HomeMy WebLinkAbout1982-03-15459
Minutes of Planning Board Meeting
March 15, 1982
The meeting of the Lexington Planning Board, held in Room G-15, Town Offices,
was called to order 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.
LD 34. Approval of Minutes
N On motions of Mrs. Smith, seconded by Mrs. Nichols, the minutes of the meet
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0 ings of February 22 and March 8, 1982, were approved unanimously.
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m 35. Signatures for Registry of Deeds
QOn the motion of Mrs. Nichols, seconded by Mrs. Smith, it was voted unani-
mously to authorize Jehanne Arslan, Assistant Planner, to sign plans and docu-
ments when specifically authorized by a vote of the Board.
36. ARTICLES FOR 1982 TOWN MEETING
Article 57, Special Permits, Traffic Considerations: Mr. Bowyer explained
' that he had prepared a suggested procedure for the Board of Appeals to:
1) obtain recommendations from the Engineering and Public Works Departments,
2) require applicants for an SPS for buildings above a certain size to fur-
nish traffic.data; and 3) make a determination of the adequacy of the traffic
capacity of a road based on recognized national standards which are easily
quantifiable. Mrs. Smith reported that the suggested procedure had been dis-
cussed with the Board of Appeals at their meeting on March 11 and seethed to be
favorably received by them. It was agreed the suggested procedure would be
referenced in the Planning Board's report to the Town Meeting.
Checklist for Site Development and Use Plan: Mr. Bowyer discussed a draft of
a checklist for the site development and use plan in CD districts. It was
agreed that the checklist was a good idea and should be developed further.
Article 60, Marrett Road at Lincoln Street: The Board reviewed a memo dated
March 12, 1982, which outlined eight issues to be addressed for this rezoning.
Peter Kelley and Richard Perry, the proponents, and a group of 20-25 residents
from the neighborhood and Precinct 9 Town Meeting Members were present for the
discussion.
Mr. Bowyer reported on a meeting with Walter Tonaszuck, DPW Director, and
Peter Chalpin, acting Town Engineer, which concluded that the traffic in the
area was quite manageable. Neither the volume of traffic nor the number of
traffic accidents are that high relative to other intersections in Lexington.
Improvements to the intersection would not rank high on a priority list for
the expenditure of Town funds. The concept plan for traffic improvements pre-
pared by Norman Abend would represent a "distinct improvement".
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After extensive discussion in which there was considerable input from the
audience, a poll of the Board was taken which showed that Mrs. Nichols, Mrs.
Smith and Mrs. Uhrig favored the rezoning and Mr. Sandy and Mr. Sorensen op-
posed it. The staff was requested to draft a favorable report and to work on
certain special conditions to be included in the site development and use
plan.
Article 61, Hartwell Avenue and Wood Street: The Board reviewed a memo dated
March 12, 1982 outlining three issues that needed to be addressed on this pro-
posal. Roger Altreuter, of Spaulding and Slye, was present to clarify the
staging of the development. Spaulding and Slye has options to buy four par-
cels of land. Buildings are proposed on the first two lots. A building will
be proposed on lot 3 which will include land that runs to Wood Street, not all
of which is in the area proposed to be rezoned. The development of lot 3 will
require additional action by the Town Meeting at a later stage. Members agreed
that the Planning Board's report should be clear that the analysis and recom-
mendation is based on a development with two buildings, that there is no pre-
sumption of approval of subsequent development, that subsequent development
should be evaluated on its own merits at the time it is proposed, and that the
applicants understand the implications of a staging plana
It was agreed that a limitation on the use of 758 of the parking spaces for
building #1 during the a.m. peak hour was acceptable. The policy adopted by
the Board on November 30, 1981, and suspended by vote of the Board at the
meeting of December 21, 1981, should be reconsidered with a limitation on use
of parking spaces set at 75%. It was further agreed that the "trigger mechan-
ism" to permit the construction of building #2 to proceed should be tied to
the traffic level of service in the design approved by the Town for the Hart-
well Avenue -Bedford Street intersection.
In a poll of the Board, Mrs. Nichols, Mrs. Smith, Mr. Sorensen and Mrs. Uhrig
favored supporting the article with the changes discussed at this meeting. Mr.
Sandy was opposed unless tighter controls are placed on lot C and unless spe-
cific traffic improvement are referenced in the trigger mechanism for building
#r2.
Housing Report for Town Meeting: It was agreed to place this item on the
agenda, for discussion, for the meeting of March 22.
REPORTS
37. Planning Board Members and Subcommittees.
a. Board of Appeals Hearings, March ll, 1982: Mrs. Smith reported on
the Board of•Appeals hearings noting that there was some additional
information presented at the hearing on the cable TV antenna off
Walnut Street. The Board of Appeals approved the variance and spe-
cial permit, in part on the reasoning that there would probably be
neighborhood opposition everywhere in Town to the erection of an an-
tenna of that size.
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b. Cormier Subdivision: It was agreed to inform Mr. Cormier that the
existing pavement width of North Emerson Road is 30'. The Board
would like that pavement width maintained into the cul-de-sac and,
therefore, would not be disposed to grant a waiver to a 24' pavement
for that cul-de-sac.
The meeting was adjourned at 10:55 p.m.
Karsten Sorensen, clerk