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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPlanning Board Minutes, 1991-06-10 PLANNING BOARD MINUTES MINUTES OF JUNE 10, 1991 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, Davison, Domnitz, Grant, Williams, Planning Director Bowyer, Assistant Planner Marino and Secretary Peters present. ******************** PLANNING DIRECTOR'S REPORT ************************ 129. Subdivision Data Base Mr. Bowyer reported that it will take some time to collect information on subdivisions from 1980 to 1991. The Board discussed the material it received in this meeting's packets, and suggested that the name of the subdivision and the nearest Town street to the subdivision be incorporated into the next work-up; and that each work-up be dated. **************** ADMINISTRATION OF LAND DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS ************** PLANS NOT REQUIRING APPROVAL UNDER THE SUBDIVISION CONTROL LAW 130 Form A/91-6, 210 Marrett Road Mr Marino explained that all the changes proposed by the Board on the Form A/91-5 plan, which was filed at its May 29 meeting, have been made by the applicant, and that the corrected Form A has been refiled as Form A/91-6. On the motion of Mr. Grant, seconded by Mr Williams, it was voted 5-0 to endorse the plan entitled "Plan of Land Located in Lexington, Massachusetts (Middlesex County)", dated April 25, 1991 and revised May 31, 1991, by Meridian Engineering Collaborative, Inc , certified by Donald E Bowen, Jr , Professional Land Surveyor, with application Form A/91-6 by Brita E. Swenson & Margot B. Rushton, as it does not require approval under the Subdivision Control Law 131. JOINT MEETING Planning Board and Conservation Commission Chairman Joyce Miller with Conservation Commission members Angela Frick, Lisa Baci, Joel Adler and Richard Wolk joined the Board for a discussion of land use issues Mrs Miller noted that with funding for conservation purposes drying up, more reliance would have to be placed on zoning to preserve open space She added that the Commission the felt the joint site visits with the Planning Board had been a good idea, and recommended they be resumed. She also recommended that the words "to remain open in perpetuity" be added to the Development Regulations, in reference to open space that is given to the Town as part of cluster subdivisions, or other gifts from developers A discussion of the aquifer protection by-law followed. Ms. Baci reported the Commission had not had sufficient time to prepare one for the 1991 Town Meeting. The question of whether the aquifer by-law should be part of the General By-Laws or part of the Zoning By-Laws was also discussed. Mr. Williams suggested 1) that the provisions of the Hobbs Brook Study be implemented; 2) that special conditions to Planning Board and Conservation Commission decisions be added to strengthen good land development practices; and 3) consideration be given to the preparation of a jumbo house by-law Minutes for the Meeting of June 10, 1991 2 covering infill lots and lots with small homes which are demolished in order to build jumbo homes on substandard lots. Mr Adler questioned whether precedents would be set, encouraging the con- struction of jumbo homes, when roadway widths are reduced and sidewalks eliminated, thus increasing the amount of impervious surface available for jumbo homes. He recommended that sensible roadway and sidewalk widths be part of the Development Regulations revisions, so there would not be no the need for granting waivers, on a regular basis, on these widths in individual subdivision decisions The Conservation Commission was asked for its input in the development of regulatory provisions dealing with private land. Mrs. Miller thought, and all agreed, that new solutions for the design of detention ponds were badly needed. Mrs Frick commented on the Conservation Commission's responsibility to update the Town's "Open Space and Recreation Plan" every five years as required by the State, and asked the Planning Board's help in doing so. She also asked about the status of the South Lexington Plan, since she feels South Lexington is a very sensitive area. She mentioned traffic problems and the amount of remaining buildable area on Waltham Street, and what future uses for the Metropolitan State Hospital might be considered. Mrs Wood expressed the Board's gratitude to the Conservation Commission for joining it for a very worthwhile discussion. *********************** REGIONAL, INTERTOWN ISSUES ************************* 132 HATS. Memorandum of Agreement Mr. Grant presented some background on the organization of HATS. He said that the four towns, Lexington, Lincoln, Bedford and Concord, each have three members on the committee; a selectman, a member of the Planning Board and a member at large, with the selectman as the voting member He added that the proposed Memorandum of Agreement would call for the establishment of a committee to be known as the Hanscom Area Growth and Policy Committee consisting of three members from each town, with the selectman voting, and the other members representing the Planning Board and the Conservation Commission. The Commander of the Electronic Systems Division (ESP) , Hanscom AFB would become a fifth committee member, also having one vote, the same voting power as each town. The Board questioned why this was done Members also asked who would cast the town's vote if the selectman was unable to attend and vote Mr. Domnitz questioned the "price" of accepting funds from ESD, as well as the power of the Growth and Development Policy Committee. Mrs. Wood suggested that two out of three votes be required from each town, instead of the selectman being the only member voting. Mr. Bowyer suggested, and the Board agreed, that it be required that the town directly affected by any proposal must vote with the majority vote. It was also asked if money could be used in a town without Town Meeting approval Minutes for the Meeting of June 10, 1991 3 r-- The Board recommended that the Air Force not have a vote on the Hanscom Area Growth and Development Policy Committee or be able to chair the meeting. Mr. Grant will convey the Board's concerns and comments at the next HATS meeting, the third week in June Mr Domnitz presented a draft letter that he had prepared, outlining the Board's position on the Generic Environmental Impact Report, addressed to Susan Tierney, Secretary of the Executive Office of Environmental Affairs. the Board reviewed the draft letter and agreed the contents represented its position. On the motion of Mr. Domnitz, seconded by Mrs. Davison, it was voted to send the letter, as drafted, to Mrs Tierney with a copy sent to the Selectmen **************** PLANNING BOARD ORGANIZATION, SCHEDULE ****************** 133 Election of Officers Mrs Wood asked for nominations for officers of the Planning Board to serve for one year. Mr Domnitz nominated Mr. Williams for chairman There were no other nomina- tions, and the Board voted unanimously to elect Mr. Williams chairman. Mrs. Davison nominated Mr. Domnitz for vice chairman There were no other nominations, and the Board voted unanimously to elect Mr. Domnitz vice chairman. Mrs Davison nominated Mr. Grant for clerk. There were no other nominations, and the Board voted unanimously to elect Mr Grant clerk **************** ADMINISTRATION OF LAND DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS ************ SUBDIVISION OF LAND 134. Pheasant Brook II . Release of Lot 4 Mr. Marino reported the applicant has requested the release of Lot 4, the 6th lot released out of 10 lots. He added that the Town holds sufficient surety to ensure completion of the sub- division, and that work is progressing well On the motion of Mrs Wood, seconded by Mr Grant, it was voted 5-0 to release Lot 4 RECOMMENDATIONS ON APPLICATIONS TO THE BOARD OF APPEALS 135. Hearings scheduled for June 20. 1991 Mrs Davison gave an oral review of the following applications to be heard by the Board of Appeals 80 Hayden Avenue, Oui Offices Unlimited, Inc. , SP, to install an internally illuminated wall sign facing Rte. 2 to identify the tenant of a commercial building, to allow the punctuation of the letter "i" to exceed the 3-foot height requirement of the Zoning By-Law, and to allow backlit illumination of the letters "oui". The Board noted an internal- ly illuminated sign is not permitted by right by the Zoning By-Law, and did not think the Board of Appeals should grant a special permit allowing this one. The Board agreed that this was an inappropriate location for the sign, since it would face Benjamin Road and other residential neighborhoods Minutes for the Meeting of June 10, 1991 4 across Route 2 and would appear to suggest a furniture retail sales operation, which is not permitted in the CR0 District. They also agreed that this type of sign was out of character with the Hayden Avenue CR0 zoning district, and that allowing this type of sign would begin to change the character of this district to that typical of other highway oriented commercial districts. On the motion of Mrs Davison, seconded by Mrs. Wood, it was voted 5-0 to recommend the special permit not be granted. 46 Bedford Street, Shell Oil Company, to modify a special permit, granted 7/30/63, for a gas station, to add an additional 48 sq ft to the building for the retail sale of convenience goods, and to increase the parking capacity. It was first thought by some Board members that the application was incomplete, because it did not comply with the landscap- ing requirements. Further discussion clarified that landscaping is not required because the lot does not abut another zoning district A motion was made by Mrs Davison, seconded by Mr Williams, to make no recommendation on this application. By a vote of 2-3, this motion did not carry, with Mr. Williams, Mrs Davison and Mr. Domnitz voting in the negative. Mrs. Davison moved and Mr. Williams seconded to express concern about the intensity of use at this very busy intersection that would be I increased by the sale of convenience food. She also expressed concern that other gasoline stations would wish to sell convenience foods. Mr. Bowyer noted that the sale of convenience food is permitted as of right in the CRS district Mr Grant added that the Board should not be recommending against a use that is allowed by right in the district Mrs. Wood observed that to do so could be interpreted as a criticism of the Zoning By-Law, which had been enacted at Town Meeting on the recommendation of the Planning Board. By a vote of 2-3, this motion also did not carry, with Mr. Grant, Mrs. Wood and Mr. Williams voting in the negative. On the motion of Mr. Williams, seconded by Mrs. Wood, it was voted 3-2, with Mrs. Davison and Mr. Domnitz voting in the negative, to reconsider the motion to make no comment on the application. On the motion of Mrs Wood, seconded by Mr. Grant, it was voted 4-1 (Mr. Domnitz voted in the negative) to make no comment on the application. The Board agreed to make no comment on the applications below, also scheduled to be heard by the Board of Appeals on June 20, 1991. 94 Winter St. , Frank & Janet Kern, variance, from a 20 foot required setback to a side street, to enlarge and cover the nonconforming porch and allow a setback of 14 feet from the roof overhang to Morris St. 26 Vinebrook Road, Janis Gogan, variance, from a 10 foot side yard required setback, to extend a nonconforming attached garage forward with a one-story addition and allow a side yard setback of 7. 5 feet (Mr. Domnitz wished to be recorded as against granting this variance) Minutes for the Meeting of June 10, 1991 5 ****************************** REPORTS *************************************** 136. Planning Board. Subcommittees a. Center Business Committee Mr Williams announced that the Committee's next meeting will be held this at noon this Thursday, and that he will be unable to attend. Mr. Domnitz will try to go. The meeting was adjourned at 11 17 p m. ite.Q- C"taitSt Edmund C Grant, Cleric