HomeMy WebLinkAboutPlanning Board minutes 03-13-1995 PLANNING BOARD MINUTES
( MEETING OF MARCH 13, 1995
The meeting of the Lexington Planning Board held in Room G-15, Town Office Building, was called to
order at 7:32 p.m. by Chairman Davison, with members Canale, Grant, Merrill, Planning Director Bowyer,
and Assistant Planner Marino present. Mr. Davies was absent.
************ ADMINISTRATION OF LAND DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS *************
SUBDIVISION OF LAND
45 Lowell and Summer Street. Sketch Subdivision Plan. Mark Moore Homes: Frank Carney and Mark
Moore of Mark Moore Homes, Inc. the applicant, Malcolm MacDowell, engineer, of Noonan and
MacDowell, and Ronald Wood of Guidelines Design, Inc., landscape architect, were present. A number of
residents who either live adjacent to the site, or are interested in the preservation of the old farm house, also
were present.
Mr. Carney described the sketch plan for property at Lowell and Summer Street in East Lexington. The
plans submitted are for a cluster subdivision. He explained that Mark Moore Homes has an agreement with
the property owner to purchase the land at 51 Lowell Street. The houses will be of a design suited to
"empty nesters" He believes that this type of housing is much needed because of Lexington's changing
demographic composition and housing market.
The applicant presented a series of site plans for the development of the property Their preferred
development scheme for the site is in two parts: five approval not required lots and a seven lot cluster
subdivision. F
In preparing their plans for the site the applicants considered:
• Minimizing disturbance and construction in the parts of the site that are topographically difficult to
develop;
• Avoiding the requirement in section 9.3.2 of the Lexington Zoning By-Law that requires two means
of access in the case of a dead-end street that serves more than ten dwelling units; and
• Building the type of housing aimed at "empty nesters"
Comments from David Hornstein, 15 Westminster Avenue, included characterizing the historic significance
of the farmhouse, and his opinions on the site plan. Alyce Monahan, the occupant of the farmhouse, spoke
in opposition to any development scheme that requires demolishing or moving the farmhouse.
Comments from the Planning Board indicated general support for the cluster scheme but also the desire to
retain and incorporate the farmhouse into the site plan.
************************ ARTICLES FOR 1995 TOWN MEETING ************************
46. Article 25. Frontage Reduction: The Board reviewed the draft amendment and report to Town
Meeting. On the motion of Mr. Merrill, seconded by Mr. Grant, the Board voted unanimously, 4-0, to
recommend that the Town Meeting approve the proposed amendment. On the motion of Mr Merrill,
seconded by Mr Grant, the Board voted unanimously, 4-0, to approve the wording of the report, dated
March 7, 1995, as amended.
Minutes for the Meeting of March 13, 1995 2
47 Article 26, Satellite Dish: The Board reviewed the draft amendment and report to Town Meeting.
On the motion of Mr Grant, seconded by Mr. Canale, the Board voted unanimously, 4-0, to recommend
that the Town Meeting approve the proposed amendment, as amended, and to approve the wording of the
report, dated-March 8, 1995, as amended. - - - -
48. Article 27 Recvcline Store: The Board reviewed the draft amendment and a report to Town
Meeting. On the motion of Mr. Canale, seconded by Mrs. Davison, the Board voted 3-0-1, Mr. Grant
abstaining, to recommend that the Town Meeting approve the proposed amendment and to approve the
wording of the report, dated March 9, 1995, as written.
49 Article 28. Revised Setback Calculations: Mr. Grant and Mr. Merrill said they continue to be
opposed to the proposed amendment. As a vote of those present would have resulted in a 2-2 tie, the Board
agreed to postpone action on Article 28 until its meeting on March 22.
************ ADMINISTRATION OF LAND DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS *************
50 Munroe Village Subdivision. Sheldon Corporation: The Board reviewed a memorandum from Mr.
Marino which stated that in accordance with Section 3 7.2 of the Development Regulations the developer
has satisfied the conditions that were to be met prior to the endorsement of plans. On the motion of Mr.
Canale, seconded by Mr. Merrill, the Board voted unanimously to accept the covenant executed by Robert
Cataldo, President and Treasurer of Sheldon Corporation, dated March 9, 1995, and endorse the definitive
subdivision plans entitled "Munroe Village, Definitive Subdivision Plan in Lexington, Massachusetts",dated
September 1, 1994
************ ADMINISTRATION OF LAND DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS *************
RECOMMENDATIONS ON APPLICATIONS TO THE BOARD OF APPEALS
51 Applications To Be Heard on March 23. 1995 Mr. Merrill gave an oral review of the following
applications:
229 Follen Road. Bruce Maloof, renewal of special permit for an office in his home
The Planning Board agreed to recommend that this special permit be approved for a five-year period
only It believes that, as a matter of policy, special permits should not be approved for an indefinite
period.
46 Bedford Street, Shell Oil Co., special permit to replace a sign
The Planning Board agreed to recommend that the application be referred to the Design Advisory
Committee for their review
68 Farmcrest Avenue. Lester Blumberg and Robin Hasenfeld, variance to build kitchen addition
The Planning Board discussed the impact of the addition on the adjacent neighbor and agreed to
recommend the petition be denied as the addition increases the nonconformity of the dwelling. The
Board would like the application to be reviewed by the Design Advisory Committee. The Board is
also concerned whether the petition meets the statutory criteria for granting a variance, i.e., that the
applicants would suffer substantial hardship, fmancial or otherwise, owing to circumstances relating
to the soil conditions, shape or topography of the land or structures if a variance from the provisions
of the Zoning By-Law is not granted.
904 Mass. Avenue. Wm. Mason and Herring Construction Co., variance to demolish a 2-family dwelling
and build two single-family dwellings
3 Minutes for the meeting of March 13, 1995
904 Mass.Avenue. Wm. Mason and Herring Construction Co., special permit to demolish a 2-family
dwelling and build two single-family dwellings
Mr. Bowyer listed seven-eight reasons why the proposal for the variance and the special permit were not
justified, would conflict with the Subdivision Regulations and would establish a bad precedent. The
Planning Board agreed to recommend denial of this petition for those reasons.
The Board had no comment on the following applications, also scheduled to be heard on March 23, 1995
39 Bridge Street, Ulrich Becker, variance to add two-car garage
4 Glen Road, Richard and Charlotte Dougherty, variance for a two-story addition to dwelling
14 Somerset Road. Paul Chernick and Gila Appleby, special permit to increase second floor living space
14 Somerset Road, Paul Chernick and Gila Appleby, variance to build new bulkhead
The meeting was adjourned at 1P40 p.m.
dte/e.
Frederick L. Merrill, Jr., Clerk