HomeMy WebLinkAboutPlanning Board minutes 11-07-1995 PLANNING BOARD MINUTES
MEETING OF NOVEMBER 7, 1995
The meeting of the Lexington Planning Board held in Room G-15, Town Office Building, was called to
order at 7:36 p.m. by Vice Chairman Canale, with members Davison, Davies, Grant, Merrill, Planning
Director Bowyer, and Assistant Planner Marino present.
**************************************** MINUTES **************************************
170. Review of Minutes: The Board reviewed the minutes for the meeting of September 11, 1995. On
the motion of Mr.Davies,seconded by Mr.Merrill,it was voted 4-0-1,to approve the minutes,as written.
Mr. Grant abstained from voting as he was not present at that meeting.
*************************** PLANNING DIRECTOR'S REPORT **************************
171. Recent Activity
a. Oakmount Circle. Preliminary Street Improvement Plan. Rollout: Mr. Bowyer rolled out a sketch
preliminary street improvement plan for Oakmount Circle that was submitted by Richard J Curtin on
November 2, 1995. The staff has not reviewed the plan in detail yet. The time for action on this plan
expires on December 4, 1995.
b. Town Meeting Schedule: Mr. Bowyer said that the first session of Town Meeting will be in early
April, (despite earlier reports that it would be delayed until later in the month.)The Town Manager said
that the financial articles may be deferred and the zoning articles could come up as early as the second
week in April.
c. New Zoning Officer: Mr. Bowyer reported that the Town has hired a new Zoning Officer. She is
Maryann McCall-Taylor of Winchester, MA.
********************PLANNING BOARD ORGANIZATIONAL MALLERS*******************
172. Conditions for Progress on Comprehensive Plan and More Efficient Meetings:Board members
reviewed their answers to a questionnaire prepared by the staff entitled"Approaches,Techniques to Work
on Comprehensive Plan and Have More Efficient Meetings." After some discussion, on the motion of
Mr. Merrill, seconded by Mrs. Davison, the Board voted the following motion unanimously
The Planning Board agrees to the following positions, conditions and techniques that will allow for
progress on the Comprehensive Plan and more effective meetings. These will be in place for a three
month trial period, i.e. through January 1996, after which they will be evaluated. They can then be
continued, revised or discontinued.
1. The Planning Board must make comprehensive planning and planning projects a top priority
2. Planning Board meetings will not be longer than three hours. They will start promptly at 7:30 p.m.
Meetings will end no later than 10:30 p.m.
3. The Board should have one meeting each month devoted exclusively to comprehensive planning and
planning projects. No subdivision or zoning applications will be on the agenda.
4. The Board should have one meeting each month devoted exclusively to the administration of land
development regulations.Public hearings and other meetings dealing with development applications
with the public will be scheduled for that evening.
2 Minutes for the Meeting of November 7, 1995
5. The Board may have a third meeting each month as the volume of business suggests. If a third
meeting is held, the time will be split between planning projects and development applications.
6. The Board should devote about half of its meeting time each month (e.g. 4 to 5 hours in a typical
month) to comprehensive planning and planning projects in which it does not deal with subdivision
or zoning applications.
7 The Board will experiment with a"Consent Agenda"that will include as a part of the regular agenda
a package listing all routine matters and plans that comply fully with the Board's Regulations. Under
a Consent Agenda, all items in the package are approved by one vote.Any member can request that
an item be removed from the Consent Agenda and voted separately
8. The printed agenda for the public should indicate times (perhaps through formatting techniques):
1. at which the public is welcome to comment on an agenda item and
2. when discussion is limited to the Board and the staff; the public is welcome to listen but
comments will not be accepted.
9 Public comment should occur at the time an agenda item is discussed; it should not occur during
"Public Participation" which should be limited to items that are not on the agenda.
10. After a public hearing is concluded, comments from neighbors or applicants should be extremely
limited or not allowed.
11. The Board should devote one meeting exclusively to the comprehensive plan only in which it will
not spend time on other planning projects, such as proposed zoning amendments or reviewing
matters like Met State or HATS.
12. At a third meeting in a month, when items dealing with planning and the administration of
development regulations appear on the same agenda, the planning items will be scheduled first- at
7:30 p.m. The items dealing with the administration of development regulations will be scheduled
later, such as after 8:30 or after 9:00. All applicants and any other persons interested will be
informed of the scheduled time. The Board will not take up those items even if applicants are
present earlier than the scheduled time. Whoever chairs the meeting should inform anyone present
of that rule.
Conduct of Public Hearings and Informational Meetings
13. The hearing should be concluded BEFORE the Planning Board does anything.
a. Board members will refrain from discussing the proposal with each other, taking a position, or
advocating a particular design feature until after the hearing is officially closed and the Board
discusses the proposal.
b. After the Board has discussed the proposal among themselves,it may use the opportunity to ask
the applicant about design features.
14. The Board will not attempt to discuss all Board of Appeals cases in detail and will limit its review
and recommendations to only those cases that the reviewing member, after a thorough review,
recommends as significant.
Minutes for the Meeting of November 7, 1995 3
************************ ARTICLES FOR 1995 TOWN MEETING ************************
173. RD Rezoning. Lowell Street. Marriott Cornoration: On October 26, Mr. Merrill attended the
Marriott Corporation Senior Living Division's presentation to the neighborhood about its proposed
assisted living facility on Lowell Street. He reported that neighborhood questions and comments were
largely hostile. Mr. Merrill said that the Planning Board should be thinking about creating a framework
for arriving at positions on assisted living proposals as there are likely to be more of them in the future.
************ ADMINISTRATION OF LAND DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS *************
PLANS NOT REOUIRING APPROVAL UNDER THE SUBDIVISION CONTROL LAW
i
174. Form A/95-10. Robert and Edythe Cataldo and the Town of Lexington. Marrett Road and
Highland Avenue: The Board reviewed an Approval Not Required Plan for land at Marrett Road and
Highland Avenue. On the motion of Mr. Merrill, seconded by Mr. Grant, the Board voted unanimously
to endorse the plan entitled "Plan of Land Located in Lexington, Massachusetts (Middlesex County)",
dated September 21, 1995,prepared by Meridian Engineering, Inc.,Peabody,Mass., certified by Donald
E.Bowen Professional Land Surveyor,with Form A/95-10,submitted by Robert and Edythe Cataldo and
the Town of Lexington applicants and owners, as it does not require approval under the Subdivision
Control Law
SUBDIVISION OF LAND
175. Fox Run Lane. Robert Phelan.Change in Approved Definitive Subdivision Plan:Robert Phelan
was present to explain that when he bought the subdivision from Zarohy Seed he found the plan required
the installation of several feet of fill that he thought was unnecessary and undesirable for the
development. He proposed an alternate design that will rely more on the natural grades and will save
existing trees. On the motion of Mr. Merrill, seconded by Mr. Grant, the Board voted unanimously to:
1. approve the request dated October 24, 1995, from Robert Phelan to change the vertical
elevations at the end of the subdivision street, and adjust the site grading on lots #3, 4, 5, and
6;
2. endorse the plan entitled Fox Run Lane, Definitive Subdivision,Site Construction Plan,revised
October 23, 1995, and the plan entitled Fox Run Lane, Definitive Subdivision, Street Layout
Plan and Profile, revised October 23, 1995, by prepared by Meridian Engineering, Inc.
176. Munroe Village.Change Engineer and Land Surveyor: On the motion of Mr.Merrill, seconded
by Mr. Grant, the Board voted unanimously to approve the request dated October 24, 1995, of Robert
Cataldo,the Developer of the Munroe Village subdivision,that the Board approve a change for both the
Civil Engineer and Land Surveyor from:
Houssam H. Sleiman, a Registered Professional Civil Engineer, and
David D. Lanata, a Registered Professional Land Surveyor
to:
Meridian Engineering Collaborative
DETERMINATION OF GRADE AND CONSTRUCTION OF UNACCEPTED STREETS
177. Haskell Street.Definitive Street Improvement Plan.Mark Moore Homes:The Board reviewed
a site analysis and draft motion prepared by the staff. On the motion of Mr. Merrill, seconded by Mr.
Grant, the Board voted unanimously to waive the condition in paragraph 3.5.5.1.a of the Development
Regulations that requires that the street currently comply with the Standards for the Grade and Construc-
4 Minutes for the Meeting of November 7, 1995
tion of an Unaccepted Street, set forth in Chapter 5 of the Development Regulations because:
a. compliance with the literal language of paragraph 3.5.5.1.a would require reconstruction of
- Haskell Street during winter months which is undesirable; - -
b. the Planning Board has previously approved a Definitive Street Construction plan for
Haskell Street, and
c. assurance of the satisfactory completion of the Definitive Street Construction plan is
provided by paragraph 5.7.2.
RECOMMENDATIONS ON APPLICATIONS TO THE BOARD OF APPEALS
178. Hearings scheduled for November 16. 1995• Mr. Grant gave an oral review of the following
applications:
10-12 Muzzev Street, Bean and Bagel Cafe, amendment to a special permit to reduce the parking
spaces required to provide 15 seats for customers
The Planning Board believes that the principle behind the parking requirements of the Zoning
By-Law,which were adopted by the Town Meeting in 1984, is sound. It deals with the mixture
of public and private parking and that balance should be maintained. The Board believes it is
not reasonable to allow one business to increase parking demand and to deny others.
The Board agreed to make no comment on the applications below also scheduled to be heard by the
Board of Appeals on November 16, 1995
52 Middle Street, Michael Vareresian and Susan Trulli, variance to replace front stairs
238 Lincoln Street. Richard and Catherine Papazian, variance to add a chimney
32 Ingleside Road, Andrea Celenza, Ph.D., special permit to use portion of residence as office
76 Grassland Street, Joan Cordell, variance to enlarge and extend front landing
************************************** REPORTS ***************************************
179. Planning Board. Subcommittees
HATS.Mr. Canale reported that clarification is needed as to the parameters of Mr. Marino's assignment
to provide technical support to HATS during the update to the GEIR for Hanscom Field. The Board
expressed concern that their commitment to work on the comprehensive plan may be compromised if Mr.
Marino is required to serve all of the HATS Towns.
The meeting was adjourned at 10:33 p.m.
Frederick L. Merrill, Jr., Clerk