HomeMy WebLinkAboutPlanning Board minutes 01-05-1998 PLANNING BOARD MINUTES
MEETING OF JANUARY 5, 1998
r— The meeting of the Lexington Planning Board held in Room G-15,Town Office Building,was called to order at
7.40 p.m. by Chairman Canale with members Colman,Davies, Galaitsis,Merrill,Planning Director Bowyer,and
Assistant Planner Marino present.
********************** SPECIAL PERMIT WITH SITE PLAN REVIEW ***********************
1. Continued Public Hearing for 55 Hayden Avenue, Spaulding & Slve. Decision: Mr. Canale opened the
continued public hearing for the rezoning of 55 Hayden Avenue,which was originally convened on December 15,
1997,at 8:15 p.m.There were seven people in the audience.David Vickery and Thomas McGarrigle of Spaulding
and Slye were present to further explain plans for an addition to their office building at 55 Hayden Avenue. Mr.
McGarrigle described changes that had been made to the plans in response to comments from the Planning Board
at the December 15 meeting.These had to do with pedestrian access,and the design and screening of an electrical
transformer Mr. McGarrigle said that all of the Planning Board's requests would be incorporated into the plans.
The Board gave Mr.McGarrigle a letter from the Design Advisory Committee dealing with outdoor lighting. He
said that Spaulding and Slye would use the kind of lighting fixtures suggested by the Committee.
Richard Cook,of the BSC Group,traffic consultants to the Town,outlined the status of plans to improve the traffic
level of service at intersections affected by the Spaulding and Slye addition.He said that three of the intersections
can be controlled by a police traffic control officer.He thought the improvements at the intersections would begin
in the summer or fall. Mr.Canale informed him that the Planning Board would like to see process moved quickly
According to Mr. Vickery, Spaulding and Slye is aiming for a November, 1998 completion date.
Mr. Canale adjourned the public hearing at 8:17 p.m.
The Board discussed the issues brought up in the public hearing. On the motion of Mr Merrill, seconded by Mr.
Davies,the Board voted unanimously, 5-0,to grant a special permit with site plan review to Spaulding and Slye
for an addition to their office building at 55 Hayden Avenue,and a special permit for a free-standing sign.
Mr. Bowyer told the Board of a recent visit he had from a representative of the Mass. Highway Department
concerning a curb cut in connection with the Medical office building being built at 16 Hayden Avenue.
************************ ARTICLES FOR 1999 TOWN MEETING ************************
2. Amendments to Zoning Bylaw. The Board continued its discussion of the articles it will bring to Town
Meeting and considered possible public hearing dates. The Board reviewed the status of Articles not previously
reviewed.
Article A,Wireless Communications Antennas: Mr. Canale is working on a draft in conjunction with Julian
Bussgang.
Article B, Small Lots, Large Houses: Mr. Bowyer reported on a conversation he had with the head of the
Municipal Law Division of the the State Attorney General's office.He had posed two questions:
1) Can a town use a floor area ratio technique to control the size of houses, in view of the prohibition in the
statute against regulating the interior floor area of a dwelling?The answer was no; and,
2) Use of dimensional controls such as lot area, frontage, width,yard setbacks and depth requirement are
prohibited by Section 6 of Chapter 40A. Can one use other dimensional controls, e.g. site coverage,
impervious surface ratio,that are not specifically mentioned as dimensional controls.? The answer was
yes, but very carefully
In the absence of sufficient data about Lexington properties' current site coverage, constructing or defending a
regulation would be practically impossible. He suggested that a better approach to dealing with the large house
problem would be to seek an amendment to the State Zoning Act to add the word minimum to the FAR part. He
2 Minutes for the Meeting of January 5, 1998
suggested going ahead with Part A of the zoning amendment crafted thus far which raises the minimum lot area
to be consistent with the State statute.
Article C,Conversion of One Family Houses The staff said some analysis is needed.
Article D,Technical Corrections: John Davies has prepared a draft dated 12/15/97
Article E,Nonconforming Parking, Lexington Center The Board agreed to give a copy of the article to the
Lexington Center Committee for their perusal.
The Board also agreed to go ahead with Articles B, C, D, E, and Article F, Maximum, Minimum Parking. The
following articles are unchanged from earlier drafts:
Article G,Transportation Demand Management.
Article H,Procedures,Planned Development Districts
Article Y,Outdoor Lighting: The Board agreed that it will currently only address commercial lighting but also to
inform Town Meeting that it may propose,at some time in the future, an amendment affecting residential outdoor
lighting. Mr.Davies said he will talk to Myla Kabat-Zinn,chair of the Lighting Options Committee.
c. Vote to confirm telephone Doll on Article J.Zoning Man Change: The Board agreed to affirm a telephone poll
taken on January 3 and 4 on Article J On the motion of Mr Colman, seconded by Mr Davies, the Board voted
unanimously to ask the Board of Selectmen to reserve space in the 1998 Warrant for an article requesting a zoning
change for the Clarke-Muzzey Street block and the Meriam Street Parking Lot to the CB,Central Business Zoning
District.
d. Citizen's Petition: Parking Reauirements. Secondary Schools: Mr.Bowyer said the sponsor of this proposed
amendment to change parking requirements a t secondary schools will draft this amendment and present it at Town
Meeting. It would affect all schools in town. The Board will need to hold a public hearing and make a
recommendation.
**************************** PLANNING DIRECTOR'S REPORT ***************************
3. APA National Conference in Boston. April. 1998: Mr Bowyer said if any members plan to attend the APA
National Planning Conference in Boston in April of this year, they need to inform the Planning Department by
January 15 in order to benefit from the early registration fee discount.
*************** ADMINISTRATION OF LAND DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS ****************
RECOMMENDATIONS ON APPLICATIONS TO THE BOARD OF APPEALS
4. Applications To Be Heard on January 29. 1998:Mr.Merrill gave an oral review of the following applications:
20 Shirley Street.Martin, special permit to add dormer
301 Mass.Avenue.Enterprise Rent a Car,renewal of special permit to operate a car rental service
413 Waltham Street.Bruegger's Bagel Bakery, renewal of special permit to operate fast food,take-out
service
142 Grant Street,Gallagher,variances to add porch, steps and garrto dwell+
The Board agreed to make no comment on the applications. // '
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The meeting was adjourned at 10:52 p.m. / _ / /
L/ t 01-10""7John L.Davies, Clerk