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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPlanning Board minutes 08-21-1996 PLANNING BOARD MINUTES MEETING OF AUGUST 21, 1996 The meeting of the Lexington Planning Board held in Room G-15, Town Office Building, was called to order at 7 43 p.m. by Chairman Canale with members Colman, Davies, Merrill, Planning Director Bowyer, and Assistant Planner Marino present. Mrs. Davison was absent. **************************** COMPREHENSIVE PLANNING **************************** 162. Land Use Element a. Winter Street: The Board agreed that this site is not appropriate for a commercial use since it is surrounded by established neighborhoods. A cluster development, or a single-family designation, or an RD would be suitable. This is a potentially large enough site to use the site flexibility to cluster houses, and obtain alternative housing types. Smaller lots sizes might be allowed. The preservation of open space, especially the high, dry and wooded land is an important objective. That might be achievable through a cluster development scenario The development potential of the site inevitably raises questions about and may be influence by traffic management issues at Winter and Bedford Streets. The Board agreed that future discussions of the future of Hartwell Avenue commercial activity will include traffic considerations in that area. h. The Lexington Club: This property raised questions more than it inspired possible uses. Does it define the limit for commercial development along Bedford Street in that end of town? Does it have any further commercial value beyond its present use as a health club? Would borrowing land from it help to solve traffic problems along Bedford Street? c. The McLaughlin Pronerty The Board agreed that the proximity to, and impact of this site on the Cambridge Reservoir is one of its most important characteristics. This property does not lend itself to many uses. Continuing the present use, if it remains clean and in compliance with Conservation Commission's order of conditions, seems most likely The speed of traffic on Rte. 2 has increased since the jersey barriers were installed as part of the "safety upgrade." That and the fact that the property is accessible to westbound traffic only limit its attractiveness to a small business. Conceivably the property might be combines with adjoining land in Lincoln. Access to the property is difficult. There is not a good route to get to and from the remainder of Lexington. ****************** PLANNING BOARD PROJECTS, POLICY MAKING ******************* 163 Build-out Analysis Mr. Marino reported that he has finished part one of the build-out analysis. The size and use of all lots in Lexington are coded according to ownership (whether privately or publicly owned) and computer sorts based on size indicate which parcels are susceptible to development and which are not. There are various categories of susceptibility In the future, restrictions on lots will be examined to determine if they qualify for RD, CD, or cluster subdivision, Eligibility for development under Section 7 4.5 of the Zoning By-Law, or for special permits will also be determined. *************************** REGIONAL, INTERTOWN ISSUES ************************** 164 Hanscom GEIR update: Mr Canale reported on the noise workshop held by Massport which are being held to obtain input from the public. Massport has said it will address some of the points raised at the workshop in future topic review meetings that will include the towns. Mr Canale said that this remains to be seen. Previous topics have not been followed up on by Massport. Material requested by the towns' representatives at previous meetings has yet to appear Mr Colman said that Massport has not yet furnished copies of the maps or enabling legislation. Mr. Bowyer suggested sending follow-up letters to document the requests. 2 Minutes for the Meeting of August 21, 1996 The question of the applicability of local zoning over development at Hanscom arose. Mr Bowyer stated that if a use does not relate to the airport use then local zoning laws do apply **************************** PLANNING DIRECTOR'S REPORT ************************** 165 Plans or nronosals submitted to Board since last meeting: a. 627 Massachusetts Avenue Definitive Subdivision Plan. Rollout: Mr Marino rolled out a definitive plan for the 627 Massachusetts Avenue subdivision, using Section 7 4.5, Reduced Frontage, that was submitted by Carter Scott on July 15, 1996. The staff has not reviewed the plan in detail yet. The time for action on this plan expires on November 27, 1996 b Johnson Farm Road. Sketch Preliminary Subdivision Plan. Rollout: Mr Marino rolled out a defmitive plan for the Johnson Farm Road subdivision, off Flintlock Lane, that was submitted by William Hamilton on August 6, 1996 The staff has not reviewed the plan in detail yet. The time for action on this plan expires on December 19, 1996. c. Attorney General Annroval of 1996 Zoning Amendments: Mr Bowyer reported that he has been informed by the Town Clerk that the Attorney General's office has approved Articles 28, 29, 30, 31 and 33 of the 1996 Annual Town Meeting. This is the fmal step in validating the zoning amendments approved at the 1996 Town Meeting. d. Minuteman National Historical Park Study. Mr Bowyer also reported that he and Mr Marino have met with Diane Wendland, a landscape architect working for the National Park Service. She is leading a planning process at the Minuteman National Historical Park that looks out from its boundaries to the neighboring communities in an effort to accumulate information about the surrounding properties, their uses and restrictions. She had hoped that our information was in Geographic Information System (GIS) form and would be compatible with their system. We provided copies of 20 of our assessors maps and it is possible that we could gain GIS mapping for a good bit of the area through this study The Town Engineering Division would like to have a GIS system but is short of staff. A GIS mapping system requires highly skilled operators. The Town has difficulty retaining such people. Mr Bowyer said he thought the impetus for this effort came from the Civil War battlefields in Washington D C. and Virginia. Those sites are being subjected to urban pressures and the Park Service realizes it needs to develop a better understanding of how to work with municipalities. Mr Bowyer said it is important to know what Massport and the other Towns are doing relative to the edges of the park and Hanscom Field so we get some commonality of information, e.g., mapping, land use coding, traffic counts, traffic planning, in relation to the other communities. e. Citizen Planner Training Collaborative: Mr Bowyer reported that the fall series of courses prepared by the Massachusetts Citizen Planner Training Collaborative has been set and members may sign up now for those sessions, which include The Comprehensive (Master) Plan, Subdivision Control, and Planning to Protect Municipal Water Resources during Development and Growth. ************ ADMINISTRATION OF LAND DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS ************* PLANS NOT REOUIRING APPROVAL UNDER THE SUBDIVISION CONTROL LAW t 166. Form A/96-13 90 Hancock Street. Mark Moore Homes: The Board reviewed an Approval Not Required Plan for land at Hancock Street and Liberty Avenue. On the motion of Mr Davies, seconded by Mr Minutes for the Meeting of August 21, 1996 3 Colman, the Board voted unanimously to endorse the plan entitled "Subdivision Plan of Land in Lexington, MA (Middlesex County)", dated August 8, 1996, and the plan entitled "Subdivision Plan of Land in Lexington, MA (Middlesex County) being a subdivision of Land Court Plan 3969D", dated August 8, 1996, both prepared by Noonan and McDowell, Inc. , Billerica, MA, certified by John L. Noonan, Registered Land Surveyor, with Form A/96-13, submitted by Mark Moore Homes, applicant, as it does not require approval under the Subdivision Control Law RECOMMENDATIONS ON APPLICATIONS TO THE BOARD OF APPEALS 167 Applications To Be Heard on August 29 1996. Mr Canale gave an oral review of the following applications: 855 Emerson Gardens Road, Bedford Builders, variance to allow basement floor to be two, instead of four, feet above the water table The Planning Board agreed that it opposes any variance in this case. It believes the fill requirements are excessive and the applicants have not demonstrated that they meet the statutory criteria for granting a variance, i.e., that they would suffer substantial hardship, financial or otherwise, owing to circumstances relating to the soil conditions, shape or topography of the land or structures if a variance from the provisions of the Zoning By-Law is not granted 1666 Massachusetts Avenue, Aesop's Bagels, renewal of special permit to operate a sandwich shop The Planning Board agreed to comment that it believes the customary five-year special permit is appropriate. 301 Massachusetts Avenue, Enterprise Rent-a-Car, special permit to operate car rental service The Planning Board believes that a car rental business at this location should have the same sort of restrictions on its operation as those placed on Thrifty Car Rental at Countryside. The Board will urge the Board of Appeals to set the number of parking spaces on site at five instead of eight to allow for more flexibility and better site planning. It also supports the Design Advisory Committee's position that the curb cut request be eliminated. Lot abutting 28 Dexter Road, Joseph Bisognano, appeal of decision of the Zoning Officer The Planning Board supports the decision of the Zoning Officer that the lot is not buildable. The Board had no comment on the following applications, also scheduled to be heard on August 29 2 Angier Road, Alla Gordon and Make Cherepov,)/, riance to add 2- ar garage The meeting was adjourned at 10:12 p.m. // I Gtv-vy ' John L. Davies, Clerk tl