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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPlanning Board Minutes, 1994-05-09 PLANNING BOARD MINUTES MEETING OF MAY 9, 1994 The meeting of the Lexington Planning Board held in Room G-15, Town Office Building, was called to order at 7 39 p m by Chairman Domnitz, with members Canale, Davison, Grant, Merrill, Planning Director Bowyer, and Assistant Planner Marino present ************************ PLANNING DIRECTOR'S REPORT *********************** 90 Recent Activity a. Monroe Village, Woburn Street, Sketch Plan Mr Marino rolled out a sketch preliminary plan for the Monroe Village development, off Woburn Street, that was submitted by the Sheldon Corporation on May 3, 1994. The staff has not yet reviewed the plan in detail The time for action on this plan expires on June 2,1994. ***************** ADMINISTRATION OF LAND DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS ************ SUBDIVISION OF LAND 91. Asparagus Lane. Preliminary Subdivision Plan, Informational Hearing Mr. Domnitz opened the hearing and described the process to be followed. The planning staff and the Town Engineering Department have analyzed the plan submitted on April 5. Mr Domnitz said that he understood that the applicants, John and Debra Cary, would present the plan filed on April 5, but that they would also like to present and discuss with the Planning Board an alternative plan Gary Larson, of Larson Associates, the landscape architect and Rick Waitt of Meridian Engineering Collaborative, Inc , were present to describe the plan to the Board The proposed subdivision of land is on the west side of Grove Street, an accepted public way, near Royal Circle and the intersection of Grove Street with Eldred Road. The property is shown as lot 113A on Town property map number 83 and is identified as 110 Grove Street. The proposed development, located in the RO one-family dwelling district, contains 115,200 square feet (2 64 acres) The parcel is divided into 2 lots that comply with the minimum lot size, frontage, and width standards in the Lexington Zoning By-Law The proposal is for a 20 foot wide pavement within a 40 wide foot right-of-way with a hammerhead turnaround 120 feet in diameter. The proposed street is designed to comply with the Development Regulations The proposed subdivision street which would provide access to the site is between 110 and 106 Grove Street The parcel is currently occupied by a single family house which will remain in its current location Mr. Larson next presented the alternative plan which was not filed with the Planning Board and has not been reviewed for compliance with the Development Regulations and the Zoning By-Law The alternative plan also shows a two lot subdivision, but does not propose the construction of a street. The alternative plan shows the right-of- way line of Grove Street curved to provide the required 150 feet of frontage along the street The applicants feel that this proposal is more environmentally sensitive because it does not require construction of a street and shows instead a realigned driveway, using the existing curb cut, that would serve both lots In response to a question from Mr Canale, Mr Larson said that this plan would require waivers from many of the requirements in the Development Regulations Minutes for the Meeting of May 9, 1994 2 Mr Domnitz asked for questions from the Planning Board, Mr Grant said he finds the solution to the frontage requirement creative and interesting in this particular context Mr Grant noted that the alternative plan has not been formally submitted and reviewed by the Planning Department staff and must be to be part of the process He thought that such waivers in the case of small subdivisions may be desirable though the Development Regulations in general are well designed Mrs. Davison agreed and stated that a simpler solution like a shared driveway instead of a subdivision street is more desirable Mr Domnitz responded that the alternative plan may be an interesting idea but an analysis by the staff of the zoning implications is needed He asked the staff to review the town-wide implications of the alternative plan presented by Mr Larson He told the applicant that a decision on both plans would take some time to prepare and that he was concerned about this proposal becoming a precedent for other sites in town The applicant, Mrs Cary, said she would prefer a decision on the plan filed and hoped that with the first plan approved, she could then get waivers that would allow the second plan to be approved. The Board discussed the two plans presented and decided to direct the staff to prepare a decision on the preliminary plan filed on April 5 that denies the re- quested waiver to allow a 14 foot wide road and to recommend that the proposed house be numbered 108 Grove Street and that the proposed subdivision street not have a name On the motion of Mr Canale, seconded by Mr Grant, the Board voted, 4-0-1, Mrs. Davison abstaining, to approve the preliminary plan with the comments made 92 Ellen Dana Court, Vote to Accent Covenant and Endorse Plans On the motion of Mr Canale, seconded by Mrs Davison, the Board voted unanimously to endorse the definitive subdivision plans entitled "Definitive Site Development Plan, Dana Court, A Planned Residential Development, Lexington, Mass " and accept the covenant, executed by William D. Martin and Gabrielle A Martin, dated May 9, 1994 I PLANS NOT REQUIRING APPROVAL UNDER THE SUBDIVISION CONTROL LAW 93. Form A 94/2 6 and 8 Warren Street The Board reviewed a plan showing a revision of the lot line between parcel 16C of map 39, lot A and parcel 19 of map 39, lot B On the motion of Mr Canale, seconded by Mr Grant, the Board voted unanimously to endorse the plan entitled "Plan of Land in Lexington, Mass ", dated April 17, 1994, prepared by Hawk Surveying Co , Whitinsville, Mass , certified by Timothy R Callahan, Professional Land Surveyor, with Form A 94/2, submitted by Jim Levis, applicant, as it does not require approval under the Subdivision Control Law ******************* PLANNING BOARD ORGANIZATION, SCHEDULE ******************* 94 Meeting and Public Hearings Schedule The Board set meetings for May 26, June 6, 13 and 20 The public hearing for the Schoolhouse Lane subdivision will be held on June 20, 1994 3 Minutes for the meeting of May 9, 1994 Mr Bowyer discussed the status of the Tracer Lane commercial subdivision with the Board A condition in the decision approving the subdivision states that a covenant must be executed within 6 months of the approval of the plan (July, 1993) or the Planning Board may vote to rescind the approval of the plan He had a meeting with Mr Nahigian and his counsel in January at which engineering changes were discussed He has not heard anything since then. He asked whether to follow up to prompt some action from Mr. Nahigian. The Board directed the staff to not contact the developer, Mr Nahigian,at this time. They asked to be brought up to date on this issue in 6 months ***************** ADMINISTRATION OF LAND DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS ************ RECOMMENDATIONS ON APPLICATIONS TO THE BOARD OF APPEALS 95 Hearings scheduled for May 12. 1994 , Mr. Grant 1040 Waltham Street, Center for Mental Health, special permit to install an externally illuminated projecting sign. The Planning Board agreed that a hanging sign is inappropriate for this building. They saw the wording, Crisis Services, as general advertising, not as directional They agreed to recom- mend to the Board of Appeals that if the sign is approved the legend should be changed to Center for Mental Health The Board had no comment on the following applications, also scheduled to be heard on May 12, 1994 19 Hudson Road E Milling Kinard, variance to add a one-car garage and second story 12 Tower Road, Gerald Lesser, variance to add a two-level deck to the rear of the dwelling ************************ REGIONAL, INTERTOWN ISSUES ************************* 96. Met State Hospital Land Reuse The Board discussed their process for developing a position on the land reuse. They will devote the meeting of May 26 to Met. State and the Comprehensive Plan ********************************** REPORTS ********************************** 97 Planning Board, Subcommittees a. Strategic Planning and Assessment Group The Board discussed several aspects of the survey that SPAIG is designing. The meeting was adjourned at 10 33 p m. N�� Richar L. Canale, Cleric t �