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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2017-08-16-PB-min PLANNING BOARD MINUTES MEETING OF AUGUST 16, 2017 A meeting of the Lexington Planning Board, held in Selectmen’s Meeting Room was called to order at 7:00 p.m. by Vice Chair Ginna Johnson with members Charles Hornig, Nancy Corcoran- Ronchetti, and Bob Creech, and planning staff Aaron Henry, David Kucharsky, and Lori Kaufman present. Richard Canale was absent. *******************************STAFF REPORTS******************************** Comprehensive Plan Update: Mr. Henry provided a status update on the Comprehensive Plan and the creation of the Comprehensive Plan Advisory Committee. There are 32 applications that are a good mix for age and tenure in town. Staff should be ready to proceed with the good mix received but may want to do a little more targeted outreach to some to get a little more diversity and then hope to have a th draft charge ready by the August 30 meeting. Economic Development Strategies Memo: Ms. Carol Kowalski, Assistant Town Manager for Land Use, updated the Board on the economic development presentation given to the Board of Selectmen. They were exploring reasons economic development is flat here and discussing ideas to increase development, for example creating another overlay district that would require a high-level transportation management and contributions to the transportation mitigation fund, greater FAR, and by right-mixed use developments. Upcoming Meetings and Anticipated Schedule: The TMMA is trying to set up meeting on Tuesday October 10 and the Board expects one warrant article for sure and are discussing whether to go for prohibitions or moratorium on recreational marijuana. Ms. Corocran-Ronchetti will not be here August 30. The 2020 Vision meeting on September 22 in the morning will be difficult for Mr. Hornig to attend but he will watch the tape. *********************DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION************************ Oakmont Circle, ANR: The applicant has submitted a revised ANR plan that was approved before with a few minor dimensional changes and no material lot line changes. The reason for the dimensional change is to go from tenths to hundredths due to the adjoining registered land in Land Court. Page 2 Minutes for the Meeting of August 16, 2017 On a motion of Mr. Hornig, seconded by Ms. Corcoran-Ronchetti, it was voted, 4-0, that the Board voted to endorse the revised Approval Not Required plan, as required by Land Court. The proposed division of land shown on the revised plan does not constitute a subdivision within the meaning of the Subdivision Control Law. Cedar Street Subdivision, proposed street names: This agenda item is an opportunity for the Board to continue its conversation from the last meeting regarding the proposed names for two new streets associated with the recently approved subdivision plans off of Cedar Street. Mr. Fred Gilgun, attorney and Ben Finnegan were concerned about safety approval for Wolf Tree and Poor Farm from Mr. Canale. Did Fire and Police approve? No concerns; both were fine. Mr. Finnegan was upset with the name Poor Farm Road. Board Comments:  This site was never a part of the Poor Farm and the neighborhood had no problem with Penny Lane or Abbey Road.  Ok with Wolf Tree Lane or Abbey Road.  Prefer Penny Lane, Abbey Road or Powderhouse Lane  Have issue with the names Penny Lane, Abbey Road, being pop culture and Poor Farm Road is inappropriate. Like Wolf Tree Lane and Farias Court. Mr. Finnegan said neighbors and landowners all liked the Abbey Road and Penny Lane.  Power Court and Moore Lane were suggested, but they would have needed to be vetted by public safety. Audience Comments:  Live nearby and know residents in the area and know they like Abbey Road and Penny Lane. Mr. Finnegan didn’t know to bring neighbors in regarding the approval for the name. On a motion of Ms. Johnson, seconded by Mr. Creech, it was voted, 2-2, Ms. Corcoran-Ronchetti and Mr. Hornig opposed) for Wolf Tree Lane for outer road and Farias Court for inner road. Motion failed for lack of a majority vote. On a motion of Ms. Corcoran-Ronchetti for Abbey Road and Wolf Tree Lane. The motion failed for the lack of a second. Additional comments and public input for names will be considered by the Board. Minutes for the Meeting of August 16, 2017 Page 3 The applicant will be coming back on August 30 and will discuss further. Staff will send out a list of the proposed and approved names for the Board to show their preference for names. PUBLIC HEARING Brookhaven, site plan review: Vice Chair, Ms. Johnson, opened the public hearing at 7:40 p.m. with approximately 6 people in the audience. There were recent changes made to the proposed draft PSDUP based on comments received from the Conservation Commission. Engineering and Conservation staff are in the process of resolving some issues with the applicant associated with the placement of water utilities. Mr. Bill Daily, attorney, Mr. Jim Freehling, President/CEO, Mr. James Borrebach, civil engineer, Ms. Diane Duley, architect, Mr. Dave Fisher, landscape architect, were present. Mr. Daily said they will move ahead and plan to get started this fall. This is the same plan as before, but there are three items that needed tweaking, noise study, water looping, and work with engineering on handling the sewage from the project. The applicant would like to come back September 13 after meeting with Conservation Commission and have a resolution from Engineering. Mr. Borrebach presented a document showing a summary of changes to the plan approved at Annual Town Meeting 2017 and is posted in the meeting packet for the north building and the commons. Board and staff comments:  The staff does recommend the changes, but the applicant should come back September 13 once they hear from Conservation.  What is the action deadline for the July 25 submittal? September 23.  Will the base of the proposed abutment be landscaped? Mr. Fisher said there is existing vehation that will screen the structure.. Audience comments:  The closest abutter to this project asked for the access road to be moved a few more feet and gated, or a bump installed so people would will not shoot out too quickly. There was also concern expressed about the increase of impervious surface and its potential to flood nearby properties. Not sure the infiltration pond could handle a two year rainstorm and want another study done. The abutter also asked to put soundproofing up for the transformer. The Fire Department did not want a gate at the Waltham Street access, but instead will have signage and would consider a speed bump if the Fire and Police Departments would allow, but there are concerns that every minute counts in an Page 4 Minutes for the Meeting of August 16, 2017 emergency. Mr. Borrebach will be meeting with Engineering and Conservation to discuss runoff and the transformer has sound proofing. There will be a grinder for sewage, but need to find a location. On a motion of Mr. Hornig, seconded by Ms. Corcoran-Ronchetti, it was voted, 4-0, to continue the public hearing to September 13, 7:00 p.m. in the Selectmen’s Meeting Room. 45-65 Hayden Avenue, potential Planned Development District: Rob Albert, CEO King Street properties, Ed Grant, attorney, Doug Harnett, Highpoint Engineering, and Bill Harris and Derek Johnson, Perkins-Will, were present. Mr. Albert said their proposal was for an up-zoning of the site at this Fall Special Town Meeting. They presented the draft PSDUP and MOU to the Planning Board for comments. A public hearing on this proposal is planned for September 13. Special Town Meeting is expected to take up this item on October 16 or 18. The design has only one change since the last meeting, which is the garage. There has been discussion on the MOU and hope to have in stronger form within 7 to 10 days. The PSDUP will be filed next week and will run a list as they meet with each board and committee and then have an addendum to read through the changes in one place for the PSDUP. Staff wants to peer review for the traffic report and ask the Board to allow staff to set that up. Board Comments:  The regulatory plan needs to cover the entire district, not pieces.  Do not understand your accessory uses list; they should be listed as primary uses. Consult with staff. Check the uses in the zoning bylaw.  Remove site coverage ratio as in the CM District.  Why limit the FAR on the site? Don’t artificially constrain yourself.  If you are keeping the FAR and site coverage indicate how the lots would be divided up.  In section 10.4 what are the rules for signs that you want? Make clearer. Mr. Grant said they can reconcile many of Mr. Hornig’s suggestions and meet with staff to accomplish that. If special permit relief is needed it can be combined with site plan review. Want to hear about the FAR from other Board members. Don’t want to propose something that is not realistic.  Receptive to increase to the FAR.  Ms. Johnson wanted to alert the Board and audience that Mr. Harris was a client of hers in the past and filed appropriate papers with ethics committee. Minutes for the Meeting of August 16, 2017 Page 5  The height is raised by more than 20 feet which is a significant height difference; want to see documents. Mr. Albert said he has them and will show later.  Concerned about the half story below grade because believe it will flood.  Concerned about landscape plan want only native plants not decorative plantings.  Want information on tree removal.  Public parking for the trail heads will that continue?  Public use of conservation land should be considered.  Do not propose something that will not be built. Other projects have been able to mitigate the water and believe will be able to do that to prevent flooding. There will be swing spaces and allowed for the public parking. Bill Harris and Derek Johnson will submit an electronic set of the plans presented to staff to upload to packet for height construction from surrounding areas and preliminary site sections. Audience Comments:  How large is this new parking garage in terms of cars? The new garage is 1,075 and displacing surface parking. Is there just one exit in the garage or alternate way to get out? They met with the Fire Chief about the exit and he did not object to the one exit as provided. Board Comments:  Will the submission have a scope issue? Staff will pay close attention to this when the PSDUP is submitted. The required public hearing will be September 13 at 7:30 in the SMR with the PSDUP filed by August 23. *************************BOARD ADMINISTRATION**************************** Board Reports: The timeline for the Turning Mill and Lockwood-Byron Road NCDs is for November 1 for a joint hearing with the Historic Commission and Planning Board. Want to make sure that this has been vetted completely so it is not unusable. The Planning Board should see the draft before it goes out to the public to make sure it is not a mess. Board and Committee Assignments: On a motion of Mr. Hornig, seconded by Ms. Corcoran-Ronchetti, it was voted, 4-0, to accept the assignments for liaisons listed on the Planning Board Representatives/Liaisons to Boards & Committees document. Page 6 Minutes for the Meeting of August 16, 2017 On a motion, duly made and seconded, it was voted to adjourn the meeting at 9:12 p.m. The meeting was recorded by LexMedia. Bob Creech, Clerk