HomeMy WebLinkAbout2015-03-23-PB-min
PLANNING BOARD MINUTES
MEETING OF MARCH 23, 2015
A meeting of the Lexington Planning Board, held in the Lexington High School, Room 143, was
called to order 6:04 p.m. by Chairman Charles Hornig, with members Nancy Corcoran-Ronchetti,
Richard Canale, Timothy Dunn, and planning staff Maryann McCall-Taylor, Aaron Henry and
Lori Kaufman present. Ms. Ginna Johnson joined the meeting in progress.
***********************DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION**********************
Cubist proposed Amendment to CD-9, request to withdraw without prejudice:
The applicant sent a letter requesting the withdrawal of the application without prejudice.
On a motion duly made and seconded, it was voted, 4-0, to accept the applicant’s request to
withdraw the application without prejudice.
PUBLIC HEARING
4 Hartwell Place, 101- 113 Hartwell Avenue, Special Permit with Site Plan Review:
Present were Ed Grant, attorney, Tom Ragno, Steve Lynch, Mike Diminico, and Tyson Renoso of
King Properties, David Kelly of Kelly Engineering Group, David Godfroy and Randy Kreie of
Dimella Shaffer Architects, and Jeff Hodgson of Wagner Hodgson Landscape Architects. There
were no abutters present.
The applicant reviewed the plans submitted to the Board regarding this project, which consisted
of three property sites and was being presented as one. The proposal included the construction of
a new 85,000 square foot building with a footprint of 29,500 square feet to be known as 115
Hartwell Avenue. The parking would be reconfigured and a pavilion added to provide a place for
employees to eat using daily food trucks. There was a brief overview of the submitted landscape
plan. It was explained that the PTDM would include support of the REV bus, showers for
employees who biked to work and an aggressive marketing plan to reduce the use of single
occupancy vehicles.
Ms. Johnson joined the meeting in progress.
A connection between 4 Hartwell Place and 101 Hartwell Avenue was proposed to reduce street
traffic. The Stormwater plan would meet the Lexington bylaw requirements and would
Page 2 Minutes for the Meeting of March 23, 2015
substantially reduce the runoff from the site. Native plants would be used in a modern way to
compliment the modern architecture and there would be a 6,000 square foot rain garden.
Board Comments:
Have the plans been reviewed by the Fire Department? Yes.
Would the proposed parking garage meet the setback requirements? A special permit was
being requested for a 12 foot setback from the adjacent land, which was part of the
Hanscom Air Force Base. This may not be an Air Force Base forever and this proposal
would create very dense parking. Consider reducing the amount of parking and create
some green space. The applicant said there would need to be consideration for marketing
to proper tenants to make this a successful project.
Were the plants being used from the native plants list? Mostly.
Would the FAA restrictions for Hanscom’s aviation easement impact the new building
height? No, the building would be two feet under and all other restrictions would be
complied with.
Would there be any loaner bikes for employees and what would they be used for? There
would be five bikes available per building for lunch and exercise and only a handful of
employees commute to work by bike.
101 Hartwell Avenue has two curb cuts is it possible to eliminated one? It would not be
practical due to the slope.
The land adjacent to your site was a former Hanscom land fill; has the impact of pollution
been looked at? The applicant said they permitted four monitoring wells at 4 Hartwell
Place and their environmental studies showed no ground water flowed from their
property.
The request for storage of equipment outdoors would be for what type of equipment?
Nothing specific now, but was done as a catch all for the special permit. Let the Board
know at the next meeting if it would be a temporary or permanent use.
What would be the need for the internal illumination of signs? The new building would sit
back quite a bit and it would give visibility for the tenants given the location and grade
change. What would be the hours of operation? This had not been discussed, but
probably 8:00 p.m.
Was there any invasive species that needed to be removed? There was a botanist on
board to give guidance on how to get rid of some species that would be invasive. That
should include species that stabilize the soil.
Minutes for the Meeting of March 23, 2015 Page 3
Would there be use of an irrigation system on site? Most of the plantings would be
drought resistant and there was some existing irrigation on site but would need to look at
the proposed plan for the new building. Let the Board know if there would be need for an
irrigation system.
If parking lots become full what would be your alternative plan? The applicant explained
they would rely on the diversity of tenants, but if needed would talk to neighboring
properties.
Has the applicant gone before the design advisory committee regarding signs? No, but
met with David George and the Planning Department and felt that was adequate. There
was concern expressed in maintaining consistency for Lexington’s graphically quiet
character and the applicant should look for an alternative type of signage rather internal
illumination.
Things to address next time for special permits:
Setbacks from Air Force Base regarding screening, transition, parking and buildings;
What was the applicant looking for regarding outside storage;
Consider alternative types of illumination and types of signage;
Address setbacks between the two lots and the sharing of the two lots for parking;
Location of the pavilion on the lot lines; and
Bring a full PTDM plan to the next meeting.
On a motion duly made and seconded, it was voted, 5-0, to continue the public hearing to April 8,
6:00 p.m. in the Lexington High School, Room 143.
**************************ORGANIZATION & SCHEDULE************************
The next meeting is Wednesday, March 25 to discuss the final report, work plan and article
positions; April 8 is the continued public hearing, April 13 before Town Meeting and April 22
would be a full meeting in the SMR that evening. Ms. Johnson may not be available on April 22.
********************************BOARD REPORTS*****************************
Was there a template for the presentation to Town Meeting? Board Members should get the slides
to staff tomorrow or Wednesday morning at the latest to allow time to correct any problems.
On a motion duly made and seconded, it was voted, 5-0, to adjourn at 7:22 p.m.
Page 4 Minutes for the Meeting of March 23, 2015
The meeting was recorded by LexMedia.
The following documents used at the meeting can be found on file with the Planning Department:
Letter from Robert Buckley, regarding Cubist CD-9 amendment withdrawal without
prejudice, dated March 13, 2015. (1 page).
Letter from Ed Grant regarding 101-113 Hartwell Avenue, 4 Hartwell Place dated
February 13, 2015 (8 pages).
Application for 101 Hartwell Avenue, dated February 13, 2015 (5 pages).
Application for 113-115 Hartwell Avenue, dated February 13, 2015 (5 pages).
Application for 4 Hartwell Place, dated February 13, 2015 (5 pages).
Memo from Aaron Henry staff regarding 101-113 Hartwell Avenue, 4 Hartwell Place
dated March 20, 2015 (3 pages).
115 Hartwell Avenue Lexington Campus, dated February 11, 2015 (5 pages).
PTDM regarding 115 Hartwell Avenue (5 pages).
Site development plans for 101-113 Hartwell Avenue, 4 Hartwell Place dated 2/5/15 (14
pages).
LEED 2009 Core and shell development project check list for 115 Hartwell Avenue. (1
page).
D-Series Size 0 LED Area luminaire for 115 Hartwell Avenue (6 pages).
Hartwell Pavilion DSX Layout dated 2/15/15 for Hartwell Avenue (1 page).
Hartwell Pavilion illustrative Landscape Plan dated 2/15/15 for Hartwell Avenue (3
pages).
115 Hartwell Avenue interior design plans dated 2/12/15 (5 pages).
Timothy Dunn, Clerk