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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPlanning Board Minutes 1992-05-18 PLANNING BOARD MINUTES MEETING OF MAY 18, 1992 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 Vice-Chairman Domnitz, with members Davison, Grant, Planning Director Bowyer, Assistant Planner Marino and Secretary Tap present. Mrs. Wood arrived during Item 79. Mr. Williams arrived during Item 80. 79. Review of Minutes: The Board reviewed and corrected the minutes for the meeting of May 4, 1992. On the motion of Mrs. Davison, seconded by Mrs. Wood, it was voted 3-0 to approve the minutes, as amended. ************************ PLANNING DIRECTOR'S REPORT *********************** 60. Staff Reports a. APA National Conference: Mr. Bowyer reported on the American Planning Association's conference held in Washington D.C. , May 9-13, at which he conducted a workshop on capital improvement programs. He described the content of a number of the other sessions he attended and the issues discussed. b. U.S. Census Bureau Data User Conference: Mr. Marino reported that there is a great deal of information in printed form available from the Census Bureau. When the CD player in the Planning Department is operational, the Town may also purchase the CD which contains all of the data for New England. In connection with this, Mrs. Davison related that she had attended a Cape Cod Commission meeting and had seen equipment that displays geographic information system (GIS) data. Mr. Bowyer said that many towns, like Lexington, have a great deal of data like that in the Cape Cod GIS, but the ability to integrate and retrieve it rapidly remains to be accomplished. Mr. Marino has made a notebook full of statistics on Massachusetts and surrounding towns and it is available for anyone who wishes to see it. More will be available in the future. c. Lowell Street Site: Mr. Bowyer reported that Peter Kelley has purchased the D'Arrigo property, 5 acres of land overlooking Middlesex Mall. The staff was approached by Gary Larson who told them that the developer intends to submit a subdivision plan, probably a cluster subdivision, but would also like to bring a rezoning petition before Town Meeting next year. They would like to do a multi-family development, some of which would be affordable housing. Mr. Bowyer feels that it may be worthwhile to repeat the type of process that was used with Lexington Ridge which he thinks was very successful on the Town's part. This included. 1) the Planning Board and other boards and committees thinking independently about the site even before specific propos- als were submitted, to look at what objectives would be desirable for the site, and 2) to then work with the developer and the other boards and commit- tees, e.g. Selectmen, LexHAB, Conservation Commission, etc. , toward those goals. Mrs. Davison hopes that the process will involve the neighborhood. According to Mr. Williams there is a very vocal group of abutters, . He reminded the Minutes for the Meeting of May 18, 1992 2 Board that this is a site they had targeted for affordable housing. Mrs. Wood suggested that the Board "walk" the site. Mr. Williams said that he would arrange it with Mr. Larson. Mr. Domnitz noted that Mr. Kelley seems not to be interested in a 40B comprehensive permit application. ***************** ADMINISTRATION OF LAND DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS ************ RECOMMENDATIONS ON APPLICATIONS TO THE BOARD OF APPEALS 81. Annlications To Be Heard on June 11. 1992 Mr. Domnitz gave an oral review of the following application, scheduled to be heard by the Board of Appeals in June 10 Oxford Street, variances from dimensional controls to allow a shed to remain where constructed. On a motion by Mr. Domnitz, seconded by Mr. Williams, the Board voted 4-1, with Mr. Grant opposed, to recommend denial of the petition. The petitioner has demonstrated no other hardship than that brought on himself by building the shed before seeking a variance. The Board also agreed to make no comment on the following petitions, scheduled to be heard by the Board of Appeals on June 11, 1992: 14 White Pine Lane, Timothy Dugan, M.D. , renewal of a special permit to continue use of a portion of his residence as an office. 14 White Pine Lane, Elizabeth Liao, M.D. , renewal of a special permit to continue use of a portion of her residence as an office. t , 55 Oak Street. Ellen 0. Hall, renewal of special permit for continued use of a temporary accessory apartment. 82. EXECUTIVE SESSION. Litigation against the Town: At 8:28 p.m. , after a poll of the five members present, it was voted 4-1, with Mr. Williams opposed, to go into Executive Session to discuss litigation against the Board -- a recent Appeals Court ruling concerning Tracer Lane and its implications for the Town. The Board returned to open session at 8:58 p.m. Mr. Williams left the meeting to meet with the Board of Selectmen. DETERMINATION OF GRADE AND CONSTRUCTION OF UNACCEPTED STREETS 83. CUS 91/1 James Street 87/45: Mr. Marino reported that Francis X. Fields, Town Engineer, has indicated in a memorandum, dated May 15, 1992, that the improvements to James Street have been approved, and that all required work on James Street, including the installation of trees, has been satisfac- torily completed in accordance with the Town's standards. Therefore, on the motion of Mrs. Wood, seconded by Mrs. Davison, the Board voted 4-0 that the Planning Board returns all the surety, in the form of a Passbook # 01-00- f 103353 from the Boston Federal Savings Bank in the amount of $5,500.00, plus interest, which was being held for the completion of the work on James Street. Minutes for the Meeting of May 18, 1992 3 103353 from the Boston Federal Savings Bank in the amount of $5,500.00, plus interest, which was being held for the completion of the work on James Street. ******************* PLANNING BOARD PROJECTS, POLICY MAKING ******************* 84. Formation of Sion Advisory Committee The Board complimented Mr. Marino on the history of the Sign By-Law that he had compiled for them. They went on to address the issues outlined in the draft agenda for the June 2, 1992 meeting. On the motion of Mr. Domnitz, seconded by Mr. Grant, the Board voted unanimously to authorize Mrs. Davison to call the proposed meeting as set forth in the memo dated May 19, 1992. ************************ REGIONAL, INTERTOWN ISSUES ************************* 85 Metropolitan State Hospital Land Use Task Force: Mrs. Davison reported that the buildings on the site have not yet been declared surplus by the State But the property could be turned over soon to the three communities which will have to decide within 30 days whether they would submit a re-use proposal to the State. There are problems connected with the future use of this property. Although current thinking is that the buildings are not "adaptive" or convertible to some other use because of their structural characteristics and obsolescence, the estimated cost of demolishing them is $9,000,000, and there are hazardous waste disposal issues, including asbestos and lead paint, to be dealt with. The meeting was adjourned at 9 47 p.m. &rQczp Edmund C. Grant, Clerk t �