HomeMy WebLinkAboutPlanning Board Minutes, 1994-10-31 PLANNING BOARD MINUTES
MEETING OF OCTOBER 31, 1994
The meeting of the Lexington Planning Board held in Room G-15, Town Office Building, was called
to order at 7:36 p.m. by Chairman Davison,with members Canale, Domnitz, Grant, and Assistant
Planner Marino present. Mr. Merrill was absent.
209. Review of Minutes: The Board reviewed and corrected the minutes for the meeting of October
17, 1994. On the motion of Mr. Canale, seconded by Mr. Grant, it was voted unanimously to approve
the minutes, as amended.
*************************** PLANNING DIRECTOR'S REPORT **************************
210. Recent Activity
a. Granger Pond Way (formerly Prescott Lane). Definitive Subdivision Plan. Rollout: Mr. Marino
rolled out a definitive plan for the Granger Pond Way development, off Lowell Street, that was
submitted by The Windermere Group, Inc., on October 25, 1994. The staff has not reviewed the plan
in detail yet. The time for action on this plan expires on February 23, 1995.
************ ADMINISTRATION OF LAND DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS *************
SUBDIVISION OF LAND
211. Currier Court Woburn Street Trust and Webb Street Trust: The Board reviewed draft
motions prepared by the staff. On the motion of Mr. Grant, seconded by Mr. Canale, the
Board voted unanimously
1) that the amount of surety for the Nishan's Way (Currier Court) Subdivision be set at $55,000.
That this amount includes: the remaining "Cost to Construct,' a contingency, an allowance
for escalation of construction costs and an allowance for the Town's administrative costs, and
is the amount necessary to hold until the completion of the community facilities and the
subdivision. That this level of surety is determined to be sufficient through October 31, 1995
only.
2) that if the subdivision is not completed by October 31, 1995, or if little or none of the work
that remained, at the time this surety was posted, is completed by that time, and the current
costs of the amount of work to be completed have increased, the amount of surety will be
increased to reflect the costs of completing the work and the developer will be required to
furnish additional surety to the Planning Board;
3) to accept surety in the amount of$55,000 in the form of a Bank of Boston passbook number
1270-25302; and
4) to release lot numbers 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6
212. Denver Street. Robert Phelan. Sketch Plan: The Board reviewed and revised the decision,
dated October 18, 1994, prepared by the staff. The Board approved the decision as amended.
213. 158 East Street. "Zee Street" Zaroohv Seed. Preliminary Plan: The Board discussed the
various points that were brought up at the public informational hearing held during the meeting of
October 17 The staff was directed to prepare a draft decision for the Board to review at their
meeting on November 14. Mr. Grant said he had represented the abutter, Mr. Sack, on a previous
occasion and would not vote on a requested waiver affecting his property. He will vote on the
subdivision plan.
Minutes for the Meeting of October 31, 1994 2
214. Garfield Street Extension. Ronald and Nancy Gold. Preliminary Plan: The Board discussed
the public informational hearing held during the meeting of October 17 Various points were brought
up and the staff was directed to prepare a draft decision for the Board to review at the meeting on
November 14.
The four members present agreed to make the following determinations and to indicate it was inclined
to grant the waivers indicated:
1. paragraph 3.6.2.4.2 that Garfield Street is a "Minor Residential Street";
2. paragraph 3.6.2.5.1, Sidewalk - to permit the street to be constructed without a sidewalk
instead of with a sidewalk on one side of the street; instead, to require a foot path in lieu of
a sidewalk from the end of the pavement;
3. paragraph 3.6.2.5.5, Street Pavement (offset) - to permit the centerline of the street to be
offset from the centerline of the right-of-way instead of along the centerline;
4. paragraph 3.6.2.5.7, Street Pavement (pitch) - to permit the pavement to cross pitch toward
the gutter instead of pitching down from the centerline toward the gutters;
5. paragraph 3.6.2.5.8, Curbs and Gutters - to permit the road to have Cape Cod style berms
along certain segments instead of a continuous Cape Cod style berm along both sides of the
street.
The four members present agreed to consider the offer of a permanent easement for vehicles.
The four members present were divided 2-2 and did not agree on the following requested waivers:
6. paragraph 3.6.2.5.1, Minimum Pavement Width - to permit the pavement width to be 16'
instead of 20';
7 paragraph 3.6.2.5.1, Travel Lanes - to permit two 8' travel lanes instead of two 10' travel
lanes;
8. 3.6.4.4.1, Utilities - to permit above ground the utilities to be above ground rather than
underground.
Mrs. Davison and Mr. Grant were in favor of granting each of these waivers; Mr. Canale and Mr.
Domnitz were not.
RECOMMENDATIONS ON APPLICATIONS TO THE BOARD OF APPEALS
215. Applications To Be Heard on November 10. 1994: Mr. Domnitz gave an oral review of the
following applications and the Board agreed to make the following recommendations:
1707 Massachusetts Avenue. Dunkin' Donuts, special permit to operate a Dunkin' Donuts satellite
in Lexington Center
The Planning Board will recommend that the closing hours of this establishment be consistent
with those of other food service operations
61 Dexter Road. Lawrence Lo, variances to add a second story to a dwelling
The Planning Board believes that the proposed expansion is beyond the scale of existing
development in the neighborhood. The Board will recommend that the applicant should be
encouraged to submit another plan with a more modest second story addition that is more
consistent with the rest of the neighborhood.
135 Massachusetts Avenue. Charles Cosgrove, special permit for a bagel and sandwich shop
The Planning Board will recommend that the Board of Appeals require, as a condition of
approval, that the employees of the shop park in the rear of the building. 4
3 Minutes for the meeting of October 31, 1994
************************ ARTICLES FOR 1995 TOWN MEETING ************************
I
216. Snecial Permit to Waive Frontage: The Board discussed a letter from Acheson Callaghan,
Palmer & Dodge, that responded to questions posed by Board about this proposed article. A revised
draft of the article was also taken up. The Board asked the staff to prepare a revised amendment to
provide a maximum percentage reduction in the frontage to either two thirds or three fourths of that
otherwise required.
217 Interpretation of Use Table: Mrs. Davison introduced a proposal allowing the Board of
Appeals to grant a special permit for uses in some commercial districts that are not listed in the Use
Table. Mr. Canale and Mr. Domnitz are not in favor of this amendment. She proposed another
change that would define in which zoning districts bottle and can recycling businesses could be put.
Mr. Domnitz supported that proposal.
218. Yard Setbacks (or Jumbo Houses): The Board continued their discussion of this proposed
amendment to the Zoning By-Law.
Mr. Grant left the meeting.
***************** COORDINATION AMONG BOARDS, DEPARTMENTS ******************
219. Follow Un to Meeting with Conservation Commission: Mr. Domnitz was asked to provide
minutes for the Board's joint meeting with the Conservation Commission on October 11. He agreed
to do so.
****************** PLANNING BOARD ORGANIZATION, SCHEDULE *******************
220. Schedule of Public Hearings:
a. Renetitive Petition. 12 Stedman Road: The Board set the public hearing for this Board of
Appeals application for November 28, 1994.
b. Munroe Village. Definitive Subdivision Plan: A public hearing on the Munroe Village
definitive subdivision application was tentatively set for November 28, 1994.
************************************** REPORTS ***************************************
221. Planning Board. Subcommittees
a. HATS: Mr. Canale reported that the HATS group will form three subcommittees in 1995 to
address the GEIR, possible Hanscom closings and non-aviation uses at Hanscom Field.
The meeting was adjourned at 10:24 p.m.
Frederick L. Merrill, Jr., Clerk ;