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PLANNING BOARD MINUTES
MEETING OF JUNE 7, 2018
A meeting of the Lexington Planning Board, held in the Hudson Room, in the Cary Memorial
building was called to order at 7:01 p.m. by Vice Chair, Bob Creech with members Richard
Canale, Charles Hornig, Nancy Corcoran-Ronchetti, and planning staff Carol Kowalski and
David Kucharsky present. Ginna Johnson was absent.
*******************************STAFF REPORTS********************************
General Updates:
There was a Hartwell Avenue event last week and the Comprehensive Plan kick off was this
week.
Hartwell Avenue Zoning Initiative Update:
A zoning consultant was hired and we are awaiting the traffic analysis from Stantec and RKG is
doing a fiscal analysis. Are the analysis only looking at existing conditions? Ms. Kowalski said
that some future build-out is being done as well. There will be further discussions on this once
more information is received.
*********************DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION************************
PUBLIC HEARING
32-40 Hartwell Avenue, special permit:
Vice Chair, Mr. Creech, opened the public hearing for a special permit at 7:10 p.m. with
approximately 1 person in the audience. Mr. Dominic Rinaldi of the BSC group was present and
gave an explanation of the requested changes for an awning between the two buildings.
Board Comments:
Believe this meets the requirements which was the hope for connectivity of the two
buildings.
The Board voiced approval for this change.
The public hearing was closed at 7:16 p.m.
The Board requested that staff draft a decision for granting the special permits for the next
meeting.
7 Hartwell Avenue, sketch PSDUP:
The Board recommended the applicant go with a zoning change the CM district instead of a new
Planned Development District.
On a motion of Mr. Hornig, seconded by Ms. Corcoran-Ronchetti, it was voted, 4-0, to approve
the decision drafted by staff.
Page 2 Minutes for the Meeting of June 7, 2018
56 Webb Street, preliminary subdivision plan:
Present was James Decoulos, civil engineer, for Angie Kavlakian the applicant. It came to the
Planning Board’s attention that clearing has been done on the property and that is not allowed
under the subdivision regulations and to contact the Planning Board before doing anything on the
site.
Mr. Decoulos gave a summary and submitted papers regarding the history for the title and rights
with deeds and plans showing the Trebino’s right to convey the use of Dunham Street for access.
Individual Board Questions:
Is there anything in writing to grant this to the Kavlakian family? Mr. Decoulous said not
explicitly but that does not mean the rights don’t exist. We recommend that staff speak
with Town Counsel. Our attorney Chris Heep feels we are on solid ground. Are the Lee’s
on board with you about this we have a letter from Melissa Lee stating that you do not
have those rights? No.
Mr. Decoulos showed the fire safety access off Webb Street at 10 and 20 scale with the Fire
Department’s largest truck. The applicant would like the Board to have a site visit to show access
with a rented private truck to do the test.
Individual Board Questions:
If this is an emergency vehicle access only, are you asking the Board to waive the dead
end street requirement? Mr. Decoulos said they disagree because alternate vehicle access
is being provided. The applicant will seek a waiver to pursue this option as well. What
sort of vehicle will be supported with the access? There needs to be some sort of standard
for vehicles under section 7.2 as a subdivision street.
How will you handle snow removal on the emergency access? It will be removed from
the site for the emergency access only with 16 feet wide clearance.
Mr. Decoulos said with the watershed and stormwater plan we agree to not use salt in this area
since it discharges into Burlington. We are very aware of the impact to watersheds. There is no
evidence of red maple cuts in any resource areas.
Do you plan to speak with Burlington regarding the threat to the watershed or anything
with the wetlands protection act? We are working with Burlington now on another
project. We do not view this as an impact or threat.
We have a letter from the Fire Department that does not agree with your assessment of
the emergency access which is based on the fire code. Mr. Decoulos said he would like to
see the letter from the Fire Department and would like time to respond to it.
Minutes for the Meeting of June 7, 2018 Page 3
On a motion of Mr. Hornig, seconded by Ms. Corcoran-Ronchetti, it was voted, 4-0, to deny
approval of preliminary subdivision plans for 56 Webb Street as the length of dead end street is
longer then permitted in the subdivision regulations the applicant has not clearly demonstrated the
right to improve and use the private section of Dunham Street.
On a motion of Mr. Hornig, seconded, by Mr. Creech, it was voted to approve the decision with
the additional reason to deny and authorize the acting interim Planning Director to sign on the
Board’s behalf.
*************************BOARD ADMINISTRATION****************************
Board Member Updates:
The RFQ is being prepared for a technical person and are doing some outreach for a facilitator for
the Special Permit Residential Development Committee and have identified some good people.
The Planning Director position closes tomorrow.
Comprehensive Plan Update:
Howard Stein Hudson has been selected and the facilitator for the Comprehensive Plan. Staff is
trying to get the trend reports finished and updated to put on the website. The second Economic
Development panel will be June 13 in the DPW cafeteria and is the last panel for the
Comprehensive Plan. There is currently a vacant seat on the CPAC if there some individuals the
Board feel might be a good participants please make sure they contact the planning office.
Board individual comments:
Pleased with the quality of input for the kick-off event, but not necessarily the number of
people who attended. There was also a good mix of people who do not usually
participate.
Give residents and stakeholders a better sense of the actual schedule on what they should
be expecting over the next year.
The materials put together were very good. The participation was very good and so was
the feedback.
Upcoming Meetings & Anticipated Schedule:
The Board will be going back to Wednesday night meetings sometime in the near future.
Minutes Review and Approval:
On a motion of Mr. Hornig, seconded by Ms. Corcoran-Ronchetti, it was voted, 4-0, to approve
the minutes May 24, 2018, as amended.
On a motion, duly made and seconded, it was voted to adjourn the meeting at 8:05 p.m.
Page 4 Minutes for the Meeting of June 7, 2018
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.
7 Hartwell Avenue, sketch PSDUP draft decision from staff (1 page).
Letter from the assistant Fire Chief regarding 56 Webb Street (1 page).
Draft decision from staff regarding 32-40 Hartwell Avenue (4 pages).
Plan set for 32-40 Hartwell Avenue, dated April 5, 2018 (5 pages).
Nancy Corcoran-Ronchetti, Clerk