HomeMy WebLinkAboutPlanning Board Minutes, 1994-05-02 PLANNING BOARD MINUTES
MEETING OF MAY 2, 1994
The meeting of the Lexington Planning Board held in Room G-15, Town Office Building,
was called to order at 7 37 p m by Chairman Domnitz, with members Canale, Davison,
Grant, Merrill, Planning Director Bowyer, and Assistant Planner Marino present
************************ PLANNING DIRECTOR'S REPORT ***********************
84. Staff Reports
a. Rollout of Preliminary Street Improvement Plans, 19/21 Haves Lane The Board
briefly looked at preliminary plans for the improvement of a portion of Hayes Lane
The applicants are Daniel and Lynn Perry.
***************** ADMINISTRATION OF LAND DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS ************
SUBDIVISION OF LAND
85 Nishan's Wav, Extension of Time Mr. Marino informed the Board that the
developer has requested an extension of time On the motion of Mr Canale, seconded
by Mr. Domnitz, the Board voted unanimously to grant the request that the time for
the Planning Board to act on the Nishan's Way definitive subdivision plan be
extended an additional ninety days, from May 2, 1994 to August 2, 1994.
86 Form A Procedures Mr Domnitz observed that the Planning Board is not
required to approve every ANR plan submitted to them. He said that denials of ANRs
have been upheld in the courts The Board has 21 days in which to act and in that
time Town Counsel can be consulted Mr Domnitz requested the staff to provide a
copy of ANR plans submitted to them to the Board before the night they are scheduled
to be heard Mr Merrill asked if a presentation of the applicant's plans for the
property can be requested so that the Board's decision will he more informed
The Board considered the possibility of rescinding its approval of an ANR recently
submitted for property off Hancock Street.
******************* COORDINATION WITH OTHER BOARDS, COMMITTEES ****************
87 Recess to Join Board of Selectmen's Meeting At 8 02 p m. , the Board recessed
to attend the Board of Selectmen's meeting. The North Lexington Transportation
Improvements Program, Route 2A/Forbes Road/Mass. Avenue plan, was being discussed
The Planning Board meeting resumed its meeting in Room G-15 at 9 28 p.m.
************************ REGIONAL, INTERTOWN ISSUES *************************
88 Met. State Hospital Reuse The Board continued its review of the objectives
criteria, guidelines and assumptions for the development of the Met State Hospital
Land by working on the questionnaire dated April 6, 1994
Mr Canale observed that there are two types of fiscal impacts. One deals with the
cost and revenues to the three municipalities He favored a more fiscally neutral
approach because he was concerned that attempting to generate revenue for the Town
t_rwould drive up the intensity of development. Mr. Domnitz and Mr Merrill were in
J favor of having the development generate tax revenue for the Town either by
Minutes for the Meeting of May 2, 1994 2
conventional real estate taxation or by PILOT (payments in lieu of taxes) by non-
profit, tax exempt institutions
The second fiscal question is the various sources of money that will be used to pay
the state for acquisition of the property It was agreed the City of Waltham should
pay a substantial amount for the land it proposes to use for a municipal golf
course. Mrs Davison expressed concern that the housing part of the development
would be required to pay such a large amount that the developer would be unable to
meet the affordable housing objectives.
All members agreed that negative fiscal impacts on the three communities should be
avoided All members agreed with the criteria for public open space.
Under the social compatibility section, Mr Domnitz observed that there was so much
buffer area and vegetation surrounding the developed parts of the site that there
was little potential for impact on neighborhoods. He observed that developed
portions of the site create their own environment All members agreed with the
criteria for the preservation of the site's open campus character.
After extensive discussion of environmental, site planning, and operations standards
for the proposed City of Waltham golf course, it was agreed that the Towns of
Lexington and Belmont, the City of Waltham and the MDC should enter into a memoran-
dum of understanding so that all pieces of the reuse plan are carried out and there
is a continuing monitoring process.
At the next Planning Board meeting at which the Board works on the questionnaire, it
will resume at the housing section.
Mr Domnitz asked what the process would be after the Board completed its review of
the questionnaire. Mr Bowyer responded that the questionnaire was a means to
develop a Board position The Board could then make a recommendation to the Met
State Hospital Reuse Task Force or to the Board of Selectmen or to both.
********************************** REPORTS *********************************t
89. Planning Board, Subcommittees
a. Board of Anneals Hearings Mr. Canale reported that John McWeeney, a member
of the Board of Appeals, restated his desire for the Planning Board to sponsor an
amendment to the Zoning By-Law to allow the expansion of nonconforming two-family
dwellings by special permit The Planning Board decided against a similar request
in 1991 The Board agreed to review the situation again Mr Canale observed that
the Board of Appeals decisions seem to be heavily influenced by the position of the
neighbors present
b Cambridge Reservoir Watershed Advisory Committee Mr. Canale reported that
the Mass. Highway Department has made money available to assess the impact of
highways on the Cambridge Watershed. New aerial photographs of the Cambridge
Reservoir Watershed area will be developed from a flight flown this spring. The
Cambridge Water Board is interested in developing a notification system for any
development in any of the towns within the watershed. Mr. Bowyer commented
Lexington already has the technology for that kind of notification system once the
Cambridge Water Board delineates the parcels within the watershed.
3 Minutes for the meeting of May 2, 1994
c. Design Advisory Committee Mrs Davison reported the Design Advisory
Committee responded negatively to a proposal for a sign on the exterior of the
RoseMal Building facing Route 2 Toni Coffman, a member of the Design Advisory
Committee discussed a package about street signage that he has developed from the
David Dixon report Mrs. Davison urged the Planning Board to work with the Design
Advisory Committee on revisions to the sign provisions of the Zoning By-Law
The meeting was adjourned at 11 06 p.m
Patai Ayr
Richard L. Canale, Clerk