HomeMy WebLinkAbout1988-08-08 PLANNING BOARD
MEETING OF AUGUST 8, 1988
The meeting of the Lexington Planning Board, held in Room G-I5, Town Office
Building, was called to order at 7 39 p.m. by the Chairman, Mrs. Uhrig, with
members, Klauminzer, Sorensen, Wood, Assistant Planner Nordby and Secretary
Peters present. Mr. Williams was absent.
197. Review of Minutes The Board reviewed and corrected minutes for the
meetings of May 16, 23, June 6, 20 and July 6, 1988. On the motion of Mrs
Wood, seconded by Mr. Sorensen it was voted 3-0-1 (Mrs. Klauminzer abstained as
she had not attended the meetings) to approve the minutes for the meetings of
May 16 and June 20, as amended. On the motion of Mrs. Wood, seconded by Mr.
Sorensen, it was voted 4-0-0 to approve the minutes for the meetings of May 23,
June 6 and July 6, 1988, as amended.
e*-******-***** ADMINISTRATION OF LAND DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS *' ******* ****
SUBDIVISION OF LAND
198. Ridge Estates II, East Emerson Road, Theodore Freeman The Board discuss-
ed a letter, dated July 29, 1988 from Attorney John Farrington, representing Mr.
Freeman, requesting a change in surety for Ridge Estates II, from the current
Subdivision Control Security Agreement dated June 3, 1981 to a Performance Bond
Secured by a Bank Passbook. The letter was accompanied by two passbooks total-
ing $125,000.00 assigned to the Town of Lexington, along with the required 1
Performance Bond Agreement. Mr. Farrington noted this passbook amount now being
provided is only an estimate and that once a definite and accurate cost for
completion of required work at the subdivision is determined, the amount of
security should be increased or decreased accordingly.
Assistant Planner Nordby reported the final amount of surety can not be set
until the revised plans are received from the developer and approved by the
Board.
Mrs Uhrig accepted questions from several residents of of East Emerson Road.
In response to questions from Charles Brenner, 109 East Emerson Road, William
Bergeron, of Hayes Engineering and representating the developer, reported that
the stop order placed on the development prevented any work being done on the
road and sidewalks, and that the stop order can not be lifted until the revised (
plans are completed by the applicant and accepted by the Board. Y
Elaine Brenner, 109 East Emerson Road, reported that a pot hole in the street in
front of her home was a real safety hazard, and needed to be fixed immediately.
She also stated that she felt residents deserve to be notified as to what is
happening, and asked why the surety process was necessary. Mrs. Uhrig responded
that it was required to insure the road was completed without the Town having to
to pay for any uncompleted work.
In response to a question from Mr. Sorensen as to why it was necessary to revise
the amount of surety, Mr Farrington noted that State statute requires that the
amount of surety reasonably represent the amount necessary to complete the
subdivision, and it did not.
Meeting of August 8, 1988 -2-
On the motion of firs . Wood, seconded by Mrs. Klauminzer, it was voted 3-1-0 (Mr.
Sorensen voted in the negative)
1) To reduce the amount of surety from $610,000 to $125,000, and
2) To accept as substitute surety the amount of $125,000 --- in bank pass-
book #70-300-893 for the amount of $42,607.65 and passbook #70-301-134
for the amount of $82, 392. 35 from the Somerset Savings Bank,
Burlington, MA.
199. Ridge Estates III, Jonas Stone Circle, Theodore Freeman Ms . Nordby
reported a revised site plan has been received for the subdivision reflecting
the changes requested by the Board, with one exception. The developer has
substituted timber retaining walls, for the stone walls approved previously.
Ms. Nordby reported she had researched the durability of timber walls, and found
they could start to deteriorate in four to five years.
On the motion of Mr. Sorensen, seconded by Mrs. Wood, it was voted unanimously
to require that all retaining walls shown on the site plan must be constructed
of stone, that they must be built to Town standards and be approved by the
Engineering Department.
Ms . Nordby also reported that the trees have been located on the revised plan,
as directed. The number of street trees has been increased from 13 or 14,
originally approved, to 27 trees. At the suggestion of the Tree Warden, the
specie of trees will be alternated to prevent complete obliteration of all
street trees in the event that disease strikes one specie. Sugar maples and
lindens have been proposed.
William Bergeron, Hayes Engineering, reported the limit-of-work line has been
corrected, and all trees to be saved inside the limit of work line have been
located. In response to a question from Janis Colangelo, 172 East Emerson Road ,
he stated the unfinished property between Jonas Stone Circle and her property
would be seeded and street trees planted where required by the plan. He added
the Tree Warden will review the plan and approve the location and specie of the
street trees.
In response to a question from Mrs. Uhrig, Ms. Nordby noted the Board had pre-
viously authorized a partial lifting of the stop work order to replace the
incorrect granite curbing, to remove the boulders from the edge of lot one and
to regrade the lower portion of lot one. She added the curbing has been replac-
ed, but no memo has been received from the Engineering Department saying the
work was done correctly.
Attorney Weiss , representing Mr. Freeman, referred to a schedule of work provid-
ed to the Planning Department , which contemplated the work beginning immediate-
ly. He stated that if work is not begun now, it will not be completed in time
for the next meeting of the Board.
In response to a question from Mrs Uhrig, Mr. Bergeron reported they would like
to start_on sidewalk construction as soon as possible, and asked if the Board
would consider granting a partial release of the stop order so they could begin
laying out the sidewalk, spread the gravel and install the binder course; prior
L. to setting the bounds. The Board agreed they wished to have the revised limit-
Meeting of August 8, 1988 -3-
of-work line correctly flagged and approved. They would then ask inspection of
the replaced granite curbing, the removed boulders and the restaked limit-of-
work line. If the developer wishes to stake the location of the sidewalks, at
the same time they stake the limit-of-work line, that would be allowed, but no
construction may begin until the staking agrees with the approved plan.
Mr. Bergeron summarized all they hoped to get done in the next two weeks
1) flag the limit-of-work line,
2) set the location of the sidewalk
3) stake the location of the bounds on the non-sidewalk side of the road ,
and
4) obtain the Tree Warden's approval for the layout and specie of the
street trees, so the trees can be ordered in advance.
Mr Bergeron noted they would be submitting a cost to construct to the Town
Engineer for his approval, so that when they come back to the Board on August
22, the amount of surety can be set by the Board
Ms. Nordby summarized the list of work to be done prior to the August 22
meeting
1) flagging the limit of work line,
2) setting the location of the sidewalk,
3) staking the location of the bounds,
4) marking the location of the trees with the Tree Warden and
5) inspection by a representative of the Town.
On the motion of Mr. Sorensen, seconded by Mrs. Wood, it was voted unanimously
that without lifting the stop work order entirely, the developer be permit-
ted to mark the limit-of-work line, set the location of the sidewalk, and
do any other surveying work necessary for future construction; The tree
Warden can place the trees; and that once the proper placement of the
limit-of-work line has been approved by a representative of the Planning
Board, he may start construction on the sidewalk
The Board agreed they will discuss any future construction at their next meeting
on August 22, 1988. Ms. Nordby added that at the next meeting, the applicant
should have the revised plan, showing the stone walls, and the cost of con-
struction, approved by the Town Engineer, se that the Board can vote to approve
the revised plan and to set surety.
The staff was directed to notify the Bank who will furnish the surety, by let-
ter, that no replacement bank books should be issued without permission of the
Town.
200 90 North Hancock Street subdivision, endorsement of definitive plan Ms.
Nordby reported the plans were ready to be endorsed. On the motion of Mr.
Sorensen, seconded by Mrs. Klauminzer, it was voted unanimously to endorse the
definitive plans
Meeting of August 8, 1988 -4-
********************* REPORTS ***************************************************
202. Planning Board, Subcommittee
a Subdivision Schedule as of August 5, 1988 Ms Nordby reported she
will meet with Otis Brown this coming Thursday to discuss a new preliminary
plan for Turnburry Hill. She also reported that Joel Roos has said they
are preparing a new preliminary plan for 627-669 Mass Avenue. Ms. Nordby
also gave a brief summary of other upcoming applications. The Board noted
that any decisions must be approved by them before they are filed with the
Town Clerk
b. 191 Spring Street Mrs Uhrig reported the Board of Appeals hearing on
their petition is scheduled for September 8, 1988, so the Planning Board
will need to review the plans and discuss their recommendation at the
August 22 meeting.
c. Lexington Center Committee Mrs. Uhrig reported their next meeting,
scheduled for noon on September 18, 1988, will discuss among other things
the upcoming Belfry Club application to the Board of Appeals and the Bike-
way design
d. Planning Board meeting schedule The Board agreed to meet on Thursday,
September 8; Monday, September 19; Monday, October 3; and Monday, October
17, 1988.
The meeting was adjourned at 9 12 p m.
Eleanor Klauminzer, Cleo-k'
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