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PLANNING BOARD MINUTES
MEETING OF NOVEMBER 7, 2007
A regular meeting of the Lexington Planning Board was held in the Selectmen’s Meeting Room, Town
Office Building, and called to order at 7:00 p.m. by Chairman Hornig with members Zurlo, Canale,
Galaitsis and Manz and planning staff McCall-Taylor, Henry and Kaufman present.
*************************************WEBINAR **************************************
At 7:00 p.m. an online workshop, sponsored by the Citizen Planner Training Collaborative and hosted by
Robert Ritchie, Assistant State Attorney General, Director of the Municipal Law Unit, started. The
webinar covered the roles and responsibilities of Planning Boards and Zoning Board of Appeals. Dianne
Cornaro, Board of Appeals Clerk, Amy Casparius Building/Historic Commission Clerk, and David
George, Zoning Administrator, also attended.
************************************* MINUTES **************************************
Review of Minutes: The Board reviewed and corrected the minutes for the meeting of October 24, 2007.
On a motion duly made and seconded, it was voted, 5-0, to approve the minutes as amended.
************************************ STAFF REPORTS*********************************
Ms. McCall-Taylor reported that an application was made to the CPC requesting funds for a housing
specialist position. It is not really a matter directly within the Board’s jurisdiction, but is of interest
because it will have an impact on planning staff.
Ms. McCall-Taylor said that Mr. Brian Kelly would be bringing in a sketch plan for an RD rezoning at
the next meeting. It is for a property on Woburn Street at the Woburn line. The PSDUP would have to
be finalized before the end of December.
Mr. Henry attended a seminar on permeable pavement sponsored by Land Development Breakthroughs.
Information will be provided to the Board about pervious pavement for their information. It is unlikely to
require changes in the current regulations, but may warrant changes at a later time after more testing and
research have been done.
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Minutes for the Meeting of November 7, 2007
******************************* BOARD MEMBER REPORTS****************************
Ms. Manz reported back that there are over 20 applications currently before the CPC and only six have
been looked at to date. LEXHAB applied for $650,000 in funds to retire three mortgages in the Parker
Manor Condos. The housing specialist position request from the Planning Department raised the issue of
whether it can be funded by the CPC as they consider it an operating expense rather than a capital
expense. Mr. Henry pointed out that the law includes “housing support” as a valid activity and it is a
specific State mandate making it housing a priority.
Mr. Hornig asked whether the CPC wants the advice of the Planning Board, and if so when should the
Planning Board get involved? Ms. Manz said the public hearings are December 6 and 13 and she will
bring in information to the Board as the CPC goes through the process, but there is a time constraint.
Mr. Canale said that part of Hartwell Avenue was striped for bikes and pedestrians. Western Greenway
met with VHB regarding the master plan. They are looking into possible funding of the Minuteman
Connector piece. The MAPC Council met two weeks ago on MetroFuture goals and outcomes with four
breakout sessions; Mr. Canale attended the impact fees sessions. He reported that there was a substantial
developer presence for the first time. He provided handouts from that meeting to the Board.
Mr. Zurlo said EDTF met last week with consultant Steve Cecile regarding the goals and potential
stakeholders for the study of the commercial areas and that there will be a public discussion in early
December on this topic.
Ms. Manz said the Chamber of Commerce and the Center Committee met and they were in support of
economic development. There may be a citizen’s article to increase the FAR in some commercial zones
and the possibility of eliminating all parking regulations in the center. Ms. Manz said Patrick Mehr, who
had requested a meeting with her and Bebe Fallick regarding anti-mansionization, had volunteered to do
data collection to help make the case for regulating this issue.
Mr. Hornig said on November 29, 2007 the Chamber of Commerce is having a breakfast on commercial
zoning. He will be making a presentation there.
Mr. Canale said he had been asked what was the Planning Board doing to getting vitality back in the
center? Ms. McCall-Taylor said that was the job of the Economic Development Officer (EDO) and they
Minutes for the Meeting of November 7, 2007 Page 3
would work with her.
Mr. Canale advised the Board that MassPort is considering changing the basis of penalties from a weight-
based fee to a noise-based fee.
******************************** ZONING INITIATIVES********************************
Ms. McCall-Taylor handed out the current draft for Article IX and said it would be on the Planning Board
agenda for December 5, 2007. She is currently working on the rest of the bylaw incorporating the various
technical corrections that are needed to reflect the changes in Articles VIII and IX.
Ms. McCall-Taylor said that the Planning Board would focus on the Traffic Bylaw next year and that
Susan Yanofsky the EDO will be assuming responsibility for any parking bylaw changes.
Mr. Henry said the Stormwater Bylaw has the increased interest of DPW Director Bill Hadley, probably
piqued by the recent passage of a similar bylaw in his hometown of Billerica. The plan is to go ahead with
public outreach in order to be prepared for the warrant at the end of December.
***********************PLANNING BOARD ORGANIZATION, SCHEDULE*****************
The following dates are Planning Board meetings: November 28 (public hearing on 960-990 Waltham
Street), December 5 and 19.
Mr. Henry said the second Housing Roundtable is scheduled for Thursday, November 15, 2007. They
would address the housing strategy, get feedback and discuss where to go from there.
On a motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to adjourn the meeting at 9:45 p.m.
Wendy Manz, Clerk