HomeMy WebLinkAboutPlanning Board Minutes, 1999-05-12 PLANNING BOARD MINUTES
MEETING OF MAY 12, 1999
The meeting of the Lexington Planning Board held in the Selectmen's Room Town Office Building, was
called to order at 7:30 p.m. by Chairman Merrill with members Galaitsis, Bridge-Denzak, Planning Director
Bowyer, and Assistant Planner Garber present. Mr Colman and Mr. Davies were absent.
*************************************MINUTES ***************************************
83 Review of Minutes: The Board reviewed the minutes for the meetings of January 13 and January 20,
and May 5, 1999 On the motion of Mr Galaitsis, seconded by Ms. Bridge-Denzak, it was voted unanimously
3-0 to approve the minutes, as written. The Board reviewed and corrected the minutes for the meeting of
February 10, 1999 On the motion of Mr Galaitsis, seconded by Ms. Bridge-Denzak, it was voted unani-
mously 3-0 to approve the minutes,as amended.
************ ADMINISTRATION OF LAND DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS *************
SUBDIVISION OF LAND
84 246 Concord Avenue.Issaians/Markarians,Definitive 7 4.5 Subdivision Plan: Public Hearing: Mr.
Merrill opened the hearing at 7.46.Present for this item were Attorney John Farrington,Ronald Wood,
landscape architect,and Frederick Russell,P.E. There were 6 people in the audience.Mr Farrington presented
a definitive reduced frontage,two-lot subdivision plan under Section 7 4.5 of the Zoning By-Law for land at
246 Concord Avenue. A conventional subdivision plan, called Valod's Way,was approved for the site in 1992
was never built and the approval expired after two years.
The plan shows two house lots sharing a common driveway In lieu of road construction,the applicant
proposes,as a public benefit,to donate a sum toward a neighborhood tot lot on the Blossom Street meadow
No other waivers are requested. Mr Farrington pointed out features of the plan that respond to Planning
Board's recommendations made at the sketch plan stage. He said that more precise details on the house size,
landscaping,construction plans with a limit of work line, etc. could be made a condition of the special permit,
without which a building permit would not be issued. The buyer of the lot would do that.Mr Russell
explained that more work needs to be done on the drainage system.
Questions from the audience had to do with the size of the proposed dwelling, site coverage and the adjoining
conservation land. In response to a question by Karen Dawson,212 Concord Avenue,Mr Merrill explained
that section 7 4.5 gives the Board latitude to control the size and quality of the development.Further
discussion concerned the complications caused by the lack of specifics on the proposed house. Various ways
of making sure the house is acceptable were brought up.
As only three Planning Board members were present, and at least four are required for a decision on a
subdivision,the Board agreed to continue the public hearing on Wednesday, June 2.
DETERMINATION OF GRADE AND CONSTRUCTION OF UNACCEPTED STREETS
85 10 Richard Road. Taylor.Preliminary Street Improvement Plan: Present for this item were Attorney
Matthew Conroy, Christopher Emilius,P.E., of GEOD Consulting, Inc., and Daniel Taylor,the applicant.
There were 6 people in the audience.
Mr. Emilius showed a full compliance street improvement plan for the portion of Richard Road that provides
frontage for number 10,as well as the improvement plan they would like to build,with specified design
waivers. The proposed roadway would connect with the accepted portion of Richard Road and transition to the
remaining unaccepted portion. It will be engineered to minimize the amount of drainage onto existing
driveways off Richard Road. Waivers from landscaping and width requirements will allow the new roadway
to impact the existing properties as little as possible.
2 Minutes for the Meeting of May 12, 1999
Questions from the Board had to do with stormwater runoff issues and the improvement's relationship to the
existing roadway The neighbors voiced concern about stormwater control. They did not all necessarily want
runoff-diverting bumps at the end of their driveways. Stuart Taylor, 136 East Street, asked about the
possibility of getting written assurances that storm water would not be a problem.
The Board voted unanimously, 3-0,to approve the preliminary plan submission and authorize them to move to
the next phase.
*************************** REGIONAL,]INTERTOWN ISSUES **************************
86. Hanscom Area Towns(HATS)-Four Town Master Plan Study Visioning Process: Former Board
member Richard Canale,the Planning Board's representative to the Four Town Planning Group,reported to
the Board on the progress of the "Visioning" session planned by the Four Town Planning Group to be held on
Saturday May 22.
87 Metropolitan State Hospital Land Reuse: Mr Bowyer reported on a meeting of the Lexington Met
State Task Force held on May 6, 1999 Waltham has proposed a conservation restriction be placed over the
MDC Parkway He characterized that as a distraction that is delaying progress on a Second Amendment to the
Reuse Plan the principal feature of which is to reach agreement on the alignment of the access road to the
development site.
The meeting was adjourned at 9.45 p.m.
Steven L. Colman, Clerk