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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPlanning Board Minutes 1990-10-15 PLANNING BOARD MINUTES MEETING OF OCTOBER 15, 1990 The meeting of the Lexington Planning Board held in Room G-15, Town Office Building, was called to order at 7 38 p m. by the Chairman, Mrs. Wood, with members Domnitz, Grant, Klauminzer, Planning Director Bowyer, Acting Assistant Planner Marino and Secretary Peters present. Mr. Williams was absent. 202. Review of Minutes The Board reviewed and corrected the minutes for the meeting of October 15, 1990. On the motion of Mrs. Klauminzer, seconded by Mr. Grant, it was voted 4-0 to approve the minutes, as amended. ************************** REPORTS **************************************** 203. Planning Director a South Lexington Transportation Task Force Mr. Bowyer reported on a task force meeting held last Wednesday, at which a report, put out by the State's Central Transportation Planning staff was discussed. He summarized the CTPS report which dealt with commuting patterns in the Lexington/Waltham area of Route 128. It showed that people were so dis- persed in the suburbs that there was little opportunity for back-up transportation systems. Mr Bowyer said that the South Lexington Task Force is made up mostly of major companies along Spring Street and Hayden Avenue, and representa- tives of the South Lexington Civic Association. They promote alterna- tive modes of travel and operate a shuttle bus service to the Alewife MBTA rapid transit station. A centralized carpool information exchange that has been established among the companies to encourage the use of mini-buses, carpools and vans has helped to reduce reliance on single occupancy passenger cars A representative of W.R. Grace spoke on the successful use of flex-time, which is well liked by employees and the company alike. He also report- ed that it has not affected the number who use mini-buses, carpools and vans, that are promoted to encourage a reduction of single occupancy passenger cars. ********************* ARTICLES FOR 1990 SPECIAL TOWN MEETING *************** 204. Pine Meadow/Meagherville Rezoning Selectman Paul Marshall, Assistant Town Manager Deborah Radway, Engineer Frank DiPetro, from BSC - Bedford, as well as Project Manager Lisa Alberghini, Architect Stephen Tise and Landscape Architect Katherine Schreiber representing The Community Builders, joined the Board for a review of alternative options that was requested by the Board at its August 1, 1990 meeting. Also present were Chairman Joyce Miller and Lisa Baci of the Conservation Commission, and Margaret Rawls. Mr. Marshall gave a status report of events since The Community Builders' last meeting with the Board and said they plan to move forward with an RD develop- ment proposal at a Special Town Meeting on November 28, 1990 He noted that Minutes for the Meeting of October 15, 1990 2 1 the mandate for a through road and 40 affordable units, given at last year's Annual Town Meeting, continue to be the governing design factors He added that the number of lots that would be sold has been reduced to one lot in two of the plans (Options A and C) and four lots in the third plan (Option B) This has permitted more flexibility in siting the affordable units. Ms. Alberghini said they have attempted to incorporate recommendations and criticisms that were received at the first round of meetings with Town boards and committees, and have prepared the three sketch options, based on this information and the Planning Board's request for other options. Mr. DiPetro presented site information which included an orientation to the entire site, as well as the area for development that is located along an extension of Garfield Street, connecting through to Cedar Street. He noted a wetland delineation for the development that was done in 1988. The Town's existing sewer easement would be the approximate rear boundary to the building area. He discussed three alternative roadway designs which are proposed to reduce speed on the through road. Stephen Tise described how the plan has evolved into the three design options now presented from the previous concept plan presented at the last round of meetings, which proposed selling a maximum of 12 building lots. He noted that in the previous plan, the Conservation Commission did not like the plan for 1 the stream crossing, and others did not like the loop road system; the linear cluster units proposal; selling so many lots to finance the proposal; i and isolating the affordable units in one area, and concentrating the lots to be sold for market rate development on the "best land" nearer the golf course. Of the three sketch plans now presented by Mr. Tise, the Board preferred Option C, with Option A also acceptable. Members felt that in Option B the units were too tightly clustered and isolated, and there was too much paving. Option A showed a right angle turn in the roadway, which appeared to create two roads. The Board noted that it generally preferred the road not to change names when coming off the end of one street -- in this case Garfield Street. Option C eliminated the right turn, but kept a sharp bend in the roadway to discourage speeding The Board also agreed 1) the road should be no more than 24 feet wide, with portions, near the ballfield or where needed for guest parking, widened and clearly designated as parking spaces; 2) there must be a sidewalk; and 3) any access into conservation areas at the rear of the building area must be clearly identified. In response to questions from the Board and residents it was reported. 1) all financing is the same as proposed in August; 2) Option A has the most pave- ment, and Option C the least; 3) the bedroom breakdown remains the same, 4 - one bedroom units, 18 - two bedroom units and 18 - three bedroom units; all tenants will have to qualify on the basis of income; and 4) eventually it is proposed that the rest of the Town owned land will be transferred to the jur- isdiction of either the Conservation or Recreation Commission, perhaps at the spring Annual Town Meeting, if the RD rezoning proposal passes at the fall Town Meeting Minutes for the Meeting of October 15, 1990 3 Ms. Radway reported there will be a meeting of the Meagherville Site Develop- ment Committee this Thursday at 8 00 p.m. in the Selectmen's Meeting Room, and there will be a meeting with the neighborhood on November 1, 1990 at the Has- tings School. Ms. Alberghini added that they consider the Planning Board's Public Hearing on November 13, 1990 in Cary Hall to be the primary source for feedback on the proposal. Mr. Bowyer commented that, according to the Planning Board's RD/CD Guidelines, the Planning Board bases its report and recommendation to the Special Town Meeting on what is included in the preliminary site development plan that is filed with the Board for its public hearing. He added that the Zoning By-Law does permit a 10% change in the plans that are filed with the Board of Appeals, after the rezoning is approved by Town Meeting; and that permits the developer some flexibility in dealing with site conditions. It was generally agreed that the plans for the public hearing must be complete. ******************** PLANNING BOARD ORGANIZATION ************************** 205. Priorities for Planning Board and Staff for Next Six to Nine Months The Board discussed the staff recommendations on Planning Department Priori- ties, dated October 10, 1990. Members noted the short term projects with specific time requirements, and concurred with the selection of projects classified as highest priority• 1) revising the Development Regulations by separating out the subdivision rules and regulations from zoning provisions; t 2) updating the RD,CD Guidelines (from the 1982 edition) ; and 3) updating and revising the Planning Board procedural rules. Under the High Priority category, the Board discussed the possibility of potential conflicts for the Planning Director when he is doing work for the Town Manager on the Capital Improvement Program. Mr. Bowyer reported work is continuing on the Land Use Element, mainly in the collection of background information from Assessor's records, adding that the study should be similar to the South Lexington study, but easier to do with today's electronic data processing capabilities. Under the Middling Priority category, Mr. Bowyer reported that no income reports for Countryside Manor have been received on any shifts of affordable units as incomes change, as required by the special permit for the Board of Appeals, and that nothing has begun to date on the preparation of a draft Housing Development Plan. He commented that because the State Executive Office of Communities and Development requires that the Board of Selectmen must vote to adopt a local Housing Development Action Plan, further direction on preparation of this Plan should come from the Board of Selectmen. *************** ARTICLES FOR THE 1991 ANNUAL TOWN MEETING ************* 206. Planning Board Sponsored Articles a. Restaurant Parking Reauirements Mr. Domnitz commented on the problems he perceives with the way the Zoning By-Law currently deter- mines how much parking is required for restaurants, based on the number Minutes for the Meeting of October 15, 1990 4 n of employees and the amount of seating. He proposed, and the Board agreed, to prepare an article revising restaurant parking requirements to be based on the number of seats only with no reference to employees. Judith Uhrig, former Planning Board chairman, joined the Board's discussion, and asked if it would consider trying to enable smaller restaurants in the center to provide more seating outside in the summer without those seats being included in the count that determines the number of parking spaces that the restaurant must provide. The Board agreed (by a straw vote of 3-1, Mr. Domnitz was not willing) to look into the issue b. Hair Dressing / Work Stations Mr Domnitz recommended an amendment to the Zoning By-Law that would base the parking required for beauty salons on the square footage of the establishment rather than the number of chairs/work stations, since it is difficult to relate them to parking requirements. The staff was asked to contact the APA Ordinance Search Service as a first step toward preparing a zoning amendment. 207. Zoning Amendments Proposed by Julian Bussgang Mr. Bussgang joined the Board for a discussion of six suggested zoning amendments in his "Proposed Zoning Amendments for the 1991 Town Meeting," dated September 17, 1990. After detailed review of each suggested amendment, it appears that they either address hypothetical, but unlikely, situations or there is language already in the By-Law that covers the situation. The Board agreed it did not wish to support any of the suggested amendments as articles for the 1991 Annual Town Meeting. *************** ADMINISTRATION OF LAND DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS ************* RECOMMENDATIONS ON APPLICATIONS TO THE BOARD OF APPEALS 208. Hearing Scheduled for October 15. 1990 Mr. Grant gave an oral review of, and the Board agreed to make no comment on, the following application to be heard by the Board of Appeals 20 Waltham Street, Eddie's of Lexington, Inc. , to modify a SP, to extend permitted hours from 11 30 am to midnight, 7 days a week, to open at 7 00 am to serve breakfast. SUBDIVISION OF LAND 209 Pheasant Brook II . Robert Cataldo. Set Surety Acting Assistant Planner Marino, reported that Robert Cataldo/Sheldon Corporation wishes to set the amount of surety preparatory to having the lots released The "Cost to Const- ruct" for the remaining work at this subdivision, as estimated by the En- gineering Department on October 1, 1990, is $64,457.50. With the required fees added, the total amount of surety to be held is $75,902. On the motion of Mrs. Klauminzer, seconded by Mr. Grant, it was voted 4-0 1) To set the amount of surety for the Pheasant Brook II subdivision at 76,000, which is the total remaining "Cost to Construct," plus contin- Minutes for the Meeting of October 15, 1990 5 gency/engineering, escalation deposit, and administrative costs, as the amount necessary to hold until the completion of the community facilit- ies and the subdivision, and 2) That this level of surety is determined to be sufficient through October 15, 1991 only. If the subdivision is not completed by that time, the amount of surety needed may be re-evaluated to determine its relationship between the then applicable construction costs and the work remaining to be completed. If little or none of the work that remained, at the time this surety was posted, is completed by October 15, 1991, and the current costs, of the amount of work to be completed, have 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. 210. Simonds Estate Oscar Cormier, Final Release of All Lots: Mr. Bowyer reported that signing this release will correct a document previously approved by the Board which had an error in the book and page reference. On the motion of Mr. Grant, seconded by Mrs. Klauminzer, it was voted 4-0 to sign the corrected Final Release of Lots for Simonds Estates. 211. Turnhurry Hill. Otis Brown. The Board reviewed and approved an amended landscape plan for the completion of screening at Turnburry Hill, showing the location of an additional white pine, as agreed to by the developer and Mrs. Murman, an abuttor, and the location of five additional Canadian hemlocks as agreed to by the developer and Mr Zvara, an abuttor. **************************** REPORTS ***************************************** 212. Planning Board. Subcommittees a. Position on Referendum Question 3 Mrs. Wood reported that the Board has been asked by the "Committee Opposed to Question 3" to take a stand in opposition to Question 3, which would roll back State taxes and fees to the 1978 level. On the motion of Mrs. Klauminzer, seconded by Mr. Grant, it was voted 4-0 that the Planning Board go on record as opposed to Referendum Question 3. b. Lighting Options Committee Mr. Domnitz reported that the committee will next meet on October 24 or 25, 1990, and that they have agreed that rather than proposing a Zoning By-Law change this year, it will be sufficient to prepare an informational paper for distribution at the 1991 Annual Town Meeting. The Meeting was adjourned at 11: 12 p m. dittit ✓ �l Eleanor Klauminzer, ( Vice Chairman