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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPlanning Board minutes 1989-10-02 PLANNING BOARD MINUTES MEETING OF OCTOBER 2, 1989 The meeting of the Lexington Planning Board held in Room G-15, Town Office Building, was called to order at 7:37 p.m. by the Chairman, Mrs. Wood, with members Klauminzer, Sorensen, Uhrig, Planning Director Bowyer, Assistant Plan- ner Nordby and Secretary Peters present. Mr. Williams arrived during Item 241. **************************** REPORTS ************************************ 238. Planning Director a. Mandatory Cluster Zoning: Mr. Bowyer reported that he and Zoning Officer Marino had attended a conference of the Western Mass. and Vermont Chapters of the American Planning Association last Friday, which focussed on ways to make the provision of cluster development and open space mandatory. b. Wood Street Development: Mr. Bowyer reported on the meeting with Ms. Vilasi, Mr. Higgins, Town Manager White and the Planning Director in Mr. White's office. The applicant requested a written response on the conventional development sketch plan. Mr. Sorensen recommended that all responses to the applicant be in writing to avoid misunderstandings. Mrs. Klauminzer reported there was a meeting of the Wood Street neigh- bors at which it was agreed they could support an RD rezoning proposal, for the two sites, which respected the neighborhood concerns and values. She suggested this information be passed on to the applicant. ************* ADMINISTRATION OF LAND DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS ************* PLANS NOT REQUIRING APPROVAL UNDER THE SUBDIVISION CONTROL LAW 239. Form A/89-10. Orchard Crossing. Kirksev: Mr. Bowyer reported this "Approval Not Required" plan, which the Board did not endorse as Form A/89-7 at its September 11, 1989 meeting, has been refiled, unchanged by the ap- plicant, this time accompanied by an extract from Chapter 41, Section 81 0 and some other material from Attorney Fred Conroy. Town Counsel reviewed the material, and his response was that the Board acted correctly in not endorsing the plan on September 11, and that the Board should not endorse Form A/89-10. Mr. Kirksey asked that the Board postpone any vote until its next meeting on the grounds that the applicant only heard of Town Counsel's response this afternoon and had not had an opportunity to respond. It was noted that the Board must act on this plan tonight to remain within the 21 day deadline for action by the Board, unless the applicant chose to withdraw the plan. The applicant presented a written request asking that the Board allow him to withdraw the plan. On the motion of Mr. Sorensen, seconded by Mrs. Klauminzer, it was voted 4-0 to not endorse the plan since the plan had been withdrawn by the applicant. Minutes for the Meeting of October 2, 1989 2 SUBDIVISION OF LAND 240. Carriage Drive. Woodhaven Realty: Mrs. Nordby reported the applicant has asked permission to provide surety for completion of the subdivision by a letter of credit instead of a passbook. Mr. Sorensen said he preferred that surety be held in the form of a passbook, but he understood that the statute specifically authorized letters of credit as a means to hold surety. On the motion of Mr. Sorensen, seconded by Mrs. Klauminzer it was voted 4-0: That the Planning Board accepts as surety, for the completion of the Car- riage Drive subdivision, a Letter of Credit from the Depositors Trust Company dated August 22, 1989 in the amount of $62,000. This Letter of Credit is accepted in place of Depositors Trust Company Passbook #402- 4354. That acceptance of this substitute form of surety does not change either the amount of surety, $62,000, which is needed, or the period of time, through August 1, 1990, for which the surety is provided, as determined by vote of the Planning Board on July 31, 1989. The amount of $62,000 has been determined to be sufficient through August 1, 1990 only. If the subdivision is not completed by that time, the amount of surety needed will have to be reevaluated 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 $62,000 of surety was originally posted, is completed by August 1, 1990, and the current costs of the amount of work to be completed has 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. That the Revenue Officer is authorized to release to R & T Development Corporation Depositors Trust Company Passbook #402-4354 and the signed withdrawal slip upon receipt of the August 22, 1989 Letter of Credit. RECOMMENDATIONS ON APPLICATIONS TO THE BOARD OF APPEALS 241. Applications for the Meeting of October 26. 1989: Mrs. Klauminzer gave an oral review of the following applications to the Board of Appeals: 16 King Street, Marilyn Ritholz, SP, to use a portion of a residence as an office to see private clients one day a week. The Board expressed concern over potential traffic problems because of the property's proximity to Wilson Farm. On the motion of Mrs. Klauminzer, seconded by Mrs. Uhrig, it was voted 3-1 (Mr. Sorensen voted in the negative) to not object to the granting of the special permit, provided the day the applicant sees clients remains Tuesday, which is the day Wilson Farm is closed, and a condition for approval is that there may be no on-street parking. The Board also agreed to make no comment on the following applications also scheduled to be heard on October 26, 1989. 675 Lowell Street, Burlington Village Associates, SP, to install 5 internally lit wall signs and to allow a secondary wall sign to be the same width as the principal wall sign at a new retail building in the Minutes for the Meeting of October 2, 1989 3 fl Middlesex Mall, 675 Lowell Street. 26 Vinebrook Road, Janis Gogan, SP, to add a second floor bedroom over the nonconforming portion of a garage of a single family dwelling. 36 Colony Road, James & Judith McDevitt, variance, from the side yard setback to add a family room and study. At 8:02 p.m. , Mrs. Wood recessed the meeting so the Board could join the Selectmen in their meeting room to hear an interim report on recommendations for re-use of the 68-acre Middlesex County Hospital parcel on the Lexington- Waltham line. 242. Middlesex County Hospital Land Use Report: Selectman Leo McSweeney, a member of the Middlesex County Land Use Advisory Committee, introduced Paul McGinley of McGinley, Hart & Associates, who described their study of develop- ment options for the parcel. He gave a slide presentation showing the general area along Trapelo Road, including a site analysis of the parcels in both municipalities. He added they were looking for ideas and information from the audience. Carol Bratley, real estate and marketing consultant, described market condi- 1 tions and presented an overview of the demographics in the region around the site. She thought the parcel did not appear to be suitable for industrial use, J but had some potential for office use, although the site lacked the good access and visibility found in the Route 128 office developments. She said the best possibility appeared to be for development of some sort of housing. She added that the report should be completed in approximately three months. In response to questions, Mr. McSweeney said private sector uses were under the control of the County Commissioners, and thus far, only leased uses were permitted. He also said it was very difficult to remove land from the jurisdiction of the Conservation Commission or Recreation Department, but it could be done. Marian Reilly, 25 Walnut Street, noted the area needed more affordable housing and hoped the County Commissioners would keep this in mind. Joy Buchfirer, president of the South Lexington Civic Association, asked that they be kept informed of future events relating to the Hospital land. Mr. McGinley said the next step in the process would be to hold a similar meeting for Waltham officials and residents, and then begin formulation of recommendations on various options. He added they would be glad to meet with any interested groups, for further discussion. At 9:30 p.m. , Mrs. Wood reconvened the Planning Board meeting in Room G-15, Town Office Building, with all members present. ************************ COMPREHENSIVE PLANNING **************************** 243. David Dixon Report. Town Center: The Board reviewed a preliminary "working draft" of recommendations for improvement of the public environment in Lexington's commercial areas, prepared by David Dixon & Associates, who Minutes for the Meeting of October 2, 1989 4 have asked for comments from the Town to be incorporated into the final report. The Board found the draft somewhat indefinite and incomplete, with various elements of the plan not coordinated. Disappointment was expressed that the report did not address enhancing the area around the Minute-man statue in order to increase access by tourists, and Board members recommended this be addressed in the final report. They also suggested the Ossman plan, for creating a "place" and modifying the traffic flow in front of the statue, be evaluated in conjunction with any work on a plan for this area. They suggested that Waltham Street be studied as an additional "gateway", since a number of tourists approach the center of town from this direction; that the "gateway" statement about Russell Square should be more definitive with more specific recommendations as to proposed treatments; and that Emory Park should have a different "theme" from The Battle Green, more active and more heavily used at certain times, particularly the noon hour, evenings and weekends. The Board suggested more seating be provided for the lunch time populace throughout the center, and also noted that the problem of exposed dumpsters had not been addressed. The staff will prepare a response incor- porating the Board's recommendations, and forward it to the Selectmen. **************************** REPORTS *************************************** 244. Planning Board, Subcommittees a. Lighting Revisions: Mrs. Wood reported the Selectmen are about to establish a Streetlight Options Committee that will attempt to establish a policy for lighting in commercial and residential areas. b. HATS Committee: Mrs. Uhrig reported the committee is in the midst of reviewing another MAPC Traffic Study for the region. c. Ad Hoc National Park Coordinating Committee: Mrs. Uhrig reported they will meet next week to work toward the closer cooperation of the Minuteman National Park Service staff and the Town in accommodating visitors to the Lexington Green. . d. MAPC Cambridge Reservoir Watershed Advisory Committee: Mr. Williams reported the Committee expects to hold its final meeting in November. He feels the evaluation of existing and future impacts to the quality of drinking water supplies in the reservoir will be well done. The meeting was adjourned at 10:26 p.m. David G. Williams, Clerk