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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2014-04-09-PB-min PLANNING BOARD MINUTES MEETING OF APRIL 9, 2014 A regular meeting of the Lexington Planning Board, held in the Parker Room, was called to order at 6:00 p.m. by Chairman Charles Hornig, with members Richard Canale, Nancy Corcoran- Ronchetti, and Timothy Dunn and planning staff Maryann McCall-Taylor, Aaron Henry, and Lori Kaufman present. Mr. Zurlo was absent. **********************DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION*********************** PUBLIC HEARING Edna Street extension, definitive subdivision plan: Mr. Hornig called the public hearing to order at 6:05 p.m. There were 11 people in the audience. Mr. Fred Russell, project engineer and David Burns, applicant were present. Mr. Russell explained that this lot was recently granted a variance and was separated from the lot on Asbury Street by the Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA). The proposed lot on Edna Street to be developed was mainly wooded, a new road would be built approximately 50 feet down into existing pavement to transition into new pavement, the width that currently existed on Edna Street would be maintained, and the asphalt curbing extended. A drainage easement would be created for the proposed drainage system, which would have two systems a set of catch basins down stream to collect runoff from existing Emerald Street, new pavement, and Edna Street and one on the proposed lot. A section of the proposed road would be crowned and half would drain into one catch basin on the northerly side and the other half into the second catch basin. Several waivers were being requested regarding the grade and construction of the street. The next stage would include a blowup showing that the drainage would remain on Edna Street. The applicant was requesting a waiver requiring a landscape architect plan since the lot was very heavily treed and most of the existing mature trees would remain. There would be no reason to enhance any of the shade trees and the drainage system could not have any vegetation over 30 feet of the 80 feet of frontage. Board Comments:  The existing width of curb to curb seems smaller by the property what was the width? Mr. Russell said it started at 18 feet and went to 21 feet and the proposed road would be 20 feet wide. Page 2 Minutes for the Meeting of April 9, 2014  What would be the diameter and types of trees to be cut? Mr. Russell would provide that information at the next meeting.  Was the lot subdivided from the Asbury Street lot? Mr. Russell said yes by the ZBA and at the next meeting the proposed plan would include the Asbury Street lot as part of the subdivision.  Why was a waiver being requested to not provide a landscape architect plan? The lot was limited on what could be done, but would be provided if needed.  Draft documents for the maintenance of the easements and covenants would be needed for the next meeting.  Consider moving the road east to get closer to the center line to prevent the perception of unfairness to one abutter over the other. Mr. Russell would look into it.  Would like to see a provision for street trees on the southwest side of the street-show the markings on the plan.  The driveway was a concern located at the intersection of streets-move it onto Edna Street or Emerald Street.  There was concern about the transitioning from a crowned street to the super elevated street north of the catch basins.  Show the standard setbacks on the on the property rights plans.  Provisions for street lighting need to be shown. Mr. Russell was requesting a waiver.  What was the actual name of the property owner Edna Road or Street LLC? That would get checked out by Mr. Burns.  The datum appeared to be off. That would be checked out with the surveyor.  There were several drainage questions that would need to be answered at the next meeting.  Town Engineer wanted to see one drainage structure instead of two, if only one infiltration system would be used then super elevate the entire road.  Address all staff questions.  Curb to curb the narrowest part of the street was 18 feet? If the entire street was allowed to be 18 feet no parking would not be allowed and would require the agreement of the abutters. Mr. Russell said a gradual transition from 20 to 18 feet could be done and then parking would be prohibited on the newer end of the proposed street. Minutes for the Meeting of April 9, 2014 Page 3 Audience Comments:  There was concern about the children that play on Edna Street and Emerald Street and that connecting the streets would be a hardship.  This proposed plan would increase the density and be a major change to the neighborhood.  There were currently no cars that go there and it was a safe dead end street which was attractive.  This would have an impact on the schools with more families and an increase in number of children. The Board has discretion on waiving the standards based on the impacts it could create.  Two driveways pouring into the corner of the street have never seen before. These streets were carved out 100 years ago and did not go through so there was no danger of cars coming around.  Adding “no parking” signs in this neighborhood where none exist would cause a hardship for abutters on Emerald Street. Edna Street does not need to go through to Emerald Street. The Board Members have not received information from the Engineering Department yet. Mr. Russell asked if dead end could be extended and not connect to Emerald Street? A turnaround would then have to be created for fire trucks; would that be possible? Mr. Russell would look into it. Come with both concepts at the next meeting. If a dead end was permitted a looped water main maybe required. The materials from the applicant would need to be in the week before May 7. On a motion duly made and seconded, it was voted, 4-0, to continue the public hearing to May 7 at 7:00 p.m. in the Selectmen’s Meeting Room. Lowell Street, ANR: The Town of Lexington submitted an ANR for the Busa Farm. There would be no public input since this was not a public hearing. Any issues should be brought up with the Zoning Board of Appeals. Members of the Board said this plan met the definition of an ANR. On a motion duly made and seconded, it was voted, 4-0, to endorse the plan entitled “Map 20/Parcel 38 ANR Plan” dated February 5, 2014, prepared and certified by Laird Walsh, Page 4 Minutes for the Meeting of April 9, 2014 Professional Land Surveyor, Wilmington, MA with Form A (2014-1) submitted by the Town of Lexington the applicant, as it does not require approval under subdivision control law. Bonair Avenue, withdrawal of Definitive Subdivision Plan: The applicant had requested to withdraw the Bonair Avenue, definitive subdivision plan. On a motion duly made and seconded, it was voted, 4-0, to accept the request to withdraw the Bonair Avenue subdivision plan. ************************DEVELOPMENT REGUALTIONS ************************ CONTINUED PUBLIC HEARING Mr. Hornig called the public hearing to order at 7:02 p.m. and would continue the public hearing without discussion. A marked up version of the Development Regulations, dated April 9, 2014 and was available for review. On a motion duly made and seconded, it was voted, 4-0, to continue the public hearing to April 23 at 7:00 p.m. in the Selectmen’s Meeting Room. *****************************TOWN MEETING ********************************* The Zoning Articles will be brought up tonight at Town Meeting. *****************************BOARD SCHEDULE ******************************* April 23 there will be a continuation of the public hearing for the development regulations, May 7 continued public hearing for Edna Street, and a meeting on May 21. June 4 Mr. Dunn would not be available. The June schedule will be discussed at the next meeting. Would Board Members be available to meet with the Board of Selectmen on April 29 at 7:30 p.m. to discuss the Sellers litigation in executive session? A quorum will be available and the meeting will be posted by the Board of Selectmen. *********************************MINUTES ************************************ On a motion duly made and seconded, it was voted, 4-0, to accept as distributed the minutes for March 12, 24 & 26, 2014. On a motion duly made and seconded, it was voted, 4-0, to adjourn at 7:12 p.m. Minutes for the Meeting of April 9, 2014 Page 5 The meeting was recorded by Lexmedia. The following documents used at the meeting can be found on file with the Planning Department:  Draft Subdivision Regulations, April 9, 2014 (52 pages).  Memorandum from Staff dated April 4, 2014 (3 pages).  Definitive subdivision plan set for Edna Street, dated February 24, 2014. (6 pages)  Definitive subdivision plan for Edna Street road extension application, dated February 24, 2014.  Notice of withdrawal for Bonair Avenue from Jon Metivier, dated April 7, 2014. (1 page) Timothy Dunn, Clerk