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PLANNING BOARD MINUTES
MEETING OF April 11, 2022
Minutes of the Lexington Planning Board
Held on April 11, 2022, Virtual Meeting at 6:00 pm
Present: Charles Hornig, Chair; Robert Peters, Vice-Chair; Michael Schanbacher, Clerk; Robert
Creech, and Melanie Thompson. Also present was Abby McCabe, Planning Director.
Charles Hornig, Chair, called to order the meeting of the Lexington Planning Board on
Monday, April 11, 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.
**************2022-2 SPECIAL TOWN MEETING ARTICLES*****************
Article 4, Comprehensive Plan Completion:
Mr. Creech discussed what he would being presented on Article 4 for the Special Town
Meeting 2022-2. The Board had no comments or questions.
**************************TOWN MEETING******************************
Article 30: Amend Special Act – Planning Board and Town Meeting
Mr. Hornig said that Article 30 may come up tonight. Mr. Peters said he was ready with
his presentation to go tonight and has everything he needs. The Board had no comments.
Article 37: Amend Zoning Bylaw – Technical Corrections:
Mr. Schanbacher said he had everything he needs for tonight’s presentation. The Board
had no comments.
Article 38: Amend Zoning Bylaw and Map – 95-99 Hayden Avenue (128 Spring
Street):
Mr. Hornig said he would present the Planning Board’s recommendation to Town
Meeting. The Board had no comments.
Page 2 Minutes for the Meeting of April 11, 2022
Article 39: Amend Zoning Bylaw and Map – 475 Bedford Street:
Mr. Peters recused himself from this Article.
Mr. Hornig said the applicant has informed the Moderator that they intend to move to
refer this to the Planning Board rather than to adopt their original change and that means
the Board should reconsider their recommendation on this.
Planning Board Comments and Questions:
Ms. Thompson asked for clarification if there were any changes and what this
request means. Ms. Thompson was fine with this request.
Mr. Creech and Mr. Schanbacher were fine with this request.
Michael Schanbacher moved that the Planning Board recommend that Town Meeting
refer to the Planning Board Article 39: Amend Zoning Bylaw – 475 Bedford Street.
Bob Creech 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.
Report: Article 2: Planning Board Report:
Mr. Hornig presented the Article 2 report he will be giving to Town Meeting.
The Board discussed Mr. Hornig’s presentation for the Article 2 report and they were fine
with it.
Report: Article 35: Amend Zoning Bylaw – Open Space Residential Developments
(OSRD):
Mr. Hornig said there were five amendments to this article: one from Mr. Creech and
four from Mr. Daggett. Mr. Daggett cannot be here tonight and the Board will hear from
him on Wednesday, April 13 at the next meeting. Mr. Creech presented his updated
proposed amendment to this Zoning Article to require a special permit process instead of
the proposed site plan review.
Board Comments and Questions on Mr. Creech’s updated proposed amendment:
Mr. Peters said, from his perspective, the real issue is to prevent conventional
subdivisions by-right by offering OSRD incentives and predictability with site
plan review to help provide a variety type of housing the Town wants to see
created.
Ms. Thompson was concerned with offering two different options for this
proposal. If we want to get diversity of housing then we should make it less
complex for Town Meeting to choose and believed the original proposed
amendment is the best one to get the diversity in housing.
Mr. Schanbacher said this was good background information and education but
felt that site plan review would be a better option to achieve the diversity in
housing and will make it as easy as possible even if the process is not used often.
Mr. Hornig agreed with the other members who have spoken and explained why
he would not support this amendment regarding the timing, feasibility and a
Minutes for the Meeting of April 11, 2022 Page 3
majority vote.
Public Comment:
A resident supported Mr. Creech’s amendment since this is a major change on
how developers will be allowed to build in Town. He believed this is too liberal a
change even if it is not used very much. The concern is that if it is used a lot it
will create an issue and should remain a special permit. Clarification was
requested that if this passes and it is not good what type of vote would be required
to change it.
A resident was opposed to allowing a developer to create a development without
the Planning Board being in the loop and having public input and the Board
should accept Mr. Creech’s amendment. Mr. Peters and Ms. McCabe provided
information on how the site plan review process would work.
Robert Peters moved that the Planning Board recommend that Town meeting not adopt Mr.
Creech’s amendment to Article 35: Amend Zoning Bylaw – Open Space Residential
Developments. Michael Schanbacher seconded the motion. The Planning Board voted in favor
of the motion 4-1-0 (Roll call: Bob Creech – no; Robert Peters – yes; Michael Schanbacher –
yes; Melanie Thompson – yes; Charles Hornig – yes). MOTION PASSED.
**********************BOARD ADMINISTRATION************************
Board Member Updates:
Mr. Peters said the Housing Partnership Board met Thursday and reconfirmed their vote
on OSRD and took a position against Mr. Creech’s amendment.
Mr. Creech said he got an email from the Greenways Corridor Committee expressing
concern that missing from the OSRD Article is requiring access to any paths that exist in
site plan review.
Mr. Hornig is meeting with Ms. Kowalski to discuss how to review the Comprehensive
Plan in the spring and summer.
Upcoming Meetings:
The next meeting will be Wednesday, April 13 at 6:00 p.m. to discuss Mr. Daggett’s
amendments and access for Site Plan Review. Mr. Hornig wants a partial in-person meeting
possibly on May 4 at 7:00 p.m. for a reorganization and work plan.
Board Comments and Questions:
Mr. Peters: May 4 in person is fine at 7:00 p.m.
Ms. Thompson had concern with rising COVID numbers and wants the meeting short,
with adequate spacing, and masked for an in-person meeting with only the board.
th
Mr. Schanbacher and Mr. Creech were fine with the May 4 meeting.
Mr. Hornig said he got a note from the Vision for Lexington Committee, Select Board, and, the
th
School Committee, for an October 17 in-person meeting. If you have a problem with that date
let Ms. McCabe know.
Page 4 Minutes for the Meeting of April 11, 2022
.
Ms. McCabe asked if the Board can push the June 15 meeting back to June 22 or the 29. Mr.
Peters had an issue with June 22.
Review Meeting Minutes for March 23, 2022:
Robert Peters moved that the Planning Board approve the minutes of March 23, 2022 as
corrected by Mr. Peters. 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 April 11 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 7:08 p.m.
Lex Media recorded the meeting.
Michael Schanbacher, Clerk of the Planning Board