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PLANNING BOARD MINUTES
MEETING OF NOVEMBER 6, 2013
A regular meeting of the Lexington Planning Board, held in the Selectmen’s Meeting Room, was
called to order at 7:31 p.m. by Chairman Charles Hornig with members Richard Canale, Michelle
Ciccolo, Greg Zurlo and Nancy Corcoran-Ronchetti and planning staff Maryann McCall-Taylor,
Aaron Henry, and Lori Kaufman present.
************************DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION*********************
PUBLIC HEARING
495 Lowell Street, Definitive Balanced Housing Development:
Mr. Hornig called the public hearing to order at 7:32 p.m. There were 5 people in the audience.
Present were Todd Cataldo, applicant, Rick Waitt, engineer, Mike Novak, project engineer, and
Jeff Thoma, landscape architect from Meridian Associates.
Mr. Waitt submitted an application for a waiver for the setback requirements for the driveways
between lots in response to a memo received from Engineering dating October 28, 2013. After
the applicant reviewed the preliminary decision the following issues were addressed:
The electrical was being proposing to go underground across the street with a
transformer;
A sidewalk would be proposed along the entire frontage of the project site, but the abutter
towards Fulton Road was against paving the dirt path along his frontage;
A picture of the house proposed for Lot A was shown, which would be 2,700 square feet.
The houses for Lots B & C would be 4,100 square feet and Lot D 3,500 square feet with
the houses having a similar style to look like they belong together, but not exactly the
same.
Mr. Toma said the goal was to preserve as many trees as possible and supplement trees on the
side of the project with an additional twelve 8-10 foot white pines for buffering. The extra trees
would create a strong landscape edge along the street, provide a consistent streetscape and
seasonal interest. The open space in the back for all the units would be cleaned up with invasive
plants and dead trees removed.
Page 2 Minutes for the Meeting of November 6, 2013
Mr. Waitt said the trees would have 233 inches of caliper removed and 66 inches replaced as per
the Zoning Bylaw. The total amount of trees to be removed from the entire site would be 600
inches of caliper and replacement would be 456 inches at maturity.
Board Comments:
The tree analysis was helpful.
The Site Construction Plan would include not only the building envelopes and conceptual
footprints, but there must be at least 45 feet between the foundations of Lots B & C.
Have you met with Conservation yet? Yes, administrative permission was granted to
allow the removal of the shed.
The applicant must extend the sidewalk shown on the plan to Fulton Road and provide
design plans for the entire sidewalk improvement plan.
The applicant must return to the Planning Board at the end of the appeal period for an
ANR to divide the lots on the site.
The Site Construction Plan must be recorded with the decision showing the preservation
of the 16 inch oak tree on Lot B and correct any discrepancies in the floor area and
impervious surface coverage limits noted in the Planning Department staff memo.
Why a 24 foot wide driveway? To allow for two cars to come and go at same time, help
provide better sight lines and possibly additional parking.
All conveyances of deeds must include the maximum gross floor area and impervious
surface limits associated with each lot, subject to approval of the Planning department
staff.
Removal of invasive species should be done with the approval of Conservation and
Planning Staff to the extent possible to make open space available for lot A to have
access.
Final form documents for various utilities maintenance easements, the homeowner’s
association operation and maintenance responsibilities requirements for the private
facilities are reviewed and approved by Town Counsel before a building permit can be
issued for new construction.
Why not ask for 100% caliper reconciliation? There would need to be a location for those
trees and the only place would be the lawn on the open space.
As per the memo from Engineering Lowell Street would need to milled, curb to curb 50
feet beyond the limits of the outmost curb cuts. And overlay 1.5 inch bituminous top
course with tack coat.
Minutes for the Meeting of November 6, 2013 Page 3
On a motion duly made and seconded, it was voted, 5-0, to close the public hearing at 8:30 p.m.
On a motion duly made and seconded, it was voted, 5-0, to grant a special permit for a Balanced
Housing Development plan for 495 Lowell Street with the conditions discussed.
48 Outlook Drive, Street Determination:
The developer has submitted an application for a street determination for 48 Outlook Drive. The
existing structure on the site was slated for demolition on an unaccepted street. The street was in
excellent condition and appeared to be of adequate grade and construction.
On a motion duly made and seconded, it was voted, 5-0, that the Planning Board determined
Outlook Drive in the vicinity of 48 Outlook Drive was of adequate grade and construction and
waived all the requirements from the Regulations for the submission of a street determination.
***********************LONG-RANGE PLANNING AND POLICY ******************
South Lexington Transportation Study update:
There was a meeting in Brookhaven regarding the South Lexington Transportation Study on
October 21. While this study was heading in the right direction, it still would need to
accommodate all modes of transportation and users. The streets themselves were not looked at
regarding speed and pedestrian safety.
Vision 2020 Committee Survey Results:
The email to staff regarding the results of the survey showed that 77% of those who took the
survey said a vibrant downtown was very important. Determining what additional data should be
added for the next time should be part of the conversation at the next meeting.
Housing Production Plan Draft:
The Board discussed the draft and agreed that Michelle Ciccolo and Nancy Corcoran-Ronchetti
would work with staff on revisions to the Housing Production Plan draft to enable it to move
forward.
************************DEVELOPMENT REGUALTIONS ************************
Progress Update:
Staff will be meeting with Mark Bobrowski to review revisions and hope to have a complete draft
within the next two meetings.
Page 4 Minutes for the Meeting of November 6, 2013
**********************************MINUTES***********************************
On a motion duly made and seconded, it was voted, 5-0, to approve the minutes of October 9,
2013, as submitted.
********************************STAFF REPORTS*******************************
There was a presentation at DRT for 430 Concord Avenue for an assisted living facility for the
memory impaired. The applicant would like to do this for the Annual Town Meeting or Special
Town Meeting and would need to submit something to the Planning Board for review as soon as
possible and meet with the Board at one of the next two meetings. Staff will set up the meeting
for the applicant to come before the Board.
The Parklet has been taken down for the winter.
********************************BOARD REPORTS******************************
Mr. Hornig met with Martha Wood from the Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA). It was suggested
that the Planning Board should have more interaction with the ZBA, by attending some meetings
and commenting on applications more often. On November 14 there will be a meeting to discuss
big picture items and Ms. Wood invited Board Members to attend.
*******************************ORGANIZATION********************************
The Board will meet on November 20, on 28-34 Robinson Road, and December 11, on 4-6
Robinson Road and a street determination on 45 Earl Street. The Board should send their
availability for January to staff. The only zoning action for the warrant would be Medical
Marijuana Treatment Center and possibly a proposed CD for 430 Concord Avenue. If there was
anything else that was not ready by the end of the meeting at December 11 it would not go
forward for this warrant.
On a motion duly made and seconded, it was voted, 5-0, to adjourn at 9:30 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, regarding 48 Outlook Drive,
dated October 21, 2013. (1 page)
Minutes for the Meeting of November 6, 2013 Page 5
Two photos of 48 Outlook Drive. (1 page)
Agenda Item Summary and Staff Recommendation, regarding 495 Lowell Street,
dated November 1, 2013. (2 pages)
Memo from Engineering regarding 495 Lowell Street, dated October 28, 2013. (1
page)
Form W for 495 Lowell Street. (1 page)
Cover letter and application for 495 Lowell Street, dated September 24, 2013. (11
pages)
495 Lowell Street Balanced Housing Development plan set, dated September 24,
2013. (10 pages)
495 Lowell Street architectural elevations, dated September 19, 2013. (2 pages)
Preliminary Report on Lexington Town-Wide Survey Findings. (3 pages)
Nancy Corcoran-Ronchetti, Clerk