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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPlanning Board Minutes, 1994-06-20 PLANNING BOARD MINUTES MEETING OF JUNE 20, 1994 The meeting of the Lexington Planning Board held in Room G-15, Town Office Building,was called to order at 7.45 p.m. by Chairman Domnitz,with members Canale, Grant, Merrill, Planning Director Bowyer, and Assistant Planner Marino present. Mrs. Davison arrived during Item 131. *************************** PLANNING DIRECTOR'S REPORT **************************** 129 Recent Activity a. Summer Street. Subdivision: Mr. Bowyer reported that the definitive plan for 10 Summer Street was filed on June 17 b. Items of Interest: Mr. Bowyer distributed a copy of an article about pre-existing, nonconforming structures, prepared by attorney James Whalen, Palmer and Dodge, for a continuing legal education program. ************** ADMINISTRATION OF LAND DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS ************* SUBDIVISION OF LAND 130. Schoolhouse Lane Subdivision. Definitive Plan: PUBLIC HEARING: Mr Domnitz opened the hearing at 7.48 p.m. Landscape architect Gary Larson, of Larson Associates, presented the plan. Present were the applicant, Richard Perry, Woodhaven Associates, Richard Waitt, civil engineer, Meridian Engineering Collaborative, Inc., and attorney Alan Wrigley,who are members of the development team. Mr Larson noted that a ridge with a slope greater than 15% bisects the site. The definitive plan has changed hardly at all since the preliminary plan the Board had approved. It is a three-lot conventional subdivision. There is a forty foot right of way in which the street is 20 feet wide. There is a hammerhead turnaround. Storm water drainage will be collected in a detention area on the f site near Concord Avenue. Mrs. Davison joined the meeting. Mr. Canale raised questions about the slope of the driveways. Mr. Domnitz raised questions about the catch basin system and the drainage. Irwin Spivak, 396 Concord Avenue, inquired about construction staging and how the use of Concord Avenue will be disrupted. He was not opposed to the subdivision but wanted to understand the schedule. Five residents were present. The hearing was closed at 8:05 p.m. Later in the meeting, after other business, the Board returned to discussion of the subdivision. The staff had prepared a draft of a decision on the subdivision plan and the special permit with site plan review as the applicants had not requested any waivers and the engineering division found that the proposal complied with the Town standards and had no other comment. On the motion of Mrs. Davison, seconded by Mr. Grant, the Board voted unanimously to: 1) approve the definitive subdivision plan, entitled "Schoolhouse Lane, a Planned Residential Development, Lexington, Massachusetts", dated June 16, 1994; 2) approve the certificate of action, dated June 20, 1994; { 3) grant a special permit with site plan review (SPS) for a planned residential development/conventional subdivision; Minutes for the Meeting of June 20, 1994 2 4) approve the decision, granting the special permit with site plan review (SPS), dated June 20, 1994. 131. 258 East Street, Sketch Plan: Decision The Board reviewed the draft of a decision on the sketch plan. Mrs. Davison argued that the applicant should be required to bring in a cluster subdivision with two-family houses. Mr Domnitz, Mr Grant, and Mr Merrill, all pointed out that the applicant has a right to file a conventional subdivision. The applicant appears committed to developing a conventional subdivision. Mrs. Davison pleaded for the retention of a large tree adjacent to the East Street right of way line. Its exact location is not shown on the sketch plan and it is,uncirtain whether a street alignment is possible without affecting it. The Board agreed to include language in its decision that efforts should be made to preserve the tree. With more precise information available at the preliminary plan stage, the Board can evaluate the retention of the tree in the light of safety and other design considerations. On the motion of Mrs. Davison, seconded by Mr Canale, it was voted unanimously to approve the draft decision dated June 21, 1994, as amended. 132. 160-170 Wood Street: The Board reviewed a draft of a decision dated June 16, 1994. Mr Grant disagreed with language that indicated the proposed development is not acceptable for a cluster subdivision because there are not sufficient benefits either in design or public benefits. He thought the applicant had responded to each of the points the Planning Board made in its 1990 decision disapproving a subdivision plan for that property He objected to saying that there were no benefits and felt that the applicant has made a substantial effort, based on a great deal of work, to respond to the Board's earlier concerns. The Board agreed to modify the language in the draft to continue to encourage use of the cluster approach. The Board made several other editing changes and asked the staff to revise this draft for action at the next Board meeting. *************************** REGIONAL, INTERTOWN ISSUES **************************** 133. Met. State Hosnital Reuse: The Board reviewed a draft of a recommendation dated June 20, 1994. Mr. Canale suggested that a sentence be added to the second point dealing with Lexington's Chapter 40b inventory of affordable housing, as,follows: All designated affordable units shall remain affordable in perpetuity Mr Grant requested that his opposition to the second paragraph be noted in the letter He objects to the words "in perpetuity" and wants his position to be known. He said he does not have enough information to support the use of such a strong word in the recommendation. The rest of the Board did not agree to include his remarks in the letter but they will appear in the minutes of the meeting. On the motion of Mr Canale, seconded by Mrs. Davison, the Board voted 4-1, with Mr. Grant opposed, to approve the recommendation, dated June 20, 1994, as amended. The Board asked that copies be sent to the members of the Belmont and Waltham task forces and housing subcommittees and the State DCPO. 3 Minutes for the meeting of June 20, 1994 *****tit****** ADMINISTRATION OF LAND DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS **********"* RECOMMENDATIONS ON APPLICATIONS TO THE BOARD OF APPEALS 1 134. Applications To Be Heard on June 23 1994: Mr Domnitz gave an oral review of the following applications: 197 Follen Road. Karl and Joyce Gardner, variance to allow a two-story addition at the rear of their dwelling. On the motion of Mrs. Davison, seconded by Mr Canale, the Board voted 4-1, with Mr. Grant opposed, to recommend that the variance be denied because the application fails to demonstrate a legally adequate hardship. The Board will recommend that the applicant consider alternatives that do not extend or increase the existing nonconformity. 440 Bedford Street. Holiday Inn Express, determination that changes in a free-standing sign are a minor revision to the special permit granted to the Days' Inn. Mr. Domnitz reported that the Design Advisory Committee had recommended approval of a special permit with conditions. If the matter is treated as a minor revision, the conditions proposed by the DAC will not be attached. On the motion of Mr. Canale, seconded by Mr. Merrill, it was voted unanimously that the application should not be treated as a minor revision. A public hearing should be held so there is opportunity for review and recommendation,by the DAC and other concerned parties. ********"**"""" PLANNING BOARD ORGANIZATION, SCHEDULE ********************* 135. Election of Officers: This being the last Planning Board business meeting in June, the Board held an election of officers as specified by the Planning Board Procedural Rules. On the motion of Mr. Merrill, seconded by Mr Grant, the Board voted unanimously to retain the current officers. 136. Meeting Schedule for July and August: The Board agreed to meet on the following Thursdays during the summer July 14 and 28; August 11 and 28; and September 8. Mr. Grant left the meeting. ***************** COORDINATION WITH OTHER BOARDS, COMMFFItE ********"******* 137 Widening of Route 2A. Precinct 8 Town Meeting Member Kay Tiffany was present to give the Board copies of a letter that she, Mrs. Davison and others had drafted opposed to the present plan for the widening of Route 2A. Later in the meeting, Mrs. Davison urged that the Planning Board endorse the letter. Mr. Domnitz said he was reluctant to do so because the letter was given to the Board at the last minute and was not on the agenda. He noted that it appeared to make points similar to those in the Planning Board's own letter and could have the'effect of weakening the Planning Board's recommendation. Mr. Merrill said he had trouble endorsing a letter he hadn't read. Mrs. Davison moved that the Planning Board delegate Mr. Canale to review the letter and represent the Planning Board in endorsing the letter. Mr. Canale seconded the motion. Mr. Canale and Mrs. Davison voted in favor, Mr. Domnitz and Mr. Merrill voted against., On the tic vote the motion was not adopted. The meeting was adjourned at 10:24 p.m. Q4Cr ichard L. Canale, Clerk