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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPlanning Board Minutes 1990-09-13 PLANNING BOARD MINUTES MEETING OF SEPTEMBER 13, 1990 The meeting of the Lexington Planning Board held in Room G-1, Town Office Building, was called to order at 7:35 p.m. by the Chairman, Mrs. Wood, with members Domnitz, Klauminzer, Williams, Planning Director Bowyer and Acting Assistant Planner Marino present. Mr. Grant arrived during Item 190. 187. Review of Minutes The Board reviewed the minutes for the meeting of August 22, 1990. On the motion of Mrs. Klauminzer, seconded by Mr. Williams, it was voted 3-0-1 (Mr. Domnitz abstained since he had not attended the meeting) to approve the minutes, as written. ************* ADMINISTRATION OF LAND DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS *********** RECOMMENDATIONS ON APPLICATIONS TO THE BOARD OF APPEALS 188. Hearings Scheduled for Sentember 27. 1990 Mr. Domnitz gave an oral review of the following hearings scheduled to be heard by the Board of Appeals. 675 Lowell Street, Burlington Village Associates, renewal of the special permit to continue to be allowed a reduction in the number of parking spaces required for a retail building in the CD District. The Board agreed it would not support a reduction in the number of parking spaces in perpetuity, since no one can document future parking needs. On the motion of Mr. Domnitz, seconded by Mrs. Klauminzer, it was voted 4-0 to recommend the special permit, allowing a reduction in the number of parking spaces required, be granted for five years or until there is a change of use, whichever occurs first. 46 Chase Avenue, Ronald & Artemis Hagopian, Variance, to construct a one story addition to a dwelling containing a handicap-access bathroom, laundry and master bedroom with a 7 85 foot setback to a side street in- stead of the 20 feet required. The Board did not have a recommendation on this application but observed that they were sympathetic to the cir- cumstances which represent a genuine personal hardship for the family, but noted that, under Massachusetts law, a hardship must emanate from provisions of the zoning by-law, and should apply to any property owner, regardless of personal circumstances 8 Parker Street, Laurel Hudson, SP, to expand a front porch roof of a nonconforming dwelling with no change in site coverage. On the motion of Mr. Williams, seconded by Mrs. Klauminzer, it was voted 4-0 to recommend the special permit be granted since the expansion of the roof over the porch complies with the provisions of the Zoning By-Law. 86 Reed Street, Mary Collins, Variance, to construct a one-story addi- tion at the rear of a nonconforming dwelling with a 10 foot side yard setback instead of the 12 feet required. The Board noted the anomaly that the width of the lot is 75 feet for which the setback required by 7.4.1 is 10 feet, while the frontage is inches more than 75 feet for Minutes for the Meeting of September 13, 1990 2 which the setback required by 7.4.1 is 12 feet, and that if the lot were a perfect rectangle, no variance would be required. On the motion of Mr. Williams, seconded by Mrs. Klauminzer, it was voted 4-0 to recommend the variance be granted since the irregular shape of the lot does meet the statutory criteria for granting a variance from the dimensional standards of the By-Law. The Board also agreed to make no comment on the following applications 17 Pearl Street, Anthony & Carol Savini, Variance, to replace an existing nonconforming dwelling with a new dwelling and allow a front yard setback of 24 feet to the roof overhang and 18 feet to the front steps rather than the required 30 feet. 17 Sutherland Road, Joanna Fuller, Variance to install an angled bay window on the front of a nonconforming single family dwelling and allow a front yard setback of 22 feet to the window instead of the required 30 feet. ********************* 1991 ANNUAL TOWN MEETING *************************** 189 Town Accentance of Subdivision Streets Farm Road and Sanderson Road. ( The Board reviewed a memo from Acting Assistant Planner Marino, dated Septem- ber 13, 1990, which reported that all work at the Busa Farms Subdivision has been completed to Town standards, and that all lots and the final surety have been released, so that Farm Road could be proposed by the Board for acceptance as a public street at the 1991 Annual Town Meeting. Mr. Bowyer also reported that the Sanderson Road portion of the Orchard Crossing Subdivision should be completed to Town standards by the end of September, and could also be proposed by the Board for acceptance as a public street at the 1991 Annual Town Meeting. He recommended that the paper work required for the acceptance process begin now, and if the work is not satis- factorily completed to the Town's standards, the Board's recommendation for the street's acceptance can be withdrawn. On the motion of Mr. Williams, seconded by Mrs. Klauminzer, it was voted 4-0: Whereas Francis X. Fields, Town Engineer, has indicated in a memo dated August 9, 1990, that all community facilities in the Busa Farms Sub- division have been completed in accordance with the Subdivision Control Law and the Town's regulations, and all lots and the final surety have been released, the Planning Board recommends that Farm Road be proposed for acceptance as a public street by the 1991 Annual Town Meeting. On the motion of Mr. Williams, seconded by Mrs. Klauminzer, it was voted 4-0: Whereas all community facilities along the Sanderson Road portion of the Orchard Crossing Subdivision have been completed, or will be completed by October 15, 1990, in accordance with the Subdivision Control Law and Minutes for the Meeting of September 13, 1990 3 r it the Town's regulations, the Planning Board recommends that Sanderson Road be proposed for acceptance as a public street by the 1991 Annual Town Meeting ***************************** REPORTS ************************************* 190. Planning Director a. Postal Distribution Facility in Waltham. Mr. Bowyer showed the Environmental Impact Statement for the facility, filed with the Town Manager, who has given it to the Planning Department for review. Acting Assistant Planner Marino will review the four volumes. b. Scattered Site Housing• The Board was shown a plot plan for a single family affordable dwelling proposed to be built on Town land at the corner of Waltham Street and Park Drive. It will be constructed by the students at Minute-Man Technical School, under the same process used for the construction of the Emerald Street affordable home c. EOCD Grant for Small Cities Program. Mr. Bowyer reported that the Town has applied to EOCD for a grant of $724,000 (FY90 money) to be used for construction of Town roads and utilities at the Pine Meadows/Meagh- erville site. d. Reauest from Robert Cataldo re Sidewalk in Pheasant Brook II The Board discussed a request from Mr. Cataldo to eliminate a portion of the sidewalk along the turnaround at John Hosmer Lane, extending from the pedestrian easement between Lots 4 and 5 to the driveway between Lots 5 and 6. The Board agreed they would continue to require that the side- walk be constructed as originally approved. e. Lexington Ridge. Waltham Street. Landscane Plan: Mr. Bowyer presented the landscape plan that the Board had previously requested from the developer. The plan has been favorably reviewed by former Assistant Planner Nordby, who considers it an ambitious plan and who approves of the selection and placing of various trees and shrubs. The Board also discussed a letter from Mrs. Kozel, 983 Waltham Street, who raised concerns about the site plan, particularly the close proxim- ity of the maintenance building and the emergency access to her proper- ty, which abuts the proposed development. The Board agreed that her concerns were valid and should be forwarded to the developer. f. Turnburry Hill Street Sign. Mr. Brown wishes to substitute a street sign of his own design, rather than to use the standard green with white lettering sign required by the Town. Mr. Bowyer's position was that the developer had to install the standard sign usually re- quired. Standardization of street sign type and location is desirable for emergency vehicles and guests etc. An additional individualized sign might be allowed depending on how the Building Commissioner interprets the sign section of the Zoning By-Law. Minutes for the Meeting of September 13, 1990 4 a. 1990 Census. Lexington Preliminary Count Mr. Bowyer reported on a meeting with a representative from the Census Bureau and the Town Clerk at which it appeared there were discrepancies in the count of dwelling units, as counted by the Census Bureau and by the Town of Lexington. The Bureau counts about 150 dwelling units more than the Town. Also, the Bureau counts 28,896 people living in Lexington as of April 1; the Bureau excludes all persons, such as college students, who are not at home on this date. The Census conducted by the Town counts 29,769 persons living in Lexington as of January 1, resulting in a difference of approximately 900 between the two counts. The Town Census includes people for whom Lexington is the legal and voting address although they may not physically be in town on April 1. Allowing for the different methods of counting, the Census Bureau's preliminary count of population is higher than he anticipated even though it is lower than the Town's Annual Census. He added that only challenges of the number of dwelling units are accepted by the Bureau, but cities and towns usually only challenge underenumeration. h. Subdivision Data Base Mr. Bowyer reported that the staff continues to refine and increase the data base of information on subdivisions back to 1980. He presented the latest update for the Board's review, which shows that it is now possible to determine the total number of building lots in each subdivision; how many lots have had building permits issued; and all other lots still vacant. There are 57 out of a total number of 211 which are still vacant. ******************** 1991 ANNUAL TOWN MEETING ***************************** 191. Potential Planning Board Articles Mr. Domnitz suggested the Board consider proposing zoning amendments to clarify restaurant parking require- ments, hair dresser stations/parking requirements and home occupations. He also suggested there be a general by-law amendment to allow Planning Board members to be appointed as Town Meeting members. He will discuss the feasi- bility of this with Town Moderator Marge Battin. Mr. Bowyer suggested some thought be given to an amendment raising the threshold above three for the number of dwelling units requiring a special permit with site plan review. ***************************** REPORTS *************************************** 192. Planning Board, Subcommittees a. Center Committee Meeting Mr. Williams reported the Committee dis- cussed. 1) how to improve crosswalk safety; 2) illegal left turns out of Clarke Street; 3) the need for more Center embellishment and 4) the proliferation of signs in the Center The meeting was adjourned at 9 50 p.m. 9'1F32PII.I{JJt'J1ISJiOII.,,J\ ' David O. Williams, Clerk