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PLANNING BOARD MINUTES
MEETING OF SEPTEMBER 3, 2014
A regular meeting of the Lexington Planning Board, held in the Selectmen’s Meeting Room, was
called to order at 7:00 p.m. by Chairman Charles Hornig, with members Nancy Corcoran-
Ronchetti, Richard Canale, Timothy Dunn, and Ginna Johnson, and planning staff Maryann
McCall-Taylor, Aaron Henry and Lori Kaufman present.
**********************DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION***********************
Edna Street Road Extension, accept surety and endorse plans:
The applicant requested the Planning Board accept a performance surety secured by a tripartite
agreement in the amount of $47,350 and endorse the plans to be recorded at the registry.
On a motion duly made and seconded, it was voted, 5-0, to endorse the plans for the Edna Street
road extension.
On a motion duly made and seconded, it was voted, 5-0, to endorse the tripartite agreement in the
amount of $47,350 to secure the performance of the construction and installation of the ways and
utilities of the approved subdivision entitled “Definitive Subdivision, Edna Road Extension”.
*********************************MINUTES************************************
On a motion duly made and seconded, it was voted, 5-0, to approve the revised minutes of July
16, 2014.
*****************************PLANNING BOARD *******************************
Associate Member:
Interviews with Nyles Barnert, Michael Leon, and Brad Dermirjian were conducted. After the
interviews were completed the Board Members discussed their preferences, noting that all three
applicants were highly qualified and all would be an asset to the Board.
On a motion duly made and seconded, it was voted, 4-0-1, (Mr. Dunn abstained) to appoint
Michael Leon as the Associate Member of the Planning Board.
Page 2 Minutes for the Meeting of September 3, 2014
Liaisons and Representatives:
The Planning Board Representatives/Liaisons to Town Committees and Commissions were
discussed and the assignments for the upcoming year were as follows:
Economic Development Advisory Committee Mr. Hornig
Historic Districts Commission Mr. Hornig
Historical Commission Mr. Hornig
Bicycle Advisory Committee Mr. Canale
Community Preservation Committee Mr. Canale
MAGIC Mr. Canale
Transportation Advisory Committee Mr. Canale
Greenways Corridor Committee Ms. Johnson
Lexington Center Committee Ms. Johnson
Tree Committee Ms. Johnson
2020 Vision Committee Ms. Johnson
Sustainable Lexington Committee Ms. Johnson
Housing Partnership Board Ms. Corcoran-Ronchetti
Design Advisory Committee Ms. Corcoran-Ronchetti
Hanscom Area Towns Committee Mr. Dunn
Sidewalk Committee Mr. Dunn
Conservation Commission Mr. Dunn
Energy Conservation Committee Mr. Dunn
On a motion duly made and seconded, it was voted, 5-0, to approve the list of liaisons and
representatives to the Town Committees and Commissions as shown above.
***********************ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS (ZBA)**********************
430 Concord Avenue:
The Board reviewed the Definitive Site Development Use Plan (DSDUP) submitted to the ZBA
for consideration of a special permit for the project located at 430 Concord Avenue. The
following were concerns of the Planning Board put forward in a letter to the ZBA for the
September 11, 2014 meeting:
The development data table should match the data proposed in the PSDUP. Some data
was not consistent and the special permit should outline a single Table of Development
Standards for clarity in the future;
Minutes for the Meeting of September 3, 2014 Page 3
Shoehorning this project onto a specific site, the leveling of the site, and site walls were
not discussed and need to be addressed;
Noise control regarding the relocation of the air conditioning units from the roof to the
ground should require that the noise standard apply to all the air conditioning units;
Review the compliance of the lighting plan on the western side of the property, which
would need to be directed away from residential abutters; and
A condition should be in the special permit limiting the size and illumination of the
commercial signs that would be viewed over the residential abutters properties.
**********************************ZONING***********************************
Banks in the Center:
Mr. Henry said that there was an outstanding charge from the Lexington Center Committee(LCC)
that the Planning Board agreed to take on for uses in the Center and in particular spaces taken up
by banks. Banks were the fourth significant reason people came to the Center and were the third
or fourth largest use of square footage and frontage. There was very little guidance from Town
Meeting Members when a survey was sent out. Staff asked the Board for direction on this charge
to be prepared in case there was a Fall Special Town Meeting, which would be on November 17.
A public hearing would be needed on November 5 with an ad deadline of October 9, a draft
would have be prepared by October 1, 2014, and the Planning Board would have only two
meetings to decide how to proceed.
Melisa Tintocalis, the Economic Development Officer has been involved with the LCC to achieve
the goal of livening up and increasing activity in the Center. A policy to guide space uses in a
different direction for the prime retail frontage on Massachusetts Avenue was suggested.
Board Comments:
If the Board chose to do something it should be tightly targeted to address a specific
problem like store frontage or a certain part of the Center and not have the effect of
banning banks.
The problem would be hard to pinpoint and solve without further research in time for a
Fall Special Town Meeting.
While there was a lack of retail diversity in the Center, it would be a concern about
dictating to landlords how to use their properties and a determination should be made to
see if banks were a draw to the Center. There would need to be a discussion with
landlords about breaking up the frontage.
Page 4 Minutes for the Meeting of September 3, 2014
Requiring banks to have reduced frontage or consider them to be office space were
possibilities to consider, but whether it could be done in time for a Fall Special Town
Meeting seemed remote since there would need to be a lot more discussion.
Ms. Tintocalis explained that it would be helpful to develop smart land policies to guide uses and
encourage a vision of what the Town would like to see in the Center.
The data gathered by staff would be forwarded to the Planning Board Members. The Board
discussed a possible moratorium till the end of the fiscal year of June 30, 2015 to allow further
research to cover the CB district and CD-12, as an overlay sending a message about making the
Center more viable. There was concerns this would be a lot more work for a non-emergency
issue.
On a motion duly made and seconded, it was voted, 4-1 (Mr. Hornig opposed), to seek a warrant
article for a moratorium overlay for the General Center if a Fall Special Town Meeting was
called.
There will be further discussion at the next meeting on information generated by staff.
Zoning Map Changes:
Mr. Henry presented a power point presentation to look at current boundaries in the CN, CRO
and Tracer Lane and the Board gave feedback for changes to be made for a future draft.
****************************STAFF REPORTS***********************************
LEXHAB requested a letter of support from the Planning Board regarding their application for a
comprehensive permit to build a project on Fairview Avenue off of Wood Street that will be
going before the ZBA. The Board of Selectmen have given a letter of support. Mr. Henry asked
what information the Board like to receive in order to offer some opinions on this application to
the ZBA.
Street improvements that would need to be made.
Traffic calming measures on Wood Street.
Request the BOS write a letter to Mass Highway to make safety improvements for turns
out of Old Massachusetts Avenue.
A site visit should be arranged.
Provide mitigation plans mainly for the traffic.
Minutes for the Meeting of September 3, 2014 Page 5
The information requested along with the Comprehensive Permit will be provided to the Board.
***************************** BOARD SCHEDULING****************************
The next meeting would be on September 17, 2014 and that will also be picture night at 6:45
P.M.
On a motion duly made and seconded, it was voted, 5-0, to adjourn at 10:26 p.m.
The meeting was recorded by Lexmedia.
The following documents used at the meeting can be found on file with the Planning Department:
Staff Summary/Recommendation for Edna Street extension, dated August 28, 2014.(1
page)
Letter from Brad Demirjian regarding his application for the Planning Board Associate
Member position, dated August 14, 2014.
Letter from Michael Leon regarding his application for the Planning Board Associate
Member position, dated July 3, 2014.
CN Zone History and Possible revisions prepared by Victor Panak, dated August 29,
2014. (11 pages).
Timothy Dunn, Clerk