HomeMy WebLinkAboutPlanning Board Minutes, 1993-07-29 PLANNING BOARD MINUTES
MEETING OF JULY 29, 1993
The meeting of the Lexington Planning Board held in Room G-15, Town Office
Building, was called to order at 7 40 p.m. by Chairman Williams, with members
Davison, Domnitz, Grant, Planning Director Bowyer, and Assistant Planner
Marino present. Mr Canale arrived before Item 109
************************ PLANNING DIRECTOR'S REPORT ***********************
108. Recent Activity
a. Meeting with the Board of Selectmen Mr. Bowyer reported the Board of
Selectmen are likely to invite the Planning Board to meet with them and a
number of other town boards and committees on Monday, August 16. This will
begin a process for a development leading to the 1994 Town Meeting. The Board
agreed to reschedule their own meeting of August 18 to August 16.
b Site Walk at 669 Mass. Avenue Carter Scott has asked the Board to walk
the site of his proposed subdivision at 669 Massachusetts Avenue The Board
agreed to do this before meeting with the Selectmen.
************************** PLANNING BOARD REGULATIONS ***********************
109. Review of Development Regulations. Chapter 4. Zoning. Special Permits
The Board reviewed a draft of this chapter, dated July 22, 1993. Mr. Bowyer
distributed a draft of Chapter 5, Unaccepted Streets, to be discussed at the
next meeting devoted to regulations.
********************* COMPREHENSIVE PLANNING ***************************
110 Strategic Planning Program. Mr Williams welcomed Peter Enrich, a Town
Meeting member from Precinct 4, who was present to explain the Strategic
Planning Program authorized by a resolution approved at the 1993 Town Meeting.
Mr Enrich made clear his group's desire to solicit the Planning Board's
involvement and support. The resolution, as presented at Town Meeting, was
focused mostly on the fiscal process and budget planning, especially for the
next fiscal year. The resolution calls for a series of public meetings
involving a wide range of civic, religious, community, educational and other
groups to talk about core values and priorities that should inform the budget
process.
Those most involved with the resolution were concerned about how budgetary
decisions fit into a much larger understanding of where Lexington is headed.
As the meetings of the committee progressed, a desire for more long range
planning was evident. A pilot strategic planning effort, limited by available
resources, will be made. Public hearings will be held in the fall to solicit
broad input as a base for defining the parameters of the planning process.
Mr. Williams responded that this is what the Planning Board is doing as part
of its state mandated comprehensive planning process The Board fears the
public perception will be one of confusion. They are concerned about how the
two groups are going to work together
All present agreed a way must be found to coordinate and support one another's
efforts as they are interrelated.
Minutes for the Meeting of July 29 , 1993 2
111 Review of Land Use Change Report The Board continued its review of the
report Land Use Change During the Eighties, discussing the open space ques-
tions in Chapter 12, Policy Implications. cm
***************** ADMINISTRATION OF LAND DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS ************
RECOMMENDATIONS ON APPLICATIONS TO THE BOARD OF APPEALS
112 Applications To Be Heard on August 12. 1993 Mr Grant gave an oral
review of the following applications
577 & 581 Marrett Road, Con-Rel, Inc , special permit to allow office,
yard and storage facilities for construction company in the CS district.
The Board agreed to urge the Board of Appeals to question the applicant
about the hours of operation and night time illumination.
137 Massachusetts Avenue, Chicken Express, special permit to operate
take-out food business (former Gloria Food location) . The Board
believes the applicant must address the landscaping question indepen-
dently of other applications or uses because more landscaping is always
required for this particular set of stores The applicant may want to
consider adding to landscaping along the bike path as it passes behind
the building
The Board also thinks the aggregate parking calculations should be
checked to determine if parking is adequate for all the new uses in that
building.
********************************** REPORTS **********************************
113 Planning Board. Subcommittees
a. Hanscom. Mr. Canale asked Mr. Bowyer if the staff is aware of the
Regional Transportation Plan Mr. Marino commented it is to be approved on
October 1 by various transportation agencies and groups. Since this is very
short notice, the Town Manager may lodge a protest as copies of the report
have not been readily available. Mr. Bowyer said that Town Engineer Frank
Fields, and Joe Marino will be attending one of the meetings to be held in
early August
b. HATS Mr Canale reported that copies of the Executive Summary of the
SAR report are available for the asking. Comments will be taken and published
but they will not affect the report outcome itself. Mr. Williams asked staff
to provide the Board with the report
b Lexington Center Committee Mrs Davison reported that the Center
Committee is devoting much time to the redesign of Emery Park. Lexpress needs
safe access for handicapped people so cutting into the park itself to provide
it is being considered. Mr Williams and Mr Grant doubt that this is legally
possible.
The meeting was adjourned at 10 40 p.m.
41;111 11%.4.7.1 cpaitn-j.n:
Jacq,eline B Davison, Clerk