2000-06-07-PB-min - Laserfiche WebLink

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PLANNING BOARD MINUTES MEETING OF JUNE 7, 2000 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 Vice Chairman Colman, with members Bridge - Denzak, Galaitsis, Merrill, Planning Director Garber and Assistant Plamier McCall -- Taylor present. * * * * * * * * * * ** ADMINISTRATION OF LAND DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS * * * * * * * * * * * ** SUBDIVISION OF LAND Cotton Farm Cluster Subdivision off Marrett Road, Sketch Plan, Todd Cataldo Present for this item were Todd Cataldo, the applicant, Richard Waitt, engineer, and Gary Larson, landscape architect. The purpose of the discussion was to come to agreement on reserving public access to town -owned land when the proposed subdivision is built. Mr. Cataldo said that he wants to know where the Board sits on this issue as the fifty-foot no -build strip that appears on the plan and on the deed is for our protection from what happens on the Town -owned land. It was part of the land swap the Cataldos made with the Town a number of years ago. The Senior Center is considering the site for its new location. Putting a road through in connection with a senior center there would drastically change the character of the area. Mr. Colman said the Board would consider it further at its next meeting. Mr. Cataldo said he would send the document describing the no -build strip to the Planning Department. Mr. Merrill said that cutting a road through is not desirable from a planning point of view and if part of the land swap deal with Mr. Cataldo was that a road would not be built there, then that understanding should be honored. Responding to a suggestion in the Board's letter on the first sketch plan, Mr. Cataldo said that reducing the number of houses further, to eight or nine, is not a viable option for him. Mr. Larson commented that, as he understands it, the 650 -foot dead -end road length limit does not affect the length of driveways to the properties. Ms McCaIl- Taylor responded that the driveway shown on the plan, which services several proposed dwellings, is basically an "end -run" around the By -Law. It is not in the sprit of what that limit is intended to accomplish. Mr. Waitt said that he had recently attended an excellent Open Space subdivisions conference. He believes that the plan being considered now responds to give the Board what it wants in a cluster layout. A conventional layout would allow 19 units. He defended the two interior driveways and commented that the design team needs certainty from the Board before the next plan is submitted Mr. Colman responded that Mr. Waitt's comments are well taken. The Board will schedule 30 minutes at the next Planning Board meeting, when John Davies is also present, to discuss the plan further. Mr. Garber said that there is ambiguity that needs to be clarified in subsection 9.3.6.4. He also noted that the extraction of 3.8 acres and the use of only single - family dwellings are problematic in the current plan. Later in the meeting members commented that Mr. Cataldo is creating his own hardship. 246 Concord Avenue, Minor Modification, Masoud Sanayei Present for this item was Masoud Sanayei, owner of one of the lots at 246 Concord Avenue, a 7.4.5, reduced frontage, subdivision. Mr. Garber explained that one of the numbers cited in the special permit for the approved subdivision did not really work out correctly in actuality. Mr. Sanayei wants to amend the living area, but not the footprint of the