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Home My WebLink About2021-06-23-PB min PLANNING BOARD MINUTES MEETING OF JUNE 23, 2021 Minutes of the Lexington Planning Board Held on June 23, 2021, Virtual Meeting at 7:00 pm Present: Charles Hornig, Chair; Robert Peters, Vice-Chair; Michael Schanbacher, Clerk; Melanie Thompson; Robert Creech, Michael Leon. Also present was Amanda Loomis, Planning Director. Good evening. My name is Charles Hornig. I call to order this meeting of the Lexington Planning Board on Wednesday, June 23, 2021 at 7:00 PM. For this meeting, the Planning Board is convening by video conference via Zoom. Detailed information for remote participation by the public may be found on the Planning Office web page. LexMedia may broadcast this meeting live and will record it for future viewing. At this time, I will ensure that all members of the Board and Town staff can hear and be heard:  Robert Creech  Melanie Thompson  Clerk Michael Schanbacher  Vice-chair Robert Peters  Associate Member Michael Leon  Planning Director Amanda Loomis I may invite public participation during certain portions of the meeting.  If you wish to ask a question or make a statement during a public participation period, use the Zoom ‘raise hand’ function (*9 on a telephone) and wait to be recognized.  Once recognized, you may unmute yourself (using *6 on a telephone) and speak.  Identify yourself by name and address for the meeting record.  Questions and comments during public participation are limited to 2 minutes or less, except by permission of the Chair, and must be respectful. Written materials for this meeting are available on the Town’s Novus AGENDA dashboard. You may follow the agenda as posted except as I will note. *************************BOARD ADMINISTRATION**************************** Planning Board FY2022 Work Plan: The Planning Board reviewed the draft FY22 Planning Board Work Plan. The Board Members discussed the draft work plan and what they would like to pursue. Ms. Loomis presented the proposed FY22 work plan topics showing the ranking, difficulty, duration, effort and priority. The following work topic items were discussed. Long Range Planning - Comprehensive Plan (Lexington Next) Business Districts - Center Business District; East Lexington; Forbes Road and TMO; Page 2 Minutes for the Meeting of June 23, 2021 Small Commercial Districts; Spring Street and TMO. Housing - MBTA Community requirement (via 40R/mixed use/multi-family); Missing Middle Residential; Open Space Residential Development (OSRD); Parking (residential); Special Permit Residential Development. This discussion was continued after the next item ******************** DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION************************* 53 Hancock Street, Minor Modification to Site Sensitive Development: Mr. Hornig said this was a request for a modification to a special permit. Mr. Brickman was present and said they were requesting that the two-foot stone wall be made a fieldstone wall which would look nicer than the originally proposed fieldstone and granite wall. Board Comments and Questions:  Mr. Creech asked for clarification on the color. He was not inclined to approve the change that unless there was a reason, but he would listen to the other board members.  Ms. Thompson would like to see the picture again (since they were cropped) to see if the new proposed wall went well with the existing walls and in the neighborhood.  Mr. Creech asked for clarification on what the applicant was going to do to the existing wall on Hancock Street.  Mr. Schanbacher had no comments.  Mr. Peters was fine with the look of the fieldstone on the new wall but said they should keep the existing wall on Hancock Street.  Mr. Leon agreed with Mr. Peters. Robert Peters moved that the Planning Board approve the request for the minor modification for 53 Hancock Street substituting the fieldstone wall for the original proposed wall of the granite and fieldstone. Michael Schanbacher seconded the motion. The Planning Board voted in favor of the motion 4-1 (Roll call: Robert Peters – yes; Melanie Thompson – yes; Michael Schanbacher – yes; Charles Hornig – yes; Robert Creech - no). MOTION PASSED *************************BOARD ADMINISTRATION**************************** Planning Board FY2022 Work Plan: Continued from the earlier discussion: The Board continued the conversation on the next topics for the work plan. Other Zoning Bylaw and Map Amendments - Diversity, Equity, Inclusion; Small-scale Solar Energy Systems; Special permit Review criteria left out of Article 44; Walls; Table of Uses; Commercial Signs. Planning Board Regulations - Site Plan Review; Landscape/Sustainability. Transportation-25% Design: Hartwell/Bedford Corridor Improvement Project; TMO-1 Hartwell Avenue Area TMO Plan Update; TMO-2 Forbes Road Plan; TMO-3 Spring Street Plan. Minutes for the Meeting of June 23, 2021 Page 3 The Board Members discussed timelines with staff. Planning Board FY2022 Committee Assignments: The Board discussed the committee assignments Robert Peters moved that the Planning Board appoint Mr. Creech as the Planning Board representative for MAGIC. Melanie Thompson seconded the motion. The Planning Board voted in favor of the motion 5-0-0 (Roll call: Robert Peters – yes; Melanie Thompson – yes; Michael Schanbacher – yes; Charles Hornig – yes; Robert Creech - yes). MOTION PASSED Robert Peters moved that the Planning Board appoint Mr. Hornig as the Planning Board representative for the Community Preservation Committee. Melanie Thompson seconded the motion. The Planning Board voted in favor of the motion 5-0-0 (Roll call: Robert Peters – yes; Melanie Thompson – yes; Michael Schanbacher – yes; Charles Hornig – yes; Robert Creech - yes). MOTION PASSED Staff will check on term dates for other committees and there may be additional appointments if needed at the next meeting. Staff Updates: Staff back in the office July 1 and Town Hall will be open to the public July 15. Staff will keep the Board updated on the status of meetings. Board Member Updates:  Mr. Creech attended the Greenways Corridor Committee meeting. They discussed the new path near the Grove Street development.  CPAC had a public forum on June 15.  Ms. Thompson said CPAC has been going right along, was not sure when the next meeting is, and will have more feedback before that.  Mr. Peters said the Vision for Lexington Committee survey is still on track for 2022.  Mr. Hornig said the SPRD Committee has met two times since the last Board meeting, will meet again before the next meeting, and are working on the OSRD th proposal. The next meeting is on June 29.  The CPC met regarding a gift of land to discuss appropriating monies.  Mr. Hornig spoke with Select Board Chair. There is no anticipated Fall Special Town meeting at this time, but that may change. He is meeting on July 12 with the Select Board to present the Planning Board work plan. There is a tentative joint meeting on transportation for July 26. We are scheduled for a meeting on July 28 that currently does not have anything on it. There may be an in-person meeting in the next two months.  Mr. Creech intended to bring a citizens petition to update the Select Board Meeting Room A/V equipment that is obsolete and may intend to bring forward at the next town meeting. Board Members should let staff know when they will be away on scheduled Planning Board meeting dates. Page 4 Minutes for the Meeting of June 23, 2021 Review of Meeting Minutes May 26, 2021: Robert Peters moved that the Planning Board approve the minutes of the May 26, 2021 meeting as presented. Robert Creech seconded the motion. The Planning Board voted in favor of the motion 5-0-0 (Roll call: Robert Peters – yes; Melanie Thompson – yes; Michael Schanbacher – yes; Charles Hornig – yes; Robert Creech - yes). MOTION PASSED Robert Peters moved that the Planning Board adjourn the meeting of June 23, 2021. Melanie Thompson seconded the motion. The Planning Board voted in favor of the motion 5-0-0 (Roll call: Robert Peters – yes; Melanie Thompson – yes; Michael Schanbacher – yes; Charles Hornig – yes; Robert Creech - yes). MOTION PASSED Meeting adjourned at 9:03 p.m. The meeting was recorded by LexMedia. The following documents used at the meeting can be found on the Planning Board website in Planning Board packets. Hancock Street:  Existing wall memo and photos dated June 22, 2021 (5 pages).  Proposed wall memo and photos dated June 22, 2021 (7 pages). Michael Schanbacher, Clerk of the Planning Board