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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPlanning Board minutes 1989-01-30 PLANNING BOARD MINUTES MEETING OF JANUARY 30, 1989 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 the Chairman, Mrs. Uhrig, with members Klauminzer, Sorensen, Williams, Planning Director Bowyer, Assistant Planner Nordby and Secretary Peters present. Mrs. Wood was absent. ***************************** REPORTS ************************************ 26. Planning Director a. Eaton Road, Kevin Duffy, rollout of revised plan: Mr. Bowyer noted the Board had denied a previous submission for subdivision approval that would have divided the site into 3 lots, and that the applicant is now proposing a two lot subdivision. There are a group of large trees at the end of the proposed right-of-way that will have to be removed if the Board requires the road to be constructed according to its Development Regulations. The applicant has requested these regulations be waived in order to save the trees. The Board agreed to take the request under consideration. They also agreed that he could begin work on the defini- tive plan submission. ********************* ADMINISTRATION OF LAND DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS ********* PLANS NOT REQUIRING APPROVAL UNDER THE SUBDIVISION CONTROL LAW 27. Form A/89-1, Wachusetts Drive, Sullivan: The Board reviewed a plan dividing a parcel of land between Marrett Road and Wachusetts Drive into two lots; lot A having legal frontage of 100 feet on Marrett Road, and lot B fronting off an "unaccepted street" segment of Wachusetts Drive as determined under the Planning Board's "POLICY ON CONSTRUCTION STANDARDS FOR UNACCEPTED STREETS RELATIVE TO BUILDING LOTS". Last year the same applicant filed an approval not required plan for dividing this parcel into three lots. The Board declined to endorse that plan because they determined Wachusetts Drive was not a street of adequate grade and construction sufficient to provide adequate access and community facilities for the two new lots. (See the file on Form A/88-3 with a letter to the applicant dated March 8, 1988). The Board agreed to postpone a decision until the next meeting so that they may visit the site. DETERMINATION OF GRADE AND CONSTRUCTION OF UNACCEPTED STREETS 28. Essex Street, Robert O'Keefe: Mr. Bowyer reported that Mr. O'Keefe has applied for a building permit to build on the last lot on the northeast side of Essex Street, and the Board has been asked to determine if the road is of adequate grade and construction to provide legal frontage for the lot. The engineering department has expressed some concerns about the condition of the sub-surface base of the road. The Board agreed they would walk the site before making any determination. '.I Minutes for January 30, 1989 2 29. Orchard Crossing, Lowell Street, Set Surety: Ms. Nordby reported the developer has presented an estimate of the amount necessary to insure completion of the community facilities and the completion of the subdivision. Based on the recommendation of the Engineering Department the Board agreed to set surety at $155,000. On the motion of Mr. Sorensen, seconded by Mr. Williams, it was voted 4-0 to set surety at $155,000 for a period of one year, through January 30, 1990. If the subdivision is not completed by that time, the amount of surety needed will be reevaluated to determine its relationship between then applicable construction costs and the amount of work remaining to be completed. If little or no work is completed by January 30, 1990, and the current costs of the amount of work to be completed has 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. 30. Updating of "Non-Streets That Do Not Appear on the Zoning Map", and "Unaccepted Streets That Appear on Zoning Map", as adopted 11-21-85: On the motion of Mr. Williams , seconded by Mr. Sorensen, it was voted 4-0 to add the following streets to the list, "Unaccepted Streets That Appear on the Zoning Map" as follows: Grandview Avenue From the intersection of Grandview Ave. and A50 & 51 School St. to #11 Grandview Ave., approx. 228 feet. On the motion of Mr. Williams, seconded by Mr. Sorensen, it was voted 4-0 to add the following streets or portions of streets to the list, "Non-Streets That Do Not Appear on the Zoning Map" as follows : Blake Road Paper r.o.w. -- 100 feet southeasterly from A78 Williams Street Grandview Ave. Paper r.o.w. -- beginning approximately 228 feet A50 & A51 from the intersection of Grandview Ave. and School Street to Estabrook Road and beyond is wooded or is a private driveway only. Old County Rd. Paper r.o.w. -- does not exist in the field. A5 Eaton Road Paper r.o.w. -- segment northeasterly 230 feet A78 beyond Blake Road. ************************* ARTICLES FOR 1989 TOWN MEETING ******************** 31. Planning Board Articles for Warrant, Review of Final Draft: The Board reviewed and corrected a draft of its zoning articles , with descriptions, as 1 Minutes for January 30, 1989 3 they will appear in the Warrant for Town Meeting. On the motion Mr. Williams, seconded by Mrs. Klauminzer, it was voted 4-0 to approve the draft as amended. 32. Hearing Dates: The Board agreed to hold the public hearing for zoning amendments proposed by the Planning Board and Mrs. Kay's citizen petition on February 27, 1989 in Estabrook Hall. 33. Technical Corrections, Zoning By-Law: The Board continued their review of the draft as of 1-26-89. The Board agreed to add a technical correction dealing with the location of loading bays. On the motion of Mr. Sorensen, seconded by Mrs. Klauminzer, it was voted 4-0 to approve the draft as of 1-26- 89, as corrected; this draft will be used at the public hearing. 34. Institutional Uses, Zoning By-Law: The Board continued their review of the draft article, as of 1-26-89, making corrections. They agreed to increase the frontage setback requirement for a secondary street to 30 feet and the rear and side yard setback requirements to 25 feet for institutional uses in RO, RS and RT residential districts. ************** COORDINATION WITH OTHER TOWN BOARDS AND COMMITTEES ************ 35. Meeting with Lexington Center Committee Consultants: David Dixon and David Spillane of David Dixon & Associates reported on their work for the committee to date. They reported that they have met with the Town Manager, the Engineering Department, the DPW, the Center Advisory Committee, the Historical Commission and would like to hear what issues the Planning Board feels are important. They expect to complete the interviewing process shortly, and begin preparation of a first draft report. Their focus has been on the Town center, East Lexington and Countryside areas. Mr. Spillane has reviewed the Zoning By-Law, and they feel it is clear about what is expected dealing with landscaping, traffic and parking. They have concluded that it is very difficult for there to be any new development in the Center presently. They asked for the Board's thoughts on how the study could be useful, particularly in the outlying areas, as a guide for developers on what the Town expects. They also had thought of picking Countryside as a prototype to illustrate what the Town would like to see done in an outlying commercial area. Mrs. Uhrig thought the streets needed more landscaping, especially around gas stations. Other members commented on the ugliness of the backs of some buildings and some alleys , where exposed; sodium or mercury lighting; too many signs and ways to increase the active use of Emery Park. Mr. Williams suggested that when special and building permits are applied for, some mechanism be in place to require upgrading of the property if necessary. Perhaps all that is necessary is more vigorous enforcement of existing provisions of the By-Law. He also suggested that the consultants pick East Lexington as the prototype; that the island in the intersection of Mass. Minutes for January 30, 1989 4 ! Avenue and Woburn Street be enlarged; that Clark Street by Cary Library be closed off to provide a park-like area for benches, and the intersection of Mass. Ave. and Bedford St. at the end of the Battle Green be redesigned, to alleviate traffic problems in the area. The consultants will prepare a draft report incorporating the recommendations they have received from everyone, and circulate it for reactions. **************************** REPORTS ******, *******************************fie 36. 35. Planning Board, Subcommittees a. Affordable Housing: Mrs. Klauminzer reported on the neighborhood meeting held at Follen Church, January 26, 1989, whose purpose was to create an umbrella organization under which all the neighborhood groups concerned with locating affordable housing in Lexington can meet and act. At the meeting, Mrs. Klauminzer and Selectman Smith gave a brief history of affordable housing. b. Board of Appeals: Mr. Sorensen reported the following decisions were made by the Board of Appeals at its January 26th meeting. They granted the applications to establish a legal building lot at the corner lot abutting 10 Greenwood St; granted a special permit to operate an office in a residence at 15 Richard Road; granted a special permit and a variance to add a second floor dormer at 108 Woburn Street; and denied a special permit to install a 24-hour automatic teller (ATM) facility at 39 Bedford Street. Mr. Sorensen also reported David Fine at 4 Viles Road has requested a rehearing to allow a play house, previously denied, which will require Planning Board approval before he can reapply to the Board of Appeals. c. Design Advisory Committee: Mrs. Uhrig announced the next meeting of the committee will be on February 14, 1989 at 8:00 p.m. The meeting was adjourned at 10: 27 p.m. "162,(4'0.471_ //jX- L-1(-41t 1 Eleanor Klauminzer, Clerk - 1 1