HomeMy WebLinkAbout1994-08-09-DAC-min.pdf DESIGN ADVISORY COMMITTEE
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DATE. 9 August 1994
PRESENT. John Frey (Chairman), Betty Eddison (Selectmen Liaison),
Jackie Davison (Planning), Fred Merrill (Planning Board
Liaison), Judy Ozuransky, Karen Bechtel, Gary Larson,
Carl Oldenburg, John Vinton
NOTES BY John Vinton
1. July meeting minutes were approved as submitted.
2. Board of Anneals: Sign for Hartwell Ave. at McGuire Road: proposed
single story 26,000sf office building requests free standing sign at McGuire Road
entry, 1'-6" by 4'-0" high by 6'-0" long. Size of sign within precedents and
recent approvals. Question brick plinth. Sign approved.
3. Subdivisions: Fred Merrill will serve as liaison, bringing subdivision
submittals to the DAC as the Planning Board feels deliberations would benefit
from DAC review and input. See listing of pending projects in the attached
agenda. J Davison noted that Garfield Street Extension is before the
Conservation Commission now, and will be coming up soon.
4 Benches: John Frey briefed committee regarding progress; 12 DAC
recommended locations pending approval by Selectmen; Steve Hurley will have it
put on the Selectmen's agenda.
Kathy Green (LF&GC) presented request for a bench at Marrett Road and
Prospect Hill Road open space being upgraded by the LF&GC in cooperation
with neighbors and the Town. DAC expressed appreciation for the LF&GC
effort and offered endorsement of the plan. Will place this on list of potential
bench sites for prioritizing and review with Selectmen in the next round.
5 Bikeway Bridge: John Frey and Betty Eddison reported on developments;
see attached agenda; the resulting design is a simple concrete bridge of similar
footprint to the existing bridge, offering the same light and air as the present
design versus earlier "tunnel" designs which were unacceptable. On the whole,
the results have been very positive, championed by Betty, John and Hubert
Murray Security fence design not yet final, asked for opportunity to review and
comment on the final drawings prior to bidding.
6. Route 2A. John Frey and Betty Eddison updated the group. Key meeting is
approaching in late August; the Town will aggressively pursue alternatives to the
proposed design. The federal legislation allows for variance from federal
highway standards in historic areas. John Frey presented drawings of alternatives
which will be used for pressing the issues at the upcoming meeting.
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Issues include:
• Maintenance road location; leaving it where it is eliminates blasting
• Access road to Sheraton; relocation may not be necessary
• Mass Ave outlet for Sheraton in addition to 2A
John will have intermediary contact Norman Abend (who-lives-iULexingtott) for
traffic impact review prior to meeting.
7 Guidelines: for signage drafted by Tom Coffman; discussion deferred until
next time in Tom absence.
8. Woodland Road: raised for information only see attached.
9 Demolition Reviews in the aftermath of the Parker Road controversy, should
the Town consider a more formal demolition review and approval process.
Jackie Davison suggested that it would be beneficial if a professional group like
the DAC were to review demolition applications in the same way that sign
applications are reviewed and a recommendation forwarded to the governing
board. In this case, the governing official is the Building Commissioner, unless
the structure is designated historic, at which point, the Historic Districts
Commission must pass on it also. Unless historic, the review is for zoning and
code compliance only Demolition is in this case as of right. Design issues are
not at present pertinent to the review Were the DAC to be asked to address
design issues as part of demolition permit, the DAC charter would have to be
revised with potentially major implications.
Meeting was adjourned at 10:00 pm. Next meeting September 13th.
Res r tfully bmitted,
/�sr
inton
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