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PLANNING BOARD MINUTES
MEETING OF JANUARY 8, 2014
A regular meeting of the Lexington Planning Board, held in the Selectmen’s Meeting Room, was
called to order at 7:08 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*********************
111-119 Laconia Street, Sketch Plan:
Bill Eycleshymer and Michael Walsh, applicants, Mike Novak, project manager and Jeff Thoma,
landscape architect, were present at the meeting. Mr. Novak said the site showed a proof plan of
two lots and the two existing dwellings would be demolished. The proposed plan would be a
balanced housing development (BHD) with four units on the site. The back of the lot would have
32,000 square feet for common open space, additional screening would be added to the sides to
buffer the view for abutters, the setbacks would be consistent with neighboring homes, there
would be three curb cuts, one wide drive for two houses and one drive each for the other two
units. The wetlands delineation was fairly new and considered accurate by Karen Mullins from
the Conservation Department. The applicant believed the BHD would provide housing diversity.
Board Comments:
There was concern about changing the existing streetscape on either side of the site for
the abutters.
Three units would make more sense.
Provide a 3D computer modeling and include the adjacent homes.
The side houses would be too close to the neighbors.
Not comfortable with the two houses in the rear and two in front.
The open space proposed would have slopes and wetlands; it should be useable open
space.
Why was only one plan proposed and why not do two teardowns? Would a conventional
plan be considered? Mr. Novak said a conventional plan would make no sense
economically.
There were questions that would need to be addressed by the Conservation Commission
before going any further.
Page 2 Minutes for the Meeting of January 8, 2014
The units in the rear should be closer to the street and consider a duplex for those two
rear units.
Audience Comments:
Laconia Street has many different size houses creating diversity, which makes this
street unique.
The driveway would cast lights across the street on to Solly’s Way.
Four houses would be too many switch to three houses.
Rearrange the driveways to make better play space.
The existing trees on the site reduce the noise from Lowell Street.
There was concern about the three driveways with vehicles coming and going.
The proposed houses would block the sunlight of the immediate abutter’s house.
There was concern with this street becoming a cut through with increased speed and
volume, which would be a safety hazard.
This project would change the character of the neighborhood.
The density was a concern with the grade and setbacks.
The Board recommended the applicant bring back a proposed definitive plan for three units or
another sketch plan for four units.
CONTINUED PUBLIC HEARING
4-6 Robinson Road, Balanced Housing Development:
Mr. Hornig called the continued public hearing to order at 7:57 p.m. Present were John
Farrington, attorney, Ron Lopez, developer, Gary Larson, landscape architect, and Jack Sullivan,
civil engineer. Mr. Larson said a letter was submitted addressing the revisions along with revised
plan sheets dated December 19, 2013. The revisions included the following:
Confirmation that the limit of work line would be 10-23 feet away from any structure;
The foot path would be four feet wide, meandering, and staked out;
There would be a fence placed at the edge of the play area;
The driveway for building one would have trench drains piped into a 5,000 gallon dry
well;
Permeable pavers would be used for patios and extra parking;
Condominium documents had added provisions for no change to units GFA without
HOA approval, maintenance of pervious pavement, and no parking on interior drive.
Minutes for the Meeting of January 8, 2014 Page 3
Information addressing tree removal and replacement, and estimates for cut and fill were
provided.
Audience comments:
This project would be good for the neighborhood with affordable units.
Mr. Henry reviewed the special conditions included in the draft decision for the Board.
On a motion duly made and seconded, it was voted, 5-0, to close the public hearing at 8:37 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 4-6 Robinson Road with the conditions discussed.
Rockville Avenue Extension, Project Completion:
The applicants have completed the project with some minor field changes approved by staff
during the development process. There was only one outstanding requirement left on this project,
which was to have the utility pole relocated at the intersection of Rockville Avenue and Swan
Street. Verizon had refused to move the pole and while the Fire Department had supported the
relocation of the utility pole the project was still considered acceptable by the Fire Department as
status quo.
On a motion duly made and seconded, it was voted, 5-0, that the requirement to move the utility
pole was a minor change.
On a motion duly made and seconded, it was voted, 5-0, to release the applicant from the
requirement to relocate the utility pole given Verizon (the pole’s owner) had refused to comply.
On a motion duly made and seconded, it was voted, 5-0, in keeping with §175-56, Completion of
Subdivision, that the Board certifies that the ways and municipal services within the subdivision
have been completed and therefore the Town would release the cash deposit held in the amount of
$14,567 to the applicant.
Page 4 Minutes for the Meeting of January 8, 2014
*************************PROPOSED ZONING ARTICLES*************************
Citizens petition for modifications to CN Uses:
Ms. Inga Magid came before the Board regarding a citizen’s petition for zoning articles to be
included in the 2014 Annual Town Meeting Warrant. The proposed change would allow the use
of a for profit educational service in the CN District and remove the 15,000 square foot maximum
per establishment in the CN District. A possible public hearing date could be February 26, 2014.
************************DEVELOPMENT REGUALTIONS ************************
Progress Update:
Staff was awaiting feedback from Mark Bobrowski and would forward the updated draft
Development Regulations to the Board once received.
********************************BOARD REPORTS******************************
Associate Member:
The Associate Planning Board Member has not been utilized to its potential. It would be a good
idea to check with Town Counsel on expanding the roles of participation allowed by law of an
Associate Planning Board Member. Ms. Johnson agreed to attend site visits, meetings, and would
be receiving packets in the future.
**********************************MINUTES***********************************
On a motion duly made and seconded, it was voted, 5-0, to approve the minutes of November 20,
2013, as submitted.
********************************STAFF REPORTS******************************
FEMA had a meeting for the region of the Shawsheen flood plain maps and there would be time
for public comments in March on the draft maps. The Federal Government would try to time the
publications of the final maps to coincide with the Town Meeting Warrant and would not ask for
adoption of the maps before the 2015 Town Meeting.
DRT met and the applicant for 430 Concord Avenue who did a presentation similar to the one
before the Planning Board. The applicant was working with Conservation and the State on
wetlands issues and would look to get on the warrant for the May Special Town Meeting.
Minutes for the Meeting of January 8, 2014 Page 5
A developer questioned staff on why the Town would not plow the road in his development? A
DRT subgroup was created to look at and discuss the policy for plowing and trash pickup on
unaccepted streets.
********************************BOARD REPORTS******************************
Mr. Canale said there was a meeting of the Parking Management Group last night and there will
be two more public meetings the next two Wednesdays. Discussion and recommendations will be
presented and strategies on how to attain the desired goals.
BSRB will be meeting in two weeks. The Town was making progress towards collecting $5,000
from other Towns to hire a consultant. A proposal will be submitted next week to MAPC for local
technical assistance to move the corridor plan along.
Ms. Ciccolo said a number of towns put together a DLTA to do a complete street analysis on how
to implement and create policies and wanted to reach out to Lexington to see if there would be
any interest. Ms. Ciccolo wanted input from the Board Members if this would be a worthy
activity. The Board Members were in favor of looking into that project.
Mr. Canale said there was a January 10 deadline for a bike friendly application to have Lexington
designated as a bike friendly town. Does the Town need a bike champion to get us to the next
steps?
On a motion duly made and seconded, it was voted, 5-0, to adjourn at 9:58 p.m.
The meeting was recorded by Lexmedia.
The following documents used at the meeting can be found on file with the Planning Department:
Letter from North Shore Construction regarding 4-6 Robinson Road, dated December 19,
2013. (4 pages).
Letter from North Shore Construction regarding 4-6 Robinson Road proposed revisions
to condo documents, dated December 19, 2013. (4 pages).
Letter from North Shore Construction regarding 4-6 Robinson Road, dated December 17,
2013 (1 page).
Photos of proposed driveway entrance for 4-6 Robinson Road (1 page).
Page 6 Minutes for the Meeting of January 8, 2014
Acoustic sound reduction Harvey windows for 4-6 Robinson Road (2 pages).
Home Energy Rating Certificate for unit 1 Robinson Road (1 page).
Agenda Item Summary and Staff recommendation regarding 111-119 Laconia Street,
dated January 3, 2014 (2 pages).
Letter and application from Meridian Associates regarding 111-119 Laconia Street, dated
December 11, 2013 (8 pages).
Sketch Plans set for 111-119 Laconia Street, dated December 11, 2013 (4 pages).
Agenda Item Summary and Staff recommendation regarding Rockville Ave extension,
dated January 3, 2014 (1 page).
Citizens petition for 2014 Annual Town Meeting from Board of Selectmen (6 pages).
Nancy Corcoran-Ronchetti, Clerk