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