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PLANNING BOARD MINUTES
MEETING OF NOVEMBER 30, 2016
A meeting of the Lexington Planning Board, held in the Selectmen’s Meeting Room was called to
order 7:01 p.m. by Chair Tim Dunn, with members Charles Hornig, Richard Canale, and Ginna
Johnson and planning staff Aaron Henry, David Fields, and Lori Kaufman present. Ms. Nancy
Corcoran-Ronchetti was absent.
****************************STAFF MEMBER REPORTS**************************
General updates:
Largely due to the work of Mr. Kucharsky, the Town has been awarded approximately $300,000
to implement many of the projects identified in the Selectmen’s recently adopted Complete
Streets policy.
The budget presentation is tomorrow before the Board of Selectmen for the Land Use, Health and
Development.
***********************2017 ANNUAL TOWN MEETING**************************
Discussion and review of potential residential articles for 2017 ATM
Special Permit Residential Developments:
This proposal blends the Balanced Housing Development and Public Benefit development (PBD)
of the current Bylaw together, which staff is calling Flexible Residential Development (FRD).
The maximum overall square footage allowed is 80% of the maximum GFA allowed for a
conventional subdivision and including affordable units. The site sensitive development (SSD)
variant was modified to allow for more building types.
Board Comments:
Not sure we are getting what we want for a SSD and maybe should eliminate this.
There should be a limit on the number of units allowed for the FRD.
Define the words for the density bonus regarding the affordable units. This is an attempt
to prevent the developers from building to the maximum allowed.
Minor edits were made to open space.
Is there a need to question developer profit by allowing more units?
The SSD is a good alternative to conventional and should be kept.
This is eliminating the BHD and tweaking the PBD.
If there is a fraction of a unit owed as affordable it should be rounded up. Concern that
would discourage PBD.
Page 2 Minutes for the Meeting of November 30, 2016
GFA Follow Up (definition changes):
The proposed changes to definitions were created by working closely with the Building staff to
make sure all departments are interpreting these revisions the same way and making the language
clearer to all stakeholders.
Concern with half stories was expressed to make buildings not looking so large and look
at the dormer rule and now it reads like it would allow 60% space now. The reason this
was being presented was because roof lines were becoming very complicated.
Scenic Roads:
This is a general bylaw proposing the Town designate Bennington Road, Fern Street, Shade
Street, and Vine Street as Scenic Roads. Authorized under GL c40, s.15C, scenic road
designation requires public hearings when roadwork includes the alteration of stone walls within
the right of way. Mr. Canale said he would have to recuse himself from this part of the bylaw
since he lives on Shade Street.
How would this impact regarding a road alignment?
Blasting Prohibition:
Town Counsel preliminarily shares staff’s concern that this proposal may not be able to proceed
as a zoning article due to other laws. Mr. Henry is working with Town Counsel on alternatives,
but will not be able to report back until the December 14 meeting.
Recommend this be done as a general bylaw. The Fire Chief does a good job and do not
want to create any second guessing and the State says Fire Chief is in charge.
For now, the Board will keep it until we get more information from Town Counsel.
Lot Regularity & Wetland Buffers:
This is a proposal offered by Ms. Johnson to prohibit proof circles from the 100-foot wetland
buffers zones to meet frontage and lot area requirements. Mr. Henry said he needs to meet with
Town Counsel to see if this can be brought forward. This may not be the best method to protect
wetlands.
There is concern that there is not enough time to do this especially since this is really in
the realm of the Conservation Commission.
Retaining Wall Maximum Height:
Another of Ms. Johnson’s proposal to mitigate the impacts of development on abutters, this
proposed article seeks to regulate the height of retaining walls within residential setbacks. This is
about tree canopy, drainage, and abutter ruined views, loss of light, and other impacts that result
from tall retaining walls.
We should get a feel of the community regarding the potential impacts.
Minutes for the Meeting of November 30, 2016 Page 3
Town Counsel will be reviewing this proposal to determine if this is workable as is or
find an alternative that would work. More information will be needed to go forward with
this proposal.
Two-Family Homes:
This article would encourage smaller more attainable housing sizes while also creating more
housing types for seniors. As this proposal was sent to staff the day before the meeting, the
Board did not have a chance to review this before the meeting.
With all the limitations (reduced GFA, age and affordability restrictions), why would
anyone build this since this could be done simpler as a friendly 40B?
It is November 30 and this is not ready yet. Do not know if we can get public by in at this
late date.
Having a 50% affordability requirement will not work, but perhaps the senior restriction
might make the economics work.
Don’t want to put it on the warrant unless it would be workable. Without all the numbers
and more information, it would be too difficult to come up with something ready for
Town Meeting.
The only way to get senior restriction is through DHCD.
****************************BOARD ADMINISTRATION*************************
Upcoming meeting schedule and known agenda items:
The next meeting is December 7, part of which will be with the Conservation Commission.
Principal item of the evening is a continuation of the discussion on the proposed Town Meeting
articles. The last meeting for discussion of Town Meeting Articles before the warrant closes will
be December 14. Staff asked that the Board pencil in December 21, however, as four properties
have filed development proposals. Staff recommends that the meeting of January 4, 2017, be
reserved for the Grove Street Conventional Subdivision. The next few meeting dates are January
18, February 1, February 15, March 1, and March 15.
Mr. Canale will not be here January 11.
Consider having a Town Meeting workshop on January 18.
Board Member Reports:
Mr. Canale updated the Board on the Turning Mill Neighborhood Conservation District Study
Committee. They may request a joint meeting (public hearing) with the Historical Commission
and the Planning Board for February 15, 2017. Mr. Canale said he would speak with the Town
Meeting Moderator regarding a date for this warrant article. The group would prefer late April.
He will also speak with the Town Clerk.
Page 4 Minutes for the Meeting of November 30, 2016
Ms. Johnson shared several items, including that the 20/20 Vision Committee the accepted the
report “Lessons on Integration of Residents of Asian Ancestry Offered by California and
New Jersey Communities with Large Asian Populations” by the Subcommittee on Asian
Communities, the Tree Committee planted 130 trees on public land and are looking for a
qualified arborist to launch a Town-wide tree inventory.
Mr. Hornig briefed the Board that the CPC is in the process of reviewing funding.
On a motion duly made and seconded, it was voted, 4-0, to adjourn at 9:25 p.m.
The meeting was recorded by LexMedia.
The following documents used at the meeting can be found on file with the Planning Department:
Special residential developments definitions Article B (3 pages).
Development standards Article A (1 page).
Scenic Roads (1 page).
Blasting (1 page).
Lot regularity and wetlands (1 page).
Maximum height of Retaining walls in Residential Setbacks (1 page).
Two-Family Houses Article 42 (2 pages).
Ginna Johnson, Clerk