HomeMy WebLinkAbout2015-04-08-PB-min
PLANNING BOARD MINUTES
MEETING OF APRIL 8, 2015
A meeting of the Lexington Planning Board, held in the Lexington High School, Room 143, was
called to order 6:02 p.m. by Chairman Charles Hornig, with members Nancy Corcoran-Ronchetti,
Richard Canale, Ginna Johnson, and planning staff Maryann McCall-Taylor, Aaron Henry and
Lori Kaufman present. Mr. Tim Dunn joined the meeting in progress.
***********************DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION**********************
Willard Circle, endorse plans and accept surety:
On a motion duly made and seconded, it was voted, 4-0, to endorse the approved plans and accept
the performance guarantee in the amount of $324,948.00.
Mr. Dunn joined the meeting in progress.
CONTINUED PUBLIC HEARING
4 Hartwell Place, 101 & 113 Hartwell Avenue, Special Permit with Site Plan Review:
Mr. Hornig called the continued public hearing to order at 6:06 p.m. Present were Ed Grant,
attorney, Tom Ragno, Steve Lynch, Mike Diminico, and Tyson Renoso of King Properties,
David Kelly of Kelly Engineering Group, Randy Kreie of Dimella Shaffer Architects, and Jeff
Hodgson of Wagner Hodgson Landscape Architects. There were no abutters present.
Mr. Ragno addressed nine points of concerns raised by the Planning Board at the last meeting.
1. It was believed that because there was a capped landfill and the cap cannot be disturbed it
was unlikely that the property would be redeveloped for residential use in the future.
2. The request for outdoor storage was withdrawn.
3. The signs using internal illumination would be halo-lit with raised lettering and logos or
backlit acrylic lettering and logos, which have less light pollution and more aesthetically
pleasing.
4. The PTDM plan notes the applicant’s commitment to the REV Shuttle Service, as well
as, a plan to reduce the amount of single occupant vehicles entering the site to a
maximum goal of 85%.
5. All the proposed landscaping would be drought resistant once established, but would
have limited irrigation for plant establishment for two years. The front lawn and the
central open space would have irrigation.
Page 2 Minutes for the Meeting of April 8, 2015
6. There was a botanist that who was helping develop a Buffer Zone for invasive species
removal, enhancement, and restoration planting plan. The entire plan would be reviewed
by the Conservation Commission at the next meeting April 28, 2015. Some species
would be replaced as requested at the last meeting.
7. The pedestrian connection between 113-115 Hartwell Avenue and the pavilion at 101
Hartwell Avenue was revised with a reduced width of the paved driveway and specialty
paving for the cross-walks.
8. The interconnecting driveway between 4 Hartwell Place and 101 Hartwell Avenue was
reduced to 18 feet and shifted south and out of the wetland buffer.
9. The applicant was requesting the first installment of the mitigation fee of 25% be due
upon receipt of the building permit for 115 Hartwell Avenue.
Board Comments:
The first installment should be as soon as possible and would like to see an outside date
for payment?
The PTDM plan did not include the requirement for annual reporting. That would be
amended in the plan and included.
With the change to the interconnecting road would a truck be able to pass through? It was
meant only for passenger cars.
The internally illuminated signs should be requested when tenanted; why request them
now? The applicant was trying not to have to come back at a future date and tenants
would want to know what would be permitted.
There was a lot of site coverage already and now was requesting an increase in the
setback requirements, which would have a negative impact on the environment which
was addressed in the bylaw §9.2.4.6 for not approving a special permit.
Would prefer to see the garage with an additional deck. The aviation easement would
prohibit an additional story. This project would meet the FAR without a special permit
and there was a lot of green proposed which was shown on a plan submitted to
Conservation.
The social spaces would be better if some parking was removed. Parking spaces would
be removed behind 101 Hartwell Avenue to enhance the view.
Was the tree bylaw mitigation plan submitted? That would go to the building department.
Would the applicant accept the limit of the two types of signs noted? Yes.
When would the building permit be pulled? Probably early fall. Would you specify that
payment would be within the year? Yes.
Minutes for the Meeting of April 8, 2015 Page 3
What provisions would be made to for safety preventing access to the top of the retaining
wall? There would be a wood post, guard rail, and fence in place for safety.
Would there be any street trees to soften the look of Hartwell Avenue? The applicant
would be willing to plant more trees if wanted even though it would be outside the
project.
Board Decisions:
PTDM Plan:
On a motion duly made and seconded, it was voted, 5-0, to accept the PTDM plan as conditioned
with the mitigation fee to be paid at application of the building permit or within one year of this
approval, whichever comes first.
Special Permits:
Shared parking at 4 Hartwell Place and 113 Hartwell Avenue:
On a motion duly made and seconded, it was voted, 5-0, to approve a special permit to allow
offsite parking on an adjacent parcel under common management.
Pavilion on 101 Hartwell Avenue:
On a motion duly made and seconded, it was voted, 5-0, to approve a special permit to reduce the
minimum rear yard setback from the required 25 to 10 feet to allow a proposed pavilion at that
location.
Illumination of Signs:
On a motion made and duly seconded, it was voted, 3-2, (Ms. Johnson and Mr. Dunn opposed) to
grant a special permit for internal illumination of signs for words and logo. The motion failed to
pass for the lack of a super-majority vote.
Setbacks to Residential Districts:
On a motion duly made and seconded, 4-1 (Ms. Johnson opposed), to approve special permits for
the following setbacks for 4 Hartwell Place to reduce the rear minimum yard setback from for
parking from a residential district line from the required 50 to 22 feet, reduce the minimum depth
of the zoning district transition area from the required 50 to 22 feet and reduce the minimum side
yard setback from 100 to 22 feet adjacent to a residential district line and special permits for the
following setbacks for 113 Hartwell Avenue to reduce the minimum yard setback for parking
from a residential district line from the required 50 to 12 feet, reduce the minimum depth of the
zoning district transition area from the required 50 to 12 feet and reduce the minimum rear yard
setback from 100 to 22 feet adjacent to a residential district line.
Site Plan Review:
On a motion duly made and seconded, it was voted, 5-0, to approve the three proposed site plans.
Page 4 Minutes for the Meeting of April 8, 2015
On a motion duly made and seconded, it was voted 5-0 to close the public hearing at 7:00 p.m.
************************** **TOWN MEETING**********************************
Article positions:
Article 11k Undergrounding of wires in Hastings Park:
The Board took no position.
Article 42 Disability Resolution:
On a motion duly made and seconded, it was voted, 4-0-1 (Mr. Dunn abstained) to recommend
support to Town Meeting.
Article 43 Demolition Delay:
Mr. Dunn gave a presentation on data regarding this Article.
There was a motion duly made and seconded to recommend the passage of the extended
demolition delay. The vote of 2-1-2 (Mr. Hornig opposed, Mr. Dunn and Ms. Corcoran-
Ronchetti abstained)failed for lack of majority.
It was requested the board vote again on Monday April 13, 2015 on Article 43.
**************************ORGANIZATION & SCHEDULE************************
There will be a Housing Public Forum at the Clarke Middle School on May 20, 2015 and
possibly at the Library June 4 if needed. A flyer will be sent out at Town Meeting on April 15.
Ms. Johnson will do the draft and send to staff and the Board. Ms. Johnson and Mr. Dunn will
write up a charge for a two member subcommittee on residential zoning. Friday, April 10 the
Board will meet to present the Comprehensive Plan to the League of Women Voters.
A meeting will be held on Monday April 13 at 6:00 pm at the Lexington HS, April 22 at 7:00
p.m. in SMR, May 6 and May 20 at the Clarke Middle School.
********************************STAFF REPORTS*****************************
17 Colony Road brought in a definitive plan, which will be heard in June.
On a motion duly made and seconded, it was voted, 5-0, to adjourn at 7:25 p.m.
The meeting was recorded by LexMedia.
The following documents used at the meeting can be found on file with the Planning Department:
Letter from King Street properties regarding 101-113 Hartwell Avenue, 4 Hartwell Place
dated April 3, 2015 (23 pages).
Timothy Dunn, Clerk