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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPlanning Board Minutes, 1991-10-28 t PLANNING BOARD MINUTES MEETING OF OCTOBER 28, 1991 The meeting of the Lexington Planning Board held in Room G-15, Town Office Building, was called to order at 7 35 p.m. by the Chairman, Mr. Williams, with members Domnitz, Grant, Wood, Planning Director Bowyer and Assistant Planner Marino present. Mrs. Davison was absent. Mr. Grant arrived during Item 198. 197. Review of Minutes (occurred following Item 199 below) The Board reviewed and corrected the minutes for the meeting of October 8, 1991. On the motion of Mr. Williams, seconded by Mr. Grant, it was voted 3-0-1 (Mrs. Wood abstained since she had not attended the meeting) to approve the minutes, as amended. ********************* PLANNING DIRECTOR'S REPORT ***************************** 198 Recent Activity' a. LexHAB Search for Scattered Lots: Mr. Bowyer reported that LexHAB has contacted the Town Manager's office asking that sites be identified on which LexHAB can continue its collaboration with the Minute-man Regional Vocational Technical School in the construction of affordable housing during the 1992-1993 school year. Minute-man School has asked that the design be changed from a single family home to a wood frame building on a small lot which could be a two-family or a congregate type of building The Planning Department, with the assistance of the Engi- neering Department, will review the data base of Town-owned lots to develop a list of isolated lots that could be used. Mr. Bowyer observed that this request poses a zoning dilemma for the Board of Selectmen. The lots available will be far smaller than the 125,000 square foot minimum required for an RD, Planned Residential District rezoning. However structures with more than one dwelling unit are not permitted in the single family zoning districts where the lots are located. Use of the local initiative "friendly" comprehensive permit procedure may be the best route available to accommodate this change in building type. The use of the comprehensive permit procedure is a matter the Board of Selectmen have yet to address *************** ADMINISTRATION OF LAND DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS ************** PLANS NOT REQUIRING APPROVAL UNDER THE SUBDIVISION CONTROL LAW 199. Form A/91-11. Joseph Comee Road and Butterfield Road. The Board reviewed a plan showing a change in a side yard lot line, with both Lot 34A and Lot 35A continuing to have more than the required frontage and lot area for the zoning district. Mr. Domnitz commented that it should be the Board's responsibility to ensure that the owners of both lots are aware of the change in the lot line. The Board agreed to require that in the revised Subdivision Regulations all parties involved in the change of a lot line sign the applica- tion form. Minutes for the Meeting of October 28, 1991 2 On the motion of Mrs. Wood, seconded by Mr. Williams, it was voted 4-0 (Mrs. Davison was absent) to endorse the plan entitled "Plan of Land Located in Lexington, Massachusetts (Middlesex County)", dated October 1, 1991, by Meridian Engineering Collaborative, Inc. , certified by Donald E. Bowen, Jr. , Professional Land Surveyor, with application Form A/91-11 by Richard & Beth Fentin, as the plan does not require approval under the Subdivision Control Law. *********************** COMPREHENSIVE PLANNING **************************** 200. Land Use Change in the 80's: Mr. Marino presented a series of slides in graph form showing land use changes in Lexington from 1980 to 1990. He noted that the presentation represents work in progress, and will appear soon in a written report. 201. Analysis of the 1991 United States Census: a. Receipt of First Printed Material from the 1990 US Census Mr. Bowyer reported that the first printed material from the 1990 US Census has been received. He outlined a series of five reports that would be prepared based principally on Census material that would show Lexington in relation to adjoining cities and towns and historically. Mr. Marino presented a series of slides in graph form on the information just received from the 1991 Census dealing with median age, male/female ratio and total population in Lexington since 1900. He again noted that this presentation represents work in progress Mr. Williams commented that this information, as well as the information presented on land use changes in Lexington, may be of interest to many people and urged Reporter Susan Fisher of the Lexington Minute-Man to report on the presentations. b. Geographic Information Systems Mr. Bowyer reported that last Friday he and Mr. Marino had attended an APA conference on geographic information systems. A GIS can be quite expensive because it involves translating aerial photographs into computer images and are connected to a data base of information about real estate. Lexington already has the makings of a good real estate data base because of the collaboration of the assessor's office with the planning department and the building department. Lexington already has a good set of maps based on 1987 aerial photographs and it is unlikely that the additional expense of a computer based GIS can be justified at this time. *************** PLANNING BOARD PROJECTS, POLICY MAKING ********************** 202. Planning Board Priorities for Programs. Pro.iects The Board discussed its priorities for Board projects that need to be worked on in the upcoming year Each member listed, in order of priority, what projects or programs he or she considered most important. (A table showing the ranking of projects by individual members will be included in the minutes of a future meeting when the rankings of Mrs. Davison, who was absent, can be included. ) Mr. Bowyer reported that compliance with the Town Manager's mandate that departments submit proposed 1993 Fiscal Year budgets showing a 2% and a 20% reduction from the 1992 Fiscal Year budgets approved by the Town Meeting would Minutes for the Meeting of October 28, 1991 3 mean the Planning Department would have to reduce personnel somewhat for the 2% reduction and substantially for the 20% reduction. He said the Department budget would almost certainly be cut but he did not know how much yet. He added that in the future all members of the Department would not be present for Board meetings because of the budgetary effects of their attendance, particularly that of the Department Clerk. ************************ ARTICLES FOR 1992 TOWN MEETING ********************* 203. Potential Zoning Amendments a. Board of Anneals concerns The Board discussed a letter, dated October 9, 1991, from Board of Appeals Chairman, Ann Scigliano, which expressed concern over some signs in business districts. She cited problems with the number and size of signs and whether the word "remov- able" is intended to mean short-term, since such signs tend to become permanent. Also mentioned in the letter were concerns about violations of Section 5 5, Bed and Breakfast Home, of the Zoning By-Law, pertaining to the number of bedrooms allowed for this use; the stipulation that "food for a fee may be served only to overnight guests;" and the renting of space to non-guests for social events. The Planning Board thought these two concerns do not deal with policy or intent of the By-Law and should be handled as enforcement problems. With respect to suggested amendments to the sign provisions of the Zoning By-Law, the Board preferred to undertake an overall revision of the sign section rather than deal with individual provisions. It was agreed to invite the membership of the Board of Appeals to a meeting after the first of next year to discuss revisions to the sign provi- sions, the landscaping/screening provisions and other issues in which the Board of Appeals may be interested. b. Commitments Made at Meetings Last Suring 1) Off-Street Parking - The Board agreed they would not bring any zoning amendments on off-street parking to the 1992 Town Meeting. 2) Pet Grooming - Mrs. Wood will draft language based on Board commit- ments made at last year's Town Meeting for this year's Town Meeting. 3) Private Postal Service - The Board was inclined to leave it up to the proponents to bring their proposal to the 1992 Town Meeting. Mrs. Wood noted she would not agree to extending the use to the CN commercial district. The staff was asked to contact the proponent. c. Jumbo Houses Mr. Williams urged that some provisions be added to the Zoning By-Law extending the restrictions on jumbo house provisions in subdivisions to single lots in Lexington, to minimize the impact of large houses on small lots too close to abutters. Discussion centered on zoning techniques for dealing with large buildings close to the lot line and this proposal would have to be well thought through and presented. Skillful presentation is also needed because the Town Meeting has historically shown sympathy to owners of small nonconforming lots and has resisted the Board's attempts to change Lexington's easy Minutes for the Meeting of October 28, 1991 4 treatment of construction on undersized lots. The Board agreed not to bring changes in jumbo house provisions to the 1992 Town Meeting. ************************* REPORTS ******************************************** 200. Planning Board. Subcommittees a. Central Transportation Planning Staff Town Meeting. A poll of the Board revealed that no Board member present would be able to attend this conference on November 12 in Waltham. It was agreed to ask Mrs. Davison if she would be able to go and listen for the Board. b. Metropolitan State Hospital Mr. Williams reported that the article in the Minute-man left him uncertain as to what plans the Selectmen have for the Metropolitan State Hospital Land Task Force Committee, on which he has served for several years. c. Lincoln Laboratory. Mr. Williams reported on a call he had from Jere Frick of the Conservation Commission about a large building being built containing approximately 900,000 sq. ft. at Hanscom Field. Mrs Wood noted that this building is located on federal land and will be offered to Lincoln Labs on a long term lease. Mr. Williams asked why the Town had no opportunity for input especially when the increased traffic will impact Lexington streets. Mr. Grant noted this is a project which the US Air Force appears to be considering requesting payment in lieu of taxes to the HATS Committee when the new Growth and Policy Committee of HATS is established. Mr. Domnitz questioned whether an Environmental Impact Statement had to be prepared for the project and was informed by Mr. Williams that Town Counsel had informed the Town that it was not required. The meeting was adjourned at 10 40 p.m. •( 37—' Edmund C. Grant, Clerk