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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2008-06-04-PB-min PLANNING BOARD MINUTES MEETING OF JUNE 4, 2008 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 Chairman Hornig with members Galaitsis and Canale and planning staff McCall-Taylor, Henry and Kaufman present. Ms. Manz and Mr. Zurlo were absent. **********************ADMINISTRATION OF LAND DEVELOPMENT********************* PLANS NOT REQUIRING APPROVAL UNDER THE SUBDIVION CONTROL LAW FormA/2008-4, 5-9 Vinebrook Road: On a motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to endorse the plan entitled “ Subdivision of Land in Lexington, Massachusetts” dated May 4, 2007, prepared and certified by Wendell H. Mason, Professional Land Surveyor, Beverly, MA, with Form A/2008-4, submitted by Francis J. & Patricia J. Carney, applicants, as it does not require approval under the Subdivision Control Law. The applicants had been granted a variance from the required setback. ***************************COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT***************************** Ledgemont, Beal Company, CD Rezoning: The Beal Company is looking for a rezoning to allow an expansion at the next Town Meeting. This is to accommodate their tenant VistaPrint. Mr. Canale said CD approval is problematic; it is unpredictable, uncertain and costly. He asked about the time frame, noting that the state want a maximum six-month approval process. Mr. Hornig responded that the Board of Selectmen wants a Town Meeting in early November. Mr. Canale said the Board should do whatever it could to expedite the process. If the Planning Board were the Special Permit Granting Authority it might go faster and be more predictable. The applicants will be coming before the Planning Board on June 25 and will need to come in again and work with the neighbors. Mr. Galaitsis suggested that the materials be submitted in time to make the Friday packets before that Board meeting. Hartwell Area Study, June 18, Public Forum: This will be televised live and there is publicity about the broadcast. Mr. Hornig said he would give the same presentation that he gave to the Board of Selectmen and wanted to hear from the neighbors about mitigation of impacts, what would be acceptable, and what would be valuable. Mr. Thuma is handing out fliers in the neighborhood. Mr. Canale said he would like the Board of Selectmen to make policy statements as to what they would Page 2 Minutes for the Meeting of June 4, 2008 like to happen. The Board needs to know the current situation first to make an accurate evaluation. Mr. Hornig said the Board forced to put the cart a bit before the horse due to the commitment to come before Town Meeting 2009. The landowners’ meeting is Tuesday, June 24 at 8:00 a.m. in the Board of Selectmen’s Meeting Room. There is a small third group of five residential lots on Westview. The Board needs a specific outreach to this group due to special circumstances and a letter should go out to them. Mr. Galaitsis suggested a meeting devoted to an interaction and dialogue between all the parties. Mr. Hornig said there would be a site design workshop in the fall and that interaction can take place then. Cecil Report: The draft report was emailed to the Board and is still being worked on. The report will be finalized soon, as well as the EDTF report. The executive summary doesn’t conflict with the directive. *********************PLANNING BOARD ORGANIZATION SCHEDULE******************* Associate Planning Board Member: There were six letters of interest. Ms. McCall-Taylor suggested the Board review the applicants’ resumes and letters of interest and do a prescreening on June 11, selecting the candidates to interview on June 25 and deciding upon questions to ask. Work Plan: All the major decisions on commercial development need to be completed by the second Monday in November since it needs to be drafted by January. The Board needs all the important decisions made by Fall Town Meeting to test the waters. Mr. Canale said get some feedback when the other Board and committee meetings taking place and see how it fits in. Mr. Henry said the Board could use the Beal Company’s commercial development as a Traffic Demand Management (TDM) prototype for the development regulations and for the 2009 Town Meeting. The first goals for the TDM will be discussed on July 9. Mr. Canale said that MAPC will provide three days of consulting regarding parking. Mr. Hornig asked how active did TMG want to be. They offer a wide variety of perspectives and would be a complimentary role to Planning Board and staff. Ms. Dawn McKenna said she is serious about bringing to the 2009 Town Meeting a proposal to require a contribution to LEXPRESS. Mr. Canale said the Town would develop a toolbox to apply on a consistent basis to LEXPRESS. Mr. Hornig said the transit component would be important. Minutes for the Meeting of June 4, 2008 Page 3 The next topic to look at is site design issues regarding green and aesthetic issues. The Design Advisory Committee should be notified when addressing the site design issues. ******************************* BOARD MEMBER REPORTS*************************** Mr. Galaitsis and Dawn McKenna said in 2009-2010 is the ten year reunion with our sister city Antony in France. Antony named an area “Place de Lexington” and it would be nice to name an area in Lexington “Antony Place” or something similar. They urged Board members to think of an appropriate location that could be named as part of the ten-year reunion. ***************************SUBDIVISION ADMINISTRATION*************************** Grandview Avenue, Tri-Partite Agreement Reduction in Surety: Mr. David Burns, the developer of the Grandview Subdivision, requested a reduction in surety for water and sewer installation work completed. Engineering has reviewed the request and found it reasonable. Mr. Hornig said the price of asphalt was rising rapidly and the figures should be re-evaluated at the next submission. On a motion duly made and seconded, it was voted, 3-0, to grant a reduction in surety for $84, 229.00 for the release of funds for the water and sewer installation work competed on Grandview Avenue. Diehl Road: Mr. Henry said the pavement of the road was not installed as promised and the Town is still holding $30,000.00 surety until the Board is satisfied that the road is constructed correctly. There is a stake marking where Engineering proposed a leaching catch basin be placed. Since the as-built was not what was originally approved either the road needs to be torn up or another solution implemented and accepted by the Board. The question is if the Board would be willing to consider another option. Mr. Canale said the most desirable option would be finding a solution that makes the road work while creating minimal disruption. ********************************* MINUTES****************************************** Review of Minutes: The Board reviewed and corrected the minutes for the May 14, 2008. On a motion duly made and seconded, it was voted, 3-0, to approve the minutes as amended. ************************************ STAFF REPORTS********************************* Mr. Henry said the Board should look at unaccepted streets when doing the development regulations. Meridian charges $10,000-20,000 for these plans. The Board should keep in mind what people are Page 4 Minutes for the Meeting of June 4, 2008 spending and may want to address this issue. ******************************* BOARD MEMBER REPORTS*************************** Mr. Canale said he will be able to participate in the rewrite of the development regulations as he is no longer expecting to develop his property so he has no conflict of interest. Starwood has been cooperative on the issue of the aloft roof color. They gave the National Park Service paint chips to make sure the roof would not stand out. Committee assignments will be discussed on June 25, 2008. On a motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to adjourn the meeting at 9:30 p.m. Richard Canale, Acting Clerk