HomeMy WebLinkAboutPlanning Board Minutes, 1994-04-25 PLANNING BOARD MINUTES
MEETING OF APRIL 25, 1994
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 Domnitz, with members Canale, Merrill,
Planning Director Bowyer, and Assistant Planner Marino present Mrs Davison was
absent Mr. Grant arrived during Item 78
************************ PLANNING DIRECTOR'S REPORT ***********************
77. Recent Activity
a Socio-Economic Characteristics of Lexin€ton Mr. Bowyer reported that he
anticipated copies of the report being returned from the printer at any time. Town
Manager White has requested that Mr. Bowyer make a slide presentation about the
report to the Board of Selectmen at their meeting on May 2.
***************** ADMINISTRATION OF LAND DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS ************
PLANS NOT REQUIRING APPROVAL UNDER THE SUBDIVISION CONTROL LAW
78 Form A/94-1, 55 Hancock Street, John Austin The Board reviewed a plan of
land at the junction of Hancock Street and Adams Street. After some discussion of
the method of computing lot frontage on the curved intersection of two streets, it
was agreed the proposal complies with the frontage provisions of the Zoning By-Law
On the motion of Mr Grant, seconded by Mr. Canale, the Board voted 4-0
to endorse the plan entitled "Plan of Land in Lexington, Mass ", dated April
13, 1993, prepared by Meridian Engineering Collaborative, Inc. , Peabody,
Mass , certified by Wesley Guillaume, Professional Land Surveyor, with Form
A/94-1, submitted by applicants John and Patricia Austin, acting for the
owners, as it does not require approval under the Subdivision Control Law
RECOMMENDATIONS ON APPLICATIONS TO THE BOARD OF APPEALS
79 Applications To Be Heard on April 28 1994 Mr Canale gave an oral review of
the following applications
4 Watson Road, Lance and Deborah Newman, variance to add dormer across rear of
house If the variance were granted, the dwelling would become a three-story
house. The Board agreed to recommend that no more than a half dormer be
approved That will permit the applicant to expand while remaining in
compliance with the Lexington Zoning By-Law The applicant has not cited a
hardship that justifies a variance The Board noted that a variance for
height in the number of stories has rarely, if ever, been granted.
11-13 Fletcher Avenue, Steven and Joan Levy and and Karen and Karl Weiland,
variance to add family room Mr Grant announced that he would disqualify
himself from voting on this case as the applicants are his clients On the
motion of Mr. Domnitz, seconded by Mr. Canale, it was voted 3-0-1, with Mr
Grant abstaining, to recommend the application be denied because the appli-
cants have not shown that they meet the criteria for a variance set forth in
the statute.
Minutes for the Meeting of April 25, 1994 2
The Board agreed to make no comment on the following petitions
46 Bedford Street, Battle Green Shell Station, modification of a special
permit to add 203 sq ft. within building footprint to house the sale of
convenience foods
37 Independence Avenue, Elizabeth Wright and Robert Lew, special permit to add
a half-story dormer
23 Woodcliffe Road, Harry Paulsen and Sandra Roerber, special permit to add
second floor
39 Reed Street, Ira Blieden, variance for 1 1/2 story addition to side of
house
121 Hartwell Avenue, Varian, Inc , special permit to house mechanical equip-
ment in an additional building
SUBDIVISION OF LAND
80 Nishan's Way, Definitive Subdivision Plan. Webb and Woburn Street Direction
to Staff Mr Canale inquired whether the Board had previously approved a design
for an essentially one-way system with a narrower street width around a turnaround,
and a wider street width in the straight section of the street Mr Bowyer
responded that Dover Lane, off Pleasant Street, has those characteristics A
"teardrop" design of the center island in Dover Lane helps to reinforce the one-way
traffic pattern Mr Merrill observed that the teardrop design would reduce the
amount of pavement and increase the area for landscaping in the center island Mr
Canale proposed, and the Board agreed, to not waive the 24 foot width for the
straight section of the subdivision street, but to permit a 20 foot width for the
part of the street that passes around an island that would be teardrop shaped.
The Board reviewed the waivers requested and agreed to grant the following the
corner rounding for the right of way, that no sidewalk be provided, and that catch
basins be spaced more than 250 feet apart The Board will nut grant the request for
a waiver to allow a bituminous berm, but will require vertical granite curbing from
Webb Street to the first catch basin The street name will be Currier Court
On the special permit with site plan review, the Board agreed to include conditions
that
1) will require underground utilities from the new subdivision street to the
existing house on lot 4;
2) will require that all existing vegetation within 20 feet of the perimeter
of the tract be maintained, or replaced in kind, and,
3) the existing building on lot 6 be replaced by a building with not more than
2,000 square feet of gross floor area and impervious surface ratio not more
than 0. 12.
The Board agreed to grant a special permit to allow the driveway for lot 4 to pass
over a part of lot 3.
Mr Bowyer said that these changes will require revisions to the mylar originals
The Board's practice has been to require that, as a condition of the release of the
mylar originals, an applicant has to request an extension of time for a minimum of
45 days Depending on how quickly the applicant responds, the full 45 days may not
3 Minutes for the meeting of April 25, 1994
be necessary The Board agreed that if the applicant did not submit a request for
an extension of time, or did not accept the conditions that the Board wanted to have
included, the Board may then reconsider some of the waivers that it tentatively
agrees to grant with the result that the definitive subdivision plan, as submitted,
would be disapproved.
81 Asparagus Wav The Board agreed to hold the informational meeting on this
preliminary plan Monday, May 9
************************ REGIONAL, INTERTOWN ISSUES *************************
82. Met. State Hospital Reuse The Board agreed to postpone discussion of this
item until the May 2 meeting. Mr. Canale urged that at the April 28 meeting of the
housing subcommittee of the Tri-Community Task Forces, that the some of the language
in the housing section of the reuse plan be changed from 'should' to 'shall' or
'must' to make it clear the action is required and not discretionary
******************* PLANNING BOARD ORGANIZATION, SCHEDULE *******************
83. Meeting Schedule The Board agreed to meet on May 2, 9 and 16. No meeting is
scheduled for May 23 or May 30, Memorial Day. A meeting will be held on June 6
The meeting was adjourned at 10 37 p m
Richard L Canale, Clerk