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PLANNING BOARD MINUTES
MEETING OF March 23, 2022
Minutes of the Lexington Planning Board
Held on March 23, 2022, Virtual Meeting at 6:00 pm
Present: Charles Hornig, Chair; Robert Peters, Vice-Chair; Michael Schanbacher, Clerk; Robert
Creech, Melanie Thompson, and Michael Leon, Associate Member. Also present were Abigail
(Abby)McCabe, Planning Director, Sheila Page, Assistant Planning Director, and Eve Tapper,
interim administrative planner.
Charles Hornig, Chair, called to order the meeting of the Lexington Planning Board on
Wednesday, March 23, 2022, at 6:00 pm. For this meeting, the Planning Board is
convening by video conference via Zoom. LexMedia may broadcast this meeting live and
will record it for future viewing. Detailed information for remote participation by the
public may be found on the Planning Office web page.
Mr. Hornig conducted a roll call to ensure all members of the Planning Board and
members of staff present could hear and be heard.
Mr. Hornig provided a summary of instructions for members of the public in attendance.
It was further noted that written materials for this meeting are available on the Town's
NovusAGENDA dashboard.
Mr. Hornig and the Board Members thanked Ms. Eve Tapper for her help and assistance
the last few months for the third time and wish her all the best. Ms. Tapper thanked the
Board and said she enjoyed working here and look forward to stopping in and not in a
professional capacity. The Board Members welcomed Ms. McCabe the new Planning
Director and said they looked forward to working with her.
**************************TOWN MEETING******************************
Report: Article 35: Amend Zoning Bylaw – Open Space Residential Developments
(OSRD):
The Board discussed and reviewed the revised draft motion and revised draft report to
Town Meeting.
Robert Peters moved that the Planning Board forward the draft motion of Article 35:
Amend Zoning Bylaw – Open Space Residential Developments as discussed and
amended tonight as the motion to Town Meeting and allow the staff in consultation
with the chair to correct for any scrivener’s errors. Michael Schanbacher seconded the
motion. The Planning Board voted in favor of the motion 5-0-0 (roll call: Bob Creech –
yes; Robert Peters – yes; Michael Schanbacher – yes; Melanie Thompson – yes;
Charles Hornig - yes) MOTION PASSED
Robert Peters moved that the Planning Board adopt the report for Article 35: Amend
Zoning Bylaw – Open Space Residential Developments as presented and amended and
allow the staff in consultation with the chair to correct for any scrivener’s errors.
Michael Schanbacher seconded the motion. The Planning Board voted in favor of the
motion 5-0-0 (roll call: Bob Creech – yes; Robert Peters – yes; Michael Schanbacher –
Page 2 Minutes for the Meeting of March 23, 2022
yes; Melanie Thompson – yes; Charles Hornig - yes) MOTION PASSED
Report: Article 36: Amend Zoning Bylaw and Zoning Map – Mixed-Use
Developments and Multi-Family Housing:
The Board discussed and reviewed the draft report.
Robert Peters moved that the Planning Board adopt the report for Article 36: Amend
Zoning Bylaw and Zoning Map – Mixed-Use Developments and Multi-Family Housing
as presented and allow the staff in consultation with the chair to correct for any
scrivener’s errors. Michael Schanbacher seconded the motion. The Planning Board
voted in favor of the motion 5-0-0 (roll call: Bob Creech – yes; Robert Peters – yes;
Michael Schanbacher – yes; Melanie Thompson – yes; Charles Hornig - yes)
MOTION PASSED
Report: Article 37: Amend Zoning Bylaw – Technical Corrections:
Mr. Schanbacher shared his presentation on Article 37. The Board reviewed the draft
report.
Robert Peters moved that the Planning Board adopt the report for Article 37: Amend
Zoning Bylaw – Technical Corrections as presented and allow the staff in consultation
with the chair to correct for any scrivener’s errors. Michael Schanbacher seconded the
motion. The Planning Board voted in favor of the motion 5-0-0 (roll call: Bob Creech –
yes; Robert Peters – yes; Michael Schanbacher – yes; Melanie Thompson – yes;
Charles Hornig - yes) MOTION PASSED
Report: Article 38: Amend Zoning Bylaw and Map – 95-99 Hayden Avenue (128
Spring Street):
The Board reviewed the revised draft report.
Robert Peters moved that the Planning Board adopt the report for Article 38: Amend
Zoning Bylaw and Map – 95-99 Hayden Avenue (128 Spring Street) as presented and
allow the staff in consultation with the chair to correct for any scrivener’s errors.
Michael Schanbacher seconded the motion. The Planning Board voted in favor of the
motion 5-0-0 (roll call: Bob Creech – yes; Robert Peters – yes; Michael Schanbacher –
yes; Melanie Thompson – yes; Charles Hornig - yes) MOTION PASSED
Report: Article 39: Amend Zoning Bylaw and Map – 475 Bedford Street:
Mr. Peters recused himself.
The Board reviewed the revised draft report.
Michael Schanbacher moved that the Planning Board adopt the report for Article 39:
Amend the Zoning Bylaw and Map – 475 Bedford Street as presented and allow the
staff in consultation with the chair to correct for any scrivener’s errors. Charles
Hornig seconded the motion. The Planning Board voted in favor of the motion 4-0-0
(roll call: Bob Creech – yes; Michael Schanbacher – yes; Melanie Thompson – yes;
Charles Hornig - yes) MOTION PASSED
Mr. Peters rejoined the meeting.
Minutes for the Meeting of March 23, 2022 Page 3
Report: Article 40: Amend Zoning Bylaw – Sustainable Residential Incentives:
The Board reviewed the draft report.
Robert Peters moved that the Planning Board adopt the report of Article 40: Amend
Zoning Bylaw – Sustainable Residential Incentives as presented and allow the staff in
consultation with the chair to correct for any scrivener’s errors. Michael Schanbacher
seconded the motion. The Planning Board voted in favor of the motion 5-0-0 (roll call:
Bob Creech – yes; Robert Peters – yes; Michael Schanbacher – yes; Melanie
Thompson – yes; Charles Hornig - yes) MOTION PASSED
Report: Article 2: Planning Board Report:
Mr. Hornig said it was not completed yet and there may not be one. If Board members
have anything they want to have incorporated if there is one send it to staff.
Article 30: Amend Special Act – Planning Board and Town Meeting
Mr. Hornig said the Select Board had taken positions on this article and three were in
favor and two were not. The presentation by Mr. Peter’s can be found on the Town
Meeting website.
**************2022-2 SPECIAL TOWN MEETING ARTICLES*****************
Comprehensive Plan Implementation/Completion:
Mr. Hornig explained the changes and issues with this Article. The Article for
implementation will be indefinitely postponed on the consent agenda, but there will be an
Article 4 on the warrant for the Special Town Meeting 2022-2 for the same amount to
complete the Comprehensive Plan.
Mr. Creech did a short presentation on Article 4 for the Special Town Meeting. There
was discussion on when the deadline for a revised draft for the Comprehensive Plan will
be.
Robert Peters moved that the Planning Board recommend that Town Meeting approve
Article 4 for the Special Town Meeting 2022-2. Michael Schanbacher seconded the
motion. The Planning Board voted in favor of the motion 5-0-0 (roll call: Bob Creech –
yes; Robert Peters – yes; Michael Schanbacher – yes; Melanie Thompson – yes;
Charles Hornig - yes) MOTION PASSED
**********************BOARD ADMINISTRATION************************
MBTA Community Housing Comments:
The Board discussed the comments from the Select Board on the MBTA Community
Housing Guidelines. The Select Board will do a final review on March 28, 2022.
Robert Peters moved that the Planning Board accept the changes made by the Select
Board on the MBTA Guidelines with one amendment made tonight for “15 acres of
contiguous acres of land”. Michael Schanbacher seconded the motion. The Planning
Board voted in favor of the motion 5-0-0 (roll call: Bob Creech – yes; Robert Peters –
yes; Michael Schanbacher – yes; Melanie Thompson – yes; Charles Hornig - yes)
MOTION PASSED
Staff Updates:
Page 4 Minutes for the Meeting of March 23, 2022
Staff is happy to have Abby as the new Planning Director.
Board Member Updates:
Mr. Peters presented the OSRD Article to the Sustainable Lexington Committee and they
opted not to take a position on that article.
Mr. Hornig went to a webinar by CHAPA and will try to get the slides for the Board to
see. The SPRD Committee is meeting tomorrow morning and will discuss OSRDs.
There is an open house at 95 & 99 Hayden on Saturday morning for Town Meeting
Members.
Upcoming Meetings:
The next meeting will be April 6 at 6:00 p.m. before Town Meeting. The Board will discuss the
75 Outlook Drive decision. The next meetings will be April 11 & 13 since those are when the
zoning articles are scheduled to be discussed. The next normal meeting will be May 4for a
reorganization and other regular meeting items.
Review Meeting Minutes for March 2, 2022:
Robert Peters moved that the Planning Board approve the minutes of the March 2, 2022 as
submitted. Michael Schanbacher seconded the motion. The Planning Board voted in favor of
the motion 5-0-0 (Roll call: Bob Creech – yes; Robert Peters – yes; Michael Schanbacher –
yes; Melanie Thompson – yes; Charles Hornig – yes). MOTION PASSED.
Adjourn
Robert Peters moved that the Planning Board adjourn the meeting of March 23 2022. Michael
Schanbacher seconded the motion. The Planning Board voted in favor of the motion 5-0-0
(Roll call: Bob Creech – yes; Robert Peters – yes; Michael Schanbacher – yes; Melanie
Thompson – yes; Charles Hornig – yes). MOTION PASSED
Meeting adjourned at 7:30 p.m.
Lex Media recorded the meeting.
The following documents used at the meeting can be found on the Planning Board website in Planning
Board packets.
Article 35: Amend Zoning Bylaw - Open Space Residential Development:
OSRD draft report dated March 21, 2022 (5 pages).
OSRD draft Zoning Bylaw amendment dated March 21, 2022 (3 pages).
Article 36: Amend Zoning Bylaw - Mixed-use Developments and Multi-Family Housing:
Draft report dated March 21, 2022 (7 pages).
Article 37: Amend Zoning Bylaw - Technical Corrections:
Draft report dated March 21, 2022 (2 pages).
Article 38: Amend Zoning Bylaw and Zoning Map – 95 & 99 Hayden Ave. (128 Spring Street):
Draft report dated March 21, 2022 (5 pages).
Minutes for the Meeting of March 23, 2022 Page 5
Article 39: Amend Zoning Bylaw and Zoning Map – 475 Bedford Street:
Draft report dated March 21, 2022 (9 pages).
Article 40: Amend Zoning Bylaw – Sustainable Residential Developments:
Draft report dated March 21, 2022 (1 pages).
MBTA Community Housing Comments:
Revised Comment letter dated March 23, 2021 (2 pages).
Michael Schanbacher, Clerk of the Planning Board