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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPlanning Board Minutes 1992-09-16 PLANNING BOARD MINUTES C MEETING OF SEPTEMBER 16, 1992 The meeting of the Lexington Planning Board held in the Selectmen's Meeting Room, Town Office Building, was called to order at 7 35 p.m. by Chairman Williams with members Davison, Domnitz, Grant, Wood, Planning Director Bowyer and Assistant Planner Marino present 133. Review of Minutes The Board reviewed and corrected the minutes for the meeting of August 17, 1992 On the motion of Mrs. Davison, seconded by Mrs. Wood, it was voted unanimously to approve the minutes, as amended. The Board reviewed the minutes for the meeting of August 26, 1992. On the motion of Mrs Wood, seconded by Mr. Grant, it was voted unanimously to approve the minutes as written The Board also reviewed and corrected the minutes for the meeting of September 9, 1992 On the motion of Mrs Wood, seconded by Mr Domnitz, it was voted 4 - 0 to approve the minutes, as amended. Mr Williams abstained as he was absent from that meeting. *********************** ARTICLES FOR 1993 TOWN MEETING *********************** 134. Lowell Street Site Multi-family Subdivision. Woodhaven Realty. uresenta- tion of plan Mr. Williams noted the presence of Marshall Derby of the Lexington Housing Assistance Board and Robert Stewart of the Conservation Commission Gary Larson, landscape architect, of Larson Associates, presented the site analysis and development plans showing six buildings containing approximately 72 units on the 5. 1 acre parcel The dwelling units will be a combination of apartments, condominiums and townhouses. Mr Kelley said that they have had many requests for one-bedroom units. The plan includes some parking under the building and therefore less paved area than the sketch plan presented at an earlier meeting. In response to a question from Mr Derby, Mr Kelley responded that they would fulfill the requirements of the Inclusionary Housing Policy by deeding over 5% of the units in the development to the Town in whatever configuration is needed. Mr. Domnitz said that it is important to him that this project gets the town closer to its 10% quota of affordable housing This proposal seems to move away from that goal at this point Of more immediate concern to Mr. Domnitz is the seeming inconsistency of the proposal for condominium ownership in this project and the Town's insistence on rental housing in perpetuity at Lexington Ridge Mr. Bowyer responded that he sees no inconsistency The affordable housing program in town has a mix of developments The Town's needs and financing mechanisms change over time and each project has to be considered on its own. The principal theme stressed in the Lexington Ridge hearing was that the affordable housing units be afford- able in perpetuity Rental housing was another consideration due to the C conversion of Emerson Gardens from rental to condominium ownership. Minutes for the Meeting of September 16, 1992 2 Mr Derby said that the town has never been given units free and clear Others have remained in private ownership so that the owner collects the it rents, not the town. Mr. Williams pointed out that Lexhab could buy some units as well. An informal poll was conducted to determine whether the Board considered multi-family housing to be an appropriate use of this site. At the end of an extended discussion, on the motion of Mr. Domnitz, seconded by Mrs Davison, the Board voted 4-1, with Mr. Domnitz opposed, that multi-family housing is an appropriate use of this land, and are prepared to support a rezoning proposal subject to conditions Mr. Domnitz' view is that it might be an appropriate use and he could conceivably support a rezoning proposal if some conditions are met. Mr Domnitz and Mrs. Davison felt that it is essential that all units con- structed count toward the 10% goal. Mr. Grant said that he looks forward to seeing LEXHAB's position on this issue. Site Design Issues Mr. Grant and Mrs Wood consider the proposed density acceptable, and Mrs Wood considers high density development desirable for this site. Mr Domnitz and Mrs. Davison are concerned that the proposed density of @15 d u /acre is too high Mr. Domnitz would like to see a maximum density of 10 d.0 /acre, or a floor-area-ratio comparable to similar developments The Board is concerned that both the overall site coverage and the floor area ratio of this develop- merit remain as low as possible The Board was pleased with the plan to place many of the parking spaces under the buildings Mr Domnitz and Mrs. Davison said they liked the architecture of the buildings, and none of the members expressed criticism The Board encouraged the use of creative landforms and berms throughout the site, particularly at the perimeter of the site. Some views from inside the site will be of the Middlesex Mall and the roofing company in Burlington The Board appreciated the attempts to minimize the impact of these establishments The Board also mentioned a small play area for children, a provision for a Z LEXPRESS bus stop, and a walkway to the Middlesex Mall as items to be consid- ered for inclusion in the plan. ************************ PLANNING DIRECTOR'S REPORT *********************** 135 Burlington Master Plan Mr. Bowyer reported that the Town of Burlington is undertaking a master plan and that he had been invited by a consultant for Burlington to meet so as to express Lexington's concerns as an abutter of Burlington He asked Board members which issues should be raised Mr. Williams cited the old Rt 3 corridor (he said that it is being usurped by people who are parking their cars on it) ; finding a way to tie their large tract of landlocked land in with our conservation land and public open space; the incompatibility, at the municipal boundary, of the commercial area between 128 and Lowell St. ; and, the future of the sand and gravel pit. Mr Domnitz expressed concern about a proposed vertiport. Minutes for the Meeting of September 16, 1992 3 ***************** ADMINISTRATION OF LAND DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS ************ RECOMMENDATIONS ON APPLICATIONS TO THE BOARD OF APPEALS 136. Applications To Be Heard on September 24, 1992 Mr. Williams gave an oral review of the following applications 443 Lincoln Street, Albert R. Piantedosi, extension of variance to allow continued parking of motor vehicles on a temporary basis. The Planning Board members expressed concern, as they have in the past, about the danger posed by this use to the water quality of the City of Cambridge reservoir They believe that it is an inappropriate use of the site as it is located in a watershed and hope that it is discontinued and replaced by a more benign activity as soon as possible. The Board agreed to make no comment on the applications below. 60 Winter Street, Bruno Visocchi, special permit to expand the second floor of a nonconforming single-family dwelling 68 Furmcrest Avenue, Lester Blumberg, variance to replace existing side porch on a single-family dwelling 399 Marrett Road, Rebecca A. Shrum, PhD, special permit to use a portion of her residence as an office 7 Parker Street, Jane C. Mack, variance to add a roof to a front porch slab of a nonconforming dwelling SUBDIVISION OF LAND 137. Street Acceptance for 1993 Annual Town Meeting The Board reviewed a draft memo from the Planning Board to the Board of Selectmen, dated September 15, 1992 Mr. Bowyer reported that Mead Circle in the Simonds Estates subdivision has been completed and the surety has been released but a recom- mendation for acceptance had never been made to the Board of Selectmen. He recommended that the Board complete the record. On the motion of Mr Grant, seconded by Mrs. Wood, it was voted unanimously• WHEREAS, Francis X. Fields, Town Engineer, has indicated in a memo- randum, dated December 17, 1990, that the "as-built" plans of the Simonds Estates, Mead Circle segment, have been approved, and that all required community facilities in the Mead Circle segment have been satisfactorily completed in accordance with the Town's standards; and that the Planning Board voted at its meeting of January 7, 1991 to return all the remaining surety which was being held for the completion of the community facilities at the Simonds Estates development; and that all lots in the Simonds Estates Subdivision have been released. the Planning Board recommends to the Board of Selectmen that Mead Circle in the Simonds Estates subdivision be proposed to a future Annual Town Meeting for acceptance by the Town Minutes for the Meeting of September 16, 1992 4 *********************** ARTICLES FOR 1993 TOWN MEETING *********************** 138 Zoning Amendments The Board discussed the best uses of their meeting time Though there are zoning amendments that they feel should be brought before Town Meeting, it was agreed that finishing the revision of the Subdivi- sion ttt Regulations must have top priority. After further discussion about proposed amendments to the Zoning By-Law, Mr Domnitz said he would work on the definitions of major and minor as they refer to revisions to comprehensive permits Mrs. Davison will continue working on the Sign Advisory Committee concept, and Mr. Williams will take on the amendment that would extend jumbo house regulations to all new dwelling units. Mr Bowyer noted that the amendment to define major and minor revisions could be treated in two ways One would deal only with timing; should a developer be able to come in for a revision well after the development is built? The permissible change could be limited to the time between the Town Meeting vote to rezone and the initial Board of Appeals approval of the Special Permit (This is dealt with in the Planning Board letter of June 24, 1992 expressing their recommendations to the Board of Appeals on Brookhaven's request to make some changes ) This might be a fairly simple way to deal with it. The second way, getting into the substance of what is major or minor change, would be very complicated. ************************ REGIONAL, INTERTOWN ISSUES ************************* 139 Cambridge Reservoir Watershed Committee The Cambridge Water Board has extended an invitation to the Planning Board to tour the watershed area on October 1, 1992. ********************************** REPORTS ********************************** 140 Planning Board Subcommittees Mrs Wood reported that the recent Bikeway Committee meeting was well attended. It was agreed that Mrs. Wood would continue to be the Planning Board representative to the Commuter Bikeway Committee. The meeting was adjourned at 10 58 p.m Z 1..,,LOC4S Edmund C. Grant, Clerk li 0 L