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Home My WebLink AboutPlanning Board minutes 05-18-1998 PLANNING BOARD MINUTES MEETING OF MAY 18, 1998 Vice Chairman Davies called the meeting of the Lexington Planning Board to order at 7:35 p.m. in Room G-15, Town Office Building.Members Bridge-Denzak,Colman,Planning Director Bowyer,and Assistant Planner Marino were present. Mr.Merrill was absent.Mr.Galaitsis arrived before Item 106. ************************************** MINUTES **************************************** 105. Review of Minutes: The Board reviewed the minutes for the meetings of February 23, and May 4, 1998. On the motion of Ms.Bridge-Denzak, seconded by Mr. Colman, it was voted unanimously 3-0 to approve the minutes,as written. *************** ADMINISTRATION OF LAND DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS **************** PLANS NOT REOUIRING APPROVAL UNDER THE SUBDIVISION CONTROL LAW 106. Form A/98-3. 19& 19A Oakland Street.James&Paula Kemler The Board reviewed an Approval Not Required Plan for land at 19 and 19A Oakland Street. On the motion of Mr. Galaitsis, seconded by Ms.Bridge- Denzak,the Board voted unanimously to endorse the plan entitled "Plan of Land in Lexington,MA(Middlesex County)" dated April 3, 1998,prepared by Lanata and Associates,Inc., Woburn,MA.,certified by David D. Lanata,Registered Land Surveyor,with Form A/98-3, submitted by Kemler and Hauptman,applicants, as it does not require approval under the Subdivision Control Law ****************************REGIONAL,INTERTOWN ISSUES *************************** 107 Hanscom Area Towns(HATS).Four Town Master Plan Study.Renort from Anril 29 May 13 Meetings: ( ' Richard Canale,designated as the Planning Board's liaison with the Four Town Planning Group,reported on the April29 and May 13 meetings.The committee will update the HATS towns' Boards of Selectmen and Planning Boards and solicit support for an RFP it will draft to go out to a consultant to help with 1)a build-out analysis of development permitted under current regulations,2)to find out what is common,and dissimilar, among the four towns with a view toward effecting some commonality in regulations adopted by the towns,3) to possibly create an overlay district over the common planning area in each of the four towns,and, 4)to investigate creating a subregional district with a regulatory veto power over the actions of the individual towns perhaps modeled on the Martha's Vineyard Regional Commission. Mr. Bowyer explained that the Four Town Planning Group has spent time reviewing the Daylor Report to discover where there is consensus among the four towns, omissions, areas that need refining and the like. It is felt that some entity is needed that has more authority than the MAGIC (the sub-regional organization that is a subset of MAPC)but less power than the Cape Cod Commission. MAGIC,the sub-regional group organized around Route 2,has a process for reviewing projects above a certain threshold size that have a regional impact. MAGIC is advisory in nature.Use of such an organization should be acceptable to the four towns' Boards of Selectmen. Another item of implementation was a common denominator of development controls—attempting to get each town to amend its zoning regulations to incorporate similar methods of regulating development e.g., Lexington's Zoning By-Law's Section 12,Traffic Impacts, or an overlay district. Each town would have to amend its own zoning regulations.Again,the approval of the HATS Selectmen and Planning Boards is crucial. Mr. Colman expressed his support for moving in this direction. 2 Minutes for the Meeting of May 18, 1998 108. Freedom's Way Heritage Corridor Mr. Canale reported on the origins of this group,which extends from Lexington to Gardner. The Corridor seeks to obtain Federal designation to preserve the historical aspects of the region that are beyond the purview of the National Park and the towns.He said funding the effort is problematic. The Board recessed at 7:58 to meet with the Board of Selectmen in their meeting room. Mr.Galaitsis left after the joint meeting.The Planning Board reconvened in Room G-15 at 8:56 p.m. ************************* ARTICLES FOR 1998 TOWN MEETING ************************** FOLLOW UP TO TOWN MEETING 109 Article 32. Wireless Communications Antennas; Regulations for issuing Special Permits: Mr. Canale reported that regulations for the Special Permit Granting Authority to use in issuing special permits for siting telecommunications antenna are in the process of being drafted.The first application for an antenna site,under the new Section 15,Wireless Communications Antennas, is currently before the Board of Appeals. The Board discussed a number of issues involved in issuing a special permit for an antenna. 110. Article 40.Outdoor Lighting.Letter to David Kanter Mr Davies reported that David Kanter,48 Fifer Lane, is concerned that the newly adopted Section 14, Outdoor Lighting,affects lighting at the Fiske Common housing development.The Board discussed the possibility of an amendment to Section 14 at the 1999 Annual Town Meeting to deal with this issue. SUBDIVISION OF LAND 111. Munroe Village. Todd Cataldo.Developer's Reauest for a Waiver Mr. Cataldo was present and explained that he is requesting a waiver from the requirement to install a gas line to the Munroe Village subdivision, as shown on the subdivision plan,because Boston Gas refuses to install it. Mr Davies expressed the Board's wish that another public benefit be offered instead.Mr Cataldo agreed to find out the value of the gas line installation so that a commensurate amount of work benefiting the public can be done and the subdivision finished. **************************** PLANNING DIRECTOR'S REPORT *************************** 112. Recent Activity a. 577-581 Marrett Road.Harry Wight. Sketch Cluster Subdivision Plan,Rollout: Mr. Marino rolled out a sketch plan for a cluster townhouse development at 577-581 Marrett Road,that was submitted by Harry Wight on May 6, 1998. The staff has not yet reviewed the plan in detail.Time for action on this plan expires on June 5, 1998. b. Metropolitan State Hospital Land Reuse: Mr. Bowyer reported that new Selectman Jeanne Krieger has been familiarizing herself with recent developments in the Met State Hospital reuse process. Legislation has been passed authorizing the disposition of the property and the State Division of Capital Planning and Operations wants to call tri-town meetings and get the process moving again.A reuse plan was approved by the three communities and DCPO and is referred to in the legislation so that it has nearly the force of law There are a great many questions though about what needs to happen when the disposition of the property begins, e.g. the buildings,utilities,roads and other factors. The process calls for extraordinary cooperation among the towns, a major rezoning will probably be involved. c. Progress Report and Proposed Schedule of Public Hearings.Meetings on Various Development Applications: Mr.Marino reported that a public hearing on the 22 Revere Street Subdivision is scheduled for June 1 along with public informational meetings for the 577-581 Marrett Road sketch cluster subdivision and Minutes for the Meeting of May 18, 1997 3 the Earl Street Definitive street construction plan.Mr. Marino also gave a brief progress report on several subdivisions--Old Spring Street,Old Smith Farm and Porter Lane—which are currently underway RECOMMENDATIONS ON APPLICATIONS TO THE BOARD OF APPEALS 113. Applications To Be Heard on June 11. 1998: Mr. Davies gave an oral review of the following applications: 755 Massachusetts Avenue (Pollen Church).Nextel, special permit to install a wireless communications facility The Planning Board agreed to express its support of the Cable Television and Telecommunications Advisory Committee's comments. The Board agreed to make no comment on the application below that is also scheduled to be heard by the Board of Appeals on June 11 25 Fottler Avenue. Giliberto,variances to add a second story,new stairs and garage The meeting was adjourned at 10:30 p.m. Steven L. Colman,Clerk LJ