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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1983-06-06F I I 1I PLANNING BOARD MINUTES MEETING OF JUNE 6, 1983 The meeting of the Lexington Planning Board, held in Room G-15, Town Offices, was called to order at 7:38 p.m. by the Chairman, Mrs. Smith, with members Flemings, Sorensen, Uhrig and Planning Director Bowyer present. Mrs. Nichols was absent. 107. APPROVAL OF MINUTES On the motion of Mrs. Flemings, seconded by Mr. Sorensen, the minutes of the meetings of April 19, May 2, May 4, May 9, May 10, May ll, May 18 and May 23 were approved unanimously as written. PLANS NOT REQUIRING SUBDIVISION APPROVAL 108. Pelham Road, Sister Mary Sears, S.G.M., Form A-83/3 The Board reviewed a plan, dated March 31, 1983, of part of the Gray Nuns' prop— erty off Pelham Road. There was confusion as to what the plan sought to accomp- lish. Mr. Sorensen observed that what the plan actually showed was the creation of a Lot 2 with only 58 feet of frontage. On the motion of Mr. Sorensen, seconded by Mrs. Uhrig, it was voted unanimously to disapprove the proposed plan because it would create a lot with insufficient frontage. SUBDIVISION OF LAND 109. Battleview, off Young Street: Release of Surety The.Board was in receipt of a letter from Philip C. Heidke, dated May 17, 1983, requesting release of surety, and a memorandum from Francis X. Fields, Town Engineer, dated June 3, 1983, indicating all work had been completed to his satisfaction and recommending final release of the surety. On the motion of Mr. Sorensen, seconded by Mrs. Flemings, it was voted unanimously to release all surety held on the Battleview Subdivision. 110. APPLICATIONS TO THE BOARD OF APPEALS 10 Maguire Road, ITEK Optical Division, SPS: As members had not received the draft copy of the report, Mr. Bowyer explained the major features of the proposal. The traffic impact of the proposed development had previously been included in the SPS report for 85 Hartwell Avenue. It was agreed to take the same position, relative to traffic, on the ITEK SPS as had been taken on the 85 Hartwell Avenue and Kiln Brook V SPS's. Mr. Bowyer gave an oral report on four applications to be heard by the Board of Appeals on June 9, 1983. For the petition for a variance from the lot frontage requirement on a lot adjacent to 72 Lowell Street, Mr_ Sorensen commented the "hardship" was self-imposed because the insufficient frontage was created by an earlier approved Form A subdivision. He recommended the Board make the same recommendation that it had two years earlier when the case was previously before the Board of Appeals. 1 Planning Board Minutes of June 6, 1983 -2- The Board agreed to make no recommendation on the following cases: 1 Field Road, Nancy Seasholesc SP, maintain dwelling 14 Peachtree Road, Perry Rollins: SP, pool 128 Adams Street, Judith Kohn: Variance, side yard Lot 2C, Lowell Street, Aldred Busa: Variance, frontage The Board discussed staff time spent on the preparation of the analyses of Board of Appeals cases. Mr. Bowyer said that while he attempts to minimize the time spent on routine Board of Appeals cases, each hour spent on them is an hour not spent on planning projects. In view of the time that needs to be spent on South Lexington, the housing report, and the center business district study, he could not justify spending staff time on routine Board of Appeals - cases. Mr. Sorensen thought it was important to review the cases because they often point up problems with the Zoning By-law and because someone hag to pro- tect the Town's interest. Mrs. Smith asked each member of the Board to think about a procedure whereby the cases could be reviewed without requiring staff: time. ZONING BY-LAW 111. Guidelines for Lot Combination: The Board reviewed a memorandum from Town Counsel dated May 4, 1983, relative to proposed guidelines for lot combinations. The issue.is when two substandard, non -conforming lots should be treated as having been combined into a single, enlarged lot. Mr. Sorensen suggested that only accessory structures large enough to require a building permit be subject to the proposed guidelines. The staff was requested to inquire of the Building Depart- ment the maximum size of the structure before a building permit is required. Mrs. Uhrig thought the guidelines should be more restrictive because virtually any structure on an adjoining lot is accessory to the principal residence; if it weren't accessory, it wouldn't be put there otherwise_ The Board agreed on the following changes on the proposed guidelines set forth in the memorandum from Steven Anderson to Norman Cohen dated April 4, 1983. In Item 3 a., to read "construction of a single residence on a portion of both lots or within the required sideline setback of either lot. COMPREHENSIVE PLANNING, POLICIES 112. North Lexington Traffic Improvements: DPW Director Walter Tonaszuck and Town Engineer Francis Fields were present to provide the Board with a status report of the proposed reconstruction of Hartwell Avenue -Bedford Street and Route 2A-Marrett Road. They showed recent versions of the road improvements which result from a number of meetings with residents, industry representatives, and state and federal officials. Mr. Tonaszuck commented that they have had a diffi- cult time getting the new state administration to focus on the project. They've been unsuccessful in arranging a meeting to show the latest plans. Federal officials will not review the project until it appears on the state's priority list of urban systems projects. Planning Board Minutes of June 6, 1983 -3- 113. Additional Commercial Development, South Lexington: It was agreed the staff should rework the draft now that the Beal development has been approved. The five tables of data should be appended to the revised draft. An executive summary should also be prepared. Chairman Smith expressed a degree of urgency about the South Lexington study and asked that Mr. Bowyer provide a schedule for the work.to be completed this summer_ COMMUNICATIONS 114. MIFA, East Village Nursing Home: The Board reviewed_a letter dated May 31, 1983 from the Massachusetts Industrial Finance Agency about the proposed issuance of industrial revenue bonds for the acquisition of the East Village Nursing Home. Section 1.2 (2) of Chapter 40D requires that MIFA consult with the Planning Board to ascertain the relationship of the proposed project to local plans. Members agreed insufficient information was provided by the agency. it was agreed to send a letter stating that using tax exempt financing to acquire an existing nursing - home appears to be a misuse of a program directed at industrial development. No plans for expansion have been submitted to the Town and the Board thought it in- appropriate to be entertaining an application when it is not known that the pro- posed expansion would be approved by the Town. 115. Housing Authority, Lot #6, "Poor Farm": The Board reviewed a letter addressed to the Board of Selectmen from the Housing Authority dated May 19, 1983 expressing an interest in the acquisition of Lot #6 of the "Poor Farm" land, located near the corner of Hill Street and Cedar Street. It was decided ' not to comment on this request until it has progressed further in discussion between the Board of Selectmen and the Housing Authority. 116. Hanscom Field Housing: The Board reviewed a letter from Colonel Jerry Records, Base Commander, Hanscom Air Force Base, dated April 29, 1983, relative to the inability of Air Force personnel to find suitable housing in adjoining communities and a proposed request for authorization for 100 additional housing units on the base. Members thought there would be less traffic impact around the air base if there were more housing on the base. It was agreed a letter should be sent to Colonel Records indicating the difficulty of constructing housing for Air Force personnel within Lexington and supporting the construc- tion of additional housing on the air base. REPORTS 117. Planning Director a. Frasca Property, Waltham Street: Mr. Bowyer reported that a man had purchased the Frasca property off Waltham Street adjacent to the Waltham city line and expressed an interest in constructing an apartment develop- ment. b. Unaccepted Streets: Mr. Bowyer suggested that, in addition to making determinations on the construction of unaccepted streets on referral from , the Building Commissioner, the Board entertain such requests directly. ' As time of both the Planning Department and the Engineering Department is needed to review such determinations, he suggested they be limited to those for which engineering data is submitted by the applicant and that a fee be charged for the determinations. The Board decided to giv6 the matter fur- ther thought. Planning Board Minutes of June 6, 1983 -4- 118. Planning Board Members a. HATS: Mrs. Uhrig reported the Central Transportation Planning Staff will be conducting a study this summer for the Hanscom Area Traffic Study. The meeting was adjourned at 11:03 p.m. udith J. ig, Clerk