HomeMy WebLinkAbout1983-09-12PLANNING BOARD MINUTES
' MEETING OF SEPTEMBER 12, 1983
The meeting of the Lexington Planning Board held in Estabrook Hall, Cary Memorial
Hall, was called to order at 7:40 p.m. by the Chairman, Mrs. Smith, with members
Flemings, Nichols, Sorensen, Uhrig and Planning Director Bowyer present.
165. WILLOW RIDGE SUBDIVISION
Chairman Smith opened concurrent hearings on: 1) the application for approval of a
definitive subdivision plan and 2) the application for a special permit for a conven-
tional subdivision plan.
The hearing was closed at 9:46 p.m. Mrs. Smith informed the audience that the Plan-
ning Board would resume consideration of the Willow Ridge Subdivision at the meeting
of September 19, at 8:00 p.m. A more complete account of the public hearings is set
forth in the Board's decision on the special permit, attached to these minutes.
At 9:55 p.m. the Planning Board started its regular business meeting.
166. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
On the motion of Mr. Sorensen, seconded by Mrs. Flemings, the minutes of the meeting
of August 29, 1983 were approved unanimously as written.
' ARTICLES FOR 1984 TOWN MEETING
167. Waltham Street Land, RD Development, Paino Associates: The Board reviewed a
draft of a letter dated September. 12, 1983 outlining six reasons why the Board could
not make a favorable recommendation for a zoning amendment to the 1984 Town Meeting.
Mr. Sorensen suggested that the density, which he thought to be too high from a
political acceptability standpoint, be specifically identified in the letter. Mrs.
Uhrig noted there may be a conflict between the objective of affordable housing and
the numerical density of RD developments built recently. Others thought density had
to be evaluated with the plan for the development of the site and that comments on
the density were implicit in the section, Creativity of Site Plan. It was agreed not
to include a separate comment on the numerical density. On the motion of Mr. Soren-
sen, seconded by Mrs. Uhrig, it was voted unanimously to send the letter as written.
168. Projects for 1984 Town Meeting: Mr. Bowyer outlined two approaches to select-
ing work projects leading to articles to be presented to the 1984 Town Meeting. The
first, using the housing analysis as an example, showed the progression from analysis
to policy formulation to implementation, indicating suggested amendments to the
Zoning By -Law to implement housing policies. The other was a "wish list" based on
specific problems that have occurred throughout the year indicating places where the
By -Law needed to be amended.
He recommended that, whichever approach was followed, proposed amendments should fit
into a larger scheme for the organization of the By -Law. He explained a "suggested
reorganization of the Zoning By -Law" illustrating how the present sections 8, 9, and
10 could be reorganized. He stated that, from a technical point of view, the By -Law
had some good sections and others that were either antiquated or ineffective. He
Planning Board Minutes: September 12, 1983
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recommended that sections of the By -Law be amended, over the next several years, so
that the whole By -Law is up-to-date and is consistent with good contemporary zoning
practice.
After discussion, the Board agreed on the following priorities:
Work Program - Planning Activities:
Housing analysis, housing element of comprehensive plan, zoning
inclusionary policy
South Lexington
Center Business District
Projected Zoning Amendments:
Group One:
CB off-street parking (requested by Town Meeting)
Rewrite of parking section
CR, intensity of development re: trip generation
Group Two -- implements housing policy:
Cluster development
RD development
Group Three:
CR, Tracer Lane
Lot frontage
' Housekeeping amendments
Group Four -- Dependent upon Board member initiative
Lot width
Buffer strips
Deferred until subsequent years:
Standards for conversion of one family dwelling
SPS traffic capacity
Home occupation
Service stations (unless the Building Commissioner requests
earlier attention)
REPORTS
169. Planning Director
a. Denver Street, Emerald Street: Mr. Bowyer reported that within the past
month, on the paper street section of Denver Street and the paper right-of-
way section of Emerald Street, fill had been deposited for the construction
of a "road." For the purposes of obtaining a building permit, a person
cannot create a new unaccepted street. For zoning -building purposes, an
unaccepted street exists only under a "grandfather clause" status since
subdivision regulations were adopted in 1948. An applicant for a building
permit is required to produce evidence that the unaccepted street has been
' continuously in existence since 1948. In both the Emerald Street and Den-
ver Street cases, the Building Commissioner previously informed the parties
that they could not create a new road and qualify for a building permit.
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Planning Board Minutes: September 12, 1983
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In one case, gravel fill was placed on top on the top soil and would not
make an acceptable road even if it were a "grandfathered" unaccepted
street.
Mr. Bowyer reported that Katherine Molle objected to the classification of
a section of Emerald Street as a paper street which she thought would be an
impediment to their petition to the Town for the acceptance, and construc-
tion of it, as a public way. She said she was not interested in building a
new house but wanted to use the road as a second means of access for emer-
gency vehicles to reach elderly citizens on the presently dead end section
of Emerald Street. Mr. Bowyer thought it may be possible for property
owners to construct a private road in a common right-of-way for access pur-
poses but that would not change the status of land for zoning -building pur-
poses. He suggested, that in further discussion of this situation, there be
a distinction between a paper right-of-way for zoning -building purposes and
for the construction of a private road, assuming all other real estate
rights are satisfied.
170. Planning Board Members, Subcommittees
a. Board of Appeals Hearing: Mrs. Uhrig reported that the Board of Appeals
will require that Lexington Square (1666 Massachusetts Avenue) construct an
eight foot high fence across the full length of the property along the
zoning district line; that requirement differs from the conditions imposed
by the Historic Districts Commission. The Board of Appeals also specified
that for Putnam Pantry there be no take out window and that the store may
operate until 11:00 p.m.
The meeting was adjourned at 11:35 p.m.
udith J. Uhr' , Clerk