Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout1999-03-02-DAC-min.pdf NAP 29 '99 08.44 FR L R.J H. 617 354 9808 TO 917818612754 P 02 A DESIGN ADVISORY COMMITTEE Town of Lexington March 29, 1999 The Minutes March 2, 1999 Meeting Present: Steve Hurley (Chairman), Betsy Whitman, Carl Oldenburg, John Frey, Olga Veronina, Johnathan Langley, Karen Bechtel, Bruce Creager, Betty Eddison (Selectmen's Liaison), Betty Flynn (guest), Ray Flynn (guest), Isabel Jankelson (guest) Scribe: Stacey Bridge-Denzak 1 Approval of Minutes 2. Correspondence: John Frey Letter • John F 's letter was excellent, well-written, and helped in the cause. 3. Depot Square Update • Depot Square outcome a success; project may begin soon; Massachusetts Highway Department (MWD). • Betty added that she insisted Ginna Johnson of Carol R. JohnsonAssociates find the largest new Elm trees available. 4 Cary Hall Update • John F prepared a cost estimate and submitted it to Town Manager Rick White; John F noted he did not include costs for 2 monuments to be moved, only one; John is also not sure if the yews can be transplanted. • DAC will await to hear from Rick as to the next step this project will take. 5 Minute Man Statue/Harrington Road Update • Proceeding with presentation to Selectmen of Bob Ossman plan; Steve will meet with Skip (?) and John Carroll in this regard. • Betsy would like to see a discussion about a light added to the intersection of Worthen Road and Bedford Street. • Selectmen's meeting next week will discuss the opening of Harrington Road; other interested parties are the Chamber,. Meriam Hill Association, and Harrington Road abutters. • Steve will present past traffic calming measures; also, effort to work with Rick Bechtel and Stop&Shop to remove traffic poles. • With the opening of Harrington Road, also will allow parking of cars on that road, and allow the parked tour buses to be relocated. 6. Presentations • 903 Waltham Street (Presentation by Rick Bechtel, Architect, Gary Larson, Landscape Architect, and Jamie McMannis. Owner) a. Reviewed changes per DAC's comments from original presentation. b. Stone wall added at Concord Avenue edge; better resolves grading issues; height ranges between 14" and 24" c. 2 additional trees on plan for scale and framing of building; Owner wants to keep opens views of building when traveling from Waltham to Lexington., DESIGN ADVISORY COMMITTEE Town of Lexington March 29, 1999 DAC would still like to see at least one more tree (all can be limbed up for views to building, added Betsy)to create tree-lined edge. d. Selection of plant material not chosen, yet; will select shade and ornamentals, and large evergreen trees, especially at abutters edge (16' height); Gary said they will be preserving pines as well as adding additional ones at the Nardone property edge. a Jamie is working with Boston Edison as well as the Gas Company to put electrical poles below grade. f. Signs: signs will not be bracketed; they will be lit from the front; color will be Hunter Green with yellow graphics g. Dumpster Jamie mentioned that the lease would describe tenant responsibility to keep clean; also, Jamie will have someone in addition to the tenants to tend to the area; Compactor will be added to the service area location. h. Lighting intent now is to keep fixtures off of building; DAC suggests that lighting should shine down and be cut-off type fixtures. Possibly add lighted bollards similar as proposed in Arlington, but be careful of lighting intensity and color; DAC suggests no lighted bollards; needs to address lighting By- Law. I. Reviewed window sizes; Rick is not going to change the windows. Bruce was still adamant that the proportions were not correct; the(emmulion could better breakdown the glazing and be in better scale to the b�ildinys. j. Steve suggested other vernacular be added to buildings, for example, a barn door k. In summary, DAC recommends adding additional trees to street front, a more solid screen at property boundaries, and a study of the elevations with respect to windows. • Stride Rite Wireless Communication Installation by AT&T (Presentation by Steve Anderson) a. Installation will be on top of roof(near Nextel installation). b. Met with David Kanter who made suggestions to their application; AT&T reviewing these suggestions. c. This installation is by-right; concealed. d. Today, several carriers are at this site; AT&T will be the fifth. e. Unit will be located behind an existing fiberglass screen; additional screening to match will be added to conceal equipment room. f DAC requests the tray which holds the cables be painted so it won't be reflective; AT&T will look into this; they do not own this tray. • Fletcher Avenue /Mass. Avenue Open Space (Presentation by Cindy Savage and Tom Page) a. Steve had a prior conversation with Peter Enrich and Rick White regarding this property; currently there are no plans to do anything to this site; there is a possibility to develop new police and fire station at the current police station location, and relocate the school administration building; however, there is nothing to indicate that a building will go on this site; anything proposed would go under intense scrutiny b. Betsy raises the concern that in the future, we do not know what the political climate may be, and the leaders may look at developi9ng that location, especially if it is not protected. 2 DESIGN ADVISORY COMMITTEE Town of Lexington March 29, 1999 c. Cindy and Tom presented the viewpoints that open space is a core value and that in David Dixon's report, that space is planned to be kept as open space. d. Betty Edison reiterated the possible proposal of a combined police and fire station; she feels that the Town should not have its hands tied by putting conservation protection upon this open space. e. The question was raised of conservation land versus park land protection; Cindy replied that David Williams advised them to deem it conservation land. f. John F asked if a boundary line is established; Cindy replied there is one; in essence at the edge of the lawn area. g. DAC decided to support this Citizen's Article- 7 Additional Issues • Letter to the Selectmen a. John F is concerned about the tone of the letter b. Karen feels we should be positive and cite accomplishments_ • DPW Funding Cuts a. John F is concerned about current budget cuts; the Town is going to2far by loading too much work on tree warden, for example, while letting people go; we are demanding for more services, yet asking it to be done for less. b. Betty clarified that some are retiring, and not being let go. 3 ,�,� rnrni onrc ran .w.i.