HomeMy WebLinkAbout1984-03-05PLANNING BOARD MINUTES
MEETING OF MARCH 5, 1984
The meeting of the Lexington Planning Board, held in Room G-15, Town Offices, was
called to order at 7:42 p.m. by the Chairman, Mrs. Smith, with members Flemings,
Nichols, Sorensen, Uhrig and Planning Director Bowyer present.
38. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
The minutes of the meeting of February 3, 1984, were corrected and on the motion of
Mrs. Flemings, seconded by Mrs. Nichols, were approved, as corrected, by a vote of
4-0. Mrs. Smith abstained as she was not present at that meeting.
On the motion of Mr. Sorensen, seconded by Mrs. Nichols, the minutes of the meeting
of February 13, 1984, were approved unanimously as written.
On the motion of Mrs. Nichols, seconded by Mr. Sorensen, the minutes of the meeting
of February 27, 1984, were approved unanimously as written.
ADMINISTRATION OF LAND DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS
PLANS NOT REQUIRING SUBDIVISION APPROVAL
39. 124-128 Spring Street, Beal Company, Form A-84/4: It was agreed to take this
item, which had been placed on the table at the meeting of February 27, 1984, from
the table. Mr. Bowyer reported that Town Counsel advised that the Planning Board
should endorse the plan but should notify the owner -applicant and ,the Building Com-
missioner of potential zoning violations. On the motion of Mr. Sorensen, seconded
by Mrs. Nichols, it was voted unanimously:
That the plan entitled "Subdivision Plan of Land in Lexington, Mass.," dated
December 13, 1983, by Miller and Nylander Company, Lexington, Mass., certified
by Donald J. Forand, Registered Land Surveyor, with application Form A-84/4,
by Irwin Barkan, Beal and Company Inc., does not require approval under the
Subdivision Control Law.
SUBDIVISION OF LAND
40. Simonds Estates, Off Grove Street, Oscar Cormier; Amount of. Surety: The Board
was in receipt of a letter from Oscar Cormier, dated January 22, 1984, which
requested that the subdivision be considered in three phases and the amount of
surety be estimated for each of the three phases. The Board was also in receipt of
two memoranda from Francis Fields, Town Engineer, dated February 10, 1984, and
February 16, 1984, estimating that the amount of surety for each of the three
phases, including an estimate of the costs of meeting the requirements of the
Conservation Commission. On the motion of Mr. Sorensen, seconded by Mrs. Flemings,
it was voted unanimously to set the amount of surety needed for the construction of
ways and the installation of municipal services at: Phase I, Tidd Circle -
$143,000; Phase II, North Emerson Road - $40,500; Phase III, Mead Circle - $72,500
and a total of $256,000 for the entire subdivision.
41. Land off East Emerson Road, Theodore Freeman, Preliminary Plan: Mr. Bowyer
reported that Theodore L. Freeman, acting for Prescott Village Realty Trust, had
filed an application for approval of a preliminary plan for a subdivision of seven
lots off East Emerson Road.
Planning Board Minutes of March 5, 1984
42. APPLICATIONS TO THE BOARD OF APPEALS
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Mrs. Flemings presented an oral review of cases to be heard by the Board of Appeals
on March 8, 1984.
440 Bedford Street, Lexington Chalet Inc., SPS: As this addition adds only nine
rooms and will result in only an estimated seven additional cars in the peak hours,
it was agreed not to prepare a full SPS report. The applicants indicated they had
a $75,000 budget for landscaping, were aware of the proposed Bedford Street widen-
ing and would relocate trees, at their expense, if Bedford Street is widened in
conflict with their landscaping plan. Mr. Sorensen suggested that a "No Left Turn"
sign be posted at the exit drive; the applicants said that the State DPW has posted
such a sign. On the motion of Mr. Sorensen, seconded by Mrs. Uhrig, it was voted
unanimously to make a brief favorable recommendation in this case indicating that
the Board has reviewed the plan, believes it has a very modest impact, and supports
the landscaping improvements proposed by the applicant.
On the motion of Mr. Sorensen, seconded by Mrs. Nichols, it was voted unanimously
to make no comment on the following three cases:
7 Whittier Road, Michael Chow: SP, swimming pool
2 Springdale Road, Joseph Maggiore; SP, non -complying cabana
20 Worthen Road, Shawmut County Bank: SP, expansion of bank into existing
building
ARTICLES FOR 1984 TOWN MEETING
43. Article 18, Floor Area Ratio, CR: Mr. Sorensen suggested that the provision
excluding steep slopes from the computation of net developable site area be
deleted. He thought there was an inconsistency in not prohibiting construction on
steep slopes but prohibiting them from the calculation of permitted floor area. He
noted the Board had been enthusiastic about the design of the Nolan Norton develop-
ment but that project might have had problems with the steep slope requirement.
After an informal poll of the Board, it was agreed that provision would be deleted.
W. R. Grace Company had contended that an FAR of 0.35 was appropriate to permit W.
R. Grace to complete its master plan.
REPORTS
44. Planning Board Members, Subcommittees
a. Appreciation of Laura Nichols: This meeting concluded Laura Nichols,
five-year term on the Planning Board. Chairman Smith thanked Mrs. Nichols for
the extraordinary amount of work she had done during her term, the expert
knowledge of landscape design and construction she had contributed and for her
consistent effort to present a positive image for the Planning Board. On the
motion of Mrs. Flemings, seconded by Mrs. Uhrig, it was voted unanimously that
the Planning Board express its sincere appreciation to Laura Nichols for her
contributions to planning in Lexington.
Planning Board Minutes of March 5, 1984
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b. Franklin School Conversion: Mrs. Smith reported that the Franklin School
Conversion Committee had requested a recommendation from various Town boards
and committees. The item will be on the agenda for the next meeting.
c. Land Use Subcommittee: Mrs. -Nichols reported that the Center Revitaliza-
tion Committee Land Use Subcommittee was still working on a draft policy
statement and would meet next on March 14.
The meeting was adjourned at 9:12 p.m.
Judith Uhrig, Clerk