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PLANNING BOARD MINUTES
MEETING OF APRIL 6, 2015
A meeting of the Lexington Planning Board, held in the Lexington High School, Room 143, was called to
order 6:00 p.m. by Chairman Charles Hornig, with members Nancy Corcoran-Ronchetti, Richard Canale,
Timothy Dunn, Ginna Johnson, and planning staff Aaron Henry present.
****************************** TOWN MEETING ARTICLES ***************************
Reconsideration of Article 49, Governmental-Civic use District:
The Board again discussed whether to ask Town Meeting to reconsider the Article; the principal issues
were whether there was enough new information to warrant it and if Town Meeting wanted to see it again.
The Board decided to bring it back to a future Town Meeting.
Articles 8 & 9, CPA Articles:
The Board had previously indicated support for all the CPA articles, voting support of Article 9, but
reserving its vote on Article 8. Discussion focused on 8E and 8O in particular. The Chair wished to reiterate
that support of 8E should be consistent with Town Meeting’s support of Articles 35 and 45, which pertain
to complete streets and pedestrian safety. The Board expressed concern whether 8O was adequately funded
and what the process would be going forward. The CPC voted to support this article by a vote of 6-0. The
Planning Board again indicated support of Article 8, but did not take a vote.
Articles 47, Medical Marijuana Amendment:
Town Meeting member David Kanter requested that the Board revisit its position to request referral of the
Article back to the Board for further study. Mr. Kanter believes that Town Meeting spoke very clearly on
the matter last year when it adopted the present bylaw and this request is untimely. He intends to move for
indefinite postponement of the article.
The Board debated the difference between an indefinite postponement, referral, and outright defeat of the
article. In attempts to understand the sense of the Board, votes to reconsider their recommendation to Town
Meeting were entertained but none ultimately changed the vote. A motion to postpone the article failed to
garner any support although the subsequent motion, to support the defeat of the article only gained two
votes. This brought the Board back to its present motion to refer it back, which like its position included
in its report, garnered three votes in favor. The Board will discuss this again at its next meeting.
Page 2 Minutes for the Meeting of April 6, 2015
***************************** DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION*********************
Zoning Regulations – Unaccepted Streets:
Staff walked the Board through the major changes being proposed to the Unaccepted Ways section of
zoning regulations. This included the deletion of Sec 67, a significant change to the applicability section
(proposed to be based on expansion of GFA rather than 50% replacement costs), simplification of the
process, tying the design standards to the Subdivision Regulations, changing the length of improvements
from the minimum frontage of the district to the lots actual frontage, and always including the intervening
distance.
Board members raised a couple of questions about development standards and ways generally that staff
will look into for potential later amendments or clarifications, but were supportive of the proposed direction
staff was working in.
**************************ORGANIZATION & SCHEDULE *****************************
The Board discussed the proposed outline on residential housing drafted by Ms. Johnson. Mr. Canale
supports the plan with a few tweaks; Mr. Dunn, while supportive, wonders if a subcommittee comprising a
Selectmen and several other boards and committees might make tackling this issue (in concert with other
items the Board has committed to) a little more manageable. Much of the talk focused on the community
forum, tentatively set for May 20. Staff is concerned that an open-ended forum could invite trouble and
urged the Board to consider setting ground rules, providing a statement about what is under our control at
the end of the session, or both. Most members felt that at least some ground rules would be okay. The
Chair requested that Board members provide comments to staff once they review Ms. Johnson’s outline.
***********************STAFF & BOARD MEMBER REPORTS**************************
There were no staff or Board member reports.
************************************* MINUTES *************************************
On a motion, duly made and seconded, it was voted, 5-0, to approve the minutes of March 23, March 25,
and April 1, 2015.
On a motion duly made and seconded, it was voted, 5-0, to adjourn at 7:15 p.m.
The meeting was recorded by LexMedia.
Timothy Dunn, Clerk