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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPlanning Board minutes 11-25-1996 PLANNING BOARD MINUTES MEETING OF NOVEMBER 25, 1996 The meeting of the Lexington Planning Board held in Room G-15, Town Office Building, was called to order at 7.34 p.m. by Chairman Canale with members Colman, Davies, Merrill, Planning Director Bowyer, and Assistant Planner Marino present. Mrs. Davison joined the meeting during the recess. *********** ADMINISTRATION OF LAND DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS ************* SUBDIVISION OF LAND 227 Schoolhouse Lane. John Esserian. Reouest for Release of Surety Mr Marino reported that John Esserian, developer of Schoolhouse Lane subdivision, has requested the Board to release the surety being held by the Town for completion of the community facilities and the subdivision. However, he said, the Town Engineer has indicated in a memorandum, dated November 18, 1996, that there are aspects of the construction of Schoolhouse Lane that are unacceptable. After a brief discussion, on the motion of Mr Davies, seconded by Mr. Merrill, the Board voted unanimously to deny the applicant's request for release of surety and to retain all the surety which is being held for the completion of community facilities. **************************************** RECESS **************************************** The Board recessed at 7.37 p.m. to attend the Board of Selectmen's meeting in Estabrook Hall. The Selectmen were discussing the Four Town Planning Study in relation to Massport's plans for development on land at Hanscom Field. 1 The Planning Board reconvened its meeting in Room G-15 at 1006 p.m. **************************** COMPREHENSIVE PLANNING **************************** 228. West Lexington: Continuation of Discussion: The Board continued its discussion of issues affecting "West Lexington." Mr Canale reported on his meeting with Ideo Product Development. Inc., a company located in the new office building at Maguire Road and Hartwell Avenue. At that meeting, he asked why the company chose to locate in Lexington. The answer was because of its proximity to the homes of the chief officers of the company Mr. Davies suggested that informal polls should be taken "for the record" at the conclusion of discussions of questionnaire topics. *************************** REGIONAL, INTERTOWN ISSUES ************************** 229 Hanscom Area Towns Committee(HATS). Scone of Services for the Four Town Planning Study Mr. Bowyer reported that the Daylor Consulting Group Inc.'s proposal for the Four Town Planning study seems to be very well structured, with the bulk of it devoted to process, principles, policies, and objectives. Mr Canale also praised the Daylor Group's proposal, saying it addresses the subjects most important to the HATS towns. Mr Bowyer said that because the area around Hanscom can sustain little development because of the severe limitations of the roadway system, the question is, who gets to develop? Who gets the economic benefit if Massport develops its land? Which town(s) will suffer from the competition? He said that the Board has an advantage in that it has begun to grapple with the difficult issues facing the towns around Hanscom Field, issues for which there are no easy solutions. 2 Minutes for the Meeting of November 25, 1996 Mr Canale said that the Generic Environmental Impact Review (GEIR) now being conducted by Massport r provides baseline information about existing conditions. It will makes some assessment of how much additional development can be undertaken before the small remaining capacity of the infrastructure is used up. It will tell what the impacts of different types of development scenarios would be. There is a reasonable amount of information about their water/sewer capacity, wetlands, hazardous waste. Massport has taken up-to-date traffic counts on 13 intersections. Conceivably Massport could preempt the remaining development potential. In response to Mrs. Davison's concern that one person alone, Lexington's selectman representative to HATS, seems to speak for Lexington's interests, Mr Bowyer said that Mr Canale has been trying to get the other HATS planning board chairmen involved and that he himself has spoken with the other planning directors. He also said that a principal task of the Daylor Group, hired by the four HATS towns, is to find out what the towns want and to help them articulate it. Mr. Merrill complimented the staff for preparing the questionnaire on West Lexington and enabling the Board to see and wrestle with the dilemmas the four HATS towns are faced with. Mr. Colman said that the Board should try to figure out how to impose the will of the Town on Massport. On the subject of the force of local zoning, Mrs. Davison said that determining the towns' legal rights is crucial. Mr. Bowyer reported that the three HATS selectmen present at a recent meeting agreed to retain an attorney specializing in land use law to address that issue. Four selectmen are needed for a vote. *************************** PLANNING DIRECTOR'S REPORT **************************** 230 Recent Activity Mr. Bowyer reported the staff anticipates the filing of two sketch plans for rezoning proposals. He recommended the Board not to demand high polish on the proposals too early in the process because both petitioners have a late start. Last year the Board incorporated into the Development Reeulations the suggestion that applicants file a sketch plan early in the process to give the Planning Board a chance to give them "direction" to help them prepare their preliminary site development and use plan before it is filed officially The meeting was adjourned at 10:47 p.m. John L. Davies, Clerk