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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2015-08-19-PB-min PLANNING BOARD MINUTES MEETING OF AUGUST 19, 2015 A meeting of the Lexington Planning Board, held in the Selectmen’s Meeting Room, was called to order 7:01 p.m. by Chair, Nancy Corcoran-Ronchetti, with members, Tim Dunn, Charles Hornig, Ginna Johnson and planning staff Aaron Henry and David Kucharsky present. Richard Canale was absent. *********************************STAFF REPORTS***************************** General updates: Received a modification to a special permit for property on Suzanne Road they have modified proposal it is a smaller. Should get application in system and get process going. ***********************DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION********************** Zoning regulations: Two documents were provided for which changes were being considered: Site Plan Review Regulations and Procedural Rules. Site Plan Review Regulations: The Planning Board discussed a variety of changes to the Site Plan Review Regulations. Most of these changes were to ensure that SPR Regulations do not conflict with new changes to the Zoning Bylaws and avoid any repetitions. Mr. Henry highlighted that changes to the site coverage threshold that would qualify a development for a Major Site Plan Review need to be addressed tonight. Mr. Hornig reviewed his comments submitted to the Board. All repetitive and editorial changes were discussed by the Board and revised. 8.7.G Maximum Parking: The Board discussed proposed changes. On a motion duly made and seconded, it was voted, 4-0, to strike the proposed changes and keep the original language. 8.7.A Access: The Board decided to keep this section since it is not repetitive. 8.4 Major Site Plan Regulation: The Board discussed that adding 8,000 square feet of total site coverage would trigger a Major Site Plan Review. Page 2 Minutes for the Meeting of August 19, 2015 Further edits were made to the Site Plan Review Regulations concerning the sections on removal of invasive species and the limit of clearing and utilities must be installed underground. Elaine Ashton came forth to speak about a property on her street that is being developed and piling debris within 100 feet of conservation land. Ms. Ashton raised concerns regarding fire hazards and aesthetics and hoped the Board could address this issue in the future. On a motion duly made and seconded, it was voted, 4-0, to approve replacing the current Site Plan Review sections (176-77 through 176-82) with the new section eight as discussed tonight and get rid of some of the deletions based on duplications. Procedural Rules : The Board discussed changes regarding remote participation, necessary majority in a Board meeting with a quorum of three, editorial changes, and a change to the meeting time. The Board decided to do a thorough review of the procedural rules for the next meeting but adopt changes to remote participation and a change to the Board meeting time. A suggestion was made to publish a book that includes Subdivision Regulation, Procedural Rules, and the Zoning Bylaws sometime in the near future. On a motion duly made and seconded, it was voted, 4-0, to adopt the proposed paragraph on remote participation and change of the meeting time to 7:00 p.m in the procedural rules of the Lexington Planning Board. *********************ZONING & LONG RANGE PLANNING*********************** Update on Residential Policy Committee: Mr. Canale chaired the last RPC meeting so would like to postpone an update until next time. Committee members are continuing to collect data on the neighborhood Conservation District Bylaw. Ms. Johnson asked that Planning Board Members have any comments sent in by the next th. RPC meeting on September 8 Ms. Johnson looked at the information related to the tour and said this is very ambitious and perhaps it could be broken up into two site visits. Would like to add a commercial residential development that is not a 40B. It was suggested that the tour be cut in half and a date set for a second site visit to do the second half. If the Board wants to trim the route it would have to be decided tonight. Mr. Henry Minutes for the Meeting of August 19, 2015 Page 3 reviewed the proposed route. It was recommended that a stop be made at one of each type of development to look at features. The Board decided to take out Dover Lane, stop at Woodhaven, Journey’s End, Litchfield, Laconia Street and drive by Cottage, Currier Court, Scottish Glen, east Lexington, Liberty Heights, Lowell Street and Peacock Farms. Lexington Courtyard, a 40B, would be a turnaround to see dense housing which is different from others that are dense attached housing. Captain Parker Arms was added as a last stop on way back to the Center. The Board can chat after if they want. The Board can decide after the tour if another tour is necessary. Payment in Lieu of Parking (PILOP): Mr. Henry provided an update trying to keep mission scope succinct. The BOS will first be adopting a policy before the Planning Board develops and adopts a bylaw. There needs to be a discussion on the long range planning goals and how parking fits in with that. The Board hopes to see the draft policy before it goes to the BOS for approval. Center Banking Moratorium: Staff is working with the Economic Development Director to develop a policy, but summer schedules have slowed the progress of this effort. There is a joint meeting with the BOS on st August 31 to discuss shared goals and what is hoped to be accomplished. ***********************************MINUTES********************************* On a motion duly made and seconded, it was voted, 4-0, to approve the minutes for July 22, 2015, as submitted. ************* UPCOMING MEETINGS AND ANTICIPATED SCHEDULE************** There will be a public hearing for a special permit modification application on either September thth 16 or October 7. Hope anyone bringing land owner rezoning to the 2016 Annual Town Meeting will speak to the Planning Board informally in October. The BOS are looking to begin the 2015 Fall Special Town Meeting as early as possible beginning ndth Monday, November 2, with additional dates on Monday, November 9 and Monday, November th 16. The Planning Board is being asked to bring Governmental-Civic Districts back to the Special Town Meeting. If private parcels are included there will need to be public meetings long before the article gets on the warrant. There were questions why this article is being rushed and should be addressed at the joint meeting with the BOS. The Board will try to meet after the BOS st joint meeting on August 31 and determine if there is enough time to hold a public information th session on September 16. There was concern that there will not be enough time to go through Page 4 Minutes for the Meeting of August 19, 2015 the process before the November Special Town Meeting occurs. The RPC needs Planning Board feedback on the residential housing recommendations for the proposals and public feedback. There is concern that all the items being requested for special and annual town meeting are spreading the Board too thin on doing the proposals well. PILOP might be the one item the Board can continue to support and look at a policy but not move forward on the zoning side of PILOP. The priorities need to be identified by the Board and the work that would be involved. Would like to have Ms. Ashton’s comment as an agenda item in the future regarding contractor practices. The storm water regulations were received and will share with the entire Board. Many of the construction practices are related to drainage. On a motion duly made and seconded, it was voted, 4-0, to adjourn at 9:00 p.m. The meeting was recorded by LexMedia. The following documents used at the meeting can be found on file with the Planning Department:  Board of Appeals Petitions (2 pages)  Procedural Rules adopted June 18, 2014 (5 pages).  Proposed Site Plan review 176-8.0 (8 pages).  RPC Route plan map route descriptor, and subdivision details (3 pages) Ginna Johnson, Clerk