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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPlanning Board Minutes 1992-12-14 PLANNING BOARD MINUTES MEETING OF DECEMBER 14, 1992 The meeting of the Lexington Planning Board held in Room G-15, Town Office Building, was called to order at 7 33 p m by Chairman Williams, with members Davison Domnitz, Grant, Wood, Planning Director Bowyer, and Assistant Planner Marino present 187 Lowell Street RD Proposal The Planning Board recessed to the Board of Selectmen's Meeting Room to meet with the Selectmen and Marshall Derby and William Hays of the Lexington Housing Assistance Board. O LU The Planning Board reconvened in Room G-15 at 8 20 p.m. Q1-" Mr. Williams asked the developer how the plan had evolved since their last presentation to the Planning Board. Mr. Kelley responded that they had met Zwith the Design Advisory Board twice and followed a number of their sugges- C tions Gary Larson of Larson Associates then described the current plan which G includes three buildings facing Lowell street, most of the parking under the buildings, (1 75 parking spaces per unit are planned) , and a common open area of about three-quarters of an acre This plan shows a cleaner entrance from Lowell Street for better traffic flow. The developer is still offering five units to the Lexington Housing Assistance Board Mr. Williams said the Board hoped that more than 5 units would be ff offered. Mr Kelley said that they are considering offering an additional 15 deed restricted units but would have to see what the economics are before making a commitment Mr. Grant said that trying to reach 10% of the total housing supply to comply with Chapter 40B may be unrealistic There are only three towns in Massachu- setts that do comply at this time. The Town and the developer must reach common ground on this issue. Each project is unique Mr Derby of LexHAB said that 5 units free and clear, along with 15 deed restricted units, would satisfy his Board. LexHAB would monitor the 15 units They do not want money to build affordable housing. They are interested in acquiring two-bedroom units Mrs. Wood asked for a list of criteria used by LexHAB for the deed restric- tions Mr Hays responded to Mr Domnitz' question about how LexHAB supervis- es the resale of deed restricted units by describing some of the safeguards that are in place to ensure compliance. He also related some of LexHAB's experiences with Muzzey School condominiums in this regard. Mr. Bowyer clarified EOCD and Town positions on which affordable housing units qualify for the Subsidized Housing Inventory. EOCD has out of date regula- tions that should be changed. Mr. Domnitz was concerned that at least four Board members reach agreement so that the Board's position would not change with the election of a new person. Therefore, Mr. Williams polled the Board on four points (1) Density three members of the Board accept the density as presented. Mrs Davison and Mr. Domnitz feel it is too high; Minutes for the Meeting of December 14, 1992 2 (2) Mixture of Affordable Units All five members support the position that 5 units should go to LexHAB free and clear and another 15 units should have deed restrictions that would make them fit affordable housing criteria. Mr Domnitz agrees with the mixture but still believes all units should be affordable. (3) Rental/Ownership All five members agree the five LexHAB units should be rental, the other fifteen affordable units can be ownership condomin- iums with deed restrictions (4) Site Plan Four members agree with the site plan as is. Mr Domnitz questions the placement of a building as close to Lowell Street as the plan now shows The composite position of the Board on the plan as it now appears is Mr. Grant, Mrs Wood and Mr. Williams support it with conditions. Mr. Domnitz and Mrs Davison do not. ********************************* MINUTES ************************************ 188 Review of Minutes The Board reviewed and corrected the minutes for the meeting of November 23, 1992 On the motion of Mrs. Wood, seconded by Mr. Grant, it was voted unanimously to approve the minutes, as amended. ***************** ADMINISTRATION OF LAND DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS ************ RECOMMENDATIONS ON APPLICATIONS TO THE BOARD OF APPEALS 189. Applications To Be Heard on December 17, 1992 Mrs Davison gave an oral review of the following applications Vacant Lot Between 673 and 753 Waltham Street, Carroll Brothers, request for reconsideration of a denied application for a recreational golf facility before the two-year period has expired. Mr Domnitz read a letter he drafted to the Board of Appeals to inform them that the Planning Board intends to submit a zoning amendment to Town Meeting that would clarify line 4 11 of the Use Table by adding the word "course" after "golf " This would reinforce the Planning Board's view that golf driving ranges not be permitted in residential zones. It would also make the language of line 4 11 consistent with line 2.20, which deals with similar issues in the context of non-profit organizations. On the motion of Mr. Domnitz, seconded by Mrs. Wood, the Board voted 4-1, Mr. Grant opposed, to send the letter and a copy of it to Mr. Carroll. 184 Bedford Street, Bryon Pickering, to operate a take-out and fast-food service as a Dunkin' Donuts satellite The Board agreed to send a copy of their original letter of recommendation on this application along with a note that they stand by that position *********************** ARTICLES FOR 1993 TOWN MEETING *********************** 190 Mollo-Christensen Letter The Board discussed a letter from Erik Mollo- Christensen that stated his intention to present a citizen's article to Town Meeting if the Planning Board does not The subject is the problem of the flooding of land by overflowing brooks, exacerbated by nearby impervious surfaces His particular concern is the Swommonland, between Five Fields and the Waltham City line Minutes for the Meeting of December 14, 1992 3 The Board asked the staff to write a letter of response to Mr. Mollo- Christensen, encouraging him to pursue the issue as a citizen's petition as the Board will not submit such an article to the Town Meeting. It should urge him to address his concerns to the Conservation Commission, and suggest that he consider an amendment to the General By-Laws, as the Zoning By-Law is effectively limited to new construction. 191 Planning Board Sponsored Articles Mr. Bowyer advised the Board that it should now write a letter to the Board of Selectmen asking them to reserve space in the Warrant for their articles. By the third week in January, the wording should be sufficiently final to appear in the Warrant, and to adver- tise and hold hearings on the amendments The Board agreed unanimously to go forward with amendments to define minor changes in a site plan, to modify the definition of the word family, and to control the size of houses relative to their building lot size On the motion of Mr. Domnitz, seconded by Mrs. Davison, the Board voted 3-2, Mr Grant and Mrs Wood opposed, to sponsor an article that would add the word "course" after the word "golf" in the Use Table The Board asked the staff to write to Mr. McWeeney of the Board of Appeals to inform him that the Planning Board would not sponsor an article relating to the expansion of a two-family house. 192. Annual Town Report The Board reviewed and modified the draft of the Planning Board's report. Mr. Williams questioned the $14.5 million figure used to refer to the value of open space gained by the Town. Mrs Davison disagreed with the statement that the Board would be encouraging more cluster subdivisions On the motion of Mrs Wood, seconded by Mr. Williams, the Board voted unanimously to approve the report as modified ************************ REGIONAL, INTERTOWN ISSUES ************************* 193. Met. State Hospital Land Task Force Mrs. Davison reported that open space seems to be the top choice of all three towns for the best use of the land, though Waltham is still angling for a golf course ********************************** REPORTS ********************************** 194. Planning Board. Subcommittees a. Request for Help. Mr. Williams read a letter from a Mrs Sullivan who asked for help in subdividing her land at Marrett Road and Wachusett Drive. Her previous ANR applications have been denied Mr Williams asked the staff if they would direct her. b. Landscaping Reauirements In response to Mrs. Davison's complaint that the Board of Appeals does not enforce the landscaping requirements of the Zoning By-Law when applications for special permits are made, the other members of the Board suggested possible ways of influencing the Board of Appeals to be more conscientious in that area. The staff was asked to draft a letter to Mr. Eddison The meeting was adjourned at 10 48 p.m. oc\ / r Edmund C. Grant, Clerk