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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2013-08-28-PB-min PLANNING BOARD MINUTES MEETING OF AUGUST 28, 2013 A regular meeting of the Lexington Planning Board, held in the Selectmen’s Meeting Room, was called to order at 7:34 p.m. by Chairman Charles Hornig with members Richard Canale, Greg Zurlo, and planning staff Maryann McCall-Taylor, Aaron Henry, and Lori Kaufman present. Michelle Ciccolo and Nancy Corcoran-Ronchetti were absent. ***********************************MINUTES********************************** On a motion duly made and seconded, it was voted, 3-0, to approve the minutes for July 31, 2013, as submitted. ********************************TOWN REPORT******************************* Final edits for the Annual Report: The Annual Report was updated by staff to include the Planning Board’s edits and was approved for submission to the 2013 Annual Report. The Planning Board picture for the Annual Report will be taken on September 11, 2013 at the Parklet at 7:15 p.m. ********************************STAFF REPORTS******************************* The Attorney General’s Office approved the Zoning Bylaws, but the Town had not received anything regarding the Medical Marijuana Treatment Centers (MMTC). The fiscal budget process for the FY 2015 has begun and a recommendation requesting the part-time planner be made into a full-time position will be submitted. Board Members were in favor of the request and were advised if they have any additions forward them to staff as soon as possible. Today was the mobile truck food festival to introduce the Hartwell Avenue Shuttle and was covered by Channel 5 News. ********************************BOARD REPORTS****************************** The CPC will be meeting on September 11 at 3:00 p.m. to hear a presentation to fund the Scottish Rite Museum renovations. Some Town Departments would occupy the building around July 2014. Page 2 Minutes for the Meeting of August 28, 2013 ************************DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION********************* 495 Lowell Street, Preliminary Balanced Housing Development (BHD): Mr. Hornig opened the public information meeting with Mr. Rick Waitt, Mr. Mike Novak, and Mr. Jeff Toma present. Mr. Cataldo, the applicant could not attend the meeting. Mr. Waitt said Mr. Cataldo contacted neighbors and only received two or three comments back. The site consists of two combined parcels, test pits were done and ground water was found at approximately eight feet, the soil was sand and sandy loam good for drainage, and the water drains from Lowell Street to the rear corner of the site. Ms. Mullins from Conservation gave an indication that a notice of intent would not be required and only an administrative sign off would be needed. The proof plan showed two lots with a cul-de-sac. The proposed BHD plan would have 25 feet between the houses, a 30 foot front yard setback, 400 feet away from the nearest house on Cooke Road, 39 feet in the rear of the properties to the common open space, and two curb cuts and two shared driveways. Nstar would not comment on the electrical connections until the definitive plan was approved. All the impervious surface runoff would be handled on site. Mr. Toma said the goal was to save as many trees as possible to provide buffer from existing homes and be sensitive to the site. To the north and south of the lot there would be an additional twelve evergreen trees planted. There would be 221 inches of caliper of protected trees removed within the setbacks of the site and 111 inches would be replaced. Board Comments:  More building footprints and landscaping details were expected to be presented tonight.  The concern was the character of Lowell Street could be compromised.  There should be no tree calipers removed in Town. The next stage provide the entire count of all calipers of trees to be removed on the site and how many calipers would be replaced when the trees were in a mature state. The goal would be a one to one replacement.  How would the houses be buffered from a visual and noise aspect, as well as, integrated into the neighborhood. Mr. Waitt said to look for that architectural piece at the definitive stage. Audience Comments:  A request for a definition of a Balanced Housing Development was made. Mr. Hornig provided an explanation. Minutes for the Meeting of August 28, 2013 Page 3  There was opposition to a sidewalk being constructed from the site to Fulton Street it would be in front of an abutter’s property.  With four new proposed houses and possibly school children to be bused it would be warranted to provide a sidewalk due to safety concerns. There should be access provided for safe pedestrian crossing.  Would parking be allowed on Fulton Street? Before any shrubbery was planted consider the sight lines and make sure there would be enough room for parking and snow storage. Mr. Waitt said there would be garages and parking for two to three vehicles in the driveways.  There was a 50 foot side yard setback in the sketch plan and now there was a 20 foot side yard setback.  Why was a cul-de-sac shown on a proof plan when it was determined that one would not be needed?  Two large homes would not be built on this location so with the BHD plan would be creating additional square footage.  A list of homes sold in the area was submitted to the Board with the sizes and prices sold.  There was concern that four houses at an average of 4.5 people per home would create another situation of over population. Board Comments:  Look to extend the sidewalk from Fulton Street to across the project and end at the edge of the property. Mr. Waitt said that if required Mr. Cataldo would put a sidewalk in front of his frontage, but not in front of other homes.  Why would there be additional utility poles for new utilities, which should be undergrounded? Mr. Waitt said Nstar would not like an underground conduit located beneath a main road like Lowell Street and were waiting for a response from them.  Provide a cadence of street trees along Lowell Street.  Provide ownership and maintenance of swales and catch basins for either a Homeowners Association or individual property owners.  There were a lot of invasive trees and vines would some of them be removed in the back? Mr. Toma would discuss that with the applicant first. There was no access to the common open space from lot one so the plants would need to be removed.  There should be some trees in the common open space, it should not be all lawn.  Pay attention to the sight line in front of the lot onto Lowell Street. Page 4 Minutes for the Meeting of August 28, 2013  Does Nstar have a policy on the location of utility poles? Mr. Waitt said Nstar would install the pole as close to the lot line as possible and would try to obtain more information.  A sidewalk should be included to provide residents a safe place to cross.  The Board should be kept updated on the electrical service status.  There was concern that homes and streetscape would not be approved at the definitive level. There was no visual relief between structures unless standing right in front of the proposed houses.  Find a way to mitigate all that linear feet of structure. The future plan would need to address the streetscape. On a motion duly made and seconded, it was voted, 2-1, (Mr. Zurlo opposed) to approve the preliminary balanced housing development subject to changes. The motion failed as it needed three votes to pass. Staff will write a letter addressing the issues to the applicant. The applicant can still move forward with a definitive submittal. Review of the Proposed Amendments to the Development Regulations: Mr. Hornig met with staff and Mr. Bobrowski provided a list of ten major issues with the proposed amendments to the Development Regulations. The Board gave feed back on those issues to staff for discussion with Mr. Bobrowski who would be meeting with the Board on September 25. *******************************ORGANIZATION******************************** The Board will meet on September 11 to have a public forum on the MMTC and discuss the development regulations. September 25 schedule includes the continued public hearing for 137- 139 Shade Street, discussion on the development regulations, the Housing Partnership Plan, and a work plan for October through December. Board Members should send recommendations to staff. th The tentative October meeting dates would be on 2nd, 16th, and 30 pending the availability of the Board Members that were not present tonight. Minutes for the Meeting of August 28, 2013 Page 5 When would the warrant be open for the Special Town Meeting? Ms. McCall-Taylor said there has been no information yet. The Board felt it would be helpful to have two weeks notice if possible. On a motion duly made and seconded, it was voted, 3-0, to adjourn at 9:56 p.m. The meeting was recorded by Lexmedia. The following documents used at the meeting can be found on file with the Planning Department: 1. Application for 495 Lowell Street, dated July 24, 2013 (9 pages). 2. Agenda Item Summary from staff for 495 Lowell Street, dated August 23, 2013 (2 pages). 3. Preliminary Balanced Housing Development Subdivision Plan Set for 495 Lowell Street, dated July 24, 2013 (9 pages). 4. Memorandum from staff on Development Regulations, dated August 22, 2013 (2 pages). 5. Dedham’s section 6.0 on the Development Regulations an example how Mark Bobrowski directed other municipalities on how to approach submission standards, plan types, etc. (24 pages). 6. Draft of the Planning Annual Report for submission (3 pages). 7. Home list of houses sold for the area around 495 Lowell Street (1 page) Richard Canale, Acting Clerk