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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2013-12-11-PB-min PLANNING BOARD MINUTES MEETING OF DECEMBER 11, 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, Greg Zurlo and Nancy Corcoran-Ronchetti and planning staff Maryann McCall-Taylor, Aaron Henry, and Lori Kaufman present. Michelle Ciccolo joined the meeting in progress. ************************DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION********************* APPROVAL NOT REQUIRED 29 Fern Street, Approval not required (ANR): On a motion duly made and seconded, it was voted, 4-0, to endorse the plan entitled “Plan of Land 29 Fern Street in Lexington, MA” dated November 25, 2013 prepared and certified by David Alves, Professional Land Surveyor, Salisbury, MA with Form A (2013-3) submitted by James Dwyer, the applicant, as it does not require approval under subdivision control law. ************************DEVELOPMENT REGUALTIONS ************************ Progress Update: On January 22, there will be a public hearing on the development regulations and with Mark Bobrowski present. Mr. Henry said the regulations were still being worked on to include all the comments that have been made over time. The updated draft should be sent to the Board before the holidays. Status of Planning Board Policies: Ms. Ciccolo joined the meeting in progress. The Board discussed whether or not to confirm that the older Planning Board policies that were no longer in effect. The Board decided to vote on this matter after Board Members have time to review the policies and then could rescind all existing policies and reinstitute those that were th considered important. The Board decided to continue this item to the January 8 meeting and would send all notes to staff after a review of the policies and identify items that should be incorporated in to the new regulations in an appropriate way. ************************DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION********************* PUBLIC HEARING 4-6 Robinson Road, Definitive Balanced Housing Development: Page 2 Minutes for the Meeting of December 11, 2013 Mr. Hornig called the public hearing to order at 7:48 p.m. There were 5 people in the audience. Present were John Farrington, attorney, Ron Lopez, developer, Gary Larson, landscape architect, Jack Sullivan, civil engineer, and Doug Rae, real estate broker. Mr. Farrington explained that tonight the applicant would present the revisions to the plans based on issues raised at the last meeting and responses from Engineering and the Fire Department. Mr. Larson said the site soils consisted of sandy loam and had virtually no ground water present. The entire site consisted of secondary growth of 12-14 inch caliper oak trees and a scattering of 2-6 inch caliper small white pines. The existing houses on the site were scheduled to be demolished. The proof plan showed five conventional lots. The site construction plan was similar to the preliminary plan consisting of six buildings with 12 dwellings located 250 back from Robinson Road and surrounded by woodlands. The proposed 12 dwellings would consist of four units that would have 2,280 gross square feet with 1,825 square feet of living space, four units with 2,900 gross square feet and last four units of 2,975 gross square feet for a total of 32,620 gross square feet well under 36,000 maximum allowed. The common driveway would be 20 feet wide with cape cod berms and a sidewalk on one side. Construction of the drive would fit into the hill to keep more existing trees. The outside radius of the proposed driveway was increased to 50 feet. The impervious surface would be over the limit due to site configuration and challenging topography and a waiver was being requested. Revisions include moving some buildings around the cul-de-sac further from the driveway, which would allow open space access through a trail to be created from a central location. The landscape plan was discussed and the total tree replacement would be 314 caliper inches. Robinson Road was scheduled to be reconstructed next summer and the applicant would be coordinating with Engineering on the road reconstruction. Mr. Sullivan said four additional parking spaces would be added for visitors. The runoff from the site would be reduced by 20% to 32% for the 100 year storm event. The electric cable and telephone would be undergrounded. There would be two hydrants on the site as per the Fire Department review. Property monumentation would be set at all lot corners with stone bounds and a pin set at Grove Street and a snow storage plan would be included in the Home Owners Association Agreement. Mr. Farrington had submitted all legal documents that was required. Mr. Hornig advised the applicant that the decision would probably not be made tonight to allow the Board time to review all the documents submitted at the last minute. Board Comments: Minutes for the Meeting of December 11, 2013 Page 3  The slope on building one appeared to be very steep what was the proposed slope of the drive? What would be the desired slope? Mr. Larson said the steepest slope would be at 11.7 % and transition down to 8%. Was there any drainage device at the mouth of the garage like a trench drain? Building one would have a driveway slope would be 11% and there would be a 500 gallon dry well at the base of the garage, which has worked well in other communities.  What would be the construction of the path, how would it be marked, what would be the cross construction and the edging of the path? Mr. Larson said it would be an informal path with the base made of gravel and mulch over it, level with the woodlands so there would be no drainage problems, and marked with wooden bollards along the path.  Why would the impervious surface (IS) need to be 4,000 square feet over? Mr. Larson said the IS was originally at 100 square feet below the maximum allowed, but after discussion with the Board to move some buildings further back, which would increase the drive and an opening for the trail, using cape cod berm that was requested would be wider then the granite curbing and added 1,000 square feet, and a lot of small things that had been requested all added up.  The caliper count of the trees what would be removed off the entire site and what would be put back for a full caliper reconciliation? Mr. Larson would get back to the Board. What would be the caliper replacement at its mature state? Looking for reconciliation of 100% at a mature state. Mr. Larson would look into the mature state reconciliation numbers.  How many linear feet would the path be at completion and how would the grade changes of the site impact the ability to make a path? Mr. Larson said it would vary based on location and would have to be done in an organic way and the landscaping and planting along the path would have to be considered to make it interesting. Make it field sited so not to remove more trees and use marked bollards. Have you looked into a path to connect to Royal Circle to provide connectivity for the residents? Mr. Larson said that there would be a grade issue and the abutters own a strip across the back, but would look into it.  The open space down by the road may not be safe for small children, consider putting an attractive fence along Robinson Road to make it safer for the children. Mr. Larson said something could be added there for safety to protect the children like a small fence along with the plantings. Page 4 Minutes for the Meeting of December 11, 2013  What would the surface above the infiltration field look like? Mr. Larson said the area will have some slope and would plant wild grass ad flowers with a background of evergreen trees to make it not look like an infiltration area.  How many truck loads would be removed and brought on to the site? Mr. Larson would get back to the Board.  Provide the number of how many trees that would be brought in would meet the regulation on the size of trees to be planted.  The Limit Of Work line was questionable and more details would be needed on the on the landscape plan to make sure the trees and plantings would be protected.  Why were so many units unlimited in the GFA? Mr. Farrington said it would be in the condo documents and could be put in the deeds as well.  There should be no parking permitted in the interior drive? Parking would not be allowed on the interior drive.  Would the postal addresses be Robinson Road? Yes, would leave as 6 Robinson Road with Unit numbers.  Would the heating system be natural gas? Would probably be oil systems, but not sure at this time.  There should be trees placed where appropriate on the site. Audience Comments:  Would there be blasting? One to three feet would need to be removed, but hope to do so without blasting.  Would these dwellings be considered affordable housing? No.  Was there a limit of how many of these developments could be placed in a particular area since there was concern about overcrowding in schools? No.  Would there be a sign at the bottom of this development? Yes, there would be a small sign with the name of the development.  Twelve units would be too many. With oil heat there would be a lot of deliveries. On a motion duly made and seconded, it was voted, 5-0, to continue the public hearing to January 8 at 7:00 p.m. in the Selectmen’s Meeting Room. Mr. Farrington summarized the responses to the Board requests this evening and had looked in to asking abutters for right of passage to Royal Circle, would be placing a fence near the ledge, was Minutes for the Meeting of December 11, 2013 Page 5 aware of the 11.7% grade for the driveway, but was below 12% maximum, the plan was in compliance with the tree bylaw, and did not believe there would be an easy answer of caliper to caliper replacement for the site. The information on truck loads in and out of the site would be provided, the limit of work line on the landscape plan would be reviewed, there would be no parking allowed in the interior drive, the path would be field sited and the applicant would provide a cross section of the path with the width in its entirety on the plan, would indicate the location of each of the bollards, would show any construction at entrance signage, mailbox structure, placement of trees would be site determined, but placement could be off site or in right of way, would show a cross section and photos of the garage drainage system proposed and how it would work with an address where they have been installed, for the Board to look at. The new materials should be in by December 20, 2013. *************************PROPOSED ZONING ARTICLES************************* On a motion duly made and seconded, it was voted, 5-0, to place the following three zoning articles on the warrant for the 2014 Annual Town Meeting proposing amendments to the Code of Lexington Zoning Bylaw:  Zone for Medical Marijuana Treatment Centers as an allowed use;  Site Plan review for developments over 10,000 square feet instead of a special permit; and  Technical corrections to the Zoning Bylaw. **********************************MINUTES*********************************** On a motion duly made and seconded, it was voted, 5-0, to approve the minutes of November 6, 2013, as submitted. ********************************STAFF REPORTS****************************** The Battle Road Scenic Byway group met and will meet again in January. There was a Street scape meeting last week and a Parking Management meeting last night with approximately 30 people in attendance. There will be two more Parking Management meetings on January 14 and th 29reminders will be sent. There is a sketch plan for 111 and 119 Laconia Street across from Solly’s Way, which will be on January 8 and Rockville Avenue has requested a place on the agenda for the next meeting regarding the completion of the project. The FEMA Flood Map changes have been extended to next year. Page 6 Minutes for the Meeting of December 11, 2013 ********************************BOARD REPORTS****************************** Mr. Canale discussed that the phase two of the Healthy Communities Act grant application would be discussed to determine, which would be the key area of transportation, mental health or th nutrition and January 10 was the proposal deadline. The next meeting will be Monday afternoon. Mr. Hornig said the Board of Appeals will be having a hearing on 409 Massachusetts Avenue, if Board Members are interested try to attend the meeting. th The next Planning Board Meeting on January 8 will begin at 7:00 p.m. Town Meeting and election dates have been set and Mr. Hornig informed the Board that he planned to run for reelection. On a motion duly made and seconded, it was voted, 5-0, to adjourn at 10:02 p.m. The meeting was recorded by Lexmedia. The following documents used at the meeting can be found on file with the Planning Department:  Map of Fern Street regarding the ANR (1 page).  Cover letter on the Proposed Zoning Bylaw amendments (4 pages).  Planning Board Policies and Procedures. (1 page).  Agenda Item Summary for 4-6 Robinson Road, dated December 6, 2013, (2 pages).  Cover Letter from Ron Lopez regarding 2-4 Robinson Road, dated October 22, 2013, (2 pages).  Application for 4-6 Robinson Road, dated October 23, 2013 (5 pages).  Definitive subdivision plan set for BHD for Robinson Woods, dated October 11, 2013 (10 pages).  Robinson Woods renderings (4 pages).  Drainage report for 4-6 Robinson Road, dated October 11, 2013 from North Shore Construction and development Inc.  Predevelopment and post development drainage plan for 4-6 Robinson Road, dated October 11, 2013 (2 pages). Nancy Corcoran-Ronchetti, Clerk