2000-07-03-PB-min - Laserfiche WebLink

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PLANNING BOARD MINUTES MEETING OF JULY 3, 2000 The meeting of the Lexington Planning Board held in the Selectmen's Room Town Office Building, was called to order at 7:3 S p.m. by Chairman Colman, with members Bridge- Denzak, Davies, Galaitsis, Merrill, Planning Director Garber, Assistant Planner McCall- Taylor and Intern Adrianne Ralph present. ******* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ** REPORTS ******* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ** Planning Board, Subcommittees Ad Hoc Tree Committee Ms. Bridge - Denzak reported that she has been named chair of the Selectmen's new Ad Hoc Tree Committee. The group discussed its goals at its most recent meeting. Representatives of the Department of Public Works also attended. * * * * * * * * * * * * ** ADMINISTRATION OF LAND DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS * * * * * * * * * * * * ** SUBDIVISION OF LAND Lexington. Park Definitive Cluster Subdivision Plan, Halyard Builders, Decision Mr. Galaitsis chaired the portion of the meeting dealing with Lexington Park as Mr. Colman did not participate in deliberations. The Board reviewed a draft Certificate of Action dated July 3, 2000, prepared by the staff. After a brief discussion, on the motion of Mr. Merrill, seconded by Mr. Davies, the Board approved the Certificate of Action by a vote of 4 -0. Mr. Colman abstained. The Board entered into a discussion of the draft Special Permit, dated July 3, prepared by the staff, Mr. Merrill and Mr. Davies expressed satisfaction with the document and commented favorably on the whole project., noting that the Planning Board's job is to encourage good projects, as well as prevent bad ones. Ms. Bridge - Denzak would like to see further planting on the site. She believes that the site needs more transition planting. The lack of trees to provide canopy is her concern. The Board agreed. On the motion of Ms. Bridge - Denzak, seconded by Mr. Merrill, the Board voted, unanimously, to condition approval of the special permit on the receipt of a refined landscaping plan, for the staff to review, that would show a net increase in plant material, mostly trees. Mr. Galaitsis suggested that a table be inserted in both the Certificate of Action and the Special Permit with Site Plan Review decision indicating gross square feet and site coverage. Other members felt that such a table would not be appropriate in the subdivision approval, but agreed to insert the table after #6 of the General Conditions of the SPS. In response to comments by Ms. Bridge- Denzak, Mr. Davies moved, and Mr. Merrill seconded, that as a special condition that the developer shall, during the final design stage, make his best effort to seek opportunities to lower the height of the units. The Board voted 4 -0 to support the motion. Mr. Galaitsis expressed his negative reaction to the three -car garage shown on one of the proposed dwellings and noted that another unit has a large barn. Mr. Davies responded that they are simply adaptations of the houses to an owners' needs. He said that such things are outside of the Zoning By -Law's jurisdiction. Ms. Bridge - Denzak commented that it may mean there will be more traffic and it further is a perception problem, seeming to indicate more density. Mr. Davies responded again that it is an architectural issue, not a zoning issue. Mr. Garber pointed out that architectural control is the purview of a whole other body of law. Mr. Moloney stated that only one unit has a three -car garage. On the whole, the project is 20,000 square feet under the allowed gross area. The overall impacts are proper for a cluster subdivision. He said he has no wish to be adversarial, but he is very uncomfortable about someone saying that the owner can live without a three -car garage.