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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPlanning Board minutes 10-21-1996 PLANNING BOARD MINUTES MEETING OF OCTOBER 21, 1996 f � The meeting of the Lexington Planning Board held in Room G-15, Town Office Building, was called to order at 7.37 p.m. by Chairman Canale with members Colman, Davies, Davison, Planning Director Bowyer, and Assistant Planner Marino present. Mr Merrill was absent. *************************** REGIONAL, INTERTOWN ISSUES ************************** 195 Hanscom Area Towns Committee: Mr Canale reported that the HATS Selectmen interviewed three candidates for consultant to the Four Town Planning Study The Board of Selectmen will discuss the draft of the scope of services in relation to this position in Executive Session at the meeting on October 24, 1996. At present the work plan, as stated in the Request for Proposal, is very general. The scope of services in the contract with the consultant needs to be much more specific. He gave an update of meeting schedules dealing with the update of the GEIR and of the scope of services for the Four Town Planning Study Mr Colman asked if there anything for the Board to review He urged the Board to take an active part and make its presence known. Mr Canale said the Study will require each town to develop a vision of what the four towns want. The consultant will help the towns develop that vision individually and as a group. Massport has its plans. The towns need to develop theirs. In addition to the planning for the four towns, Mr Bowyer characterized the four town study as a potential check to see that the GEIR prepared by Massport is done thoroughly, accurately and well. Mrs. Davison expressed concern about effect of this planning effort on the work load on the staff. Mr Bowyer observed that often municipalities hire consultants because their staffs do not have time for major planning projects. Those consultants then camp out in the staff's office to obtain information. Mr Colman said he did not see how the Board could avoid taking part. As for a lengthy meeting with the Selectmen, he said that the Board should have particular items it wants to comment on but not stay for whole meeting. The Board will join the Selectmen at their meeting on October 28 to discuss their position. Mr. Canale will work with the staff to outline several items to discuss and send it to the other members before the Selectmen's meeting. 196 Hanscom Field GEIR Update: Mr Canale reported that Massport has missed its goal of six months. It has not yet completed the update. Most meetings to date have included numerous requests from the towns for missing information. 197 Middlesex County Hospital. Disposition of Land. Mr. Colman reported that an Ad Hoc Middlesex County Hospital Committee was appointed by the Board of Selectmen. He and Mr Merrill are included in the 10 member group. He brought the Board's attention to a letter prepared by the Planning Department staff that stated Lexington's position to Jeanne Boyle, Chief Operating Officer at the Hospital, and to the Hospital Trustees. Mrs. Davison asked to be notified when a walk of the site is scheduled. ************************** PLANNING BOARD REGULATIONS *************************** 198. Planning Board Procedures: Mr Davies spoke of his discomfort with the Planning Board procedure /rule that keeps an applicant from saying anything to the Board about his project after the public hearing is over He felt that a modification should be made to allow the developer to introduce "new information" after the public hearing. Mrs. Davison pointed out that the public would not then be aware of the new information. That would amount to a continuation of the public hearing. Mr Bowyer said that a process for the applicant to revise their plan does exist, but it is time consuming, not time saving, because a revised plan would have to be filed and a new public notice would have to be posted. 2 Minutes for the Meeting of October 21, 1996 **************************** PLANNING DIRECTOR'S REPORT ************************** 199 Lexington Minuteman Newspaper Editorial Policy Mr Bowyer explained that Joseph Gibbs, Editor of the Lexington Minuteman, recently informed him that the newspaper's editorial policy on "off the record" comments by members of Town boards and committees is: anything said in a public meeting is subject to being reported. Mr Gibbs said the reaffirmation of this policy was triggered by actions of another Board and not due to any incident with the Planning Board. He was informing all board and committees that the newspaper covers. *************** ADMINISTRATION OF LAND DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS *************** SUBDIVISION OF LAND 200 Johnson Farm Road: The Board reviewed and revised a draft decision, dated October 21, 1996, prepared by the staff. On the motion of Mrs. Davison, seconded by Mr Davies, the Board voted unanimously to 1) approve the defmitive subdivision plan, entitled "Johnson Farm Road", dated July 19, 1996; 2) approve the certificate of action, dated October 21, 1996, as amended; 3) grant a special permit with site plan review (SPS) for a planned residential development/conventional subdivision; and grant other special permits as cited in the decision; 4) approve the decision, granting the special permit with site plan review (SPS), and granting other special permits as cited in the decision, dated October 21, 1996, as amended. 201 577 581 Marrett Road. Sketch Cluster Subdivision Plan. Butler Realty Decision: The Board reviewed and revised a draft decision, dated October 18, 1996, prepared by the staff. On the motion of Mr Colman, seconded by Mr Davies, the Board voted unanimously, 4-0, to approve the decision, as amended. DETERMINATION OF GRADE AND CONSTRUCTION OF UNACCEPTED STRFFTS 202. Oakmount Circle. Richard Curtin. Definitive Street Improvement Plan. Status Report: Mr Canale remarked on the conflicting information the Board has received from attorneys for the abutters to this project. It was agreed that the material should be sent to Mr. Curtin, the developer, asking him to rebut that information. He noted the questions raised by Engineer, David Crispin, of BSC, retained by one of the abutters, showed that considerable technical information is still needed. Mr Bowyer stated that the Board's Development Regulations provide for the retaining of experts with the costs to be paid by the applicant. That could apply to design, geotechnical, or legal issues. If it is not possible to have the questions dealing with private property rights resolved by the lawyers for the two sides, the Board might need to use a neutral third party of the Board's choosing but at the applicant/s expense. That might be Palmer and Dodge or it might be a special counsel. RFCOMMFNDATIONS ON APPLICATIONS TO THE BOARD OF APPEALS 203 Applications To Be Heard on October 24 1996- Mrs. Davison gave an oral review of the following applications: fE 4 Paul Revere Road, Sanjay Bhasin, variance to replace one-story addition and garage The Planning Board will recommend that to maintain the integrity of the Zoning By-Law, the applicant should be urged to pursue design opportunities that would permit him to design the addition without reducing the side yard setback. Minutes for the Meeting of October 21, 1996 3 26 Parker Street. Woodhaven Realty, special permits to remove sheds and barn and replace with two new single-family dwellings The Planning Board agreed that it supports the principles expressed by the Zoning Officer in her memo of October 3, 1996. It understands that the proposal has been revised and will meet current setback requirements but is also concerned about the density and will urge the Board of Appeals to carefully evaluate the location and mass of the proposed new building(s) in relation to other abutting houses that are quite near The Planning Board wants to encourage the construction of two-family houses where appropriate thus increasing the diversity of the housing stock and it is disappointed that this proposal does not provide that diversity It believes that if there are to be three dwelling units, two ought to be in one building. The recommendation will comment that this proposal to substitute other uses for a nonconforming use may appear to open opportunities that few realized existed. The principal control on this procedure lies in the wording in paragraph 6.7.3.a. that there be no increase in the site coverage or gross floor area or the degree of nonconformity The recommendation will include the data on floor area and site coverage available in the Assessors Office, and an explanation of "gross floor area" 29 Hartwell Avenue, Partners Community Healthcare, Inc., request for determination that an increase in parking spaces is a minor revision The Planning Board agreed to recommend that the Transportation Coordinator be made aware of this proposed parking increase and that the tree at the entrance to the site be retained. The Board agreed to make no comment on the following applications, also scheduled to be heard on October 24, 1996. 60 Baker Avenue, Dennis Haskin, special permit to add two gable dormer to dwelling 9 Ledeelawn Avenue, Robert & Lisa Salisbury, special it to add shed dormer to front of dwelling The meeting was adjourned at 10:48 p.m. / John L. Davies, Clerk ` ,