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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPlanning Board Minutes, 1991-11-04 PLANNING BOARD MINUTES MEETING OF NOVEMBER 4, 1991 The meeting of the Lexington Planning Board held in Room G-15, Town Office Building, was called to order at 7 08 p m. by the Chairman, Mr. Williams, with members Domnitz, Grant, Wood, Planning Director Bowyer and Assistant Planner Marino present. Mrs. Davison joined the meeting during Item 206. 205. Review of Minutes (occurred following Item 206 below) The Board reviewed and corrected the minutes for the meeting of October 28, 1991. On the motion of Mrs. Wood, seconded by Mr. Grant, it was voted 5-0 to approve { the minutes, as amended. **************** ADMINISTRATION OF LAND DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS *********** RECOMMENDATIONS ON APPLICATIONS TO THE BOARD OF APPEALS 206 Hearings Scheduled for November 21. 1991 Mr. Williams gave an oral review of the following applications to be heard by the Board of Appeals. 1749 Massachusetts Avenue, Lexington Creamery Inc. , d/b/a Steve's Ice Cream, to add sandwiches to the menu, and to reissue the special permit for the operation of a sandwich shop. The Board made no comment except to recommend that if the Board of Appeals reissues the special permit, the applicant should be asked to be more attentive to cleaning up and policing rubbish in front of and behind the store 3 Watson Road, William Wittenberg, variance, to add a one-story exten- sion to the living room of a nonconforming single-family dwelling with a front-yard setback of 28 feet instead of the required 30 feet. Mrs. Wood moved and Mr. Domnitz seconded to recommend that the variance be denied since no hardship had been demonstrated with respect to criteria, such as soil, shape or topography of the land and unique conditions, as defined under state law. The motion did not carry, with Mrs. Davison, Mr. Grant and Mr. Williams voting in the negative. On the motion of Mr. Williams, seconded by Mr. Grant, it was voted 3-2 with Mrs. Wood and Mr. Domnitz voting in the negative to make no comment on the application. The Board also agreed to make no comment on the following applications 3 Watson Road, William Wittenberg, SP, to add a rear shed dormer above the nonconforming portion of a single-family dwelling, with no increase in site coverage. 232 Lowell Street, Irving and Helen Harrington, SP, to add a roof over the landing of nonconforming front steps with no increase in site coverage. 140 Cedar Street, Larry and Suzanne Croes, variance, to allow a deck to ,I remain as constructed at the rear of a single-family dwelling with a 15 9 ft. setback to a side street instead of the required 20 ft. �i ;J 2 Minutes for the Meeting of November 4, 1991 SUBDIVISION OF LAND 207. Wright Street Extension. Definitive Plan, Mid-Term Review The Board reviewed a memo from Assistant Planner Marino, dated October 30, 1991, and a memo from Town Engineer, Frank Fields, dated October 21, 1991. Members agreed there were real drainage problems at the intersection of James and Wright Streets. Mr Marino reported that the applicant had withdrawn his previous definitive plan, had tried to work out solutions to problems identified by the Engineering Department, and had been unsuccessful. Mr. Marino added that this plan is essentially the same as the first definitive plan filed. On the motion of Mr. Grant, seconded by Mrs. Wood, it was voted 5-0 to inform the applicant that the Board believes the plan does not comply with the Town's regulations, and suggests that the plan be withdrawn for revision. Otherwise, the Board will continue the review process. ************* PLANNING BOARD PROJECTS, POLICY MAKING *********************** 208. Planning Board Priorities for Programs. Projects Mrs. Davison reported that her top priority for 1992 is to develop plans for the future use of the Metropolitan State Hospital. Her second priority is to revise the sign by-law section of the Zoning By-Law. Her third priority is to tighten the regula- tions governing the relationship of the size of a house to lot size, i.e. some further refinement of the jumbo house provision of the Zoning By-Law, and her fourth is to work on the Subdivision Rules and Regulations by designing standards for subdivision streets. Another priority would be to establish an outreach program to developers, committees and organizations, such as the Chamber of Commerce. Mrs. Davison's priorities for next year would be work on traffic problems, particularly on streets entering Lexington, the development of a Comprehensive Plan and an evaluation of the CS zoning districts. A recapitulation of each Board member's priorities as presented at the October 28 and November 4 meetings is attached to these minutes Mrs. Davison listed her ranking of the Board's accomplishments during 1991 work on the revision of the Subdivision Rules and Regulations; the zoning amendment for take-out/restaurant that was brought to the 1991 Annual Town Meeting; and insisting on enforcement of the landscaping requirements of the Zoning By-Law A general discussion followed as to whether the Board should change its decision made at its last meeting not to bring any revision to the jumbo house provisions of the Zoning By-Law. (See also item 212 below. ) ***************************** REPORTS **************************************** 209. Planning Board. Subcommittees L , a. Board of Anneals The Board reviewed and edited a draft letter to Mrs Scigliano, chairman of the Board of Appeals, responding to her concerns which were discussed by the Planning Board at its last meeting. Mr. Williams suggested a joint meeting with the Board of Appeals in January to which the Building Commissioner would be invited. He also 3 Minutes for the Meeting of November 4, 1991 suggested that the Design Advisory Committee be involved at a later time. ************* ARTICLES FOR THE 1992 TOWN MEETING *************************** 210. Religious. Institutional Uses Mr. Domnitz reported that Town Counsel Norman Cohen had responded to his questions about ways to require screening for institutional uses by saying it was clearly in the gray area, and that he could argue the legality of amendments either way, since the amount of land- scaping required would determine whether the proposed amendments were "reason- able" regulation of institutional uses. Mr. Domnitz also reported that Mr. Cohen had added that the use of more stringent setback requirements when there is no screening present could be one way to incorporate screening requirements into the By-Law. Mr. Domnitz asked for the Board's guidance as to whether to go forward with the preparation of amendments to require screening around religious and institutional uses. At 8 01 p.m. the Board recessed its meeting to the Special Town Meeting, and agreed to reconvene in Room G-15 if the Special Town Meeting adjourns before 9 00 p.m. At 9 03 p.m. Chairman Williams reconvened the meeting, and the Board continued its discussion of Item 210 Mr. Grant was absent Item 210 (continued) Mr. Domnitz distributed for discussion two diagrams explaining what he proposed, the first showing a plan under the provisions of the current By-Law and the second showing a plan of what he proposed. Mr. Williams noted that his proposal would require a larger lot for the same church and layout than would be required under the current provisions of the Zoning By-Law. Mr. Domnitz responded that to build the same sized building would require a bigger lot. There was discussion about whether this would be considered unreasonable regulation of institutional uses. Mr. Domnitz asked that the Board decide whether it wished to go forward with this revision before he had further discussion with Town Counsel. He agreed to prepare a draft revision, with explanatory information, for discussion at the Board's next meeting. The Board agreed it was not negative at this point and that Mr. Domnitz should continue to work on the amendment. Mr. Williams advised Mr. Domnitz to keep Town Counsel posted as he continued his work. ******************* PLANNING BOARD PROJECTS, POLICY MAKING ***************** 211. Subdivision Rules and Regulations The Board continued its review and editing of the 8/20/91 draft of Section 7, Implementation, Construction of an Approved Definitive Plan, starting at 7.4.6 Use of Surety. . . , p. 15. The Board asked that Town Counsel be consulted about whether the Planning Board, in adopting its Regulations could require other Town departments or officials to take action. **************** ARTICLES FOR THE 1992 ANNUAL TOWN MEETING ************* 212. Jumbo Houses On the motion of Mrs. Davison, seconded by Mr. Williams, it was voted 4-0 to rescind the vote taken at the October 28 meeting, to not 4 Minutes for the Meeting of November 4, 1991 bring a jumbo house zoning amendment to the next Town Meeting, and to resume work on a jumbo house amendment to be presented to the 1992 Annual Town Meeting. Mr. Williams will prepare a draft of the amendment for the next meeting. The meeting was adjourned at 9 48 p.m. LA'Q Ckc5k— Edmund C. Grant, Clerk A. PROJECTS OR PROGRAMS TO BE UNDERTAKEN DURING 1992 (Assume Jan. 1 - Dec. 31, 1992) Each Board Member's Priorities KEY 1 = First priority 2 = Second priority 3 = Third priority 4 = Fourth priority 5 = Fifth priority NY = Next year, January- December, 1993 Davi- Dom- Will- Projects or Programs son nitz Grant Tams Wood f COMPREHENSIVE PLANNING, POLICY MAKING Comprehensive Plan 3 3 1 3 Comprehensive Plan: NY1 Transportation Element Comprehensive Plan. NY2 South Lexington ( PLANNING PROJECTS Lexington Center: 2 4.5 Off-Street Parking Met State Hospital 1 4.5 LAND DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS Subdivision Rules & Regs 4* 2** 1 3 1 * Design standards for subdivision streets **Scope out project ZBL - Sign provisions 2 ZBL - Jumbo houses 3 ZBL - Annual amendments 1 2 ZBL - Reserved sections, i.e. Home 2 Occupations ZBL - Evaluate CS district NY3 OTHER, BOARD PROCEDURES Outreach to developers, committees, 5 organizations