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Special Permit Residential Development (SPRD) Ad-hoc Committee
Meeting Minutes of December 1, 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, Heather Hartshorn
Lexington Staff present for the Public Meeting: Carol Kowalski, Assistant Town Manager for
Development; Lorraine Welch, Office Manager; Julie Moore, Zoning Administrator
Other attendees: David Treitsch
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.
Continue Discussion of dimensional limits, density calculations and inclusionary
requirements
Ms. Kowalski stated that the team has decided on the following: 15% GFA bonus exclusive of
the affordable GFA and instead of three categories for the inclusionary zoning, we would have
two. There would also not be any impervious limits or site coverage limits. Ms. Moore asks if
there would be a stormwater condition in the bylaw. Mr. Hornig wants to move away from
regulating stormwater because there is already a general bylaw.
Ms. Manz understands the stormwater by law will deal with this issue but will they need to look
at it and how it interacts with the SPRD bylaw?
Mr. Cooper asks why only two inclusionary categories are included and not three. Ms. Kowalski
said that it would not pencil out for the 7-10 category. Mr. Hornig said that the finances don’t
work.
Mr. Cataldo, local contractor, wants to know how the lotting would work. Mr. Hornig answers
that there aren’t any. You could do it as one big lot, if you wanted. There is a lot of flexibility.
There are no restrictions on the number of lots. There would be some design guidelines and
regulations. Mr. Cataldo asks if the site sensitive now include inclusionary housing - he says they
will lose projects to conventional subdivisions if they do that.
Mr. Cooper wants to understand if the threshold is 10 or 7. Anything under 7 is payment in lieu.
After discussion, Ms. Hai recommended 15% GFA as a single number for all developments 7 or
higher and then mandate 10% of that at 80% AMI and Planning Board regulations will determine
what the other 5% will be.
Mr. Hornig reiterates they will be relaxing the height limit so people will be able to meet these
requirements.
Mr. Treitsch states that there is a community process and there is a lot of opportunity for ideas.
They should be as specific as possible to get opinions. Ms. Hai said they are one piece of the
puzzle and there are other targeted zoning efforts coming from the PB that are built to address
the missing middle and workforce. They are contributing to the solution but not the sole piece.
Mr. Copper is concerned if the 5% is enough for the workforce housing.
Mr. Perry feels comfortable with the numbers and that they are a good starting point. He also
disagrees with Todd’s comments. You don’t have to force buildings into places where they
don’t have to be. Site sensitive is a bonus in of itself and the fact that the small housing
component on it should not be a deal breaker. [ SDs allow various housing types as detached,
attached and multi-family and has an affordability component. CNDs have a smaller housing size
component.]
Ms. Weiss asks Mr. Perry is these numbers are feasible. Mr. Perry feels comfortable presenting
it.
Ms. Hai wants to get the current sale and limitations for affordable housing.
Ms. Kowalski will draft a warrant article.
Ms. Hai moved, and Ms. Murphy seconded the motion that they are:
Requiring 15% affordable housing production for developments of 7 houses or more of which
10% must be limited at 80$ AMI or less
For 6 houses or less there will be payment in lieu, calculation gover ned by Planning Board
regulations
Max building and unit size
Max average size
Contemplating raising height limit to 45 feet and 3 stories
Not imposing site coverage or impervious surface limitations
The SPRD Committee voted in favor of the motion 8-0-0 (Roll Call Cooper-yes, Hartshorn-yes
Hornig- yes, Manz- yes, Murphy- yes, Perry- yes Weiss- yes Hai- yes). MOTION PASSED
UNANIMOUSLY.
Ms. Hai wants each member of the committee to have a list of contacts for each group that they
will reach out to.
Mr. Cooper points out that they don’t have a name for the actual bylaw. He offered Planned
Residential Developments. Mr. Hornig states there is a Planned Residential Development under
zoning. Ms. Kowalski will see if there is an issue with the name and follow-up. The Committee
will send ideas for the name to Ms. Kowalski.
Barbara Katzenberg- 37 Moon Hill Road- brings up 69 Pleasant Street and the trees on the lot
being cut down. The bylaw should regulate the trees on the lot and they should be treated in
site sensitive ways.
Next meeting scheduled for December 14, 2022.
Adjourn
Ms. Hai moved that the SPRD committee adjourn the meeting of December 1, 2022. Mr. Perry
seconded the motion. The SPRD Committee voted in favor of the motion 8-0-0 (Roll Call
Cooper-yes, Hartshorn-yes Hornig- yes, Manz- yes, Murphy- yes, Perry- yes Weiss- yes Hai-
yes). MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.
The meeting was adjourned at 9:20 am.