HomeMy WebLinkAbout2018-05-10-PB-min (2)
PLANNING BOARD MINUTES
MEETING OF MAY10, 2018
A meeting of the Lexington Planning Board, held in the Hudson Room, in the Cary Memorial
building was called to order at 7:00 p.m. by Chair, Richard Canale with members Ginna Johnson,
Charles Hornig, Nancy Corcoran-Ronchetti, and Bob Creech, and planning staff Aaron Henry,
David Kucharsky, and Lori Kaufman present. Mr. Carl Valente, Town Manager was present.
*******************************STAFF REPORTS********************************
Upcoming Meetings & Anticipated Meetings:
The next three Planning Board meetings are May 24, June 7 and 21.
Other upcoming meetings are May 22, CPAC Meeting, May 23, Economic Development Panel
#2, May 29, Housing Panel #2, May 30, Joint BOS and PB- Hartwell Avenue Initiative, and June
4, Comprehensive Plan Kick Off Event.
Comprehensive Plan Update:
The RFP deadline was April 20 and a decision will be made next week and shared at the next
meeting. Board Members can send staff recommendations on the RFP.
*************************COMMUNITY UPDATE*******************************
Planning Director Position:
Mr. Valente explained the transition plan for the departure of Mr. Henry, Planning Director. The
recruitment process began last week with a closing date of June 8, 2018 and are looking at Labor
Day to have a new director in place. In the meantime Mr. Valente recommended Carol Kowalski,
Assistant Town Manager for Development serve as the interim Planning Director.
Board Comments:
There was concern about the additional work since a full time staff member is needed and
wants to make sure there will enough time for Ms. Kowalski to be able to handle the
work load that would be required.
Board members are delighted to work with her more closely.
If additional resources are needed can the extra monies from salary be used for additional
help? Can go to Town Meeting and can be done if needed.
On a motion of Ms. Johnson, seconded by Ms. Corcoran-Ronchetti, it was voted, 5-0, to accept
the Town Manager’s recommendation of Carol Kowalski as the interim Planning Director.
SPRD Committee:
The Board discussed the draft charge for the Special Permit Residential Development Committee
and Mr. Canale’s proposed changes.
Page 2 Minutes for the Meeting of May 10, 2018
Board Comments:
The charge needs to be clear about what was meant by joint and if both boards do not
agree that does not stop the process.
Would like Board of Selectmen (BOS) Member be a voting member as well as
Residential Policy Committee Members.
This committee would be subject to open meeting law.
Need to see data and documentation.
The committee should go back to basics and should leave the scope broad.
The feasibility piece has been hard to get, the focus should be on what the Board wants to
get from the project and what is being built and not the amount of money made by the
developer for the project.
Do you see this as a policy making committee or a stakeholder committee?
Having a Real Estate agent on the committee would not be balanced.
Bring in seven people as committee members and others to participate.
Advocate moving this forward as soon as possible since this was promised to be brought
back for the Fall Special Town Meeting.
Mr. Canale will speak with Ms. Hai and the Town Manager to get things moving.
Net Zero Plan Update:
Mr. Mark Sandeen presented Getting Net Zero Emissions Road map and recommendations to
update the Planning Board. The presentation can be found in the meeting packet for May 10,
2018.
The goal would be how to get this incorporated into the Comprehensive Plan.
*********************DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION************************
17 Tower Road, ANR:
On a motion of Mr. Hornig, seconded by Ms. Corcoran-Ronchetti, it was voted, 5-0, to endorse
the plan as it does not show a subdivision.
Belmont Country Club Land, ANR:
On a motion of Mr. Hornig, seconded by Ms. Johnson, it was voted, 5-0, to endorse the plan as it
does not show a subdivision.
7 Hartwell Avenue, Sketch PSDUP:
Mr. Bob Buckley, attorney from Riemer and Braunstein representing the Russian School of
mathematics was present.
Minutes for the Meeting of May 10, 2018 Page 3
This was CD-1 when amended in 2001 and is coming to establish a new Planned Development
and go to Town Meeting. The major issue appears to be traffic and will have to look at the
impacts on the Town’s infrastructure.
Board Comments:
Is there anything you are asking for that is not permitted in the CM District? The only
thing is non-confirming is the frontage and lot area. It would be better to make it part of
a revised CM District, which would require a zoning change.
The parking is problematic with the traffic with all the cars entering and exiting at the
same time. The applicant needs to design a new circulation pattern.
Want to see side and yard and front setbacks respected.
Accessibility and multi-model transportation and pedestrian crossings need to be would
need to be addressed.
Did not see a landscape plan with the existing trees and those that will be removed and
make the site look nice.
When does the school operate? Monday through Friday from 3:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. and
9 a.m. to 6p.m. on weekends with cars coming and going ever two hours.
20 cars coming and going every 10 minutes is a lot of traffic.
Is there a plan for public access (easement) on the corner for pedestrians to get to a good
spot?
The Board will need to draft a decision for the next meeting.
1106 Massachusetts Avenue, Review and Endorse Special Permit SSD decision:
Staff provided a draft decision and received no comments from Board members.
On a motion of Mr. Hornig, seconded, by Ms. Corcoran-Ronchetti, it was voted, 5-0, to approve
the special permit for 1106 Massachusetts Avenue.
1106 Massachusetts Avenue, preliminary Subdivision:
On a motion of Mr. Hornig, seconded, by Ms. Corcoran-Ronchetti, it was voted, 5-0, to approve
the preliminary subdivision plan for 1106 Massachusetts Avenue.
On a motion of Mr. Hornig, seconded, by Ms. Johnson, it was voted, 5-0, to authorize the
Planning Director to accept on behalf of the Board the withdrawal from the applicant if it is given
before Friday.
*************************BOARD ADMINISTRATION****************************
Minutes Review and Approval:
On a motion of Mr. Hornig, seconded by Ms. Johnson, it was voted, 5-0, to approve the minutes
of April 23, 2018, and April 26, 2018, as amended.
Page 4 Minutes for the Meeting of May 10, 2018
Fiscal Year 2019 Workplan Discussion:
The Fall Special Town Meeting will include some, if not all, of the following:
Belmont Country Club, North Hartwell Avenue initiative, 7 Hartwell Avenue, 331 Concord
Avenue, 186 Bedford Street, Marijuana, Special Permit Residential Development, and the TMOD
for Hartwell Avenue.
The Board discussed Mr. Creech’s proposed items to the Planning Board Work plan 2018-2019.
Board Reorganization:
The Board held its annual election of officers.
On a motion of Mr. Canale, seconded by Mr. Creech, it was voted, 5-0, to elect Ms. Ginna
Johnson as chair, Mr. Creech as vice chair, and Ms. Corcoran-Ronchetti as clerk.
On a motion, duly made and seconded, it was voted to adjourn the meeting at 9:51 p.m.
The meeting was recorded by LexMedia.
The following documents used at the meeting can be found on the Planning Board website in
Planning Board packets.
Draft charge for the Special Permit residential Committee (2 pages).
Agenda Item Summary and Staff recommendations for 17 Tower Road, ANR (2 pages)
Plan of Land 17 Tower Road (1 page).
Approval Not required for Belmont Country Club (1 page).
Cover Letter from Riemer and Braunstein for 7 Hartwell Avenue (2 pages).
PSDUP Document for 7 Hartwell Avenue (8 pages).
Proposed plans for the Russian School of Mathematics (9 pages).
Staff memo for 7 Hartwell Avenue (sketch PSDUP) (2 pages).
Draft of Grant of Special Permit for 1106 Massachusetts Avenue (6 pages).
Agenda Item Summary and Staff recommendations for 1106 Massachusetts Avenue (1
page).
Richard Canale’s comments to the draft SPRD charge (2 pages).
Presentation for Getting Net Zero Emissions Road map and recommendations.
Mr. Creech Planning Board Work plan 2018-2019 (2 pages).
Bob Creech, Clerk