HomeMy WebLinkAboutPlanning Board Minutes 01-16-1996 PLANNING BOARD MINUTES
MEETING OF JANUARY 16, 1996
The meeting of the Lexington Planning Board held in Room G-15, Town Office Building,was called to
order at 7:35 p.m. by Chairman Davison, with members Canale, Davies, Merrill, Planning Director
Bowyer, and Assistant Planner Marino present. Mr. Grant arrived during Item 14.
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12. Review of Minutes: The Board reviewed and corrected the minutes for the meeting of November
20, 1995. On the motion of Mr. Canale, seconded by Mr. Merrill, it was voted unanimously, 4-0, to
approve the minutes, as amended.
The Board reviewed the minutes for the meeting of November 27, 1996. On the motion of Mr. Canale,
seconded by Mr. Merrill, it was voted unanimously, 4-0, to approve the minutes, as written.
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13. Rezonine of land at 536-544 Lowell Street. Marriott Corporation: Mr. Bowyer reported that the
Marriott Corporation has withdrawn its rezoning petition for the Plant Action site on Lowell Street.
14. Article A. Revision of Section 9. Cluster Reeulations: The Board continued its review and editing
of the second draft of the comprehensive revision of Section 9,Planned Residential Development,of the
Zoning By-Law
************ ADMINISTRATION OF LAND DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS *************
SUBDIVISION OF LAND
15. Brent Road Extension. Winnetucket Realty Trust. Sketch Plan: Decision:
The Board reviewed and revised a draft decision prepared by the staff, dated January 8, 1996. The
developer, Winnetucket Realty Trust, would like to use section 7 4.5 of the Zoning By-Law, Frontage
Reduction, Lots in a Small Subdivision, but the project does not quite meet the frontage requirement.
There was some discussion about the merits of amending Section 7 4.5 so this project would qualify Mrs.
Davison suggested putting something to that effect in the decision. Mr. Canale said he preferred to say
that the Board has reserved a place in the warrant for an article on frontage and is presently in the
process of trying to decide what to bring to Town Meeting, if anything. The other members agreed.
On the motion of Mr. Merrill, seconded by Mr. Davies, the Board voted unanimously to approve the
decision, as amended.
16. 108 Grove Street Definitive Plan.Acceptance of Covenant. Endorsement of Subdivision Plan: The
Board reviewed a draft motion prepared by the staff. On the motion of Mr. Canale, seconded by Mr.
Merrill, the Board voted unanimously, 5-0, to accept the covenant executed by Debra D. Cary, dated
January 12, 1996, and to endorse the subdivision plans entitled "108 Grove Street, Section 7 4.5
Subdivision, Lexington, Massachusetts," dated October 4, 1995.
17 160-170 Wood Street. Cluster Subdivision. James Gaklis. Sketch Plan Presentation by Applicant:
Present for this item were James Gaklis, the applicant, and Gary Larson, landscape architect, of Larson
Associates. Mr. Larson presented a plan for a six-lot cluster subdivision on a 6.2 acre parcel of land off
Wood Street near Woodpark Circle. There is a historically significant barn on the property and five
apartments, two of which are legal. The smallest lot has an area of 31,000 square feet.
2 Minutes for the Meeting of January 16, 1996
The plans show a very short town street with a hammerhead turnaround and individual and shared
driveways.The apartment buildings would be remodeled into single-family houses or razed and replaced
with single-family houses. The maximum grade of the driveways will be 12 percent. Forty percent of the
site will be left untouched and a walking easement will be provided. The applicant would like to move
the barn.
Questions from the Board had to do with the applicant's plans for the historic barn, how he would
conserve the multi-family dwellings and the public benefits that would justify approving a cluster
subdivision. Mr. Canale suggested restoring the gardens and paths and renovating the barn.
Mr. Merrill took issue with the applicant's concept of a cluster, saying the houses should be smaller and
closer together to create a pure cluster look. He said that the present layout looks like a group of single-
family houses posing as a cluster.
Mr. Gaklis stated that the economics of the project dictated much of the design. Mrs.Davison suggested
he seek an RD rezoning so he could get a more imaginative result. Mr. Canale bemoaned the fact that
all of the proposals for this site over the years have been disappointingly lacking in imagination, and have
offered very few public benefits.
In answer to a question from Mrs.Davison,Mr. Gaklis said the homes would contain about 2,700 square
feet of living area.
Mr. Davies wants to see research and effort put into finding a way to preserve the barn. Mrs. Davison
expressed the same interest in saving the gardens.
RECOMMENDATIONS ON APPLICATIONS TO THE BOARD OF APPEALS
18. Applications To Be Heard on January 25, 1996: Mrs. Davison gave an oral review of the following
applications:
2 Morris Street, Eleanor Licata, variance for continued use of a deck
135 Massachusetts Avenue, Bagel Haus, renewal of a special permit
59 Outlook Drive. Theo and Judy Manschreck, variances for a bay window and chimney
93 Hancock Street. Lexington Gardens, renewal of a special permit to operate a garden
center
15 Richard Road.Barbara A. Holleman,LICSW, renewal of a special permit for an office
in her home
1707 Mass. Avenue, Dunkin' Donuts, renewal of a special permit to operate a take-out
food service
The Board agreed to make no recommendation to the Board of Appeals on the petitions.
The meeting was adjourned at 11:05 p.m.
Frederick L. Merrill, Jr., Cl k
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