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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2014-09-03-PB-min 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