HomeMy WebLinkAboutPlanning Board minutes 04-24-1995 PLANNING BOARD MINUTES
MEETING OF APRIL 24, 1995
The meeting of the Lexington Planning Board held in Room G-15, Town Office Building, was called to
order at 7:04 p.m. by Chairman Davison, with members Canale, Davies, Grant, Merrill, Planning Director
Bowyer, and Assistant Planner Marino present. Mr. Davies and Mr. Merrill arrived during Item 74
******************************* PUBLIC PARTICIPATION ******************************
PLANS NOT REOUIRING APPROVAL UNDER THE SUBDIVISION CONTROL LAW
73 Form A/95-2. Vine and Woburn Street: Elaine Tong, representing Building Solutions, Scott Green, was
present and asked the Board to consider his application for an Approval Not Required plan for property on
Woburn and Vine Street, filed with the Planning Department on April 12, 1995 The Board reviewed the
plan and on the motion of Mr. Grant, seconded by Mr. Canale, voted unanimously, 3-0:
to endorse the plan entitled "Plan of Land in Lexington, Mass.",dated March 30, 1995, prepared by
David Zanca of Lancewood Engineering, Inc., Acton, MA, certified by David Zanca, Registered Land
Surveyor, with Form A/95-2, submitted by Scott C. Green, applicant, acting for William C. Savage and
Kathleen Jean Quinlan, owners, as it does not require approval under the Subdivision Control Law
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74. Recent Activity
a. APA National Conference in Toronto: Mr. Bowyer reported on his recent attendance at the American
Planning Association National Conference in Toronto, Canada, April 8-12. He described some basic
differences between American and Canadian private property rights and zoning issues he observed
while there.
b. MAPD Retreat: Mr. Bowyer also reported on the Massachusetts Association of Planning Directors
Conference in Plymouth, MA on April 23 and 24. He briefly described the two main sessions. One had
to do with problems of design review The other was the annual zoning clinic in which Don Schmidt,
(EOCD) highlighted infrequently cited, but important, laws other than zoning that affect planning
boards.
Mr. Bowyer presented a program at the Conference on Innovative Zoning Techniques. It dealt with
RD/CD Rezoning, part of the Lexington Zoning Bylaw, a procedure in which a specific site and
development plan tailored for that site alone is brought before Town Meeting for approval. Numerous
recent inquiries relating to projects requiring a rezoning indicate that the now obsolete Policy on RD,
CD Petitions needs to be thoroughly overhauled and adopted as Section 6 of the Development
Regulations. It will provide an explanation for a process that developers will not encounter in other
towns. '
************************* PLANNING BOARD REGULATIONS **************************
75 Rules/Procedures for Article 25, Frontaee Reduction for Small Subdivisions: The Board reviewed a
draft, dated April 20, 1995, of proposed procedures for implementing the zoning amendment adopted by the
1995 Town Meeting in Article 25 that allows a reduction in the frontage requirements in small subdivisions
in return for public benefits, such as open space, infrastructure improvements, or cash donation. Much of
the discussion centered on how to determine the value of the land given over by the developer. On the
Minutes for the Meeting of April 24, 1995 2
motion of Mrs. Davison, seconded by Mr. Merrill, the Board voted unanimously, 5-0, to approve the draft
as written.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:04 p.m.
Frederick L. Merrill, Jr., Clerk