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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPlanning Board Minutes, 1994-03-14 PLANNING BOARD MINUTES MEETING OF MARCH 14, 1994 The meeting of the Lexington Planning Board held in Room G-15, Town Office Building, was called to order at 7 35 p m by Chairman Domnitz, with members Canale, Davison, Merrill, Planning Director Bowyer, and Assistant Planner Marino present Mr Grant arrived during Item 44 ******************* PLANNING BOARD ORGANIZATION, SCHEDULE ******************* 46. Organizational Matters On behalf of the Board, Mr. Domnitz welcomed newly elected member Fred Merrill and expressed their pleasure at having him on the Board ************************ PLANNING DIRECTOR'S REPORT *********************** 47 Recent Activity• a. Volume 1 Population, Socio-Economic Characteristics of Lexington: Mr. Bowyer reported that Volume 1 is nearly finished A draft copy will be distributed to the Board soon b Board of Appeals Mr Canale gave a brief report on some of the hearings held by the Board of Appeals on March 10. Mr. Domnitz said that he had talked with Frank Smith, Chairman of the Board of Appeals, about architectural issues. Mr Smith is very much in favor of consulting the Design Advisory Committee when these issues arise in applications for special permits and variances He asked that the Planning Board identify for him sections of the Zoning By-Law that reference architectural issues ***************** ADMINISTRATION OF LAND DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS ************ SUBDIVISION OF LAND 48 PUBLIC HEARING Dana Court, Carter Scott Chairman Domnitz opened the hearing at 7 45 p m Landscape Architect, Gary Larson, of Larson Associates, representing the applicants, presented the Planned Residential Development/Conven- tional Subdivision plans. Mr Larson noted that they had worked closely with Rick Waite of Meridian Engineering, and the Town Engineering and Planning Departments, and that the plan was largely the same plan presented at the preliminary plan stage, with the recommendations made by the Board in its decision on the preliminary plan incorporated into the plan. The plans show three lots on a 1 68 acre parcel, a 24' wide street in a 40' wide right-of-way ending with a hammerhead turnaround. Mr Larson identified the notable features of the proposed Planned Residential Development/Conventional Subdivision plan to be an improvement in the boundary of the abutting commercial use and the site, a restriction proposed by Mr Scott prohibiting building or construction on the rear portions of lots 2 and 3, and the replacement of the existing chain-link fence in the rear with a wood split rail fence Mr Larson noted that the lot identified as parcel A is not a separate buildable lot and that, as the plans indicate, will be added to the abutting land owned by Mr Scott Mr. Larson added that the Engineering Department was reviewing the detailed infiltrator design data. Minutes for the Meeting of March 14, 1994 2 There were questions and comments from the Planning Board regarding the landscaping plan and the metal fence along Massachusetts Avenue. Comments from the audience included an endorsement of the project as one that is socially responsible, and that maintains the integrity of the site. There were no questions from the audience, and Mr. Domnitz declared the hearing closed at 8 28 p.m. ***************** ADMINISTRATION OF LAND DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS ************ SUBDIVISION OF LAND 49, Dias Drive, 395 Concord Avenue. Woodhaven Realty Mr. Marino informed the Board that Woodhaven Realty has requested that the time for the Planning Board to act on the Dias Drive preliminary plan be extended an additional forty-five days, from April 2, 1994 to May 17, 1994 On the motion of Mr. Grant, seconded by Mr. Canale, the Board voted unanimously to grant the extension DETERMINATION OF GRADE AND CONSTRUCTION OF UNACCEPTED STREETS 50. Bennington Road Mr Bowyer reported that the staff received a letter from Kenneth Nill, 16 Bennington Road, asking how he can establish to the Planning Board's satisfaction that the grade and construction of the unaccepted portion of Bennington is adequate Staff prepared a response to Mr. Nill informing him that the Planning Board agrees that it will be able to make a determination that the Bennington Road is a street of adequate grade and construction assuming the inspection and of the subsurface condition of the roadway by the Town of Lexington Engineering Division shows it to be adequate. In that case, the Planning Board is prepared to waive the requirements of the Development Regulations for submittal of a Street Construction Plan. If the Engineering Division determines that the subsur- face condition of the roadway is not adequate and does not comply with the Develop- ment Regulations the Planning Board will require that a Definitive Street Construc- tion Plan be filed The Board requests that it be advised of when the water and sewer installation will be made and when the Engineering Division can inspect the subsurface conditions After some discussion, on the motion of Mr Grant, seconded by Mr Canale, the Board voted unanimously to send the letter as amended ******************* PLANNING BOARD ORGANIZATION, SCHEDULE ******************* 51. Public Hearing Dates The Board set Wednesday, March 30, 1994 as the date for the public hearing on the Dias drive subdivision The public hearing on the Nishan's Way subdivision will be held on Wednesday, April 13, 1994 *********************** ARTICLES FOR 1994 TOWN MEETING *********************** 52 Review of Warrant Article 12, Street Acceptance and Construction On the motion of Mr Canale, seconded by Mr Merrill, the Board voted unanimously to send a report, as outlined in a draft prepared by the staff, to Town Meeting recommending approval of this article `J 3 Minutes for the meeting of March 14, 1994 Article 24, Jumbo House Setbacks Mr. Domnitz proposed that the Board ask Town Meeting if it thinks this article should be studied for presentation at the 1995 Town Meeting The economic, aesthetic and social implications that the proposed setbacks reveal could be brought up and addressed in the same way that a public hearing brings out viewpoints and concerns from the public Mr Grant sees no public outcry about jumbo houses Mrs Davison said she hears a great deal from residents about the big new houses being built in town. They want to know what they can do about them Several of the Board members expressed a desire to see the issue dealt with as part of a broader process They believe it is important to know how we want residential land reused as part of the comprehensive plan Mrs. Davison asked if a comprehensive plan has any force Mr Bowyer answered that a comprehensive plan is the policy basis for adopting zoning regulations or subdivi- sion regulations It helps to prevent the appearance of arbitrariness in making a requirement. The many consequences of a regulatory change like the jumbo house setback amendment will have been thought out based on feedback received at the public hearings appearance, economics, who benefits or is burdened, and the sense of openness of neighborhoods Overlay districts for different parts of town may be considered. Several members agreed that it provides purpose, a plan into which the smaller elements fit and helps to avoid a microscopic or reactive view It can identify concerns and ways to deal with them. Article 28. Woodland Road Mr Grant, though he supports the construction of affordable housing by LexHAB, feels that with the tremendous amount of opposition from the neighborhood to using this site for a house that LexHAB should use another lot He is troubled because the walking path through the lot is used by so many children to go to Fiske and Diamond and is a legitimate public use already Mrs. Davison finds the planned house compatible with the path use. A discussion ensued about vacant Town-owned lots of land and their status, and LexHAb's criteria for choosing a lot for scattered site housing. Do they have a master plan? Mr Bowyer said that Roberta Leviton's report on 20 years of afford- able housing in Lexington offers a policy perspective. Her report shows how frequently scattered site housing was cited as an alternative to proposals for multi-family housing. This is the basis of LexHAB's program. ********************************** REPORTS ********************************** 53. Planning Board. Subcommittees a. Design Advisory Committee Mrs Davison reported that the Design Advisory Committee is looking into a wooden covered bridge concept instead of concrete bunkers for bikeway bridges b. Bikeway Committee Mr. Canale said that the Mass. Highway Department presented its plans for the reconfigured bridges to the Friends of the Bikeway c. Lexington Center Committee Mrs. Davison said that the Center Committee discussed ways to find more parking in the center. She said this is an issue that the Planning Board's master plan should address. Mr. Domnitz asked if parking under Minutes for the Meeting of March 14, 1994 4 the Salter Building ever comes up when the subject of parking comes up at these meetings. Is it being used by occupants of the building, as originally planned? ******************* PLANNING BOARD ORGANIZATION, SCHEDULE ******************* 54. Committee Liaisons It was agreed that Mr Merrill would become the Planning Board liaison with the Design Advisory Committee Mrs Davison will be liaison to the Lexington Center Committee The meeting was adjourned at 10 38 p.m CAMP' Richard L. Canale, Clerk