HomeMy WebLinkAboutPlanning Board Minutes 1992-04-29 PLANNING BOARD MINUTES
MEETING OF APRIL 29, 1992
The meeting of the Lexington Planning Board held in Room G-15, Town Office
Building, was called to order at 7:10 p.m. by the Chairman, Mr. Williams, with
members Davison, Domnitz, Grant, Wood, Planning Director Bowyer, and Secretary
Tap present.
69. Review of Minutes: The Board reviewed the minutes for the meetings of
January 27, February 18, February 24, and April 13, 1992. On the motion of
Mrs. Wood, seconded by Mrs. Davison, it was voted unanimously to approve the
minutes for the meetings of January 27 and February 18 as written, and the
minutes for the meetings of February 24 and April 13, as amended.
************************ PLANNING DIRECTOR'S REPORT ***********************
70. Recent Activity•
a. U.S. Census Data. Mr. Bowyer reported that MAPC's Metropolitan Data
Center has received a major portion of information from the 1990 Census. The
Data Center, in turn, has selected and reproduced the most frequently used
data and sent a copy of Lexington's "profile" to the office. In response to a
question from Mr. Williams, Mr. Bowyer explained that the Planning Department
uses this data in various analyses involving the characteristics of
Lexington's residents and housing stock.
b. APA National Conference in Washington. D.C. Mr. Bowyer informed the
Board that he would be attending the conference on May 9-13 as APA's guest,
because he has been invited to present a lecture on Capital Improvement Pro-
grams.
***************** ADMINISTRATION OF LAND DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS ************
RECOMMENDATIONS ON APPLICATIONS TO THE BOARD OF APPEALS
71. Annlications To Be Heard on April 30. 1992 Mr. Williams gave an oral
review of the following application
92-94 Blossomcrest Road, Ralph J. Frissore, Variance from Section
6.3.1 (a) to increase the net floor area in the smaller unit of a
non-conforming two-family dwelling in the RO district.
The Board agreed to make no comment on the application.
*********************** ARTICLES FOR 1992 TOWN MEETING ***********************
72. Article 22. Dimensional Controls. Institutional Uses: Mr. Domnitz gave
a brief review of recent events involving this proposed amendment to the
Zoning By-Law. He had drafted a letter to be sent to the Selectmen explaining
the amendment's impact on Town facilities to try to allay their concerns. It
was to be signed by Mr. Williams and the Building Commissioner, Steve
Frederickson. Mr. Frederickson declined to sign it and sent a memorandum to
the Planning Board on April 28 stating he still has reservations about the
relationship between the proposed amendment and Section 6, Nonconformity. He
said it was not wise to pass an amendment which does not address this problem.
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Minutes for the Meeting of April 29, 1992 2
After some discussion, Mr. Williams summed up the feelings of a majority of
the Board saying that he believed the Board will lose credibility if it brings
an article before Town Meeting that fails. This article does not have the
support of the Building Commissioner or the Selectmen. The goal of the
article is a good one, but more time is needed to address the problems.
On the motion of Mr. Grant, seconded by Mrs. Wood, the Board voted 3-2, with
Mrs. Davison and Mr. Domnitz opposed, to move for indefinite postponement when
this article is brought up for consideration at Town Meeting.
73. Article 23, Adjustments Signs. Mrs. Davison reacted favorably to the
draft charge to the proposed Sign Advisory Committee outlined in a memo from
the Planning Director. She proposed an additional point which the Board
agreed was needed. The three duties of the Committee will be to
1. draft a set of guidelines for signs that would promote appropri-
ateness and continuity in signage and would be based on the report,
"Design Guidelines for Commercial Districts" , by David Dixon Associates,
and produce a brief publication containing those guidelines;
2. outline procedures that will ensure that these guidelines are made
available to those considering the erection of a sign, particularly the
owner of a new business and the owner of the building, where feasible,
at their first possible point of contact with the Town;
3. consider, with consultation with appropriate boards, the
feasibility of removing the section on signs from the Lexington Zoning
By-Laws and putting all sign regulation and procedures in the Town's
General By-Laws, with the aim of simplifying the current special permit
procedure required for many types of signs.
The Sign Advisory Committee will consist of representatives from the Planning
Board, Board of Appeals, Historic Districts Commission, Design Advisory
Committee, Lexington Center Committee, Chamber of Commerce, and will include
the Building Commissioner.
******************* PLANNING BOARD ORGANIZATION, SCHEDULE *******************
74. Meeting Schedule for May and June: The Board scheduled meetings for the
following dates May 4, May 18, June 1 and June 15.
The meeting was adjourned at 7 55 p.m.
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Edmund C. Grant, Clerk