HomeMy WebLinkAbout2021-10-14-ZBA-min RECEIVED
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Minutes of the Lexington Zoning Board of Appeals UEMNGTON NAA
Virtual, Via Zoom
October 14, 2021
Board Members: Chair— Ralph D. Clifford, Jeanne K. Krieger, Nyles N. Barnert, Norman P.
Cohen and Martha C. Wood
Alternate Member: William Kennedy
Administrative Staff: James Kelly, Building Commissioner and Sharon Coffey, Administrative
Clerk
Address: 812 Massachusetts Avenue
The petitioner is requesting a SPECIAL PERMIT in accordance with the Zoning By-Law
(Chapter 135 of the Code of Lexington) section(s) 135-9.4.2, 135-8.0, 135-6.2, 135-6.2.2, 135-
6.2.7 and 135-4.1.1 Table 2, Schedule of Dimensional Controls to allow reconstruction of a non-
conforming historically significant structure.
The petitioner submitted the following information with the application: Nature and Justification,
Plans plot plan, elevations and gross floor area calculations. Also submitted was a letter from
the Historic District Commission and a letter from the applicant to the Building Department.
Prior to the meeting, the petitions and supporting data were reviewed by the Building
Commissioner, Conservation Administrator, Town Engineer, Board of Selectmen, the Planning
Director, the Historic District Commission Clerk, Historical Commission, Economic
Development, and the Zoning Administrator. Comments were received from the Historic District
Commission and the Zoning Department.
Presenter: William Erickson, Architect
The Hearing was opened at 7:05 pm.
Mr. Erickson presented the petition. He stated the barn is structurally compromised. The Historic
District Commission gave them a certificate of appropriateness for the renovation of the house
and received unanimous approval for the barn. The Historic District Commission does require
the barn to be re-built in its current location. The street is an unaccepted street and is narrow
but there is a fair amount of pavement between the street and barn. They are proposing to build
it in the same location but to make it wider and shorter than the existing. It is an existing
historical structure. To re-build a new barn is the safe way.
A Board member, Jeanne K. Krieger, questioned if the elevation had changed (There is a 6 foot
change from the barn to the house. They will be adding a stone retaining wall that will also be
part of the foundation of the barn).
A Board Member, Nyles N. Barnert, questioned the use for the second floor (General storage
with pull down stairs).
A Board member, Martha C. Wood, asked it the barn will be shared by the two house (Yes,
there will be two deed parking spaces shared).
Chair, Ralph D. Clifford, stated there is no question that the barn has to come down. It is going
to become an operative garage with cars backing out on to Gibson Street. They will not be able
to see traffic coming. The positioning is worrying. Would it be possible to pin the back right
corner which would move the garage back two or three feet (It is feasible. They would need to
go back before the Historic District Commission for this change, who have been adamant about
the location. The grade slopes into the barn in the front and they want to raise the floor level of
the barn so the water is not pitching into the barn. Pushing the barn back would mean to
continue to raise the barn).
Mr. Clifford stated the traffic impact needs to be considered and it's a concern. That couple of
extra feet would make it so the driver could have a better view.
Mr. Erickson showed the landscape plan to show the grade.
Mr. Clifford suggested the barn could be moved back (Had not considered the compromised
view when backing out of the barn).
There were no comments or questions from the audience.
The neighborhood was discussed.
There were no further questions from the Board.
The Hearing was closed at 7:39 pm (a role call was taken: Ralph D. Clifford—Yes, Jeanne K.
Krieger—Yes, Martha C. Wood —Yes, Norman P. Cohen —Yes and Nyles N. Barnert—Yes).
The Board agreed on the condition that the rear wall of the new barn shall be aligned with the
rear wall of the existing barn which will move the entire barn back approximately two feet farther
away from the Gibson Street property line.
There were no further comments from the Board.
The Board of appeals voted five (5) in favor, zero (0) opposed, and zero (0) in abstention to
grant a SPECIAL PERMIT in accordance with the Zoning By-Law (Chapter 135 of the Code of
Lexington) section(s) 135-9.4.2, 135-8.0, 135-6.2, 135-6.2.2, 135-6.2.7 and 135-4.1.1 Table 2,
Schedule of Dimensional Controls to allow re-construction of a non-conforming historically
significant structure with the condition that the rear wall of the new barn shall be aligned with the
rear wall of the existing barn which will move the entire barn back approximately two feet farther
away from the Gibson Street property line (a role call was taken:— Ralph D. Clifford—Yes,
Jeanne K. Krieger—Yes, Martha C. Wood —Yes, Norman P. Cohen —Yes and Nyles N. Barnert
—Yes).
Minutes of the Lexinqton Zoninq Board of Appeals
Virtual, Via Zoom
October 14, 2021
Board Members: Chair— Ralph D. Clifford, Jeanne K. Krieger, Nyles N. Barnert, Norman P.
Cohen and Martha C. Wood
Alternate Member: William Erickson
Administrative Staff: James Kelly, Building Commissioner and Sharon Coffey, Administrative
Clerk
Other Business:
1. 682 Marrett Rd: Request for extension pf a previously granted special permit
Luis Perez, homeowner of 682 Marrett Road, stated the project required them to be
hooked up to Town sewer. The property is located on Route 2A which causes for state
requirements to be met. COVID-19 caused the project to be put on pause.
There were no questions from the Board.
The Hearing was closed at 7:48 pm.
There were no comments from the Board.
The Board of appeals voted five (5) in favor, zero (0) opposed, and zero (0) in abstention to
grant a request for a 12 month extension of a previously granted special permits (a role call was
taken: Ralph D. Clifford —Yes, Jeanne K. Krieger—Yes, Martha C. Wood —Yes, Norman P.
Cohen —Yes, and Nyles N. Barnert—Yes).
2. Board reorganization, elect Chair, Vice Chair, and Board Clerk-- to be effective October
14, 2021.
Chair, Ralph D. Clifford, nominated Ralph D. Clifford as the Chair, Jeanne K. Krieger as Vice
Chair, and Norman P. Cohen as Clerk
The Board of appeals voted five (5) in favor, zero (0) opposed, and zero (0) in abstention to
inducted Ralph D. Clifford as the Chair of the Zoning Board of Appeals with Jeanne K. Krieger
as Vice Chair, and Norman P. Cohen as Clerk (a role call was taken: Ralph D. Clifford —Yes,
Jeanne K. Krieger—Yes, Norman P. Cohen —Yes, Martha C. Wood —Yes and Nyles N. Barnert
—Yes).
3. Review of 2022 ZBA Calendar
The Board of appeals voted five (5) in favor, zero (0) opposed, and zero (0) in abstention to
adopt the 2022 calendar (a role call was taken: Ralph D. Clifford —Yes, Jeanne K. Krieger—
Yes, Norman P. Cohen —Yes, Marth C. Wood —Yes and Nyles N. Barnert—Yes).
4. Minutes from the September 9, 2021 Hearing
The Board of appeals voted five (5) in favor, zero (0) opposed, and zero (0) in abstention to
approving the meeting minutes from the September 9, 2021 Hearing (a role call was taken:
Ralph D. Clifford—Yes, Jeanne K. Krieger—Yes, Martha C. Wood —Yes, Norman P. Cohen —
Yes and Nyles N. Barnert—Yes).
The Board voted to adjourn.