Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutPlanning Board minutes 05-20-1996 PLANNING BOARD MINUTES MEETING OF MAY 20, 1996 The meeting of the Lexington Planning Board held in Room G-15, Town Office Building, was called to order at 7 40 p.m. by Chairman Davison, with members Canale, Colman, Davies, Merrill, Planning Director Bowyer, and Assistant Planner Marino present. *************************** PLANNING DIRECTOR'S REPORT ************************** 101 Recent Activity Johnson Farm Road Subdivision. Preliminary Subdivision Plan. Rollout: Mr Marino rolled out a preliminary plan for the Johnson Farm Road development off Flintlock Road, that was submitted by William Hamilton on April 30, 1996. The staff has not reviewed the plan in detail yet. The time for action on this plan expires on June 14, 1996. ************ ADMINISTRATION OF LAND DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS ************* DETERMINATION OF GRADE AND CONSTRUCTION OF UNACCEPTED STREETS 102. 28 Summit Road. Revised Definitive Street Improvement Plan. Barry Caouette: Mr Caouette was _ present and explained that he plans to improve a portion of Summit Road in the same manner as the existing road, which is unaccepted. Mrs. Davison asked how he plans to protect the existing trees. After some discussion, the Board agreed that fencing an area around the trees, out to the drip line. should be required to protect them from physical damage, soil compaction or other damage to the root system. The Board specified the trees should be protected from damage with temporary fencing. Wendall Kalsow, an abutter, was present. He made comments and posed a number of questions relative to the l construction of the street. The Board reviewed and corrected a draft decision, dated May 20, 1996 On the motion of Mr Merrill, seconded by Mr Canale, the Board voted unanimously, 5-0, to approve the draft decision, as amended. PLANS NOT REOUIRING APPROVAL UNDER THE SUBDIVISION CONTROL LAW 103 Form A/96-4 28 Summit Road: The Board reviewed an Approval Not Required plan for land at 28 Summit Road. On the motion of Mr. Canale, seconded by Mr. Merrill, the Board voted unanimously, 5-0, to: a. approve the request of Barry Caouette, dated May 17, to waive paragraph 3.5.5 l.a of the Development Regulations that requires the work to improve Summit Road be fully completed in accordance with the street construction plan prior to the endorsement of the Approval Not Required Plan. b endorse the plan entitled "Subdivision Plan of Land located in Lexington, Mass. (Middlesex County), prepared for Barry Caouette, dated April 17, 1996, prepared by Medford Engineering & Survey, Medford, Mass., certified by Angelo B. Veneziano, Professional Land Surveyor, with Form A/96-4, as it does not require approval under the Subdivision Control Law 104 Form A/96-8. 114 Waltham Street. Laurence Troneano: The Board reviewed an Approval Not Required plan for land at 114 Waltham Street. On the motion of Mr Merrill, seconded by Mr Canale, the Board voted unanimously, 5-0, to endorse the plan entitled "Plan of Land in Lexington, Mass.", dated January 26, 1996, prepared by Benchmark Survey, Stoneham, MA, certified by Andrew C. Bramhall, Registered Land Surveyor, with J Form A/96-8, submitted by Laurence Tropeano, applicant, as it does not require approval under the Subdivision Control Law 2 Minutes for the Meeting of May 20, 1996 RECOMMENDATIONS ON APPLICATIONS TO THF BOARD OF APPEALS 105 Annlications To Be Heard on May 23. 1996: Mrs. Davison gave an oral review of the following applications: 40 Earl Street, Joanne Kerwin, appeal of a decision of the Zoning Officer that the lot is not buildable The Planning Board supported the decision of the Zoning Officer. 121 Cedar Street. Neal and Amy Chamberlain, variance to add a two-car garage The Planning Board believed that the variance requested is too great and that the applicant did not adequately address hardship in the submission they reviewed. 2270 Mass. Avenue, James and Susan Johnson, variance to add a fireplace and deck The Planning Board will recommend that the deck be redesigned so as not to intrude any further into the setback than the existing corner of the house. It hoped that the nearby tree can be accommodated. No comment was made on the fireplace. 7 Hancock Avenue, William and Carol Kenealy, variances to add a second floor The Board believed that addition of a second story is appropriate. However, it will recommend that the addition be set back and aligned with the existing house instead of with the first floor of the wing. 24 Lincoln Street, Hayden Recreation Center, renewal of a special permit for continued use of a free- standing sign used three times a year The Board will recommend that the sign be redesigned to improve its appearance. The Board had no comment on the following applications, also to be heard on May 23 10 Churchill Lane, Ruth Pike, variance to create an accessory apartment 2 Oxbow Road, Douglas Nardone, special permit to add a second story 20 Bryant Road, Constance Neville and Paul Kelley, special permit to convert a one-family dwelling into a two-family dwelling ************************ ARTICLES FOR 1996 TOWN MEETING ************************ 106. Grey Nuns: Massachusetts Industrial Finance Agency Finding. The Grey Nuns, developers of Youville Place, an assisted living facility, have requested funding from the Massachusetts Industrial Finance Agency MIFA, in turn, has asked the Planning Board if this facility represents any conflicts with existing local plans. Mr Bowyer said that Mr. Marino is preparing a draft letter based on the Board's recommendation to the Town Meeting on Article 31 that will inform MIFA that the Board finds that Youville Place implements and advances a number of the policies established in the Housing Element of the Comprehensive Plan. The draft letter will urge MIFA to grant the funding. Mr Bowyer said that the letter will be included for the Board's review in the packet for the next meeting. 107 Reflections on Town Meeting: Mr Bowyer gave a brief retrospective on the effort that went into ` preparing for Town Meeting. He said that the work to prepare for Town Meeting becomes all consuming and routine work like preparing minutes and working or development applications, as well as planning activity is placed on hold. This year was particularly straining because there were six articles, including three map change petitions, and the very complicated revision to the cluster subdivision regulations. He thought the approval to the revision of Section 9 of the Zoning Bylaw was a great coup for the Board and still could not believe that Minutes for the Meeting of May 20, 1996 3 everything in it was approved and by an overwhelming vote. Given the technical complexity of the revision, he described it as a "credibility" vote and the Town Meeting placed a great deal of trust with the Board. He noted that during the debate he made a commitment to complete the "build out analysis" He observed that fiscal considerations were much more prominent in the debate on land use articles and the Town's fiscal circumstances will have a greater effect on much of what the Board does. 138. What's Ahead. The Board had a wide ranging discussion of the issues that it faces. Mr Bowyer prepared a list of projects that the Planning Board and Planning Department face in the months and year ahead. He made a plea for establishing priorities and using time effectively if progress is to be made on that formidable list. Without attempting to assign priorities, the Board discussed the following: a. Mr. Merrill said that the parking in the center is not shared very well. The Board asked how it could participate in developing a parking structure to serve the expansion of Cary Library Mr Davies observed that he would rather see a well designed parking structure in the Center than have the area decline. He noted that some resist the idea of a parking structure because it symbolizes urban character rather than the "small town" suburban character many would like to believe still exists. b Mr Bowyer reported he had received some material from Tom Sileo who is working on the open space and recreation plan for the Conservation Commission. That process must still involve the Recreation Committee and the Planning Board who must vote to approve it. He said that plan had to be coordinated with the land use element of the Comprehensive Plan on which the Board is now working and with the Open Space Element which is another part of the Comprehensive Plan. c. Mr Bowyer said that the Tracer Lane commercial subdivision (straddling the Wlatham-Lexington line) which has been the subject of extended litigation is still not resolved. The applicant has still not submitted a covenant for the Board to endorse. d. The Board needs to adopt some guidelines and policies to implement the parts of the new Section 9 that deal with "significant public benefits" e. The Board may need to adopt some revised guidelines and policies to implement the parts of the frontage waiver provisions adopted in Article 30 at this year's Town Meeting. f. Section 6 of Development Regulations is "Reserved" That is the place to put guidelines and procedures for cluster development. It needs to be drafted. g. Mr. Bowyer said he proposed to conduct training sessions and write some guidelines for developers that will permit them to use the new cluster procedures. h. Mr Marino reported there have been numerous development inquiries, five of which might use the new cluster procedures. It is unclear when these inquiries might ripen into actual applications. I. Mr. Marino reported on discussion with John Snell, a local developer, who is attempting to assemble a parcel of more than 500,000 square feet of land off Winter Street. *************************** REGIONAL, INTERTOWN ISSUES ************************** 139 Hanscom Area Transportation Study (HATS): Mr Canale reported that the Hanscom Area Planning Project will be hiring a director for one year to coordinate the Hanscom Area Planning Project. He said some of the HATS selectmen seem to expect the Planning Boards to do more work, but seem reluctant to give Planning Boards more authority Part of the planning program is for the towns to state a vision for a broader area than the airport property alone. For Lexington that probably means the area between airport boundaries and Route 128. The work on the Land Use Element may want to give priority to that part of Lexington. 4 Minutes for the Meeting of May 20, 1996 ************************************** REPORTS *************************************** 140. Plannina Board. Subcommittees a. Design Advisory Committee: The Lincoln Planning Board has sent a letter about the proposed sign at the MinuteMan Science-Technology School. John Davies volunteered to draft a letter to send to Ron Fitzgerald, the Superintendent of the School District. b. Center Committee: Mrs. Davison reported the Committee discussed the implications of the increase in parking fees approved at the Town Meeting. c. Winning Farm Hearing: Mrs. Davison heard there is a hearing scheduled in Winchester on a proposal to buy the part of the Winning Farm that is in that town. She plans to attend. The meeting was adjourned at 10:39 p.m. ,a a'7 Frederick L. Merrill, Jr , Clerk /