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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPlanning Board minutes 1989-06-05 --Th PLANNING BOARD MINUTES MEETING OF JUNE 5, 1989 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, Mrs. Uhrig, with members Klauminzer, Sorensen, Williams, Wood, Planning Director Bowyer, Assistant Planner Nordby and Secretary Peters present. **************** ADMINISTRATION OF LAND DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS ************** SUBDIVISION OF LAND 147. Eaton Road, Definitive Subdivision Plan, Decision: The Board reviewed a draft decision, approving the definitive subdivision plan. On the motion of Mr. Sorensen, seconded by Mrs. Klauminzer, it was voted 5-0 to approve the definitive subdivision plan and to approve the Certificate of Action, as written, with the letter, dated May 30, 1989, to Kevin Duffy, and the memo from the Engineering Department, dated May 22, 1989, attached. 148. Childs Road, Definitive Subdivision Plan, Decision: The Board reviewed a draft decision, approving the definitive subdivision plan. Mr. Sorensen believed the applicant should have requested a waiver from Section 6.5.1 of the Planning Board's Development Regulations or else bring the extension of Childs Road to the boundary of the two lots. The Board discussed how this section should be interpreted, and four members decided this should be interpreted to refer to land beyond the subdivision. On the motion of Mr. Williams, seconded by Mrs. Wood, it was voted 4-1 (Mr. Sorensen voted in the negative) to approve the definitive subdivision plan, and to approve the Certificate of Action, as written, with the addition of the letter, dated May 30, 1989, to Thomas Taylor attached. Mr. Sorensen asked that the record show that he believed this proposal is a sham, done only to keep their development options open and to decrease the apparent value of the land, and that the Planning Board should not have taken any part in it. 149. Ridge Estates II, East Emerson Road, Status Report: Mr. Bowyer reported that a letter has gone out to all affected abuttors outlining the steps the Town will be taking to complete the road work, in the right-of-way, bringing it up to Town standards, and to complete the remaining landscaping on the resi- dents' property needed to accomplish this. Ms. Nordby reported appointments are being made with affected residents to resolve differences between the residents, the Engineering Department and the developer. She added that the Engineering Department has set the stakes so that it will be easier for the abuttors to visualize what work will be neces- sary and how it will affect individual properties when she and a representa- tive from the Engineering Department meet with the owners. The Board commended Ms. Nordby on her extensive efforts to complete compli- cated negotiations that had to be done in order to finish the road work in a way that will bring the best results possible for all concerned. &g1 1 Minutes for the Meeting of June 6, 1989 2 ********************* COMPREHENSIVE PLANNING, POLICIES ********************** 150. Videotapes on Planning Prepared by California League of Cities entitled: "Why Plan" and "The Role of the Planning Commissioner" The Board watched the two videotapes, and a discussion of the information presented, including the topics below, followed: what is a planning board - its make-up and duties, where does the enabling legislation permitting them to function come from, what role does the planning board serve in town government, development of master/comprehensive plan, allowing for the process of change in any plan development of long term vs short term goals, implementation of zoning, provisions for public facilities, adequate roads, water supplies, police and fire facilities and capital improvement programs. 151. Meeting with Town Manager Richard White, Discussion of Planning Board's Work Program and Cooperation with Town Administration: Mr. White reviewed the Planning Board's year, noting the work on Pine Meadows and Housing issues done by the staff. He stated his willingness to support and fund work on a com- prehensive plan or any portion thereof, for the Town. He added that a good start had been made on the development of a Capital Budget Plan this past year, and referred to the Planning Director's good work on this committee. He praised the Assistant Planner's work on some of the major subdivision problems which are finally being resolved, and then asked for comments from the Board. Mrs. Uhrig mentioned a need for coordination between boards, committees and citizens to keep all informed of what is happening in Town. Mr. Sorensen noted that sometimes the process and lack of coordination has delayed develop- ment. Mr. White agreed that conflicting regulations of various boards can cause delays and he reported work was being done to improve the coordination of regulations and processes among the boards and committees. Mr. Williams said he believed all fees should be higher to reflect the actual time staffs must spend on review of applications before the Town. He also commented negatively on Room G-15 as a meeting room. Mrs. Klauminzer asked what would be the scope of work for preparation of a Comprehensive Plan. She did not believe the staff would have the time to spend on this, and envisioned a consultant doing the work. The Board agreed they would like to begin the process to develop a Master Plan for the Town, and asked direction from the Town Manager. Mr. White said he would work on preparation of a scope of services if asked to do so, and support funding for a consultant. ***************** AFFORDABLE HOUSING **************************************** Minutes for the Meeting of June 6, 1989 3 152. Affordable Housing Options Committee; Pine Meadows - Meagherville Site Development Committee, discussion: The Board discussed a memo to the Planning Board from the Planning Director, dated May 31, 1989, about the two committees to be appointed under the approved Article 55, of the 1989 Annual Town Meet- ing, and the call for a "town wide affordable housing plan". Mrs. Uhrig commented there appeared to be a lot of work to be done, and asked whether any of the work done last year by then Planning Aide, Joseph Marino, would be useful. The Board discussed the justifications listed favoring a town wide plan. Mr. Bowyer noted that while the gathering of data for the study is time consuming, there is another major element of work that can be very time consuming also, and that is decision making by public officials in order to reach consensus on what the town wants in affordable housing, and this plan is adopted by town officials. In response to a question from Mrs. Klauminzer, as to how detailed this plan should be, Mr. Bowyer said it should be an implementation plan that would set targets for the number of affordable housing units that ought to be build in Lexington, as well as how fast this should be accomplished. The plan should also identify and group sites in priority groups, and get quite specific as to reasonable densities, impacts on town services, schools, utilities and neighborhoods Mr. Bowyer reported that the work done by the committee working on revisions to Chapter 774 recommend changes in the procedural rules of the Housing 1 Appeals Committee to essentially provide rewards and incentives to those towns who are sincerely making an effort to produce affordable housing and were not getting credit for local initiatives that did not use state of federal programs. There are items that will be required to verify this efforts, and one of these will be a housing plan. Mrs. Klauminzer reported she met with Selectman Jack Eddison, and the Planning Director last week, and one of the items discussed was various goals and policies of the different town boards and committees. They discussed forming gone sub-group, within the Affordable Housing Options Committee, to look at possible conflicts between housing objectives and other town goals and policies; and another sub-group to examine techniques for creating affordable housing, with identification and prioritizing of sites to happen later. The meeting was adjourned at 10: 23 p.m. Eleanor Klauminzer, Clefk