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PLANNING BOARD MINUTES
MEETING OF FEBRUARY 23, 2009
A meeting of the Lexington Planning Board at the Selectmen’s Meeting in the Selectmen’s
Meeting Room, Town Office Building was called to order at 7:30 p.m. by Chairman Hornig with
members Manz, Canale, and planning staff McCall-Taylor present. Mr. Zurlo joined the meeting
later. Mr. Galaitsis was absent.
***********************Board of Selectmen’s Meeting***************************
Beal Companies Mitigation Offer - Susan Yanofsky, the Economic Development Officer,
reported on the draft Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Beal Companies and
the Town. Originally payments had been tied to performance measurements but that had been
abandoned as it was difficult to establish base standards as well as the difficulty in enforcing
such an agreement over time. The current MOU provides for a total of $800,000 in transportation
mitigation payments in two chunks. Of that amount $200,000 is slated to go the support of
Lexpress. At the end of the discussion the Selectmen voted to support in concept the MOU.
Spring Street Update – The Town Engineer John Livsey gave an update of the Spring Street
improvements. The current plan shows sidewalks along the entire west side, on the east side
from Hudson to Marrett, neckdowns around the two large trees that are to be saved and improved
crossings. There are two designs for the intersection, one with signals and one with pedestrian
crossings offset by at least 50 feet. There will be another public meeting in March and the
proposal will be before the Conservation Commission soon.
Hartwell Avenue – Susan Yanofsky presented a worksheet on the floor area ration (FAR) in the
CM zone on Hartwell Avenue. She estimated that at a .35 FAR there could be an additional
500,000 square feet of development. At an FAR of .40, that would increase to 600,000 square
feet. She said that there was a possibility of an enhanced use at Hanscom. She is meeting with
the base commander about this.
February 23, 2009
***********************Planning Board Meeting****************************
At. 9:30 the Board recessed to the Planning Office to continue the Planning Board meeting.
There was a general discussion of the Hartwell Avenue rezoning efforts. Larry Smith who was in
the audience urged the Board to have Town Meeting take up Article 45 before Article 44. He felt
that Town Meeting would be reassured if the traffic mitigation item passed prior to the change in
dimensional controls.
There was further discussion of the existing Floor Area Ratio (FAR), how it should be
determined and what figures to use. Mr. Zurlo wanted to review the data and assumptions behind
the figures Ms. Yanofsky had presented at the Selectmen’s Meeting.
There was also spirited debate about mitigation fees, the rational for them and what they should
be used for.
On a motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to adjourn the meeting at 11:00 p.m.
Wendy Manz, Clerk
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