HomeMy WebLinkAbout1980-07-211
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PLANNING BOARD MEETING
July 21, 1980
The meeting of the Lexington Planning Board was called to order at 7:30 p.m.
by the Chairman Mrs. Wheaton with members Nichols, Sandy, Friedman, Sorensen,
Planning Director Bowyer and Administrative Clerk Mrs. Snow present. Also in
attendance were Planning Interns Debora Goldstein and Steven Asen.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
The minutes of the regular meeting of July 7, 1980, were corrected, and upon
a motion by Mrs. Nichols, seconded by Mr. Sandy, were unanimously approved as
corrected.
The minutes of the Planning Board meeting in executive session on July 7,
1980, were corrected, and were unanimously approved as corrected.
DETERMINATION OF SUBDIVISION APPROVAL
76 Lowell Street, Haskell W. Reed, Form A80-14: Mr. Reed was present to ex-
plain the purpose of relocation of lot lines and combination of lots. It
was agreed that a notation on the plan is required to show that several of
the lots will be combined into single lots. Upon a motion by Mr. Sandy,
seconded by Mr. Friedman, the Board voted unanimously:
The plan entitled "Plan of Land in Lexington, Mass.", dated July 7, 1980,
by Everett M. Brooks Co., submitted on July 14, 1980, with Application
Form A80-14 by Haskell W. Reed, showing Lots 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and C at
Lowell Street, requires no approval under the Subdivision Control Law.
The Board also voted to authorize the Planning Director to endorse the plan
on behalf of the Board following addition of the note.
2325 Massachusetts Avenue, Community Nursery School, Form A80-15: The Board
reviewed a plan showing the Community Nursery School property, divided into
two lots, each with adequate frontage and area. It was noted that the school
operates under a Special Permit granted by the Board of Appeals in January,
1947, which appears to apply to the total area of the site. Upon a motion
by Mr. Friedman, seconded by'Mr. Sorensen, it was unanimously VOTED:
To reject the plan entitled "Subdivision Plan of Land in Lexington, Mass.",
dated July 10, 1980, by Miller and Nylander, submitted with Application
Form A80-15 on July 15, 1980, because endorsement of the plan would be
contrary to the Special Permit granted by the Board of Appeals on
January 24, 1947.
The Board also voted that the Planning Director should inform the Community
Nursery School that if, upon application to the Board of Appeals, the Special
Permit is amended to allow operation of the school on Lot 1 only, the Planning
Board would look favorably on endorsement of a resubmitted Form A plan.
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7.21.80
That the Planning Board does not endorse the plan submitted with
Application Form A80-16, entitled "Subdivision Plan of Land in Lexington,
Mass.", dated July 7, 1980, by Miller and Nylander, because the land
shown on Lot 2-A is needed to comply with the requirements of Section 9.1.8 a.
of the Zoning By -Law.
It was also noted that the land was subject to a Special Permit from the
Board of Appeals.
3 Abbott Road, Jane L. Forsyth: A draft report on the petition for a Special
Permit to allow the operation of a counseling service was reviewed. It was
agreed that a specific (2 year) time limit on the permit should be recommended
and the report was amended accordingly. Upon a motion by Mr. Sandy, seconded
by Mr. Friedman, the report was approved as amended.
Potter Pond, Concord Avenue and Walnut Street, Boyd/Smith: A petition for
variances regarding garages with increased capacity and decreased areas between
structures was reviewed. The members were unanimously opposed to the granting
of variances to allow less than 30 feet between buildings, but the majority
expressed no objection to the granting of the variance for garages in excess of
the 3 -car limit, provided the Board of Appeals finds that the criteria for a
variance, under Chapter 808, have been met.
32 Hill Street, Leon Lipschutz, Variance: The Beard considered the petition to
be a local issue and will make no comment.
544 Lowell Street,_ Lexington Gardens, Inc., Special Permit: The prospective
buyer of the existing green houses wishes to have the Special Permit amended
to allow a wholesale operation. A recommendation will be made that a road
system, which prohibits backing of trucks onto any public street be made a
condition of the Special Permit, if granted.
OPINION ON CONDITION OF UNACCEPTED STREETS
1980-1, Davis Road: In response to a request by the Building Commissioner, the
Planning Board reviewed the status of a section of Davis Road. After a review
of a staff report and a memo from the Town Engineer, it was unanimously VOTED:
The section of Davis Road, insofar as it fronts on Lot 41, on Assessors
Map 15, a distance of 154 feet, more or less, is not, in the opinion of
the Planning Board a way of sufficient width, suitable grade and adequate
' construction.
The reasons are that the travelled way is of inadequate width, being only
11 feet, 12 feet, 14 feet and 16 feet in several locations; there is a grade
BOARD OF APPEALS PETITIONS
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177 Bedford Street, Knights of Columbus, Form A80-16:
The Board
reviewed
a plan showing the K. of C. property divided into two
lots, one
of which
contains the K. of C. structure. Mr. Bowyer reported
that Town
Counsel
advised that since a zoning violation (parking) and a
violation
of the 1961
Board of Appeals Special Permit would result from the
Planning
Board endorse-
ment of the plan, it should be rejected. Upon a motion by Mr.
Sandy, seconded
by Mrs. Nichols, it was unanimously VOTED:
That the Planning Board does not endorse the plan submitted with
Application Form A80-16, entitled "Subdivision Plan of Land in Lexington,
Mass.", dated July 7, 1980, by Miller and Nylander, because the land
shown on Lot 2-A is needed to comply with the requirements of Section 9.1.8 a.
of the Zoning By -Law.
It was also noted that the land was subject to a Special Permit from the
Board of Appeals.
3 Abbott Road, Jane L. Forsyth: A draft report on the petition for a Special
Permit to allow the operation of a counseling service was reviewed. It was
agreed that a specific (2 year) time limit on the permit should be recommended
and the report was amended accordingly. Upon a motion by Mr. Sandy, seconded
by Mr. Friedman, the report was approved as amended.
Potter Pond, Concord Avenue and Walnut Street, Boyd/Smith: A petition for
variances regarding garages with increased capacity and decreased areas between
structures was reviewed. The members were unanimously opposed to the granting
of variances to allow less than 30 feet between buildings, but the majority
expressed no objection to the granting of the variance for garages in excess of
the 3 -car limit, provided the Board of Appeals finds that the criteria for a
variance, under Chapter 808, have been met.
32 Hill Street, Leon Lipschutz, Variance: The Beard considered the petition to
be a local issue and will make no comment.
544 Lowell Street,_ Lexington Gardens, Inc., Special Permit: The prospective
buyer of the existing green houses wishes to have the Special Permit amended
to allow a wholesale operation. A recommendation will be made that a road
system, which prohibits backing of trucks onto any public street be made a
condition of the Special Permit, if granted.
OPINION ON CONDITION OF UNACCEPTED STREETS
1980-1, Davis Road: In response to a request by the Building Commissioner, the
Planning Board reviewed the status of a section of Davis Road. After a review
of a staff report and a memo from the Town Engineer, it was unanimously VOTED:
The section of Davis Road, insofar as it fronts on Lot 41, on Assessors
Map 15, a distance of 154 feet, more or less, is not, in the opinion of
the Planning Board a way of sufficient width, suitable grade and adequate
' construction.
The reasons are that the travelled way is of inadequate width, being only
11 feet, 12 feet, 14 feet and 16 feet in several locations; there is a grade
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of about 12.5% for approximately 80 feet up from Moreland Avenue; there are
deep ruts and exposed rocky outcroppings on the travelled way.
PLANNING BOARD MEMBERS' RESPONSIBILITIES FOR CURRENT SUBDIVISION PLANS
The members accepted responsibilities for review of subdivision plans as
follows: "Ingleside", Mr. Friedman, "Kitson Park Estates", Mr. Sorensen,
Jenkins/Greenstein (Corazzini land), Mrs. Nichols.
SUBDIVISION OF LAND
Blossom Street, Corazzini Land:
a preliminary cluster subdivision
lots will be developed within the
Street will be created by Form A
briefly.
PLANNING DIRECTOR'S REPORT
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7.21.80
Mr. Bowyer informed the Board of the submittal of
plan on July 18. Steve Asen reported that 12
subdivision and 3 lots fronting on Blossom
plan. Lot layout and road design were reviewed
U. S. Census Count: Mr. Bowyer informed the Board of the possibility that Lexing-
ton's preliminary count may have been destroyed in whole,or in part, by a fire
in the Census Bureau's Framingham Field Office. This may require working with
local records by the Planning staff to establish Lexington's population.count.
Mr. Bowyer noted that any Planning Board requests for Capital Improvement funds
must be submitted by August 15, 1980.
REPORTS BY MEMBERS
Mrs. Wheaton reported that procedures for acquisition by the Lexington Housing
Authority of the low and moderate income units in condominium developments have
been established.
Charges of filing fees for submittal fees for submittal of Form A plans to
cover staff review time and recording fees was discussed. The Chairman will
research the matter and report to the Board on procedures in other towns.
POLICY ON UNACCEPTED STREETS AND WAY RELATIVE TO BUILDING LOTS
The Board reviewed a draft of the Policy on Unaccepted Streets and Ways of
Inadequate Grade and Construction, prepared July 3, 1980, and "Suggested
Substitute Language" dated July 21, 1980. Further revisions were suggested to:
(1) tighten the section on the evidence required to show that an unaccepted,
way was in existence, (2) provide that a street or way shall exist within
the boundaries shown on a plan, (3) incorporate the language of the State law
relative to the installation of municipal services to serve land and (4) base
the requirement of paving, or not paving, solely on the grade of the road, and
not on the proximity to a public way. The Planning Director is to include these
revisions, and other input he may receive, and submit a final draft to the Board
for its first discussion meeting in September.
The meeting was adjourned at 10:58 p.m.
Laura F. Nichols, Clerk