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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2022-09-07-SPRD-min Special Permit Residential Development (SPRD) Ad-hoc Committee Meeting Minutes of September 7, 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, Wendy Manz. 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), David Trietsch. 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 8:03 am. 1. Consultant’s presentation on further-developed types and metrics that were favored by the committee in the August workshop Mr. Brovitz shared a few scenarios he had developed, based on the SPRD workshop. The first address that was shared was Beech Tree Lane. The first development scenario was comprised of Estate Style Apartments / Townhouses with 3 buildings of 8 and 6 units each and with 3 stories. The units had a maximum unit size of 2800 GFA with an average overall maximum unit size of 2250 GFA, with a total of 42 residential units and a density of 14 units per acre. With a parking multiplier of 1.5, there would be 77 parking spaces. The committee discussed the various aspects of the scenario in comparison to a conventional subdivision. Ms. Hai told the committee the goal was for the committee to get a basic idea of the highlights and for the consultants to get some guidance on what is allowable and what is not with regards to variance from a conventional subdivision and to address the points that are yet to be discussed, including the inclusionary component. The second scenario was comprised of cottage courts with 21 residential units with each being 1800 square feet with a density of 7 residential units per acre and 40 parking spaces in total. The second address that was shared was Lexington Meadows. The first scenario showed 54 townhouse units with vehicular access off a perimeter loop. The second scenario showed 30 single family neo-traditional design homes, each being 2400 square feet with attached 2 car garages. The third scenario had 54 units as a Cottage Court with a density of 4.67 units per acre and 99 parking spaces. The next address discussed was 1106 Massachusetts Avenue. The first scenario had 3 apartments in Estate Style Buildings with a total of 18 residential units and 33 parking spaces. The second scenario showed 12 Cottages and 22 parking spaces. The next address discussed was 53 Hancock Street. The first scenario showed 18 residential units in Estate Style buildings and 34 parking spaces. The second scenario had 12 units and 23 parking spaces. Ms. Hai told that one of the big questions for the committee was to ascertain whether the committee had a strong preference to expressly limit or add to the Lexington friendly design guidelines regarding attached versus detached houses. Mr. Hornig added that the attached units have environmental benefits when compared to detached units. Mr. Brovitz shared a slide showing the Preliminary Development Parameters and Concept plans in order to refine the parameters and get a better understanding of the committee’s needs. The committee discussed the parameters mentioned in the slide. Ms. Manz said that a visual representation will help to get a better understanding. Mr. Brovitz said that he will share some visuals. Mr. Cooper wanted to know if 6 times proof plan was the right multiplier for maximum number of residential units and also the proposal to limit parking spaces to 1.5 times the number of units was the right approach. Mr. Flinker said that developers usually cater to the client’s parking needs and that developments like Cottage units typically have residents that tend to have fewer vehicles. Mr. Flinker also added that it depends on the lots to have the 6 times proof plan to work and to come up with a modifier for smaller lots. Ms. Hai wanted the consultants to come up with a suggestion regarding this in the next meeting. Mr. Hornig added that the multiplier 1.5 for the parking space depends on the current market and that was a minimum factor. 2. Upcoming meetings The Special Permit Residential Development (SPRD) Ad-hoc Committee briefly discussed upcoming meetings and decided to hold the next meeting on Wednesday September 21st at 8 a.m. Adjourn Ms. Hai moved that the SPRD committee adjourn the meeting of September 7, 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 UNANIMOUSLY. The meeting was adjourned at 9:04 am. List of Documents: 1. Lexington SPRD Development Scenarios updated - Power point slides.