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PLANNING BOARD MINUTES
MEETING OF DECEMBER 5, 2012
A regular meeting of the Lexington Planning Board, held in the Selectmen’s Meeting Room,
Town Office Building was called to order at 7:32 p.m. by Chairman Richard Canale with
members Michelle Ciccolo, Charles Hornig, Greg Zurlo, and Wendy Manz and planning staff
Maryann McCall-Taylor, Aaron Henry, and Lori Kaufman present.
************************DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION*********************
376 Lincoln Street/73 Middle Street, sketch plan #3:
Present was John Farrington, attorney, Gary Larson, landscape architect, Mark Barons,
applicant/developer, and Jim DeCelle, engineer. Mr. Farrington said the modified plan included
the retention of the Franklin Warren School, a reduction from ten to eight units in a Balanced
Housing Development, and the use of porous pavement on the driveway. The applicant would
like to come back with a definitive plan the next time.
Mr. Larson said the revised plan showed eight dwelling units, which included the existing house
on the site. The school building was of historic value and would be moved back a little in an
attempt to maintain the Lincoln Street streetscape. A proposed path from the cul-de-sac to
provide access to the conservation land was added, and the open space would be above 33%.
Board Comments:
One side of the site looked overbuilt and should be reduced by one to two units. There
should be more space between the units and the preference would be a conventional plan
on this site. Mr. Larson said there was a steep slope on the other side of the site and the
trees were needed to stabilize that area of the site so building there would be difficult.
There was a lack of useable open space and the units should be brought closer together on
this plan to allow a place for children to play. The smaller units would be preferred.
The visual impact on one side of the site was a concern; why were two sets of attached
units removed? Mr. Larson said it was market driven. Mr. Baron said the units were
proposed as detached, which was preferred by abutters.
Page 2 Minutes for the Meeting of December 5, 2012
This plan was minimally acceptable, the proposed driveway would be 18 feet wide, but a
20 foot width would be required. Mr. Larson said the drive would be 20 feet wide up to
the loop and then reduced to a 16 foot width.
Demarcation of private boundaries for private use and common open space would be
needed with a pathway for connectivity.
This plan was heading in the right direction and the Board would discuss
recommendations on how the applicant should proceed with this project.
Lincoln Street would need a path to connect to the cul-de-sac.
Audience comments:
The density reduction and retention of as many trees as possible was a positive
improvement.
There was concern about the placement of the driveway because the street plan shown on
the south side was inaccurate.
Marrett Road has been rerouted and guest parking could be an issue. There would need to
be plenty of parking on the site.
Try to minimize the visibility of the roof tops of the units on this site.
Varying architecture to fit in with the school would be important and the neighbors did
not want blocks of attached houses. Mr. Larson said that he will consider the view, but
the proposed landscaping would help to break up the density.
Board Comments:
Tweak the relocation of the school to save the 36” tree.
There seemed to be a good neighborhood process.
The density and the articulation of the buildings were not working. Another unit should
be removed. The applicant was not ready for a definitive proposal at this time.
If another unit was removed the other units would increase in size and that would not be a
desired outcome.
Orient the first house towards Middle Street.
It is up to the applicant whether to proceed with a definitive or preliminary plan.
Mr. Farrington said that eight detached units would be important economically otherwise the
applicant would have to go with a conventional proposal. The applicant would like clear direction
on the number of units the Board would prefer for this project.
Minutes for the Meeting of December 5, 2012 Page 3
The Board appreciated the work being done with the abutters and recommended the applicant
continue to work with the neighbors and Planning Staff.
CONTINUED SUBDIVISION PUBLIC HEARING
Rangeway Extension, Definitive Plan:
Mr. Canale called the continued public hearing to order at 8:37 p.m. The applicant has requested
to continue the public hearing to December 19, 2012 and extend the decision date to March 11,
2013. The Board discussed this was the second request to extend the time without any additional
information to review. The Board expressed that they would not be inclined to extend the date
again unless more information was received for review.
Audience Comments:
This process has been wearing and going on for so long. Twenty three years ago when
the abutter purchased the property this lot on Rangeway was considered unbuildable.
The Board said that this was frustrating to continue the public hearing and have the public come
without any additional information. The Board asked staff to convey that message to the
applicant.
On a motion duly made and seconded, it was voted, 5-0, to extend the decision action deadline to
March 11, 2013.
On a motion duly made and seconded, it was voted, 5-0, to continue the public hearing to January
23, 2012, in the Selectmen’s Meeting Room at 7:30 p.m.
**********************ZONING BYLAWS (ZBL) REWRITE ************************
Discussion of Revised Zoning Bylaw:
Tonight the Board discussed the proposed revisions with Mr. Bobrowski as submitted by Mr.
Hornig and planning staff.
The Board discussed nine changes that were proposed in the revised ZBL. The next step would be
to meet with Boards, Building Commissioner, and Town Counsel then get this out to the public
and have a workshop in January. The Board will meet with Mr. Bobrowski on January 9 and
Page 4 Minutes for the Meeting of December 5, 2012
invite other Boards and committees at 7:00 p.m. in the Selectmen’s Meeting Room and then
schedule a brown bag lunch for developers and builders to get their input.
************************DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION*********************
653-653R Lowell Street, Approval Not Required:
On a motion duly made and seconded, it was voted, 5-0, to endorse the plan entitled “Plan of
Land at 653 Lowell Street in Lexington, MA” dated September 12, 2012, prepared and certified
by John Paulson, Registered Land Surveyor, Georgetown, MA with Form A (2012-10)
application submitted by Edmund Grant, the agent for the applicant, as it does not require
approval under subdivision control law.
*********************************TOWN MEETING*****************************
Mock Town Meeting Participation:
The Board discussed that there was interest from the Planning Board to participate in the Mock
Town Meeting in March 2013.
***********************************MINUTES*********************************
On a motion duly made and seconded. It was voted, 5-0, to accept the minutes of October 24,
2012, as amended.
The Board should review executive minutes from the last few years and see what can be released.
******************************** STAFF REPORTS*****************************
Staff reported to the Board of Selectmen on the Housing Production Plan. Mr. Henry spoke with
the developer of 16 Shade Street, and there was talk about wrapping up the project. The project
still owed a public benefit unit to the Town.
The ZBA would be meeting on some special permits and variances and staff has questioned the
hardship of 57 Tarbell Avenue and if there is a special permit granted from 1955 why does it
require a variance?
Minutes for the Meeting of December 5, 2012 Page 5
******************************** BOARD REPORTS*****************************
Mr. Zurlo said the League of Women Voters will be presenting a community conversation on
climate change and would like to know if the Planning Board would co-sponsor it. The Board
was interested.
Ms. Manz said the Board should have received a list of 22 applications made to the Community
Preservation Commission. The Commission is going to be more formal with sharing the
applications that come before the Commission in the future.
On a motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to adjourn the meeting at 10:23 p.m.
The meeting was recorded by Lexmedia.
The following documents used at the meeting can be found on file with the Planning Department:
Agenda Item Summary and Staff recommendation Lincoln and Middle Street. (2 pages).
Plan of Land regarding Middle/Lincoln Street dated October 20, 2012 (1 page).
Plan of Land regarding Middle/Lincoln Street dated June 12, 2012 (1 page).
Letter from Gary and Liz O’Neil regarding Middle/Lincoln Street (2 pages).
Letter from Joshua Summers regarding Middle/Lincoln Street (1 page).
Letter from Todd and Deborah Burger regarding Middle/Lincoln Street (2 pages).
Letter from Ed Grant regarding Rangeway (2 pages).
Agenda Item Summary and Staff recommendation for ANR on 653-653R Lowell Street
with attachments (9 pages).
Plan of Land at 653 Lowell Street in Lexington, Ma dated September 12, 2012. (1 page)
Letter Regarding the Mock Town Meeting and Planning Board, dated November 26,
2012. (2 pages).
Board of Appeals Petitions to be Heard on December 13, 2012. (1 page)
Staff and Mr. Hornig’s proposed changes to the zoning bylaw (85 pages).
Michelle Ciccolo, Clerk