2010-09-15-PB-min - Laserfiche WebLink

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PLANNING BOARD MINUTES MEETING OF SEPTEMBER 15, 2010 A regular meeting of the Lexington Planning Board in the Selectmen’s Meeting Room, Town Office Building was called to order at 7:35 p.m. by Vice Chairman Richard Canale, with members Wendy Manz and Charles Hornig and planning staff Maryann McCall-Taylor, Aaron Henry, and Lori Kaufman present. Greg Zurlo and Anthony Galaitsis were absent. ********************************TREE COMMITTEE*********************************** Jerry Paul and John Fiske from the Tree Committee discussed with the Board proposed changes to the tree bylaw. Since 2001 there have been over 2,000 replacement trees planted in the setback areas covered by the bylaw. The Tree Committee would like projects requiring special permits to come under the jurisdiction of the Tree Committee and is considering further expanding their jurisdiction to areas outside of the setbacks on a lot. They felt it was time to put the Planning Board’s stated policy into the bylaws. The mitigation requirements should be universal. Mr. Paul felt that it would be too much of a burden to monitor whether other boards were taking positions consistent with the tree policy. Board Member Comments: The zoning bylaw incorporates the same definition for protected trees. The Special Permit Granting Authority (SPGA) can decide on the most appropriate mitigation for the individual site. Applying the Tree Bylaw to a subdivision may not be appropriate for each lot and allowing mitigation over a broader area would make it more effective. Mr. Paul said that the tree bylaw was established for single residential lots and small lots bear a greater burden. The area requiring mitigation might be based on a percentage of the site rather than setbacks, so that bigger lots would have a greater area and more trees would be protected Board comments: One member suggested that when the Tree Bylaw was originally presented to Town Meeting the purpose was to preserve tree buffers for neighbors. Protecting all trees on a lot would go beyond the original intent of the bylaw. While protecting more trees is a good goal, crafting something acceptable to Town Meeting may be difficult. Mitigation based on the percentage of mature trees on a site to be removed might be one approach. The Board will consider appointing a liaison to the Tree Committee.