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PLANNING BOARD MINUTES
MEETING OF APRIL 13, 2015
A meeting of the Lexington Planning Board, held in the Lexington High School, Room 143, was
called to order 6:05 p.m. by Chairman Charles Hornig, with members Nancy Corcoran-Ronchetti,
Richard Canale, Timothy Dunn, Ginna Johnson and planning staff Maryann McCall-Taylor and
Aaron Henry present.
**************************TOWN MEETING ARTICLES*************************
Article 47 – Medical Marijuana – Ms. Corcoran-Ronchetti ran through her presentation on the
Board’s position. The Board agreed that is was not valuable to bring such an article forward at
this time but disagreed as to whether to recommend defeat or to refer it back to the Planning
Board.
Mr. Al Zabin had written asking if the Board would consider as a friendly amendment the
establishment of an expert committee. The Board did not feel they would support such an
amendment as the issue involves more than zoning, such as Board of Health regulations, and
perhaps it should be a Board of Selectmen committee.
Positions on non-zoning articles
Article 43 – Demolition Delay – The Board had no position on this article and while some
members felt the Planning Board should weigh in on the article, they failed to get the majority
needed to have a Board position. On a motion duly made and seconded, the Board voted 2-1-2 to
support the demolition delay article. Since this was not the three votes required under the Board’s
Rule and Regulations, the motion failed. (Johnson and Canale in favor, Hornig against, Corcoran-
Ronchetti and Dunn abstaining)
*************************DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION********************
Mulberry Lane (off Blueberry Lane) – Most of the subdivision work was completed in 2013. The
Conservation Commission’s Certification of Completion has been issued with a guarantee for a
second season of plant viability. There is no need for any surety for the subdivision work. On a
motion duly made and seconded, the Board voted 5-0 to release the surety.
Page 2 Minutes for the Meeting of April 13, 2015
***********************************HOUSING**********************************
Housing Forum – The Board gave input into the design and wording of the flyer publicizing the
May 20 forum. It was decided to leave off the bullets describing the meeting process and save
that for a handout at the forum. It was agreed to call it “Residential Policy and The Lexington We
Want.” The flyer will be printed for distribution at Wednesday’s Town Meeting Session.
There was a discussion of the charge for a housing sub-committee or working group. There were
many views as to who should be on such a committee, what size it should be and what the
purpose of it was. Members favored a committee that would work to make sure that all opinions
were heard but not try to have all groups serve on the committee as it would be too large and
unwieldy. Ms. Johnson and Mr. Canale were interested in running the sub-committee. The
th
discussion of the sub-committee will be continued at the May 6 meeting.
Discussion of the forum – Members felt it would be important to get comments and questions
written down at the forum, either by a note taker or by getting the individuals to write it in their
own words. It was agreed to have cards available for people to write on and ask for their names
and addresses. It was suggested that the Busa Farm public process, including a webpage, be
emulated if the administrative load would not be too great.
**************************ORGANIZATION & SCHEDULE************************
There will be a regular meeting on April 22 during vacation week as there will not be Town
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Meeting sessions. June 3 will have the 17 Colony Road definitive subdivision. June 17 will be
the Board reorganization with a work plan discussion and liaison assignments.
*********************************** MINUTES**********************************
On a motion, duly made and seconded, it was voted, 4-0-1 (Johnson abstained), to approve the
minutes of April 6, 2015.
On a motion duly made and seconded, it was voted, 5-0, to adjourn at 7:26 p.m.
The meeting was recorded by LexMedia.
Timothy Dunn, Clerk