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Home My WebLink About1982-03-08Planning Board Meeting ,ye Minutes of March 8, 1982 4 6 5 L The meeting of the Lexington Planning Board, held in Room G-15, Town Offices, was called too der at 7:33 p.m., by the Chairman, Mr. Sandy, with members Nichols, Smith, Sorensen and Uhrig, Planning Director Bowyer and Assistant Planner Arslan present. 29. Election of Planning Board Officers Mrs. Smith stated that she thought it was important that the Chairmano, who would speak for the Board before the Town Meeting, should represent the point of view of the majority. Over the next several weeks, the Board will be vot- ing on recommendations on zoning articles. After those votes, it can be de - LO termined what the position of the majority is. On the motion of Mrs. Smith, N seconded by Mrs. Nichols, the Board voted unanimously to postpone the elec- 0 tion of officers until the meeting of March 22. m 30. APPLICATIONS TO BOARD OF APPEALS Q The Board reviewed a staff analysis dated March 5, 1982, on cases to be beard by the Board of Appeals on March 11, 1982: Land off Walnut Street, Adams -Russell Inc.. Variance, � hei ht; SP • transmitter: In addition to the points raised in the staff recommenda- tion,, it was agreed to request that the applicant indicate what other locations in town had been considered for the tower. On the motion of Mr.. Sandy, seconded by Mrs. Nichols, it was voted unanimously to recom- mend the special permit not be granted until the applicant demonstrates that the 250 foot tower is absolutely essential and that the potential environmental effects of it on the adjoining area have been assessed. 150 East Street, Doran's Greenhouses Inc.: SP, nursery:The Board agreed that more information about the proposed addition is needed and that Mrs. Smith, who is scheduled to attend the Board of Appeals hear- ing, could speak for the Board. II SUBDIVISION OF LAND 31. Land off Grove Street, Oscar Cormier: Mr. Sandy turned over the Chair j to Vice Chairman Sorensen and disqualified himself from discussion of the Cormier subdivision as he is an abuttor to it. The Board reviewed a letter . from Oscar Cormier, dated February 281 1982, requesting waivers from three provisions of the Subdivision Rules and Regulations. Mr. Bowyer commented that the Board could not take a formal vote on waivers because the definitive subdivision plan had not been submitted. After discussion, it was the con- sensus of the four members that the Board should approve a waiver of the width of pavement from 30 feet to 24 feet, a waiver from the fire alarm regu- lations, and a waiver from the requirement that trees six inches or more be identified on the site plan for those trees located outside the limit of work SII . I� Minutes of 3/8/82 2 46 3 area. Trees six inches or more within the limit of work area shall be iden- tified. Mr. Sorensen requested that the Board's desire for a pedestrian ease- aent from the road off Grove Street into the conservation area be restated. Mrs. Nichols agreed to take responsibility, which had previously been exer- cised by Iris Wheaton, for review of the subdivision. 32. ARTICLES FOR 1982 TOWN MEETING Mr. Sandy resumed the .Chair. LD Article 53, Muzzey School Conversion: on the assumption that the Board of N Selectmen selects a developer for the reuse of the Muzzey School and notifies ® the Planning Board, it was agreed to schedule a zoning hearing on either Q Thursday, April 1 (first choice) or Wednesday, March 31. Qm Article 57, Special Permits, Traffic Considerations: Mr. Bowyer reported that, in response to the comments about the need for "standards" to determine traffic impact, he had been working with the Engineering Department and DPW to develop objective, quantifiable, and generally recognized measures of traffic congestion. It was agreed that a procedure would be outlined and `discussed with the Board of Appeals prior to the article being presented. Article 59, Marrett Road near MinuteMan Schools The Board reviewed a pre- ' lyinary draft of a report. Points requiring further attention includes 1) a morespecificreference to traffic improvements that would permit a building permit to be issued; 2) making the building more subdued when viewed from the National Park; 3) clarification of the Planning Board's prior policy on the relationship of traffic to the development of this sites 4) the abili- ty of fire apparatus to reach the top of the building; and 5) clarification of what wetlands will be protected. The consensus of the Board was that it should unanimously support the rezoning of this land. Article 60, Marrett Road at Lincoln Street: Mrs. Nichols and.Mrs. Smith re- quested more information be obtained on: 1) the DPW and Engineering Depart- ent's analysis of traffic conditions and whether the proposed traffic plan: would improve the situation or not, and 2) the building which Dean Curtin mentioned as a candidate for rezoning if Article 60 were approved. The staff has requested to work on a recommendation. Article 61,'Hartwell Avenue and Wood Street: The Board continued its discus- sion of the fact that two of the four parcels within the proposed zoning dis- trict have no use designated. Mr. Bowyer commented that extensive work was needed on most of the articles, and this one in particular, to have an ade cuate CD site development and use plan. The staff was requested to work on a recommendation. Article 63, 64, Hayden Avenue Near Route 2 Ramp: The Board discussed ways of obtaining a commitment that the building under construction on the site would not be further expanded if parking were permitted on the area proposed to be rezoned. If there is to be a favorable recommendation on rezoning, Mr. Sor- ensen preferred the CR district; Mrs. Nichols, Mrs. Smith and Mrs. Uhrig would support either CR or CD; Mr. Sandy was opposed. It was agreed that the staff would work on a recommendation for the CR district. F�' Minutes of 3/8/82 3 461 Article 65, Waltham street near Lexington Center: In the public participa- tion part of the meeting, Chairman Sandy received and read a petition from the Belfry Hill Neighborhood Association opposed to the rezoning of the Spen- cer property and signed by 68 persons, and a letter from bon Olson of 30 For- est Street. The Board reviewed a draft of a recommendation and made a number of suggestions for changes. The consensus of the Board is to unanimously oppose the rezoning. REPORTS 33. Planning Director a. Telephone building$ 73 Waltham Street: Mr. Bowyer reported that he and the Town Manager had met witharepresentative of New England Telephone Company about a proposed addition at the rear of their central exchange building at 73 Waltham street. The telephone company will be installing a new electronic exchange to replace existing mechanical equipment. Mr. Bowyer reported that they had suggested several other alternatives for installing the new ex- change, which would not have required an extension into the rear of the lot. The telephone company representative had what appeared to be sound technical and economic reasons that dictated the exchange being in the place designated. b_. Willow Ridge Subdivision: Mr. Bowyer reported that a plan had been submitted to the Conservation Commission, but not to the Planning Department, for a subdivision of land covered by the former Willow Ridge subdivision. It was agreed that a member of the Planning Board would be appointed to have responsibility for the subdivision and to coordinate with the Conservation Commission. 34. Planning Board Members and Subcommittees a. Subcommittee on subdivision Rules and Regulations: Mr. Sandy dis- cussed the minutes of the subcommittee meeting of January 25, 1982 and suggested that the Board set up a public hearing for amendments to the subdivision Rules and Regulations. It was agreed to defer the matter until after the 1982 Town Meeting was over. b. Board of Appeals Hearings, February 25, 1982: Mr. Sandy reported on the Board of Appeals hearings noting that the Board of Appeals turned down the request of Peking Gardens for the removal of the re- striction on noontime use of the space downstairs. The Selectmen also took a position against removal of the restriction. c. Iris Wheaton: Mr. Sandy agreed to coordinate arrangements for a gift to former Planning Board member Iris Wheaton who is in Symmes Hospital. The meeting was adjourned at 10:52 p.m. /, c Karsten Sorensen, Clerk