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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2017-05-24-PB-min PLANNING BOARD MINUTES MEETING OF MAY 24, 2017 A meeting of the Lexington Planning Board, held in Selectmen’s Meeting Room was called to order at 7:02 p.m. by Chair, Richard Canale with members Charles Hornig, Nancy Corcoran- Ronchetti, Bob Creech, and Ginna Johnson and planning staff Aaron Henry, David Kucharsky, and Lori Kaufman present. *******************************STAFF REPORTS******************************** General Updates: The Planning Board authorized staff to advertise a public hearing for changes to the subdivision and development regulations. There have been meetings with staff and others regarding phase one of the Comprehensive Plan and over the next few weeks staff will provide the Board with updates. Upcoming Meetings and Anticipated Schedule: th The next meeting is on June 5 with the Board of Selectmen (BOS) in the Selectmen’s Meeting th Room at 6:00 p.m. The meeting on June 7 will be include Grove Street and the work plan conversation. st June 21 will be the Planning Board reorganization, a public hearing, a street determination, and nd discussion of goals and June 22 a meeting at 8:00 a.m. with Planning, Economic Development, and BOS. th The first meeting in July on the 12 the Middlesex Three Coalition Members will be attending that meeting to discuss Economic Development. Board Members should send staff their vacation times for the summer. *********************DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION************************ 75-81 Westview Street, Approval Not Required: This ANR includes an oversized lot and undersized lot and the changing of the lot lines makes both lots conforming. to approve the endorsement of the On a motion duly made and seconded, it was voted, 5-0, ANR . 71-79 East Street (Keeler Farm) Public Benefit Development, Project close out: This is a Public Benefit Development that the issues that can be resolved have been completed. On a motion duly made and seconded, it was voted, 5-0, release the surety and close out the project and the Board authorized Mr. Canale to sign on behalf of the Board. Page 2 Minutes for the Meeting of May 24, 2017 497 Concord Avenue, Site Sensitive development (SSD) revised sketch plan: Jason Lavoie presented a proof plan showing a two-lot subdivision and a SSD that was able to meet the required sight distance. The Cotting School plans for the access impact this project and the applicant is asking for advice on how this issue could be resolved? The Cotting School met with DRT and are exempt from some zoning requirements. The concern was the installation of a parking lot with gravel now impacts this development because it is an institutional use for this road. Board Comments:  Does the school have a right to use the access that they intend to use? Unless the Cotting School would be willing to not use this street this would have to be a local street not a minor street.  A Board Member would not approve the waivers or the project. Do not compound the mistakes there was concern the wetlands would be impacted.  If Cotting School was required to improve the street for their driveway this might allow the SSD to go forward and would be the best solution. There needs to be better clarification on what the Cotting School would require to get safe access to the lot. Put things on hold until the Cotting School’s obligations are identified. Is there an upcoming meeting with them? Waiting to hear from them since they have a cease and desist order. Audience Comments:  This is not just about this project but what happens to existing family homes. The Cotting School has impacted the buffer zone and impacts a number of single family homes. The applicant said that the school chopped the whole forest down without his permission and has tried to contact the Cotting School to discuss the matter. Board Comments:  The Board will keep the applicant in the loop on developments with the Cotting School project. There needs to be a discussion with the Cotting School about access before coming back to this plan and get some things resolved and then discuss the impact on this plan. PUBLIC HEARING 167-177 Cedar Street, Penny Lane Definitive subdivision: Chair Richard Canale opened the public hearing at 7:45 p.m. with approximately 25 people in the audience. Present were Ben Finnegan, applicant, Michael Novak and Rick Waitt, Meridian, Gary Larson, landscape architect. Mr. Novak explained the updated plans received by the Board Minutes for the Meeting of May 24, 2017 Page 3 tonight. The Conservation Commission has not expressed their comments and believe they were waiting to hear from this Board. Board Comments:  There will be some revisions needed so there will be no decision tonight.  Will there be granite and pins? Lot Corners will have granite and pins for easements and lots.  Need draft language for easements covenants to address section 6.  Need to show an accessible ramp.  Names of streets should be historical or related to the land and provide additional suggestions for street names.  What are being proposed for street lamps?  Where will the emergency overflow go since they can’t go into the buffer zone?  Where will the surcharge go? Will come up with something.  Show the extent of the wetlands and provide delineation on the plan? Want to make sure that the lots will not be split again and the back undisturbed land remains part of the front lots. Mr. Finnegan said a very small piece of lot 10 is of interest to the golf course. The neighbors are involved in that discussion.  Are there any vernal pools or endangered species? There is an intermittent stream.  There is concern that some of the houses will be impacting the buffer zone.  The number of sidewalks is too much; some should be eliminated with crosswalks and provide the number of the trees and calipers being removed. Conservation was provided with the buffer analysis. The Board discussed removal of some sidewalks on one side of the road. The schematic will be provided by the applicant. Mr. Larson provided that information on tree and caliper removal, which was 276 trees and 33% of the trees and dph 3,898 calipers removed from the front.  How long will the project last? Mr. Finnegan said 24 to 30 months.  Have you spoken with the neighbors about a temporary fence? Yes spoke with some immediate abutters about temporary fencing, permanent screening, and doing some screening trees before construction. The talks are ongoing.  What are the quantities for cut and fill? The intent is to keep it balanced and have minimal input and export.  Are there any existing stonewalls and will they be retained on site? Yes will keep as much as possible and use somewhere on the site. Page 4 Minutes for the Meeting of May 24, 2017  Mr. Henry said Engineering said Cedar Street was scheduled for repaving and to minimize the disruption had asked the applicant to make that connection to water and sewer and conduit before approval since this seems to be an approvable subdivision. Mr. Waitt said DPW asked Mr. Finnegan to do the connection at his risk. It is no financial benefit to Mr. Finnegan, but would benefit the Town and the neighbors.  What if there is damage to the street during construction? That would be on Mr. Finnegan to make sure the street is not damaged.  Would that be ok to leave to the discretion of Engineering to allow the connection before approval? Mr. Tuneblom sent a letter, which was on file in the Planning Office. Public Comments:  Can the repaving for Cedar Street be delayed? Mr. Henry asked would it be fair to have neighbors put up with the road as is longer? The paving is based on the analysis of the conditions in Town to prevent further damage. This is out of our purview, but staff will present that to Engineering. The abutter said her property was down slope of the project about 10 feet and was concerned with the water runoff and how it would impact her home. The water table is high how can this be mitigated? The neighbor spoke with Mr. Finnegan about a tall green screen. Between this and the next meeting the applicant is to provide updates on talks with the neighbors. Did the thought for one driveway get considered by the applicant? Not at this time.  What’s going to happen to our property with the increase of water coming onto our property? Engineering will be asked to address this by planning staff. Engineering did send a memo today that they were satisfied that the revisions made except the sanitary issues and there will be three houses put on pumps for the sewer system.  There was concern expressed about issues of the sight lines at Balfour and Cedar Streets and the heavy traffic would be creating accident situations.  Why is there a street opening right across the street from another? The Bylaws require it? Board Comments:  What has the sustainability specialist been addressing? Are you going for LEEDs certification? Not sure at this time. The applicant is meeting with the Conservation Commission would they be ready June 21 or will the applicant need an extension of time? On a motion duly made and seconded, it was voted, 5-0, to continue the public hearing to Wednesday, June 21, at 7:00 p.m. in the Selectmen’s Meeting Room. Minutes for the Meeting of May 24, 2017 Page 5 *************************BOARD ADMINISTRATION**************************** Preliminary Review of the Procedural Rules, Subdivision Regulations and Zoning Regulations: Staff is looking for input on procedural rules, development regulations and subdivision regulations please email staff with any changes. The first meeting in May should be to reelect officers and Board vacancies be addressed anytime as needed. Storm water consistencies between Boards was discussed and new storm water rates should be addressed between departments and commissions for consistency. The next packet will include any comments sent to staff. Preliminary Discussion of FY 2018 Goals: Staff will send the list of representatives for committees and commissions to the Board. Staff will be doing a lot of work on the Comprehensive Plan and staff will not be available to support other goals with the Board. The planner position has been advertised and applications will be accepted until June 30. Comprehensive Plan: There will need to be an advisory group created with liaisons from the three major groups. In September there should be a session with the three major groups and advisory group to set up parameters for the plan. Mr. Henry outlined the how the approach would done in two parts. Part one would include community engagement that would run throughout the entire project. The hope is to have the group up and running by the end of the summer. Staff is meeting with consultants to gauge what will be needed for the RFP. There maybe two Fall Town Meetings and maybe reviewing some Planned Developments. The Board will have to discuss what realistically can be done for Town Meeting. Board Members should send to staff projects to be discussed. The Board will need to do work that the staff was doing so we don’t stomp on the Comprehensive Plan. Board Member Reports: Mr. Hornig went to Smart Growth and wants continue work from a year and a half ago. The deadline for questions is coming up for focus groups and if staff or Board Members have questions please forward them to Ms. Johnson by tomorrow. Tomorrow is the MAPC Council meeting and they are launching their master plan and our process will dovetail with it and we should participate to help. Minutes: On a motion duly made and seconded, it was voted, 5-0, to accept the minutes from May10, 2017 as amended at the meeting. Page 6 Minutes for the Meeting of May 24, 2017 On a motion duly made and seconded, it was voted, 5-0, to adjourn at 10:15 p.m. The meeting was recorded by LexMedia. The following documents used at the meeting can be found on file with the Planning Department:  Application and plan set for 167-177 Cedar street, dated April 7 (22 pages).  Plan of Land ANR 75 & 81 Westview Street, dated May 17 (1 page).  FY 2018 Planning Board idea list (1 page).  Planning Board procedural Rules (5 pages).  Agenda Item and Summary dated April 12, 2017 regarding 497 Concord Avenue (2 pages).  Agenda Item and Summary dated April 12, 2017 regarding 167, 173 177 Cedar Street (1 page).  Letter from Hans Tuneblom regarding 167-177 Cedar Street, dated May 23, 2017 (7 pages).  Plan set for 497 Concord Avenue, dated March 8 (4 pages). Ginna Johnson, Clerk