HomeMy WebLinkAbout2009-01-26-PB-min
PLANNING BOARD MINUTES
MEETING OF JANUARY 26, 2009
A meeting of the Lexington Planning Board at the Selectmen’s Meeting in the Selectmen’s Meeting
Room, Town Office Building was called to order at 8:25 p.m. by Chairman Hornig with members Manz,
Canale, and planning staff McCall-Taylor present. Mr. Galaitsis and Mr. Zurlo were absent.
***********************BOARD OF SELECTMEN’S MEETING***************************
wanted to update the Selectmen on what the Planning Board has been doing since the
Mr. Hornig
last discussion, discuss the warrant articles, what will be coming up over the next year and to ask
for help from the Selectmen with the process.
The Planning Board has been meeting frequently to prepare the warrant articles and has started
having public information sessions and receiving feedback.
Mr. Hornig reviewed the Planning Board’s articles for the 2009 Annual Town Meeting:
Article 44, Amend Zoning By-Law – CM and NFI District Changes
Article 45, Amend Zoning By-Law – Traffic
Article 46, Amend Zoning By-Law – Zoning Map Revisions
Article 45 proposes that a new traffic management overlay district be created around the
Hartwell Avenue area and district and would include the Planning Board creating a district-wide
mitigation plan. The plan is intended to comply with state law regarding mitigation funds from
developers, and the Planning Board is hoping this article can be approved.
The Planning Board is currently working out the details of the warrant articles and will have a
public information meeting on February 4 and a Public Hearing on March 4. If Town Meeting
approves the articles the Planning Board will work from May to September to develop the
mitigation plan.
Article 9, Appropriation for Planning Board Consulting Services, requests money for consulting
services for the Planning Board to help accomplish the Mitigation Plan, Site Plan Review
Regulations and CRO Studies to aid in developing zoning changes for the CRO district. The
Page 2
Minutes for the Meeting of January 26, 2009
Planning Board hopes the Selectmen will support Article 9, which will be considered after the
results of Articles 44, 45 and 46 are known.
The Planning Board is looking for guidance regarding what sources or variety of funding should
be pursued to construct necessary infrastructure changes. What share is appropriate to ask of
taxpayers, betterments from district landowners, and applicants for new development. If the
Planning Board articles are approved, the Planning Board hopes the Town will consider whether
to borrow money to make improvements in anticipation of development in the pipeline.
Selectman Jeanne Krieger believes a process and policy to handle mitigation money within the
community needs to be worked out.
Richard Thuma, 149 Wood Street, talked about the high volume of vehicles that travel on Wood
Street during the weekdays and called attention to a Traffic Study done in October 2008 which
showed the traffic volume, excess speeds and people bypassing the highway system. He believes
the current methods to manage traffic are ineffective and the efforts by the Planning Board are
long overdue and he hopes the Planning Board’s articles will be supported.
**************************PLANNING BOARD MEETING*****************************
At. 8:45 the Board recessed to the Planning Office to continue the Planning Board meeting. Mr. Canale
and Mr. Hornig reported on the meeting regarding the Spring St. sidewalk that had occurred the previous
Thursday. Mr. Canale expressed his frustration that the project did not seem to give equal weight to the
level of service for pedestrians as well as cars. This is not in keeping with the Mass Highway standards.
This lead to a discussion of how the standards should be reflected in the proposed Transportation Demand
Management Overlay District and the traffic plan that it will require. Mr. Canale is writing a policy for
the Board to consider and handed out a partial draft. The Board will discuss it further at a future meeting.
On a motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to adjourn the meeting at 9:50 p.m.
Wendy Manz, Clerk