HomeMy WebLinkAboutPlanning Board minutes 09-11-1995 1.
PLANNING BOARD MINUTES
MEETING OF SEPTEMBER 11, 1995
The meeting of the Lexington Planning Board held in Room G-15, Town Office Building, was called to order at
7:33 p.m. by Chairman Davison,with members Canale, Davies, Merrill, Planning Director Bowyer, and Assistant
Planner Marino present. Mr. Grant was absent.
**************************************** MINUTES **************************************
133 Review of Minutes: The Board reviewed the minutes for the meeting of August 16, 1995. On the motion
of Mr. Canale, seconded by Mr. Davies, it was voted unanimously 4-0 to approve the minutes as written.
*************************** PLANNING DIRECTOR'S REPORT **************************
134. Recent Activity
108 Grove Street. Sketch Preliminary Subdivision Plan. Rollout: Mr.Bowyer rolled out a sketch preliminary plan
for the 108 Grove Street development submitted by Mark Moore Homes on August 18, 1995. The staff has not
reviewed the plan in detail yet. The time for action on this plan expires on October 2, 1995 Mr. Marino noted
that a sizeable piece of land will be donated to the Town as part of the new special permit for reduced frontage
under Article 25.
*************************** PLANNING BOARD REGULATIONS ****************************
135. Revision of Development Regulations: RD. CD Rezoning Procedures: The Board reviewed a draft of
a document that will become chapter six of the Development Regulations. Mr. Bowyer gave a brief overview of
Lexington's unique rezoning process, a process that has evolved over twenty years. A second document, a
Developer's Guide incorporating directions to the developers, will also be prepared.
************************* ARTICLES FOR 1996 TOWN MEETING ******************************
136. RD Rezoning. 536 Lowell Street. Marriott Corporation. Sketch Plan: Attorney Tom Fenn, of Russian
and Fenn, speaking for the applicants, said that he and Attorney Stephen Politi have been retained by Marriott
Corporation to assist them in bringing before Town Meeting a petition for the rezoning of land from RO to RD
Marriott wishes to construct an assisted living facility at 536-544 Lowell Street. Mr. Fenn introduced Charles
Griffin, architect, of Newburyport, Walter Lewinsky, engineer, of GAM Engineering Consultants, Inc., Robert
Dolman, real estate broker, Nancy Dougherty, traffic engineer, of Raise Associates, Gary Larson, landscape
architect, of Larson Associates,Inc., Lino Bernardi, senior director of development and senior living services for
the Marriott Corporation.
Mr. Fenn described four goals the "team" would like to accomplish at this meeting: 1) begin a dialogue with the
Board about how to make this plan for an assisted living facility work; 2) introduce the site and ask the Board
how best to serve this site with this structure; 3) ask for assistance in interpreting the regulations; 4) obtain
approval and permission to come before the Board again and work together to propose a plan to present to the
1996 Annual Town Meeting.
Mr. Fenn said that while the design is for this particular site, it incorporates general features based on Marriott's
10 years of experience in building facilities that provide an alternative to a nursing home. They serve elderly
Minutes for the Meeting September Se tember 11, 1995 2
persons who do not need round the clock care. Marriott has built 13 assisted living facilities. He said that town
demographics show that Lexington currently has 1400 residents who qualify to live in such a place.
Some features of the for-profit facility-are: most of the units will be studio type; transportation will be provided
to the residents;three meals a day will be served and all services except telephone service are included in the cost
of approximately $91/day.
There were questions and comments from the Board regarding how the site was chosen,the design of the buildings
and landscaping, how much traffic would be generated, and if the developers had addressed Lexington's
Inclusionary Housing Policy.
************ ADMINISTRATION OF LAND DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS *************
SUBDIVISION OF LAND
137 Currier Court. JRC Assoc. John Sarkis
a. Reduction of Surety. Mr. Marino reported that the staff received a request from JRC Associates, Inc.,
developer of Currier Court subdivision, to reduce the amount of surety being held by the Town to ensure
completion of work by the developer. The Town Engineer has indicated that he reviewed the submission and finds
the developer's request acceptable.After a brief discussion,on the motion of Mr. Canale,seconded by Mr. Merrill,
the Board voted unanimously, 4-0:
1) to reduce the amount of surety for the Currier Court subdivision to $21,625;
2) that this amount includes: a) the total remaining "Cost to Construct," and, b) a contingency, an
allowance for escalation of construction costs and an allowance to the Town's administrative costs, and
is the amount necessary to hold until the completion of the community facilities and the subdivision; Ill
3) that this level of surety is determined to be sufficient through 9/11/96 only, and;
4) that if the subdivision is not completed by 9/11/96, or if little or none of the work that remained at the
time this surety was posted, is completed by that time, and the current costs of the work left to be
completed have increased, the amount of surety will be increased to reflect the costs of completing the
work and the developer will be required to furnish additional surety to the Planning Board.
b. Restriction on Size of House on Lot Six: Mr. Bowyer reported that Mr. Sarkis,the developer, has approached
the staff repeatedly about removing the 2,000 square foot restriction on the size of the house that may be built
on lot six in the subdivision. After a brief review of the situation, the Board reaffirmed its belief that the
condition is appropriate and remained unanimous in its resolve to retain the limit. It is meant to create a transition
to the smaller houses on Webb Street. The Board suggested that one of the alternatives the developer might
consider is donating the lot to the town.
**************************** REGIONAL, INTERTOWN ISSUES **********************
138. Hanscom Area Traffic Study Committee, Hanscom Field GEIR. Mr. Canale reported on recent events
in MassPort's Hanscom Field GEIR update process. HATS has named a subcommittee to look at the issue. Mr.
Marino told the Board that his role in the process is as technical support only. Mr. Canale said that the Planning
Board has not officially commented on the GEIR since 1991
3 Minutes for the meeting of September 11, 1995
************ ADMINISTRATION OF LAND DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS *************
RECOMMENDATIONS ON APPLICATIONS TO THE BOARD OF APPEALS
139 Applications To Be Heard on September 14, 1995• Mr. Davies gave an oral review of the following
applications:
191 Shrine Street. 191 Spring Street Trust, special permit to install a wall sign
The Planning Board recommends, for the sake of legibility, that the letters be larger and suggested
eliminating the words "The" and "Corporation."
191 Sorine Street, 191 Spring Street Trust, special permit to install an externally lit sign
The Planning Board recommends that the sign be relocated or redesigned so the good-sized ornamental
fruit tree can be saved. It also recommends that there be fewer words on the sign, leaving simply the
name and address. The words "A Development of Boston Properties" are not appropriate.
80 Hayden Avenue. Hayden Avenue Limited Partnership, determination that a change in parking spaces
constitutes a minor revision to a special permit
The Planning Board believes the proposed change to the parking lot is substantial and not a minor
revision to the special permit. Therefore, it feels that a public hearing should be held.
The Board agreed to make no comment on the applications below also scheduled to be heard by the Board of
Appeals on September 14, 1995.
35 Eaton Road. John Kiernan, variances to continue to use a child's tree fort
48 Bartlett Avenue. Lexington Christian Academy, special permit to install standing sign
475 Concord Avenue. Jean Barrett, variance to build a one-story addition
341 Marrett Road. Christine Becker, renewal of special permit for office in home
131 Hartwell Avenue. Digital Equipment Corp., special permit to install externally lit sign
22 Woodland Road. Alan and Marianne Lazarus, variance to add front porch and steps
The meeting was adjourned at 11 15 p.m. /
Frederick L. Merrill, Jr., Clerk