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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPlanning Board minutes 1989-02-21 PLANNING BOARD MINUTES MEETING OF FEBRUARY 21, 1989 The meeting of the Lexington Planning Board held in Room 201, Town Office Building, was called to order at 7:38 p.m. by the Chairman, Mrs. Uhrig, with members Klauminzer, Sorensen, Williams, Wood, Planning Director Bowyer, Assistant Planner Nordby and Secretary Peters present. 48. Approval of Minutes: The Board reviewed and corrected the minutes for the meeting of January 23, 1989. On the motion of Mrs. Wood, seconded by Mrs. Klauminzer, it was voted 5-0 to approve the minutes, as amended. The Board reviewed and corrected the minutes for the meeting of January 30. 1989. On the motion of Mrs. Klauminzer, seconded by Mr. Williams, it was voted 4-0-1 (Mrs. Wood abstained as she had not attended the meeting) to approve the minutes, as amended. ******************************* REPORTS *********************************** 49. Planning Director a. 83 Pleasant Street, Silvera, rollout of a sketch plan: The Board reviewed a plan prior to review by the staff, showing a proposed two lot subdivision. They noted a 60 foot diameter circle was shown to meet the circle test, rather than a one hundred foot diameter circle as required by the Zoning By-Law, and it appeared Lot B was not wide enough to accommodate a one hundred foot diameter circle to qualify it as a building lot. ************** ADMINISTRATION OF LAND DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS **************** SUBDIVISION OF LAND 50. Turnburry Hill, off Hill Street, Otis Brown: On the motion of Mr. Sorensen, seconded by Mrs. Wood, it was voted 5-0 to grant the special permit. The Board reviewed a draft of a special permit decision, dated February 14, 1989, making corrections. On the motion of Mr. Sorensen, seconded by Mrs. Wood, it was voted 5-0 to approve the draft decision, as corrected. The Board will review and sign the corrected special permit at their next meeting. 51. Pheasant Brook II, Robert Cataldo, preliminary plan: Conservation Commissioner John Oberteuffer reported on the events of the past week relating to the unauthorized clearing and grading at the Pheasant Brook II site. He said an Order of Conditions had been issued by the Conservation Commission on February 7, 1989, and apparently the applicant began clearing and grading the road right-of-way around February 9, in spite of the fact that the 10 day period required by the Conservation Commission following issuance of an Order of Conditions had not passed. As a result, a stop work order has been issued by the Conservation Commission stopping all work except what is considered Minutes for the Meeting of February 21, 1989 2 —' necessary to stabilize disturbed areas. He added the Commission will consider any penalties they may wish to impose at their next meeting, in two weeks , including the possibility of revoking the Order of Conditions. The Board agreed that whatever work the Conservation Commission felt was necessary to stabilize and correct disturbed conditions in the field would not affect Planning Board requirements for subdivision approval. They estimated that, under the most optimistic scheduling, it was not likely a definitive plan would reach the approval stage until after Labor Day. On the motion of Mr. Sorensen, seconded by Mrs. Wood, it was voted 5-0 to issue a Stop Work Order halting all activity at Pheasant Brook II, except work considered necessary by the Conservation Commission to stabilize disturbed areas in the subdivision, because no definitive plan has been submitted or approved. The Board reviewed and corrected a draft of a decision, dated February 21, 1989, disapproving the preliminary plan. They agreed to delete the first two paragraphs on the second page, dealing with the illegal clearing and road grading, and to include similar language in the stop work order. On the motion of Mrs.Klauminzer, seconded by Mrs. Wood, it was voted 4-1-0 (Mr. Sorensen voted against the motion) to disapprove the Preliminary Plan, because it does not meet the criteria set forth in the Zoning By-Law for a cluster subdivision. Mrs. Wood noted house locations should be shown and the location of the common open space needs to be more clearly defined. The Board will sign the decision at its next meeting. DETERMINATION OF GRADE AND CONSTRUCTION OF UNACCEPTED STREETS 52. List of Unaccepted Streets, Correction of January 30, 1989 Vote: Mr. Bowyer reported that the portion of Grandview Avenue from the intersection of School Street to the intersection of Welch Road has been accepted by the Town, and should not be included on the Unaccepted Street list . He also reported that on the Non Street List, the description of Grandview Avenue from its intersection with Welch Road onward should be changed because it is a one lane driveway through to Estabrook. On the motion of Mr. Williams, seconded by Mr. Sorensen, it was voted 5-0: 1) to delete from the list, "Unaccepted Streets That Appear on the Zoning Map", reference to Grandview Avenue, from its intersection with School Street to its intersection with Welch Road, because that segment of the street is a public street which has been accepted by the Town and 2) in the list, "Non-Streets That Do Not Appear on the Zoning Map", to revise the description of Grandview Avenue from its intersection with Minutes for the Meeting of February 21, 1989 3 Welch Road onward to read "a one lane dirt driveway through to Estabrook Road -- insufficient width for more than one vehicle". ************************ ARTICLES FOR 1989 TOWN MEETING **************''Q**** 53. Preparation for Public Hearings and Planning Board Articles: The Board will meet with the Board of Selectmen at 7: 15 p.m. on February 27, 1989 to discuss positions on housing articles. The Board agreed to send copies of the zoning articles scheduled for the February 27 public hearings, to the chairmen of the housing committees , officers of the TMMA association and other persons who have expressed an interest in zoning changes in past years. Planning Aide Joseph Marino presented a preliminary "computer run" of floor area ratios for existing religious and educational buildings. The staff will prepare graphics to illustrate how the half story amendment will change the By-Law. 54. CD Petition, Sheraton: The Board discussed the applicant's presentation at the public hearing on February 6, 1989, and "Items for Negotiations , Sheraton - Flatley CD Proposal", as of February 21, 1989, that was prepared by the staff. Board members expressed their comments and concerns about : the validity of the traffic study; the amount of parking proposed; both the hotel and Marrett Road being upgraded whether or not the CD rezoning is approved by Town Meeting; and the size of the proposed addition, which results in an FAR above the maximum permitted by the Zoning By-Law. 55. CD Petition, Hilton: The Board discussed a letter from Steven Colangelo, of Lexington Management Incorporated, dated February 9, 1989, which proposes further changes to the application in line with recommendations made at the February 6 hearing. They propose: 1) to eliminate approximately 14 parking spaces on the northern side of the site and instead landscape this area of approximately 5000 sq. ft. ; 2) to reduce the amount of impervious surface on the site by using gravel instead of paving on the rear parking area; and 3) to increase the amount of landscaping particularly to improve the sight lines along Hartwell Avenue, to screen the parking areas and to improve the guest's view of buildings on adjoining properties. They also propose to operate a shuttle bus or van service along Hartwell Avenue to Hanscom Field, as well as to and from Logan Airport. The Board recommended that a sidewalk be installed along the front of the property; that they believe a financial contribution should be made to help with traffic improvements in the Bedford Street/Hartwell Avenue area; and that they try to reduce the FAR of the building. RECOMMENDATIONS ON APPLICATIONS TO THE BOARD OF APPEALS 56. Hearings scheduled for March 9, 1989: Mr. Williams gave an oral review of the following hearings to be heard by the Board of Appeals. 396 Waltham Street, Mobil Oil Corp. , SP, to demolish and reconstruct a gasoline service station in the CRS zone, and to replace an internally illuminated free standing sign: The Board discussed the revised plans Minutes for the Meeting of February 21, 1989 4 and asked Ms. Nordby to review the planting plan. 6 North Hancock Street, Richard P. Folsom, SP, to continue the operation of a take-out food service, with no deep-fat frying: The Board com- mended the applicant for the improved appearance of the building, and suggested he consider adding some landscaping. They recommended the special permit be granted as long as the conditions included in the previous , two year, special permit are included in this decision. The Board also agreed to make no comment on the following applications: 482 Marrett Road, Marion & Arthur Rouse, SP, to add a second floor over the non-conforming portion of a single family dwelling. 314 Concord Avenue, Melvin & Dorothy Davis, variance, to add a dining room leaving a side yard setback of 11.04 feet instead of 15 feet. 31 Lincoln Street, Thomas and Susan Coffman, variances, to add a one- story addition with a front yard setback of 28.8 feet instead of 30 feet, and a side yard setback of 7.5 feet at the southwest corner instead of 15 feet. 59 North Hancock Street, Mr. & Mrs. Norman Foskett, variance, to convert a sun room into a bedroom and bath leaving a setback of 11 feet instead of 15 feet. 57. Planning Board, Subcommittees a. Affordable Housing: Mrs. Uhrig reported she will meet with repre- sentatives from LEXHAB, the Housing Authority and Selectmen Chairman Smith on Wednesday, March 1 for further discussion of the housing position papers. She also reported that the Planning Board was invited to join the Selectmen's meeting at 7: 30 (later changed to 7: 15) on February 27 to continue these discussions. Mr. Sorensen informed the Board that he has decided he can not support development of the Meagherville site. The meeting was adjourned at 11: 00 p.m. 1 Eleanor Klauminzer, Clerk