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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1981-11-16L' MINUTES OF PLANNING BOARD MEETING November 16, 1981 The meeting of the Lexington Planning Board, held in Room G-15 Town Offices was called to order at 7:31 p.m. by the Chairman, M Sorensen, Wheaton, and Planning Director Bowyer a meeting of the Board of Selectmen and joined it started. 215. Approval of Minutes r. Sandy, with members Nichols, present. Mrs. Smith was attending the meeting about 15 minutes after The minutes of the meeting of November 2, 1981, were corrected and on a motion by Mr. Sorensen, seconded by Mrs. Nichols, were approved. as corrected by a vote of 4-0. DETERMINATION OF PLANNING BOARD APPROVAL 216. 55 Bow Street, Form A-81/14 The Board reviewed a plan of land of the Cataldo property at 55 Bow Street. On a motion by Mr. Sorensen, seconded by Mrs. Wheaton, it was voted unanimously: The plan entitled "Compiled Subdivision Plan of Land in Lexington, Mass.," dated May 21, 1981 and revised November 2, 1981, prepared by Miller and Nylander Company, surveyor of Lexington, Mass., certi- fied by Donald J. Forand, Registered Land Surveyor, with application form A-81/14, by Ralph D. Cataldo, does not require approval under the Subdivision Control Law. 217. Applications to the Board of Appeals 1403 Massachusetts Avenue, Adams -Russell Company: SP, TV Studio: William Page of the Town's Cable TV Committee was present to give further explana- tion about the proposed studio in the Monroe School. He said the Cable TV Committee and the Board of Selectmen had insisted that there be local access channels for the cable TV system and the proposed studio at Monroe School is primarily for local use. It will provide an opportunity for residents or officials of the Town to be involved in local TV programs. There will not be audiences at this location and there should not be more than 5-6 cars at the site at any one time. Antennas, production and switch gear will be located elsewhere, probably at the Metropolitan State Hospital. Mrs. Nichols commented that it sounded like an educational use. Mr. Sorensen expressed concern about the piecemeal disposition of the school building in the absence of any long range plan for its reuse. Mrs. Wheaton called attention tp Potential onfl ct wit hh the nin ggy-Law on conversion of municipal buildings 747 Ia� a�nr ree y l�ow� osg re�i�pnt al uses repair/welding: The Board anue os em orar reviewed a staff analysis dated November 13, 1981. On the motion of Mrs. Wheaton, seconded by Mrs. Sorensen, it was voted unanimously to indicate that the Planning Board had no objection to granting the temporary special permit as long as the conditions of the previous permit were included. SUBDIVISION OF LAND 218. Cataldo Subdivision, off Blossomcrest Street: Poll of Members on waivers: The Board reviewed a staff memorandum dated November 13, 1981, describing four waivers that are necessary for the approval for the Definitive Sub- division Plan. On a poll of the Board, none of the members was opposed tc 11/16/81 Page 2 granting waivers for a 40 -foot wide right-of-way instead of 50 feet, and a 24 - foot pavement width instead of the required 30 feet. Mrs. Nichols, Mrs. Smith, and Mr. Sorensen were not opposed to granting waivers for a dead-end street 920 feet from the intersection of Allen Street and Blossomcrest Road, and fire alarm circuits. Mr. Sandy and Mrs. Wheaton preferred to withhold judgement on the length of the dead-end street and both are opposed to granting a waiver for the fire alarm circuits. 219. Subdivision Streets Proposed for Acceptance at 1982 Town Meeting: The Board reviewed a staff memorandum dated November 13, 1981, indicating that three of the subdivision streets appear to be ready for acceptance and four others still have minor work to be completed and bonds outstanding. On the motion of Mrs. Wheaton, seconded by Mrs. Nichols, it was voted unanimously to take the matter from the table where it had been placed at the meeting of Novem- ber 2, 1981. On the motion of Mrs. Wheaton, seconded by Mr. Sorensen, it was voted unanimously to recommend to the Board of Selectmen that the follow- ing subdivision streets be submitted to the 1982 Annual Town Meeting for acceptance as Town ways: Carnegie Place 720 feet Circle Road 862 feet Malt Lane 290 feet POLICIES, COMPREHENSIVE PLANNING 220. Revision to Policy on Rezoning and Traffic, Bedford Street/Hartwell Avenue: ' The Board reviewed a revised draft of a suggested revision to the Planning Board policy on "Relationship Between Additional Traffic and the Rezoning of Land in the Bedford Street -Hartwell Avenue Area." Mrs. Wheaton and Mr. Sorensen indicated they were not in favor of the proposed graduated reduction in restrictions on parking related to the construction of traffic improvements in stages. They prefer that the policy remain as adopted in March, 1981. Mrs. Nichols, Mr. Sandy, and Mrs. Smith are willing to consider a change in the policy although Mr. Sandy objected to the proposed termina- tion of the policy in 1988. There was discussion as to how the policyshould be presented to the public at a meeting to be scheduled in the near future. The majority of the Board thought it appropriate to indicate the Planning Board is thinking of re- vising the policy along the lines suggested in the draft but has not made a final decision as yet. In detailed review of the policy, it was evident that additional editing is needed and the Planning Director was asked to work on the draft. 221. Policy on Including Low- and Moderate -Income Housing in New Higher Density Developments: Mr. Sandy moved, and after extensive discussion Mrs. Wheaton seconded, a motion to take from the table a motion which was made at the meeting of October 19, 1981, that the Planning Board reaffirm its previous policy. The vote on the motion to take from the table was 3-2, with Mrs. Nichols and Mrs. Smith opposed. 11/16/81 Page 3 Mrs. Wheaton argued that it was important to reaffirm the Planning Board's commitment to low- and moderate -income housing and to support the housing policy resolution adopted by the Town Meeting in 1978. Mrs. Nichols argued that it was not necessary to reaffirm the policy because it would remain in place unchanged. She favored modifying the policy to indicate alternative methods of implementing the policy in view of the changed climate of housing finance. Those alternatives have not been drafted as yet, so there is no need to vote at this time. Mr. Sandy stated he believed that devoting 20% of the units to low- and moderate -income housing was a minimum applicable to medium density developments, e.g., four dwelling units per acre in an RS district, two dwelling units per acre in an RO district. The percentage of units should be higher where the density of development in a new apartment complex is higher. The original motion, that the Planning Board reaffirm its previous policy that requires developers of increased density housing proposals to devote 20% of the total units for low- and moderate -income housing, was adopted by a vote of 3-0; Mrs. Nichols and Mrs. Smith abstained. In a related matter, Albert Zabin was present to discuss units which were supposed to be set aside for low- and moderate -income housing in the Potter Pond and Morrow Crossing developments. He informed the Board that the Board of Selectmen had voted to convene the Chairmen of the Board of Selectmen, the Planning Board and the Housing Authority to pursue this matter. Mrs. Smith observed that there were three questions that needed to be answered: 1) Have there been thorough negotiations with HUD? 2) Is HUD money reserved for the two developments or still available? 3) Is there a time limit specified in the special permit or the Memorandum of Understanding? On the motion of Mrs. Nichols, seconded by Mrs. Wheaton, it was voted unanimously to have the Chairman send a letter to the Board of Selectmen asking that Town Counsel be requested to identify the legal alternatives to carry out the Memorandum of Understanding which was the basis of the Town Meeting vote approving those two housing developments. ARTICLES FOR 1982 TOWN MEETING 222. Three -Year Term for Planning Board Members: The Chairman of the Board of Selectmen had requested a meeting to discuss inserting an article in the Warrant for the 1982 Town Meeting which would change the term of a Planning Board member from five years to three years. In the discussion that followed, Mr. Sandy suggested that the terms of the Board of Appeals, Planning Board and Housing Authority should be the same, whether three years or five years. Mrs. Wheaton said that perhaps there should be seven members on the Planning Board. Members questioned where the term of a Planning Board members is specified. Mr. Sorensen stated that the Board of Selectmen should define the problem. They seem to have some objective in seeking a change in the term and they should state what the objective is. It was agreed to inform the Board of Selectmen that the full Planning Board would be willing to meet on this subject on either November 23 or 30, or December 7. REPORTS 223. Reports by Members 223a. Meeting Schedule: It was agreed to meet on November 30 and December 7. 11/16/81 Page 4 223b. Street Light Policy: Mr. Sandy requested that a response be obtained from DPW about the construction of new street lights before a decision has to be made on the Blossomcrest and Cormier subdivisions. 223c. Hanscom Field: Mrs. Smith reported that the Board of Selectmen had agreed with her recommended response to the Environmental Notifica- tion Form for the Stead Aviation proposal. She said that further developments of that type on Hanscom Field had to be watched very carefully. 223d. Route 2 Realignment: Mrs. Smith reported on a letter from John Caswell, Lincoln's representative to the MAPC, urging that the MAPC endorse the so-called Northern Alignment, a relocation of Route 2. One effect of that plan would be to make Hanscom Field more accessible. The meeting adjourned at 11:36 p.m. Karsten Sorensen, Clerk