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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2022-06-15-SPRD-min Special Permit Residential Development (SPRD) Ad-hoc Committee Meeting Minutes of June 15, 2022 Special Permit Residential Development (SPRD) Ad-hoc Committee Members present for the Public Meeting: Jill Hai, Chair; Scott Cooper, Joyce Murphy, Charles Hornig, Richard Perry, Betsey Weiss. Lexington Staff present for the Public Meeting: Carol Kowalski, Assistant Town Manager for Development; Kiruthika Ramakrishnan, Administrative Assistant. Other attendees: Ted Brovitz (Brovitz Community Planning and Design), Peter Flinker (Dodson & Flinker, Inc) Ms. Hai conducted a roll call to ensure all the members of the SPRD ad-hoc committee and members of staff present could hear and be heard. Ms. Hai chaired the meeting and called the meeting to order at 8:02 am. The meeting was recorded by LexMedia for future on-demand viewing. 1. Approval of Minutes of Meeting held on 05.25.22 The SPRD committee reviewed the draft minutes of meeting held on 05.25.2022. Ms. Hai moved that the committee approve the minutes of meeting held on 05.25.22, as presented. Mr. Perry seconded the motion. The SPRD Committee voted in favor of the motion 6-0-0 (Roll Call Hornig- yes, Perry-yes, Cooper- yes, Weiss- yes, Murphy- yes, Hai- yes). MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY. 2. Discussion and presentation with Ted Brovitz regarding selected SPRD project sites, development details Ms. Hai briefed the committee about the purpose of Mr. Brovitz’s presence and the details of the expertise sought from him. Ms. Hai said that Mr. Brovitz is going to help the committee to figure out the hypothetical outcomes of the committee’s proposal, had it been an option in a few prior developments, that became SPRDs under the existing bylaw. Ms. Hai said that the decisions made by the committee and the parameters agreed upon were communicated to Mr. Brovitz and Mr. Brovitz recommended Mr. Flinker to help the committee get a visual representation of the proposal. Ms. Hai said that the goal for the committee is to conclude if the choices regarding the locations were appropriate and to plan a workshop based on the conclusion, which would help the committee decide the required parameters. Mr. Brovitz introduced Mr. Flinker to the committee as a Planner and Landscape Architect who has helped him with a lot of projects, and who also has experience with SPRD and with developing scenarios for various projects. Mr. Brovitz said that, along with Mr. Flinker, he will work with the committee, to help envision better alternatives that are available. Mr. Brovitz wanted to do a workshop and get a better understanding of the preliminary parameters of the bylaw to explore the different possibilities. Mr. Brovitz shared a list of SPRD projects that had earlier been selected by the committee to build some development scenarios. Mr. Brovitz then shared a slide which listed the preliminary assumptions, parameters and factors under the current proposed by law to be considered for the purpose of building a conceptual development scenario. Mr. Brovitz also discussed the key issues that were specific to the test sites that have been picked for the workshop. Mr. Cooper wanted to make sure that SSD was retained and this was an alternative path to SSD. Mr. Hornig commented that SSD has been modified from the current form of SSD and it would permit Missing Middle neighborhoods and would have an affordable requirement. Mr. Hornig wanted clarification on Accessory Dwelling Units (ADU) since the permitted Missing Middle neighborhoods encompasses ADUs and wanted to know if separate provisions for ADUs are required. Mr. Brovitz explained that this was about ADUs in a mix of unit sizes. Discussion ensued and it was decided that it will be tested at the workshop. Mr. Flinker wanted to know if anyone had gone through the list of BHDs and figured out what the relative buildout was compared to square footage of proof plan, and to what was actually built. Mr. Hornig said that he had done that for OSRD and said that based on his study he found that it varies widely. Mr. Brovitz shared the pictures of the existing conditions and Proof plan of a development in Beech Tree Lane, one of the SPRD projects that was picked for the purposes of the workshop. Mr. Brovitz also shared the BHD plan for the same address. The committee discussed the average unit size, marketability concerns and the mechanics of factoring in all the parameters agreed upon. Mr. Hornig said that the Lexington community has to start getting used to the idea that there are going to be 15 units per acre, with the Planning Board’s proposal to bring about a zoning change in a noticeable part of the town. Mr. Brovitz also shared the proposed plans of Fairland estates. Mr.Flinker gave a brief history of the original concept of town houses and how it has evolved with time. Mr. Cooper wanted to know if it was easy to incorporate the original concept in a bylaw and would it be difficult to impose that with a by-right path. Mr. Cooper also wanted to know if Special Permit or Site Plan Review process can address those issues in a better way. Mr. Flinker said that the Site Plan Review process can address the issues in a better fashion. Mr. Cooper asked Mr. Flinker if he has seen specific towns that have accomplished it successfully. Mr. Flinker said he will bring more case studies to the workshop to help get a better understanding. The committee also discussed about historic preservation and its implications on the properties developed. 3. Workshop planning Ms. Hai said that the main goal for the workshop is to test the theories that were discussed in the meeting, keeping in mind the considerations and parameters that were determined and also the variables that are yet to be finalized. The committee decided to do the workshop in person on July 12th from 6 pm to 9 pm. Adjourn Ms. Hai moved that the SPRD committee adjourn the meeting of June 15th, 2022. Mr. Perry seconded the motion. The SPRD Committee voted in favor of the motion 6-0-0 (Roll Call Hornig- yes, Perry-yes, Cooper- yes, Weiss- yes, Murphy- yes, Hai- yes). MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY. The meeting was adjourned at 9:28 am. List of documents: 1. 15 Beech Tree lane: Proof plan, Balanced Housing Development Plan, Revised Conventional Sub Division Plan 2. 53 Hancock St: Proof plan, Existing Conditions, Definitive SSD Plan 3. Lexington SPRD Development Scenarios- Power point slides.