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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2022-07-12-SPRD-min Special Permit Residential Development (SPRD) Ad-hoc Committee Meeting Minutes of July 12, 2022 A meeting of Special Permit Residential Development (SPRD) Ad-hoc Committee was held in the Selectmen’s Meeting Room. Special Permit Residential Development committee members present for the Public Meeting: Jill Hai, Chair; Scott Cooper, Joyce Murphy, Charles Hornig, Richard Perry, Betsey Weiss, Wendy Manz Lexington Staff present for the Public Meeting: Carol Kowalski, Assistant Town Manager for Development. Other attendees: Ted Brovitz (Brovitz Community Planning and Design), Peter Flinker (Dodson & Flinker, Inc), David Trietsch. Ms. Hai chaired the meeting and called the meeting to order at 6.04 pm. The meeting was recorded by LexMedia for future on-demand viewing. 1. Explore committee’s current proposals for revision to SPRD bylaw by testing models and examples on prior SPRD and other Lexington development sites Ms. Hai briefly explained that the purpose of the workshop is to test the theories and get a better idea of what the committee has been discussing in terms of the parameters involved in drafting the by-law. Mr. Brovitz presented the development plans from Lexington Meadows, 6 Eliot Road, 1106 Mass Ave, 53 Hancock St. Mr. Flinker suggested talking about the scale of the neighborhood, and how it should impact the design of the project, considering the proposed density in relation to the site. Mr. Flinker shared the proposal that was built up and the proof plan and said the main factor for the Committee is to come up with the permissible maximum density to recommend. Based on the Committee’s proposal in the last meeting, the base density provided by the proof plan was to be multiplied by 6, in order to arrive at that maximum number of permissible units. Mr. Flinker reminded the committee that the other parameter the Committee wanted to test was to take 2250 square feet as an average unit size. The discussion began with Lexington Meadows. For Lexington Meadows, the number of units was nine times six which came to 54 units. For the area, the calculation came to 54 multiplied by 2250 equal to 121500 square feet. Mr. Flinker used 3- dimensional scale buildings of cottage communities, along with other forms of buildings that the Committee also considered. Different possibilities of footprints were discussed by the Committee. The Committee saw how 2.5 to 3 story buildings, 25 units each in 5 buildings, 2 or 3 bedrooms of 1,000-1,200 square feet could be sited. The Committee next discussed the possibilities for 6 Eliot Road. The number of units came to seven times six equals 42. The Committee saw how a site designed for 2-units per structure, with an access road around the outside, with interior shared common open space, and garages in the back, could be sited. These would be 2,200 square feet, with 2 units per building. Mr. Perry, who was the developer for 3 Eliot, recalled the original plan to convert a portion of the existing building to condominiums and when presented to the neighborhood, received so much opposition that the plan had to be changed. Different possible scenarios were discussed by the committee. Ms. Hai reminded the committee about an earlier proposal to have an ancillary design guideline suggestion booklet which would provide details about various possibilities. Based on the proposals put forth by the committee, Ms. Hai said that there was a possibility to have ten or eleven big houses, instead of the seven that were coming up by-right, without a huge impact on the neighborhood. Mr. Perry said the opposition from the neighborhood was a possibility of increase in traffic, decrease in property valuation and losing the Beech tree that was present. Ms. Hai said that the committee has to discuss whether the bylaw has to be drafted in such a way to include a bonus, apart from the by-right density, when there is an affordable housing component involved. Mr. Brovitz referred to Old Village Square in Medfield and Forge Village. The committee next discussed the various possible hypothetical outcomes with the project on 53 Hancock street, using the three-dimensional model buildings. Ms. Hai asked the committee if based on the discussion, the members have a visual sense to determine parameters in drafting the bylaw. Discussion ensued. 2. Upcoming Meetings The Special Permit Residential Development (SPRD) Ad-hoc Committee decided to tentatively hold the next meeting on Wednesday August 24th at 8 a.m. Adjourn Ms. Hai moved that the SPRD committee adjourn the meeting of July 13th, 2022. Mr. Perry seconded the motion. The SPRD Committee voted in favor of the motion 7-0-0 (Roll Call Hornig- yes, Perry-yes, Cooper- yes, Weiss- yes, Murphy- yes, Hai- yes, Manz- yes). MOTION PASSED. The meeting was adjourned at 8:40 pm. List of Documents: 1. Development plans for Lexington Meadows, 6 Eliot Road, 1106 Mass Ave, 53 Hancock St.