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Minutes of the Lexington Planning Board
Held on August 3, 2022, Select Board Meeting Room
Town Office Building and Virtual Meeting at 7:00 pm
Present: Robert Peters, Chair; Michael Schanbacher, Vice-Chair; Melanie Thompson,
Clerk, Robert Creech, Charles Hornig and Michael Leon, Associate Member. Also
present were Abby McCabe, Planning Director, Molly Belanger, Planner, and Carol
Kowalski, Assistant Town Manager for Development.
Robert Peters, Chair, called to order the meeting of the Lexington Planning Board on
Wednesday, August 3, 2022, at 6:00 pm. For this meeting, three board members Mr.
Hornig, Mr. Schanbacher, and Mr. Peters are present in the Select Board meeting room
and members Ms. Thompson and Mr. Leon are participating remotely via Zoom.
LexMedia is filming this meeting 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. Peters conducted a roll call to ensure all members of the Planning Board and
members of staff present could hear and be heard. Mr. Peters informed everyone that Mr.
Leon would be serving as a full voting member for special permits tonight in Mr.
Mr. Peters provided a summary of instructions for members of the public in attendance. It
was further noted that materials for this meeting are available on the Town's Novus
AGENDA dashboard.
Mr. Peters thanked outgoing Planning Department Assistant Ms. Kaufman for her years
of service and assistance.
Draft Comprehensive Plan Review Public Work Session
Mr. Peters introduced this item. The Board has been reviewing drafts over the summer
and will begin with the written comments received by staff on the posted drafts.
Goal 1: Diversity and Inclusion
Ms. McCabe explained that the Board has been reviewing the Draft Comprehensive Plan
over the summer, working their way backwards through the nine goals. Tonight, they are
taking up the first goal, Diversity & Inclusion. This is a new section added by the
Comprehensive Plan Advisory Committee. Ms. McCabe reported that staff received
some written comments related to the actions and strategies in advance. The objectives
and strategies section were presented.
Board Discussion:
Ms. McCabe reported that there was a suggestion to merge the first two actions in
strategy 1.1 into one action.
A board member questioned the meaning of the action related to the statutory
preferences for single-family houses.
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Planning Board Meeting Minutes
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A board member suggested that more information about the Strategic Equity
Advisory Team be added to the introduction to this section.
A member suggested removing action four in Strategy 1.1.1, about revising the
preference for local preference, because it is already in the Housing section.
A member suggested moving action one under strategy 2.8.1, about supporting
fair housing goals, because it should be in the Housing Section under Goal 2.
A board member suggested moving Strategy 1.3.1, about adaptation of housing,
to the Housing section under Goal 2.
The board discussed summarizing actions that are in the other sections and cross-
referencing certain actions that relate to other goals. There was a suggestion to
include a direct link to the housing section in the electronic document.
Ms. McCabe reported there were a couple of suggestions to remove Strategy
1.3.5, about the teen or youth center, because the suggestion is to focus on
expanding programing for teens rather than a physical space.
Public Comments:
Mr. Peters asked for any public comments.
Ms. Felton, Co-Chair of the CPAC, urged the Board to keep some of the items in this
section even where mentioned in other sections. She said the CPAC discussed this and
felt it was important to be highlighted here as well as in other goals to reiterate their
importance.
Introduction and Executive Summary:
Ms. McCabe said that no comments were received on the posted drafts for the
Introduction or Executive Summary.
A board member recommended adding an explanation about the quotes in the
Lexington Voices call out boxes explaining that they are quotes from individuals
and not necessarily opinions that reflect a consensus.
Mr. Peters asked for any public comments.
Mr. Pressman thought the executive summary was terse specifically where it lists the
goals and strategies. He suggested the housing section be elaborated further.
The Board discussed adding a short paragraph for each goal giving a high-level overview
of the actions. A board member suggested adding Vision for Lexington as a partner for
some of the initiatives.
69 Pleasant Street - Public Hearing for Site Sensitive Special Permit Residential
Definitive Subdivision (continued from June 29)
Mr. Peters app
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Applicant Mr. Cataldo representing Sheldon Corporation, his project engineer Mr.
Novak, and landscape architect Mr. Toma were present for the application. Mr. Novak
summarized the changes since the last meeting. The revised plans replaced the
previously shown white pines with Canadian Hemlocks, revised the drainage report,
updated lot and gross floor area based on the parcel area being conveyed to the abutter,
annotated the plans for the foundations and retaining walls, added more catch basins,
protected the 48-inch tree along Pleasant Street, added more subsurface infiltration, and
changed the driveway slope near the site entrance. Mr. Cataldo provided a sample photo
of a house with a lower pitched roof and explained why he proposed the name Linc Cole
Lane after a long time resident and former Select Board member.
Board Discussion
A board member would like to see drainage improved by adding infiltration at the front
of the property to collect all runoff so there is no water running off into Pleasant Street.
The water should be captured and treated on-site. The board asked if a historic
preservation restriction would be agreed on for the existing house and wanted to hear
from the Historical Commission.
Mr. Cataldo asked the board about converting the existing house into a two-family and
possibility of a new garage and a smaller workforce house.
The board members were supportive of a mix of housing types.
Mr. Peters summarized requests for the next meeting:
Responses and changes requested by Engineering
Existing house two-family conversion details
Space trees 27-35 ft. on-center along the common drive
Connect with Historical Commission and report on recommendations for the
existing structure
On a motion made by Mr. Schanbacher, seconded by Ms. Thompson, the Board voted 5-0
on a roll call vote to continue the public hearing to Wednesday, September 7 at 6:00 pm
on Zoom to review revised material and for staff to prepare a draft decision. (Board vote:
Hornig yes, Leon yes, Peters yes, Schanbacher yes, Thompson yes).
65 Paul Revere Road Public Hearing to Modify 2008 Special Permit with Site Plan
Review
Mr. Peters appointed Mr. Leon to act on this permit
Mr. Patzke, landscape architect, was present on behalf of the homeowners. Mr. Patzke
explained that he has designed a deck with an arbor pergola on the side of the house. He
presented the plans. When he pulled building permits he discovered there was a
condition on the Planning Board approval requiring a 25-foot setback to the side lot line.
The proposed deck would be 21 feet from the lot line.
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Mr. Hornig was present for the original application and explained that, at the time, the
board imposed a 25-foot setback to any lot line to be consistent with the setback for
conventional subdivisions. He added that the setback is determined by measuring from
the lot line to the nearest point of the structure.
He recommended the Board now grant relief to 20 feet (not the requested 21 feet) to be
safe. He supported the proposal because the current zoning side yard setback is 15 feet,
no living area is being expanded with this proposal,
impact on the abutter.
Mr. Peters asked for public comment. There was none.
On motion made by Mr. Schanbacher, seconded by Ms. Thompson, the board voted 5-0
on a roll call vote to approve the application as amended tonight to modify the 2008
condition to reduce the required setback to 20 feet to any lot line as outlined in the draft
decision prepared by staff. (Board vote: Hornig yes, Leon yes, Peters yes,
Schanbacher yes, Thompson yes).
Open Space Residential Development (OSRD) Zoning Regulations Public Meeting
Ms. McCabe reported that the draft has been sent to the Housing Partnership, Select
Board, and Disabilities Commission for comment. She summarized the changes made
since the draft last reviewed by the board as follows:
Application fees added
Added requirement for stormwater permit submission
Added some design standards
Added floor plans and locations for the inclusionary units
She also received comments from Mr. Creech to add more to the purpose, and a
recommendation from a resident to require visuals and more description on the open
space areas
Board Discussion
Mr. Hornig suggested some changes, mostly related to formatting and
organization, that were shown on the screen. Remove reference to any policy
related to herbicide and pesticide use if there is no policy. Remove reference to
trails not being wider than 5 feet.
Board members felt it was too early, during the site plan review stage, to require
floor plans and suggested noting that they will be reviewed at the staff level at the
building permit stage for a determination that the inclusionary units are consistent
with the market rate units.
Mr. Schanbacher will work with Ms. McCabe to clarify what should be submitted
with plans from a design perspective to give clear guidance on what the board will
be reviewing and requiring, such as color elevations and materials.
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Public Comments:
that lawns be
prohibited from the open land calculations.
Mr. Luker suggested rewording section 13.8 to clarify the intent that topography retain
the natural land patterns.
th
The Board will continue their review of the OSRD Regulations at the September 7
meeting at 6:00 pm on Zoom.
420-430 Bedford Street Acceptance of performance guarantee and plan
endorsement for Lexington Office Park Definitive Subdivision Plan approved on
May 18, 2022
Ms. McCabe reminded the board this subdivision was approved in May and the appeal
period has ended without an appeal.
and staff has reviewed it and sees no issues.
On a motion made by Mr. Schanbacher, seconded by Ms. Thompson, the board voted 4-0
on a roll call vote to accept the covenant and sign the Definitive Subdivision Plan for
Lexington Office Park at 420-430 Bedford Street. (Board vote: Hornig yes, Peters
yes, Schanbacher yes, Thompson yes).
Board Administration:
On a motion made by Mr. Schabacher, seconded by Ms. Thompson, the board voted 4-0
on a roll call vote to approve the meeting minutes from July 13, 2022 as written. (Board
vote: Hornig yes, Peters yes, Schanbacher yes, Thompson yes).
Meeting adjourned at 10:34 p.m.
Lex Media recorded the meeting.
Novus AGENDA Packet
here.
List of Documents:
Draft Comprehensive Plan Goal 1 Diversity & Inclusion dated July 19, 2022,
Introduction dated July 19, 2022, Executive Summary dated July 19, 2022, Review
Guide, and Summary of Comments memo from Planning Director to Planning Board
dated August 2, 2022.
69 Pleasant Street Revision Cover Letter from Michal Novak, Revised Plan Set for 69
Pleasant Street dated July 21, 2022, Revised Stormwater Report, Sample House Style
Photo, Lexington Engineering memo dated July 29, 2022.
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Open Space Residential Development (OSRD) Draft Regulations dated July 28, 2022,
OSRD Zoning Bylaw Article 35 Annual Town Meeting 2022 Annual Town Meeting.
Planning Board Decision 420-430 Bedford Street Certificate of Vote dated May 18, 2022,
final approved plan set revised through July 18, 2022, Draft Covenant.
Draft Meeting Minutes for July 13, 2022.
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