HomeMy WebLinkAboutPlanning Board minutes 09-16-1996 PLANNING BOARD MINUTES
MEETING OF SEPTEMBER 16, 1996
The meeting of the Lexington Planning Board held in Room G-15, Town Office Building, was called to order
at 7 47 p.m. by Chairman Canale with members Davison, Merrill, Planning Director Bowyer, and Assistant
Planner Marino present. Mr Colman and Mr Davies were absent.
************ ADMINISTRATION OF LAND DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS *************
SUBDIVISION OF LAND
178. 577 581 Marrett Road. Butler Realty Sketch Cluster Subdivision Plan Presentation from Applicant:
Present for this item were the applicants, Joseph and Jill Butler, and landscape architect Gary Larson, of Larson
Associates. Mr. Larson presented plans for a cluster subdivision for 2.05 acres of land on Marrett Road, near
Five Forks, which was rezoned from CS to RS by the 1996 Town Meeting. The site abuts Town-owned land.
He described the existing vegetation as mostly weeds and scrub growth.
The proposal is for a nine-unit cluster subdivision according to the revised cluster regulations, consisting of
three buildings, each with three townhouse units. Access will be from Marrett Road via a 24 foot wide road
ending in a cul de sac. The dwelling units and a stone wall near Marrett Road will be arranged to create a
courtyard effect. A portion of the common open space required by the cluster subdivision regulations will be
near the road. It will be planted with dense evergreen trees to set units back from the road and provide
maximum screening. Other open space will have access onto the common area and to Town-owned land. Each
unit will be on its own lot. The Shell service station on adjacent property will be screened as well. Each unit
will have a two-car garage and there will be common recreation facilities.
Questions from the Board concerned. the size of the impervious surface footprint, the shape of the cul de sac,
the stone wall, access to the conservation land, and the placement of the open space. Mr Larson briefly
presented a series of studies devised during the process of developing the plan to explain how design decisions
were made. Jill Butler informed the Board that they are marketing to empty-nesters. The units will have 2 to
3 bedrooms with the master bedroom on the first floor Research has told them that empty nesters do not want
less living space,just less property to care for
The Board is concerned about the proposed open space being split so equally between two parcels and suggested
moving some of the buildings closer to Marrett Road to make one, larger, common space. In future submittals
it would like to see the proposal address the smaller unit size and affordability that the cluster subdivision
regulations are designed to encourage. Mr. Merrill expressed interest in seeing at least one affordable unit. The
Board thanked the applicant for presenting alternative design schemes.
*************************** PLANNING DIRECTOR'S REPORT **************************
180. Recent Activity
Mr Bowyer reported that the Lexington Housing Authority submitted a proposed public benefit for the 627
Massachusetts Avenue subdivision plan under Section 7 4.5 He said there may be more nominations for
benefits than there are opportunities to use them in some developments. Mr Canale suggested cataloging the
nominations for use in the future.
Citizen Planner Training. Collaborative: Mr Bowyer announced the upcoming fall schedule for the Citizen
Planner Training Collaborative's workshops. Topics to be presented are The Comprehensive Plan, Subdivision
Control, and Planning to Protect Water Resources during Development and Growth.
2 Minutes for the Meeting of September 16, 1996
*************************** REGIONAL, INTERTOWN ISSUES **************************
181 Hanscom Field
a. Report on Hanscom Field GEIR. Mr. Canale reported that MassPort has finally provided copies of updated
plans but he is disappointed that none of them have local zoning overlays. Mr Canale believes that by now
MassPort and the HATS towns should know what the baseline conditions are.
b. Four-Town Planning Study The HATS Selectmen will interview three candidates for coordinator of the
four-town planning study Mr Canale distributed a letter from a group of citizens that outlined what they see
as likely scenarios, based on MassPort official's remarks, for development at Hanscom. He urged the Board
to get ready to be proactive with regard to this study The HATS Committee expects the four town planning
boards to be the lead movers on the planning process for development of land after the GEIR. Mr Bowyer also
emphasized that the planning study needs an articulated vision from the planning board. The past experience
at Met. State Hospital is a good model.
Mr Canale observed that the HATS selectmen make decisions without the HATS planning boards. He said it
is important to ensure that the end result is a master plan not made irrelevant by what MassPort does in the
meantime.
Mrs. Davison said that the issue of the force of local zoning over what MassPort can develop at Hanscom Field
must be resolved first. Mr Canale pointed out that MassPort's own master plan conflicts with some of its
development scenarios.
c. Minuteman National Historical Park: Mr Bowyer urged the Board to take an active interest in the
Minuteman National Historical Park's Neighboring Lands Study He asked it to think about regulations,
implementation techniques, or procedural reviews whereby Lexington is effective in informing the other
communities and the National Park Service of developments that potentially would affect them. The study's
coincidence with MassPort's planning for Hanscom Field fringe properties is fortuitous as the Planning Board's
interest in "West Lexington" will be aided and focussed by these other activities. The Board concurred that
acting in tandem with the other communities and the Park Service will increase their influence over development
at Hanscom.
d. Middlesex County Hospital Land Reuse: The Board reviewed a draft letter to the Lexington Board of
Selectmen stating its recommendations on the formation of a Middlesex County Hospital Land Reuse Committee
and the charge to the Committee. On the motion of Mr Merrill, seconded by Mrs. Davison, the Board voted
unanimously to approve the letter as written. It was agreed that Mr Merrill and Mr Colman would represent
the Planning Board on the new committee.
g2FCOMMFNDATIONS ON APPLICATIONS TO THE BOARD OF APPEALS
182. Application to be heard on September 26. 1996• The Board reviewed the following application:
97 Blake Road, Nancy Hayes, appeal of a decision of the Zoning Officer that a lot on Blake Road has been
combined with an abutting lot and is not buildable /
c).The Board agreed unanimously to support the deion 1 the Zoning Officer
The meeting was adjourned at 10.03 p.m.
John L. Davies, Clerk