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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPlanning Board Minutes 1992-02-24 1 PLANNING BOARD MINUTES MEETING OF FEBRUARY 24, 1992 The meeting of the Lexington Planning Board held in Estabrook Hall, Cary Memorial Building, was called to order at 7 35 p m by the Chairman Mr Williams, with members Davison, Domnitz, Grant, Wood, Planning Director Bowyer, Assistant Planner Marino and Secretary Tap present. ************************** PLANNING DIRECTOR'S REPORT ************************ 22 MAPC Municipal Law Lectures Mr. Bowyer told the Board about the upcoming MAPC Municipal Law Lecture Series. The Planning Department will send the registration fee for all three lectures. Any member of the Board, the Board of Appeals, or the Conservation Commission who is interested may attend on that registration *************** ADMINISTRATION OF LAND DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS *************** RECOMMENDATIONS ON APPLICATIONS TO THE BOARD nF APPFALS 23 Hearincs Scheduled for March 26 1992 Mrs. Davison reviewed the follow- ing applications to be heard by the Board of Appeals. 1707-Rear Massachusetts Avenue. Unit 3, Minuteman Wine and Spirit, Inc , Special Permit to install a projecting sign at the Edison Way entrance to Minuteman Wine and Spirits The Board wondered why the applicant had applied for only one sign as he has two entrances on opposites sides of his store and discussed whether the Board should recommend that the applicant be encouraged to apply for the second entrance at this time. Mrs. Davison wondered if the owner, or new store owners in general, knew the protocol for signs in Lexington. Further, should they be informed of the protocol? Should the Board of Appeals or the Building Department ask them their intentions when they apply? Mr. Williams and Mr. Grant both questioned why the Board should encourage the owner to apply for the second sign for the entrance on the municipal parking lot side Mr Grant felt it was the responsibility of the owner to find out the proto- col Mr. Domnitz asked if the new sign will meet the requirements of the about-to-be-changed sign by-law In an informal vote, the Board agreed to make no comment on this application 581 Marrett Road. NTW/National Tire Wholesale, Special Permits for the sale and installation of automobile tires, brakes and shock absorbers in the CS District and to install and internally illuminate a free standing sign at a new establishment. The Board felt that the proposed landscaping plan was very well done, and could be used as a model for other new businesses On the whole the Board was inclined to comment favorably on the application. The Board will recommend that a condition be placed in the Special Permit that prohibits the sign from being lit during non-business hours The Board also will encourage the Board of Appeals to look closely at the location Minutes for the Meeting of February 24, 1992 2 of the proposed standing sign as its location was not apparent on the plan The Board will note that the application is subject to the proposed amendment to the sign section of the Zoning By-Law if it is approved by the Town Meeting. The proposed amendment requires a special permit for all signs, including wall signs. The Planning Board believes it would be proper for the Board of Appeals to grant a special permit for the proposed wall sign The Board made no comment on the Traffic Study. ************** PLANNING BOARD ORGANIZATION, SCHEDULE ************************* 24. Meeting Schedule for March April Chairman Williams warned the Planning Board that the zoning articles may come up for consideration on the first or second night of Town Meeting because the financial articles are being post- poned until the end of Town Meeting. The Board scheduled meetings for March 2, 9, 16, 23, and 25 and for April 1, 1992. ***********************ARTICLES FOR 1992 TOWN MEETING************************* 25 PUBLIC HEARING, Article 21. Private Postal Services As required by Chapter 40A, the Planning Board conducted a public hearing on the Private Postal Services amendment to the Zoning By-Law Approximately 12 people attended. Mr Williams opened the hearing at 8 07 p.m. by reading the legal notice and outlining the order the Board follows for conducting public hearings Mrs Davison briefly introduced this article She invited Paul Lieberman of Mail Boxes, Etc. to describe the operation of a typical Mail Boxes. Etc. Mr. Mager, owner of Pack-N-Post, located on Massachusetts Avenue in Lexington Center, commented that he has not sold all of his postal boxes but that the U S. Post Office has a 3-year waiting list for its postal boxes. Town Meeting Member Frank Sandy thought the wording needed to be made grammatically correct. The hearing was closed at 8 42 p.m. Later in the evening, after all the hearings were closed, the Board discussed the proposed amendment and agreed in an informal vote to not allow private postal services in the CN, Neighborhood Business zone. 26. PUBLIC HEARING Article 20. Pet Grooming As required by Chapter 40A, the Planning Board conducted a public hearing on the proposed Pet Grooming amendment to the Zoning By-Law. Approximately 12 people attended. Mr Williams opened the hearing at 8 43 by reading the legal notice Mrs. Wood presented the proposed amendment. There were no questions from the Planning Board. Town Meeting Member Frank Sandy felt that it was inappropriate to retain the restrictions in the current Minutes for the Meeting of February 24, 1992 3 By-Law He also felt it was inappropriate to require that pet grooming be accessory to an allowed use. The hearing was closed at 8 50 p.m. Later in the evening, after all the hearings were closed, the Board discussed the proposed amendment and agreed that the pet grooming provision, as it now appears in the Zoning By-Law, is badly written. Mr. Bowyer said it should be changed ahead of the Town Meeting and handed out including a note that the revised version resulted from comments made at the public hearing. 27. PUBLIC HEARING, Article 23 Adiustments. Signs As required by Chapter 40A, the Planning Board conducted a public hearing on the proposed Adjust- ments, Signs amendment to the Zoning By-Law. Approximately twelve people attended. Mr. Williams opened the hearing at 8 51 p.m. by reading the legal notice. Mrs Davison summarized the amendment. She also highlighted the outcome of a joint meeting with representatives of the Lexington Center Committee, the Board of Appeals, the Chamber of Commerce and the Design Advisory Committee. Town Meeting Member Jeanne Krieger suggested that the third sentence of section 13.2 5 be deleted since it may provide a loophole that appears to allow lighted wall signs by right. John Davies asked if the total area of a free-standing sign includes the supports. Robert Whitman had two concerns regarding Section B First, that the length of the wall that determines the size of a sign is not defined clearly. It could be a wall that spans several stores or it could apply to one establishment. He thought there ought to be a size limit after which an appeal would have to be made His second concern was the use of awnings and canopies as a second sign. Mrs Davison thought that the use of lettering on canopies was fine, and sometimes necessary to identify the establishment. Mr. Williams didn't see awnings as signs. Mrs. Davison felt that merchants should consider the entire front of the building in which their store is located and have a sign that is compati- ble with the whole building. Mr Williams asked how the By-Law could be written to express this idea. There was considerable discussion on the permitted size of a sign Jan Spealman and Eric Carlson of the Chamber of Commerce asked for clarification on a couple of points regarding illumination, awnings, the size of free- standing signs and the definition of a window sign. Mr Williams complimented the Chamber on their recent meeting about signs The hearing was closed at 9 45 p m. 28. PUBLIC HEARING. Article 22. Dimensional Controls. Institutional Uses As required by Chapter 40A, the Planning Board conducted a public hearing on the proposed Dimensional Controls, Institutional Uses amendment to the Zoning By- law. Twelve people attended. Mr Williams opened the hearing at 9 50 p.m. by reading the legal notice 014 Minutes for the Meeting of February 24, 1992 4 Mr. Domnitz read the draft article He explained that this article proposes to modify the minimum side and rear yard setback requirements for institution- al uses in residential zones. Its purpose is to provide a more effective buffer between institutional uses adjacent to residentially zoned lots He went on to explain the four sections of the proposed amendment Part D deals with special exceptions to the screening requirements. The proposed amendment eliminates the special exception because the requirement itself is being eliminated and therefore it makes no sense to have the exception. Mr. Grant commented that Parts A, B, and C were fine as presented, but he was concerned that Part D may be perceived as prejudicial against institutions. Mr. Bowyer agreed that it might present a problem. Mr Domnitz will review this with Town Counsel. The hearing was closed at 10 10 p.m ******************************* REPORTS ************************************** 29. Planning Board Subcommittees a. Minute-man Commuter Bikeway Mrs. Wood said that preliminary steps for the construction of the bikeway have begun. b. Metropolitan State Hospital Land Task Force In response to a question, Mr. Marino said that the next meeting of this group will be on Wednesday, February 26, 1992 at 3 00 p.m. in the Selectmen's meeting room. 30. "No Trucking" Proposal for Spring Street and Concord Avenue The Board discussed a letter from Alan Wade, of the South Lexington Civic Association, dated February 20, 1992, regarding a "no trucking" plan for Spring Street and Concord Avenue. Mr. Wade was concerned about increased truck traffic in relation to the construction of the new regional mail facility across the Town boundary line in Waltham. The Board agreed to recommend the Board of Selectmen act favorably on this request. Mrs. Davison reported that it is necessary to have a scale to enforce a truck limitation based on vehicle weight. There has been some discussion about the Town purchasing a portable scale for weighing trucks. The meeting was adjourned at 10 53 p m �4e-r Edmund C Grant, Clerk 8E1