HomeMy WebLinkAbout2002-02-15-40B-min.pdf Ad Hoc 40B Review Committee
Meeting Minutes
February 15,2002
Room G-15
Present: Stan Abkowitz, Lawrence Cheng(Bruner/Cott),Harriet Cohen, Lee Cott(Bruner/Cott),
Marshall Derby,John Frey, Glenn Garber,Tom Harden, Jeanne Krieger,Ed Marchant, Sheila
Marian,Maryann McCall-Taylor,Joyce Miller, Bill Passman,Josh Posner,Russ Tanner(Rising
Tide),Bill Taylor, Ann Whitney
Observers: John Bartenstein, David Burns,Marjorie Daggett, Phil Fisher,Mark Ettlinger,Tony
Galaitsis,Ephraim Weiss,Norma Whittinghill,Dexter Whittinghill
Marshall Derby reported on his negotiations with Rising Tide on the affordable units.As it stands
now LexHab is to buy three units at first. The other affordable units will be sold through the
town on resale so the town can maintain control.At the end of affordability the unit would be
sold one last time and the town would be allowed to purchase it at that time, or to at least benefit
from the increase in value.
Harriet Cohen asked about the accessibility of the units. The Enablement Committee had
expressed concerns. It was her belief that there is no state requirement for accessibility in a
condominium development. Russ Tanner said that one of the affordable units will be made
accessible. Ed Marchant said that the development must meet barriers standards and federal
regulations, but agreed there is no accessibility requirement. He said the developer might be
asked to provide accommodation at no cost. Mr. Tanner said that they would make sure that one
or two buildings have the ability to be totally accessible.
Lee Cott of the architectural firm Bruner/Cott gave a summary of some of the thinking on design.
He had explored making the development less dense with more setback and some on-grade
parking. Two options were presented. The first was a re-do of what had been previously shown.
Units were removed from the interior of the site with setbacks of 25' off the East Street side. He
had looked at a road on the perimeter but that didn't work. The second option showed a change
in building orientation with more parking on grade, a perimeter road on the East Street side or a
dead-end with turn around, and all units some version of a two-bedroom. There followed a
discussion of the perimeter road and the change in the orientation of units so that the sides faced
the existing houses.
David Burns asked about storm water. Mr. Cott responded that they would be collecting water
into the storm sewer and there was already a good amount of impervious surface on site but that
any increase would be held on site. Mr. Burns also wondered about lighting and noise. Tom
Harden said that he wanted to see a single central road. Mr. Cott said that if there were a lower
number of units he would probably redesign for smaller blocks of units.
Jeanner Krieger said she thought it would be productive at this point to have a small group go off
and discuss density with the hope of arriving at a number agreeable to all. She suggested that the
group be composed of a planning board representative, a neighbor and herself. The committee
members seemed agreeable to that although Phil Fisher said that he was concerned with the
density of the number of buildings, not the number of units.
Stan Abkowitz said he wanted to know if the pro forma should use $2.7 million for land costs or
$2.1 million? Bill Taylor said he still wants to see an agreement that defines the $600,000 permit
40B Review Committee,2.15.02 2
contingency. Ed Marchant asked if the developer could reduce the purchase and sales agreement
to a half page bulleted summary document. Mr. Tanner said he could provide that.
The committee agreed to meet in two weeks,to allow time for the small group to work on a
density number.
The meeting adjourned to 9:05.
Respectfully submitted,
Maryann McCall-Taylor