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PLANNING BOARD MINUTES
MEETING OF JANUARY 10, 2018
A meeting of the Lexington Planning Board, held in the Selectmen’s Meeting Room was called to
order at 7:05 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
***************UPCOMING MEETINGS, EVENTS & ANNOUNCEMENTS*************
Anticipated Meetings:
The next meetings are January 17, 31, February 14, 28 and March 14, 2018.
The Selectmen will meet with Planning Board on Tuesday, January 16 regarding north Hartwell
Avenue.
************************COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE***********************
Comprehensive Plan Advisory Committee (CPAC) creation and Nominations:
th
December 20 there was a liaison meeting and Mr. Henry will send the Board the materials
regarding that meeting. The first CPAC meeting will be January 30 in Estabrook Hall.
*********************DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION************************
185 Lincoln Street, ANR:
On a motion of Mr. Creech, seconded by Ms. Corcoran-Ronchetti, it was voted, 4-0, that the
Board authorize the Planning Director to withhold endorsement of the ANR as it does, in fact,
show a subdivision as defined by the subdivision control law.
2 Fairland Street, street determination, continued:
This meeting was continued from November 29, 2017, since at the time it lacked plans depicting
the recommended improvements.
On a motion of Mr. Hornig, seconded by Ms. Corcoran-Ronchetti, it was voted, 4-0, that the
street is not of adequate grade and construction, but will be when the work is done by both
applicants for Rolling Lane and Fairland Street and the Board authorized staff to finalize the form
and execute with the applicant a performance guarantee sufficient to cover the cost of the
estimated cost of the construction of the proposed improvements.
Page 2 Minutes for the Meeting of January 10, 2018
167-177 Cedar Street, Performance Guarantee Adjustment:
On a motion of Mr. Hornig, seconded by Ms. Corcoran-Ronchetti, it was voted, 4-0, to authorize
the release from the $863,007.58 held under the tripartite agreement in the amount of
$301,291.53 for the completed work leaving a remaining balance of $561,716.05.
PUBLIC HEARING
45, 55, 65 Hayden Avenue, site plan review:
Chair, Ms. Johnson, opened the continued public hearing at 7:24 p.m. with approximately 2
people in the audience. Present were Mr. Ed Grant, attorney, Rob Albro, managing director of
King Street Properties, Peter Tamm, co-counsel, Doug Hartnett, Highpoint Engineering, Brook
Cash and Courtney Kirk, landscape architects, Bob Mishou, MDM transportation, Rick Kuhn,
architect, Bill Harris from Perkins and Will.
Mr. Grant said this was continued December 13 and sent a memo responding to Board comments
from the meeting and a response to Mr. Canale’s additional comments he forwarded. Rob Albro
went through the responses to Mr. Canale’s questions. The applicant will be meeting again with
the Conservation Commission in a few weeks.
Doug Hartnett presented the applicant’s responses to Board comments from the last meeting. The
Conservation Commission is looking over the snow removal process. Bill Harris from Perkins
and Will discussed the light spill designs. Courtney Kirk, landscape architect, clarified and
addressed the landscape concerns expressed at the last meeting in December. Doug Hartnett
explained about the number of parking spaces that was submitted and the parking at the trailhead
and there will be signs to address where there would be additional parking. Mr. Albro said they
nd
would like to start building the 2 quarter of 2018.
Audience comments:
Mr. Ohmart from the Greenways Corridor Committee, asked if the parking
accommodations applies seven days a week? Mr. Tamm said there is a commitment to
public access to the trail there is no committed public parking spaces other than the four
spaces but signs will be up to contact the property manager if no spaces are available.
What provisions are made for this summer to occasionally allow trucks to the trailhead
this summer while construction is being done on the site? Mr. Albro said they would be
willing to work out a location and access during construction on the site.
Minutes for the Meeting of January 10, 2018 Page 3
Individual Board Member Comments:
Comfortable endorsing the draft decision before them.
Concern about disturbing the nocturnal animals regarding light disturbance.
During business hours there will not be adequate parking all the time with only four
spaces. If someone cannot find parking and no one answers the phone and you claim
there is no need for more than the 4 spaces how would you know. Do you allow parking
in the garage? Mr. Albro said there is someone there 24/7 and the point is not to restrict
access to the trail.
Would access to the new parking garage be the same as to the existing garage, i.e., there
is nothing to prevent anyone from using that garage. Yes.
Appreciate the investigation of the views from conservation land would the applicant be
amenable for an allowance for one dozen white pines at a five foot height to be planted
on town-owned Hayden Woods parcel or the perimeter of the property site at discretion
of Conservation Agent? Yes.
Parking is a concern and there are many people who do not have cell phones, or what if
the person on staff is on the phone. What if employees decide to take a walk and park in
those designated spaces? Mr. Albro said security will have to address how to watch those
four spaces since people are coming and going all the time and not have tenants park
there and put up signs.
Want to make sure the gravel parking spaces will be plowed and maintained and put in
the conditions in the MOU about parking that in a year the Town and applicant will
assess if the process is working. Mr. Grant said the MOU can always be amended if
needed by either the Town or the applicant and report to the Town once a year.
Add condition all new and future plantings must be included on a county checklist as
native to Middlesex County.
Provide signage with the address and location of the property manager/security to ask for
additional parking located at the four parking spaces and for group request give 24 hour
notice.
On a motion of Mr. Hornig, seconded by Ms. Corcoran-Ronchetti, it was voted, 4-0, to close
the public hearing at 8:30 p.m.
On a motion of Mr. Hornig, seconded by Ms. Corcoran-Ronchetti, it was voted, 4-0, to
approve the 45-75 Hayden Avenue site plan review with the additional conditions discussed
tonight.
Page 4 Minutes for the Meeting of January 10, 2018
On a motion of Mr. Hornig, seconded by Ms. Corcoran-Ronchetti, it was voted, 4-0, to
authorize the Planning Director to sign the decision on behalf of the Planning Board.
************************2018 ANNUAL TOWN MEETING*************************
2018 Annual Town Meeting Warrant Article Discussion:
Two Neighborhood Conservation Districts
331 Concord Avenue
Marrett Road/Spring Street rezone
Amend land use of medical marijuana based on the new regulations from the cannabis
control commission
Amend Special Permit Residential Developments
If the Board wants anytime to discuss this at the next meeting regarding any red flags or
procedural questions please let staff know.
The Board asked staff to offer any citizen petition applicants 15 minutes to meet with the Board
before the public hearings.
Special Spring Town Meeting
Hartwell Avenue initiative
186 Bedford Street PDD
*************************BOARD ADMINISTRATION****************************
Fair Housing training
:
Mr. Hornig and Mr. Creech presented the handout information on the Fair Housing Compliance
Considerations for Land Use and Planning Decisions Conference. Lexington got a Home Grant
and is now required to adhere to a higher standard.
Board Member Reports:
Mr. Hornig said there was a plus one meeting today on the Hartwell Avenue North initiative,
which is not ready to come forward on the April Special Town Meeting, but will be slated for the
Fall Special Town Meeting and will be discussed further at the joint meeting with the BOS and
Planning Board next Tuesday. Mr. Hornig was asked to present the Hartwell Avenue North
initiative at the next meeting.
Minutes Review and Approval:
The minutes will be discussed at the next meeting.
On a motion, duly made and seconded, it was voted to adjourn the meeting at 9:15 p.m.
The meeting was recorded by LexMedia.
Minutes for the Meeting of January 10, 2018 Page 5
The following documents used at the meeting can be found on the Planning Board website in
Planning Board packets.
Street improvement plan Rolling Lane and Fairland Street (2 pages).
Cost estimate for Fairland Street for $32,166.20 (1 page).
185 Lincoln Street Plan of Land ANR redivision of lot 6, dated November 30, 2017 (1
page).
Letter from the Greenways Corridor Committee regarding Hayden Avenue access
parking to the Hayden Woods Conservation land (1 page).
Draft decision for Hayden Avenue (4 pages).
Fair Housing Compliance Considerations for Land use and Planning Decisions (15
pages).
Bob Creech, Clerk