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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPlanning Board minutes 09-09-1996 PLANNING BOARD MINUTES MEETING OF SEPTEMBER 9, 1996 The meeting of the Lexington Planning Board held in Room G-15, Town Office Building, was called to order at 7.30 p.m. by Chairman Canale with members Colman, Davies, Planning Director Bowyer, and Assistant Planner Marino present. Mrs. Davison and Mr. Merrill were absent. **************************************** MINUTES ************************************** 168. Review of Minutes: The Board reviewed and corrected the minutes for the meeting of August 7, 1996. On the motion of Mr. Davies, seconded by Mr Canale, it was voted unanimously, 3-0, to approve the minutes, as amended. *************************** PLANNING DIRECTOR'S REPORT ************************** 169 Recent Activity a. Oakmount Circle, Definitive Street Improvement Plan, Richard Curtin, Rollout: Mr Marino rolled out a definitive street improvement plan for a portion of Oakmount Circle that was submitted by Richard J Curtin, on August 27, 1996. The staff has not reviewed the plan in detail yet. The time for action on this plan expires on October 11, 1996 b. 577,581 Marrett Road. Sketch Cluster Subdivision Plan, Butler Realty Trust II, Rollout: Mr Marino rolled out a sketch cluster subdivision plan for land at 577,581 Marrett Road that was submitted on September 5, 1996. The staff has not reviewed the plan in detail yet. The time for action on this plan expires on October 5, 1996. c. Mass. Rivers Protection Act: Mr. Bowyer informed the Board that the Rivers Protection Act, so long in the State Legislature, was finally passed. He noted that Lexington has brooks not rivers. He said that Palmer and Dodge will inform us if the Act affects the Town in any way ************ ADMINISTRATION OF LAND DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS ************* SUBDIVISION OF LAND 170 627 Mass. Avenue, Definitive Subdivision Plan under Section 7 4.5., Mid-term Review. Carter Scott, the applicant, was present to update the Board on the progress in his plans for 627 Massachusetts Avenue since he presented the preliminary subdivision plan to the Board in June. Mr. Carter outlined the public benefits package he is offering to fulfill the requirement of Section 7 4.5,Reduced Frontage, Lots in a Small Subdivision. It responds to suggestions from the Conservation Commission and includes: 1 an open space deed restriction over the pasture land in the rear 2. appropriation of$4,000 for the Town to use to make four improvements in areas around the pond, maintenance and restoration of a building of historical significance. A deck is the only addition planned outside of the present footprint. 3. maintaining the natural features on the site, and the setting overall by limiting the size of the dwellings and the keeping the buildings in their current location Mr. Scott calculated the value of the public benefits to be $48,742. The cost of building a subdivision street is estimated to be $48,000. The Board expressed tentative approval of these offerings. It agreed that careful watching is necessary to make sure all of this work can be done for the amount of money specified. The Board thought that if the applicant does the brook and pond cleanup,the$4,000 would go farther than if the Town did the work. The Board agreed that the applicant should coordinate his work with the Conservation Commission. 171 Munroe Village, Sheldon Corp., Request to Relocate Sidewalk in Subdivision: The applicant, Todd Cataldo of the Sheldon Corporation, was present to explain why he is asking the Board to approve the relocation of the required sidewalk in the Munroe Village subdivision. He cited as the reason the presence of a large tree that would have to be removed to install the sidewalk. 2 Minutes for the Meeting of September 9, 1996 The Board commented that the tree is neither attractive or healthy and that it should be cut down anyway The Tree Warden has also recommended removal of the tree. They agreed that the sidewalk should remain as originally planned. Mr Canale inquired about providing a means of public access from the end of the subdivision street into land that was included in the original subdivision plan as private property but is now in the process to being deeded to the Town in exchange for property elsewhere in town. Mr Cataldo was not in favor of providing that access because it affects the salability of the houses. On the motion of Mr. Davies, seconded by Mr. Colman, the Board voted unanimously, 3-0, not to approve the relocation of the sidewalk. 172. 22 Revere Street, Whitney Realty Trust. Sketch Plan under 7 4.5: The Board reviewed a draft decision, dated September 6, 1996, on the sketch plan for a subdivision under Section 7 4.5, that was presented on September 9 by Mark Barrons. On the motion of Mr. Davies, seconded by Mr. Colman, the Board voted unanimously, 3-0, to approve the decision urging the applicants to submit another sketch plan. The Board and staff discussed what is meant by the terms architecturally or historically significant in relation to the structure on the site. 173 James Street, Request for Review of length of Unaccepted Street: Attorney Frederick Conroy and Fred Russell, engineer, of The Boston Survey Group, were present to represent Beverly and Richard Tringale who own a lot on James Street. A number of people from the neighborhood were also present. It is the Tringale's contention that the length of James Street that is unaccepted is incorrect on the Planning Board's list of unaccepted streets. Mr Russell explained that the distances in the field do not agree with what is on the list. He presented some historical data as well. The Tringale's are asking the Planning Board to accept (that 810 feet is the actual distance on James Street and) that the street in front of the Tringale property provides frontage to their lot, number 68. Mr Conroy reiterated the discrepancy between two measurements of the street and further argued the case. On the motion of Mr. Davies, seconded by Mr Colman, the Board voted unanimously, based on the historical and field evidence presented, to amend its lists of`Unaccepted Streets Appearing on the Zoning Map," and of "Non-Streets that do not appear on the Zoning Map" to reflect these changes so that the end of the unaccepted portion of James Street is now at a point where the street provides frontage to lot 68. 174 Tracer Lane Definitive Subdivision Plan(Commercial). Harold Nahigian: The Board agreed to inform Mr. Nahigian, the developer,that a public hearing on his Tracer Lane Definitive Commercial Subdivision plan will be set for October 28, 1996. ************************** REGIONAL, INTERTOWN ISSUES ************************** 175 Hanscom Field, General Planning Study' a. Responses to RFP• Mr. Canale reported that the four Hanscom area towns town are planning to do a four- town planning study that will include the airport and surrounding land. They have allocated $80,000 toward the study and sent out a Request For Proposal for a coordinator for this project. Four submittals are now being evaluated and three finalists will be chosen for interviews. Mr Canale outlined the progress of the HATS GEIR Study Review Committee and suggested future actions Minutes for the Meeting of September 9, 1996 3 including meeting with the Board of Selectmen. The HATS committee has suggested that the town planning boards and staffs be fairly involved in the study but offered no specifics as to how they should be involved or how they would make input. Mr. Bowyer reported that Minuteman National Historical park is reaching out to work with communities at this time also regarding lands surrounding the Park. He stated that it is important for all involved parties to get on common ground, including a common base of map resources, information, and mechanisms for communities to express their values and objectives for the land around Hanscom Field and Minuteman Park. The Board agreed that a meeting with the other HATS towns' planning boards should be arranged soon. Mr Colman said that this Planning Board and the staff are capable and should have a key role in this study Hanscom GEIR: Mr. Canale said that Massport has not produced information the towns need to make informed input to the GEIR update. Massport's deadline is still December, 1996. ************** ADMINISTRATION OF LAND DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS *************** RECOMMENDATIONS ON APPLICATIONS TO THE BOARD OF APPEALS 176. Applications To Be Heard on September 12, 1996: Mr Colman gave an oral review of, and the Planning Board agreed to make no recommendations on, the following applications: 29 Volunteer Way, Ronald and Nancy Hubert, variance to regrade front entrance, add steps, etc. 135 Mass. Avenue,Ivan Yee(Noodles,Etc.)special permit to operate a take-out and fast-food establishment (formerly the Bagel House) 1088 Massachusetts Avenue, Wendy Tighe-Hendrickson, renewal of special permit to use portion of residence as an office 40 Hartwell Avenue, Nextel, request for a determination that the addition of a 500 kilowatt generator and fuel storage tank is a minor revision to a special permit The Board also agreed to make no comment on the following applications, scheduled to be heard on September 26, 1996 117 and 121 Vine Street, Scot Green, Building Solutions, special permit to allow a driveway to serve as a common driveway 177 Mass. Avenue, the Athenian restaurant, renewal of a special permit to operate a restaurant ************************************** REPORTS *************************************** Planning Board, Subcommittees 177 Historic Districts Commission: Mr. Davies reported that the Historic Districts Committee agreed not to place a bench near the USS Lexington Memorials. Mr Davie ade a case to the Commission for scattered siting of future benches around town. / The meeting was adjourned at 10:23 p.m. / r l John L Davies, Clerk