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ** Ms. McCall - Taylor reported that the Planning Board reports to Town Meeting on all the articles except for Article 20 will be available in draft form on April 1. She also informed the Board that their praTown Meeting meetings would be held in the Carpenter Room at the National Heritage Museum and will begin at 7:00 p.m. Town meeting sessions are scheduled for March 25, April 1 and 3, 8 and 10, 22 and 24. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ** REGIONAL, INTERTOWN ISSUES * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ** Metropolitan State Hospital Site Reuse Mr. Garber reported that the Board of Selectmen approved the Second Amendment to the Met State Hospital Reuse Plan at their meeting on March 18, 2002, culminating nine and a half years of meetings and machinations. Their signed decision will be sent to the State department of Capital Asset Management. It is not yet known what Waltham and Belmont will do. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ** ARTICLES FOR 2002 TOWN MEETING * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ** Article 20, Zoning By -Law, House Impact Review, Second Public Hearing Mr. Galaitsis opened the hearing at 7: 45. There were 60 people in the audience. Mr. Galaitsis yielded the floor to Mr. Garber and Ms. McCall- Taylor who showed a PowerPoint presentation, explaining Article 20, House Impact Review. It described the amendment's evolution and current state, including the meaning and effects of the thresholds, how the process works, and other approaches to the problem of large new houses in existing neighborhoods. Mr. Garber likened site plan review to the special permit procedure, the use of gloss floor area to living area, and explained the proposed height definition change. With regard to the proposed exemption for all additions to existing houses, a definition of addition was put forward. Responding to a concern raised at the first public hearing on March 6, issues around the amendment's possible effect on property values were addressed. Mr. Galaitsis opened the meeting to questions and comments from the audience. Mr. Paul Looney, 9 Pheasant Lane, asked for a definition of (house) "teardown ". The answer was if more than 50% of the exterior walls and roofs of the house were razed, it would no longer be an addition, but be termed a "teardown ". Mr. Tim Counihan, 27 Percy Road, said he thought the comparison to Lincoln's house size control bylaw was inappropriate as Lincoln has much larger lots than most of Lexington. He also believes that the subjective nature of the house impact review amendment would polarize people, pitting neighbor against neighbor. He asked the Board to set some objective criteria, such as setbacks. Mr. Scott Caron, 241 Massachusetts Avenue, asked about the cost of the site review process to the