HomeMy WebLinkAboutPlanning Board Minutes, 1994-10-17 PLANNING BOARD MINUTES
MEETING OF OCTOBER 17, 1994
The meeting of the Lexington Planning Board held in Room G-15, Town Office Building, was called
to order at 7:38 p.m. by Chairman Davison with members Canale, Domnitz, Grant, Merrill, Planning
Director Bowyer, and Assistant Planner Marino present.
201. Review of Minutes: The Board reviewed and corrected the minutes for the meeting of October
3, 1994. On the motion of Mr. Domnitz, seconded by Mr. Canale, it was voted unanimously to
approve the minutes, as amended.
************ ADMINISTRATION OF LAND DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS *************
PLANS NOT REOUIRING APPROVAL UNDER THE SUBDIVISION CONTROL LAW
202. Form A/94-5. 18 and 20 Revere Street: The Board reviewed a plan showing a change of lot
lines at 18 and 20 Revere Street. On the motion of Mr. Grant, seconded by Mr. Merrill, the Board
voted unanimously to endorse the plan entitled "Plan of Land in Lexington, Mass.", dated September
17, 1994, prepared and certified by James R. Keenan, Professional Land Surveyor, with Form A/94-5,
submitted by William and Crystal Ribich and Charles and Linda Austin, applicants, as it does not
require approval under the Subdivision Control Law.
SUBDIVISION OF LAND
203. 158 East Street. "Zee Street" Public Informational Meeting. Preliminary Plan: Mrs. Davison
began the public informational meeting at 7.46 p.m. Present were Zaroohy Seed, the applicant,
Richard Waitt, civil engineer, Kevin Dolan, attorney, and landscape architect Gary Larson. Mr.
Larson described the subdivision plan to the Board, highlighting the features of the planned residential
development/conventional subdivision plan. ,
There were questions from the Planning Board regarding the reason why a conventional, instead of a
cluster, subdivision is proposed, about the presence of wetlands on the site and about trees that would
be removed as a result of the development.
There were questions and comments from the audience regarding the necessity for granting the
requested waiver from the requirement that the right-of-way of the subdivision street be rounded and �
if the Board was aware of an old application of the owners that the land be declared conservation or
wetlands. The waiver and other features of the application were discussed. Steve Sack, who was in
the audience, requested that the applicant consider including his corner property in the subdivision to
eliminate a street access by allowing access to his home from the new subdivision street.
The public informational meeting was closed at 8:20 p.m.
DETERMINATION OF GRADE AND CONSTRUCTION OF UNACCEPTED STREETS
204. Hunt Road Definitive Street Construction Plan. Meeting with Applicant: Attorney Fred
Conroy and applicant Rick Curtin were present to discuss the definitive street construction plan with
the Board. The Planning Board asked questions about the engineering details of the drainage system
and the layout of the street.
Minutes for the Meeting of October 17, 1994 2
There were questions and comments from the audience regarding the apparent discrepancy between the
street construction plan and the landscape plan on file, the location of some pine trees and a sprinkler
system at 11 Slocum Road, how runoff from the street will affect abutting properties, and how the town
ensures that the project will be built according to plan.
The Board discussed adding, as a condition of approval, a requirement that driveway aprons be installed to
prevent runoff from the street from washing into abutters' driveways and a condition that the landscaping in
front of 4 Hunt Road be protected.
The Town engineering department has reported that the design of the drainage system is not adequate. Mr.
Curtin has indicated that he wants to work these issues out and that he is willing to grant an extension of
time for the Board to act.
On the motion of Mr. Canale, seconded by Mr. Grant, the Board voted unanimously to approve the request
of Richard J Curtin to extend the time for the Planning Board to act on the Hunt Road Definitive Street
Construction Plan an additional 90 days, from October 17, 1994 to February 15, 1995, or 45 days from the
date of submission of a revised plan, whichever occurs first.
205 Garfield Street Extension. Public Information Meeting. Preliminary Plan: Mrs. Davison opened
the public informational meeting at 9:22 p.m. Attorney Jonathan Gold, the applicants Ronald and Nancy
Gold, landscape architect Gary Larson and civil engineer Richard Waitt were present to discuss the plan
with the Board.
Mrs. Gold read a statement to the Board regarding the site's history and their ownership of the site. Mr.
Larson highlighted the features of the one-lot subdivision plan.
There were questions and comments from the Board regarding the plans submitted to the Conservation
Commission, the adequacy of the proposed drainage system when there is snow on the street, the presence
and number of trees that would be affected by this development, the design of the turnaround and
preparations for a site walk by the Planning Board.
The Planning Board also discussed a letter from the Precinct Eight Residents Association board, dated
October 12, urging that the paved roadway be limited to 16 feet in width. Comments from the audience
were: that this plan is environmentally sensitive,that it complies with the spirit of conservation, and that a
development here should have the least possible environmental impact on the site. Harriet Mann, an abutter
to the site, commented on the compromise idea that the street be extended without requiring that a
turnaround be constructed. There was also a discussion of whether the improved portion of Garfield Street
could be accepted as a Town street.
206. Denver Street. Decision on Sketch Plan: The Board reviewed a draft decision prepared by the
staff, dated September 29, 1994. After some discussion, the Board agreed that the developer, Mr Phelan,
should submit a full compliance plan as detailed in the subdivision plan, Alternative A, Sheet 2, entitled
"Denver Street" by Larson Associates, Inc. and Meridian Engineering Collaborative, Inc., dated August 30,
1994, at the preliminary plan stage. The Board identified an Alternative D, a dead end street with a stub
end rather than a turnaround and will ask that the applicant explore this at the preliminary plan stage. They
also approved the wording of the draft decision dated September 29, 1994, as amended.
207 Orchard Crossing. Release of Surety Release of Covenant: The staff reported that work on the
Orchard Crossing subdivision is complete. On the motion of Mr. Canale, seconded by Mr. Grant, it was
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voted to:
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3 Minutes for the meeting of October 17, 1994
1 release all the remaining surety, in the form of a Funds Retained by Lender document, from the
Lexington Savings Bank in the amount of$50,000, plus interest, which was being held for the
completion of the community facilities at the Orchard Crossing subdivision, and return it to
Castelli Realty Trust, and
2. release the developer from the provisions of the covenant dated August 22, 1988, and
3 release lots one and 11 from the provisions of the covenant dated August 22, 1988.
************ ADMINISTRATION OF LAND DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS *************
RECOMMENDATIONS ON APPLICATIONS TO THE BOARD OF APPEALS
208. Applications To Be Heard on October 27 1994 Mr. Merrill gave an oral review of the following
applications:
141 Massachusetts Avenue. Dunkin' Donuts, special permit for an internally illuminated sign
10 Butterfield Road. Vinod and Shakila Kapoor, special permit for satellite dish
The Board agreed to make no comment on the two applications, relying on the Design Advisory Committee
to comment on the internally illuminated sign.
The meeting was adjourned at 11 14 p.m.
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Frederick L. Merrill, Jr., Clerk