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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPlanning Board Minutes, 1994-09-08 PLANNING BOARD MINUTES MEETING OF SEPTEMBER 8, 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. Mr. Merrill arrived during Item 180. 179 Review of Minutes: The Board reviewed and corrected the minutes for the meeting of August 11, 1994. On the motion of Mrs. Davison, seconded by Mr. Canale, it was voted 3-0 to approve the minutes, as amended. Mr. Grant abstained from voting as he was not present for that meeting. The Board reviewed the minutes for the meeting of August 25, 1994 and the executive session of the meeting of August 25, 1994 On the motion of Mr. Canale, seconded by Mrs. Davison, it was voted 4-0 to approve the minutes, as written. *************** ADMINISTRATION OF LAND DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS *************** SUBDIVISION OF LAND 180. 10 Summer Street. Definitive Subdivision Plan. PUBLIC HEARING: Mr. Domnitz opened the hearing at 7.48 p.m. Sam Sleiman, Engineer, from H. Sleiman Associates,was present to describe the subdivision plan to the Planning Board. Also present was the applicant Barbara T Zack. Mr. Sleiman highlighted the features of the planned residential development/cluster subdivision plan. There were questions from the Planning Board regarding the capacity of the existing electric utilities for 10 Summer Street, the slope of the proposed driveway to serve the new dwelling, the location and characteris- tics of the common and usable open space, and the amount of excavation that will be necessary to install the sewer connection to 10 Summer Street. There were questions and comments from the audience regarding the proof plan and conventional subdivision construction plan, and the adequacy of the existing driveway to serve 16 Summer Street and the existing and proposed dwellings at 10 Summer Street. There was some discussion regarding the width of the existing driveway and the owners of the dwelling at 16 Summer Street's concerns regarding the safety of using that driveway to access three dwelling units. The hearing was closed at 8:19 p.m. After the hearing, Mr. Grant left the meeting to represent the Planning Board at the Board of Appeals hearings, also being held in the Town Office Building this evening. *************************** PLANNING DIRECTOR'S REPORT ************************** 181 Recent Activity. a. Denver Street. Sketch Preliminary Subdivision Plan. Rollout: Mr. Marino rolled out a sketch preliminary plan for the Denver Street development, between Bellflower Street and Cedar Street, that was submitted by Robert Phelan on September 2, 1994. The staff has not reviewed the plan in detail yet. The time for action on this plan expires on October 3, 1994 Minutes for the Meeting of September 8, 1994 2 b. Lexington Ridge: Mr. Bowyer reported that he and Mrs. Davison had attended a grand opening for the e Lexington Ridge development on Waltham Street. The development has rented more quickly and at higher rents than projected. The number of school aged children is much higher than the Planning Department's projection. Mr. Marino and Ms. Tap will be collecting data on the residents of Lexington Ridge to determine the distribution of school age children in the complex. c. Selectmen's Business Committee: Mr. Bowyer reported that the Selectmen have appointed a committee to address how to: maintain the businesses currently in town, improve the occupancy rate of current commercial floor space and attract new business and improve health of business sector so that commercial real estate can assume more of the town tax burden. The Planning Department has been asked to be a resource, but not staff to this committee. e. APA Continuing Education: Mr Bowyer informed the Board about an upcoming series of workshops sponsored by the Massachusetts Chapter of the American Planning Association that they might consider attending. The Planning Department staff is presenting a session on October 19 dealing with the use of computers in small planning offices. Four of the workshops are being held in the Lexington Town Office Building. RECOMMENDATIONS ON APPLICATIONS TO THE BOARD OF APPEALS 182. Report on Board of Anneals Hearings of September 8, 1994 Mr. Grant returned to the Planning Board meeting to report the results of the Board of Appeals hearings. The Board agreed to discuss the Maguire Road SPS at the next meeting, on September 19 ************************ ARTICLES FOR 1994 TOWN MEETING ************************ p( 183. Yard Setbacks (formerly Jumbo Houses): The Board continued its discussion of this proposed amendment. Issues of individual freedoms vs. economic intervention into the market place to preserve community character arose. The Board looked at material provided by the staff describing an architectural method of calculating setbacks on slopes that would define the "buildable envelope" on a lot. The Board also considered simply increasing the side yard setback from 15 feet to 20 feet and imposing a 25 foot setback on lots created by approved Form A plans. Mr. Canale and Mrs. Davison will present a proposal for a presentation of the amendment incorporating those ideas at the next meeting. 184 Special Permit to Waive Frontage: The Planning Board is in favor of this amendment as discussed at a previous meeting. The Board agreed to make its final decision on the wording at their next meeting. ************ ADMINISTRATION OF LAND DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS ************* SUBDIVISION OF LAND 185 10 Summer Street, Approval of Definitive Subdivision Plan The Board reviewed draft decisions, dated September 8, 1994, prepared by the staff. On the motion of Mr. Grant, seconded by Mr. Canale, the Board voted unanimously to: 1. grant the special permit with site plan review and approve the wording of the draft Special Permit with Site Plan Review and Special Permits dated September 8, 1994, and, 3 Minutes for the meeting of September 8, 1994 2. approve with conditions the preliminary subdivision plan entitled "10 Summer Street", by H. Sleiman Associates, dated May 31, 1994, 3 approve the wording of the draft Certificate of Action dated September 8, 1994 ****************** PLANNING BOARD ORGANIZATION, SCHEDULE ******************* 186. Meetine Schedule for September, October: The Board scheduled meetings for September 19 and October 3, 17 and 31. The meeting was adjourned at 10:28 p.m. Richard L. Canale, Clerk