HomeMy WebLinkAboutPlanning Board Minutes, 1999-06-30 PLANNING BOARD MINUTES
MEETING OF JUNE 30, 1999
The meeting of the Lexington Planning Board held in the Selectmen's meeting Room, Town Office
Building,was called to order at 7:30 p.m.by Chairman Davies,with members Bridge-Denzak, Colman
Galaitsis, Planning Director Bowyer and Assistant Planner Garber present. Mr.Merrill was absent.
****************** PLANNING BOARD ORGANIZATION, SCHEDULE *********************
100. Election of Officers: The procedural rules of the Lexington Planning Board call for the Board to
hold an election of officers at the last regularly scheduled meeting in June of each year.Accordingly,the
following officers were elected,effective immediately
a. On the motion of Mr. Colman, seconded by Mr. Galaitsis, by a 3-0-1vote,Mr.Davies abstaining,
the board elected Mr Davies chairman.
b. On the motion of Ms. Bridge-Denzak, seconded by Mr. Galaitsis,by a 3-0-1 vote,Mr. Colman
abstaining,the Board elected Mr Colman Vice Chairman.
c. On the motion of Mr. Davies, seconded by Mr Colman, by a 3-0-1 vote,Mr. Galaitsis abstaining,
the Board elected Mr. Galaitsis Clerk.
************* ADMINISTRATION OF LAND DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS *************
SUBDIVISION OF LAND
101 Old Smith Farm. off Wood Street.James Gaklis.Discussion on Conservation Commission issues:
The Board discussed options in their approach to the Conservation Commission relative to the
problematic "depression" on the site of the proposed Old Smith Farm subdivision at 160/170 Wood
Street. The Board believes that the filling of the former irrigation pond would allow a better roadway
layout in the subdivision. On the motion of Mr. Galaitsis, seconded by Mr Colman,the Board voted 4-0
to send a delegation to meet with the Conservation Commission with the aim of encouraging them to
permit the "depression"to be filled to accomplish the following:
1. address some safety issues
2. enhance the layout of the subdivision
3 allow an access easement to certain privately owned land that currently has its only access through
land owned by the National Park Service. This would enable the Minuteman National Historical Park
to discontinue that access and restore the area through which the Battle Road passes to an 18th
Century appearance.
******************** COMPREHENSIVE PLANNING, POLICYMAKING *******************
102. Options for Using the $50.000 on the Land Use Element of the Comprehensive Plan: The Board
and staff talked about hiring a consultant or consultants for the Land Use Element of the Comprehensive
Plan. The consultant would help the staff work on the completion of the statistical part of the build-out
analysis of land leading to identification of land that is likely to be developed. That analysis will yield
projections of the number of school children; and traffic trips. Other work for consultants includes
detailed site analysis of 25-35 sites. The staff will add designations from the Historical Commission's
Survey of Cultural Resources and the Conservation Commission's priorities for land acquisition. The
purpose of the site analyses is for the Board to have a position on desirable future uses of the sites most
likely to be developed.
Mr Colman suggested looking for implementation tools that are new, like Smart Growth.
The Board agreed that it would like to produce a"deliverable" product for the $50,000 and be able to
make a report to Town Meeting in 2000.Mr.Davies said a pictorial representation would be the best
Minutes for the Meeting of June 30, 1999 2
format. Ms. Bridge-Denzak suggested that the Board needs to identify valuable resources that need
protection but also address the rights of private property owners.
103 Lexington Center Exercise: As an exercise in the comprehensive planning method of thinking about
problems,the Board discussed a document,prepared by the staff,that pulled together various comments
by Board members on what the thoughts they expressed during the May 26, 1999 Lexington Center
planning exercise.Mr Galaitsis expressed the concept of restricting traffic to pedestrians on
Massachusetts Avenue on weekend summer evenings to create a communal feeling. Various scenarios
were put forward but finding an alternate route for traffic was a stumbling block.
Mr Bowyer commented that it is important to realize what policies and by-laws already in place are
doing for the community There is a need to ask if they are doing what we want or are they working at
cross purposes.
************************** REGIONAL,INTERTOWN ISSUES ***************************
104. Metropolitan State Hospital Reuse:Mr Bowyer reported on the June 24, 1999 meeting of the Met.
State Hospital Reuse Tri-community Task Force. He said that the issue of access to the site has been
complicated by Waltham's demand that there not be a through road connecting to Trapelo Road. Waltham
insists that the road should be gated and for emergency use only, saying it would adversely impact already
overburdened Trapelo Road. They want a 50-50 split of all the traffic in the development on the whole
site rather than a 50-50 split of traffic from Parcel 3 —the part of the site designated for development. In
short,Waltham's representatives appear to balk at the elements of the reuse plan that evolved in a seven
year process.
Some members spoke to the necessity of going forward with the development part of the reuse plan
because there are social goals that should be accomplished despite this difficulty Mr. Bowyer outlined
some possible solutions to the traffic problem.
The meeting was adjourned at 9:55 p.m.
Steven Colman,