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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1982-02-22469 Planning Board Meeting Minutes of February 22, 1982 The meeting of the Lexington Planning Board, held in Room G-15, Town Offices, was called to order at 7:37 p.m. by the Chairman, Mr. Sandy, with members Smith, Sorensen, Wheaton, Planning Director Bowyer and Assistant Planner Arslan present. Mrs. Nichols joined the meeting. during discussion of Item 27. Mrs. Wheaton was present for discussion of Item 26 and then left the meeting. 24. Approval of Minutes On the motion of Mr. Sorensen, seconded by Mrs. Smith, the minutes of the meet- ing of February 8, 1982, were approved by a vote of 3-0. Q Q DETERMINATION OF PLANNING BOARD APPROVAL m Q 25. Massachusetts Avenue and Pleasant Street, Form A 82/1 The Board reviewed a plan of the Wilson Farm property at Pleasant Street and Massachusetts Avenue which involves the removal of the lot line for property on Massachusetts Avenue and the joining of that lot into the larger farm property. On a motion by Mr. Sorensen, seconded by Mrs. Smith, it was voted 3-0: The plan entitled "Compiled Plan of Land in Lexington, Mass.", dated ' February 16, 1982, by Miller and Nylander Company, surveyor of Lexington, Mass., certified by Donald J. Forand, registered land surveyor, with appli- cation Form A-82/1, by Donald D. Wilson, does not require approval under the subdivision control law. APPLICATIONS TO BOARD OF APPEALS Land off Grove Street, Oscar Cormier, SP, Cluster Subdivision: Mr. Sandy turned over the chair to Vice Chairman Sorensen and disqualified himself from discus- sion of the Cormier subdivision as he is an abuttor to it. Ms. Arslan presented an analysis of the site which showed that the proposed development works counter to, and destroys, many of the existing natural features of the site. Extensive regrading is proposed and there will be steep slopes created both in cut and in fill. Mr. Bowyer commented that the most likely way to remedy these problems would be a new design concept which would probably result in a reduction in the number of potential building lots. The applicant has also not provided informa- tion requested after the approval of the preliminary subdivision plan. Members thought it was unreasonable to require development of a new design con- cept after the preliminary subdivision plan had been approved by the Board. The developer should comply with the requests made by the Board and submit a plan to the Board of Appeals which the Planning Board can approve as a definitive sub- division plan. ARTICLES FOR 1982 TOWN MEETING Article 62, DeVincent Land, off Waltham Street: Mr. Sandy resumed the Chair. John Crowe, a member of the Design Advisory Committee, reported his observations on the proposed development plan. The plan is not sensitive to existing site r ZZ jGP_ Planning Board Meeting 2 Minutes of 2pit I conditions, requires a substantial amount of grading with numerous cuts and fills, numerous retaining walls, and both vertical and horizontal curves on the proposed street that would not comply with the standards of the subdivision rules and regulations. He noted that all buildings except two require steps for entrance from the road, there are numerous retaining walls, -some at least eleven feet high, and fill placed in the flood plane. There is a conflict as to whether the street could function as a potential public street and serve as a driveway for the condominium. In response to Mr. Sandy's question as to whether the density was too high, Mr. Crowe said the type of structure (town houses) and LO their placement was more of a factor than simply the number of dwelling units. N The consensus of the Board is that the staff should prepare an adverse report. 0 In addition to the points raised by Mr. Crowe, it should also be mentioned that Q the proposed site for the Housing Authority is counted both as open space and as m a housing site, and that space will be needed for a retention pond, which is not shown in the plan. Q Article 61, Cosgrove Land, Hartwell Avenue: Mrs. Smith expressed doubt as to why four "lots" are shown on the plan, two of them having no proposed develop- ment. It was agreed there should be clarification as to whether future develop - went on those "lots" is proposed or not. Mr. Sand discussed a memorandum dated February 15 1982 which he had re ared, Y rY p P and advocated that the "trigger" conditions for starting building #2 be tied to specific improvements contained in the North Lexington Traffic Improvements Plan. Mrs. Nichols, Mrs. Smith and Mr. Sorensen disagreed and thought that the "trigger" conditions should be tied to the overall improvement of the program rather than specific detailed components of it. REPORTS 28. Planning Board Members March meeting schedule -- It was agreed to schedule regular business meetings on March 8, 15, 22, and 29. The meeting was recessed at 9:33 p.m. so that the Board could attend a meeting of the Board of Selectmen on the parking program in Lexington center. By subse- quent agreement of the members, the meeting was not reconvened and the Board stood adjourned. Karsten Sorensen, Clerk