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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1984-04-23PLANNING BOARD MINUTES MEETING OF APRIL 23, 1984 The meeting of the Lexington Planning Board, held in Room G-15, Town Offices, was called to order at 7:35 p.m. by the Chairman, Mrs. Smith, with members Cripps, Flemings, Sorensen, Uhrig and Planning Director Bowyer present. SUBDIVISION OF LAND 98. Lincoln Hills, off Jean Road, PUBLIC HEARING: At 7:35 p.m., Chairman Smith called to order a public hearing on a special permit for a conventional subdivi- sion. Mr. Bowyer explained that a definitive subdivision plan and a special permit had been approved in 1980 but the special permit had lapsed after two years with no action. Jeffrey Pechet stated he had purchased the property from Michael Saulich and there would be no change from the definitive subdivision plan approved in 1980 with one exception. Sewer connections will now be made from each of the two houses to the sewer constructed in 1983 in Jean Road rather than connecting across the land of Temple Isaiah to the sewer in Lincoln Street. Several residents from Jean Road were present and expressed concern about the restoration of Jean Road after any construction activity from the subdivision. Marshall Derby, representing Temple Isaiah, spoke in favor of the special permit. The hearing was closed at 8:07 p.m. and the Board took the application under advisement. ' 99. Maple Tree Village, off Maple Street, Landmark Associates, PUBLIC HEARING: The hearing on the application for approval of a definitive subdivision plan and a special permit for a conventional subdivision, which had been recessed since January 23, 1984, was reconvened at 8:12 p.m. Land surveyor Roger Corbin, repre- senting Landmark Associates, reported there had been a meeting with the State Department of Environmental Quality Engineering at the site and the State had determined the earlier filling of wetlands would not be a factor in this subdivi- sion plan. Corbin said the applicant wanted to work out a satisfactory arrangement with the Conservation Commission without relying on a State interpretation. The plan has reduced the size of the house on lot 4, reduced the size of the building site on lot 4 and does not involve any filling of wetlands. The retention area, which was designed to compensate for filling of 5,000 square feet of wetlands, is still in the plan. Thus, the retention area is overdesigned, as there no longer will be any filling, and should more than handle any run off from the construction of a new street or other impervious surfaces. The applicant will meet with the Conservation Commission on April 24 and may reach a final determination on the Order of Conditions. The Planning Board agreed to defer action on the subdivision until April 25 when, presumably, the Conservation Commission will have made its determination. Several residents were present. Sal Spignese questioned the effect of a fourth lot on the creek that passes through his lot. The hearing was closed at 8:34 p.m. Planning Board Minutes of April 23, 1984 2 100. Land off East Emerson Road, Theodore Freeman, Extension of Time: On the motion of Mr. Sorensen, seconded by Mr. Cripps, it was voted unanimously to approve the request for an extension of time for action on the preliminary plan until May 23, 1984, as contained in the letter from attorney Dennis R. Lowe, dated April 23, 1984. 101. APPLICATIONS TO THE BOARD OF APPEALS Mrs. Flemings presented an oral review of cases to be heard by the Board of Appeals on April 26, 1984. After discussion and on a motion by Mr. Sorensen, seconded by Mr. Cripps, it was voted unanimously to make no recommendation on the following cases: 10 Tower Road, Edwin Cox: SP, non -complying garage 49 Fletcher Avenue, Longley Corporation: Variance, rear yard setback 30 Hayes Lane, Longley Corporation: Variance, front and side yard setbacks 6 Myrna Road, Judie Gianturco: SP, non -complying swimming pool 84 Maple Street, Alan Thenen: SP, non -complying garage 231 Bedford Street, Carmen Lombardo: Variance, parking in a residential district: Mrs. Flemings noted a special permit granted by the Board of Appeals in September, 1983, authorizing a hairdresser salon at that location, specifically prohibited the parking in the residential district. Mr. Bowyer commented that since the new parking regulations in Section 11 of the By -Law have been adopted, and applicants have been on notice of those regulations, any plan should comply with the new Section 11. On the motion of Mr. Sorensen, seconded by Mrs. Flemings, it was voted 'IN4-0, with Mrs. Uhrig abstaining, to recommend against granting the variance. ARTICLES FOR 1984 TOWN MEETING Mrs. Uhrig left the meeting to attend a meeting with the Board of Selectmen on Hanscom Field matters. 102. Article 18, Floor Area Ratio, CR District: Mr. Bowyer explained there was an error in the report on Article 18 on the table showing the effect of development on certain intersections. There had been double counting in the existing traffic levels at five of the intersections. That understated the amount of the increase in traffic due to new development. Mrs. Smith and Mr. Bowyer commented on efforts to accommodate W. R. Grace's master plan. Other than amending the article to provide for a specific exemption for W. R. Grace, which would be of questionable legality, there did not appear to be a way to permit the floor area ratio for W. R. Grace to be increased from 0.25 to 0.35 without permitting a substantial increase in development throughout the CR dis- trict. 103. Article 24, 16 Hayden Avenue: Gregory Muzzy of Temple, Barker, and Sloane and land surveyor Roger Corbin were present to discuss the revised landscaping plan. A number of additional trees and shrubs are shown in an effort to screen the building and the parking lot. The Board suggested additional trees in the southeast corner of the site near Route 2, which would make the site plan acceptable. Mr. Bowyer reported additional information on traffic signals at the Waltham Street -Hayden Avenue intersection to which Temple, Barker, and Sloane had pledged $10,000 up until December 31, 1986. A very preliminary estimate of the cost of a traffic Planning Board Minutes of April 23, 1984 3 signal at that intersection is $35,000-$40,000. As the intersection is entirely within the State layout, providing the Town with $10,000 may not accomplish what is intended. After discussion, Mr. Muzzy agreed to modify the offer to be $10,000 for traffic improvements serving the South Lexington CR district, such as Hayden Avenue, Spring Street or Waltham Street and the offer would extend until December 31, 1991. Mr. Bowyer pointed out other parts of the site development and use plan dated February 6, 1984, that should be revised now that the new parking regulations in Section 11 of the Zoning By-law have been adopted. It was agreed that Mr. Corbin and Mr. Bowyer would collaborate on those. It was agreed that the Planning Board would prepare a favorable recommendation for the development if Article 18, the CR district floor area ratio, passes. If Article 18 does not pass as proposed, with a 0.25 F.A.R., the Planning Board will not recommend in favor of the CD rezoning. Mrs. Uhrig rejoined the meeting. 104. Report on Housing Policy Resolution: Mr. Bowyer noted that under a resolu- tion adopted by the 1979 Town Meeting, the Planning Board was required to make a report to the Town Meeting for every year through 1984 on the Town's progress toward achieving the goals set forth in the Housing Policy Plan as adopted by the 1979 Annual Town Meeting. He commented that there was very little to report on the acquisition of additional low income housing units. He suggested that the Planning Board file the required report but devote most of its attention to reporting on the ' housing analysis being prepared by the staff in conjunction with the Housing Needs Advisory Committee. He reported the Housing Needs Advisory Committee was consider- ing a brief presentation to the Town Meeting of the material in the housing analy- sis and conducting a questionnaire of Town Meeting Members. Additional details on that need to be worked out. COMPREHENSIVE PLANNING, POLICIES 105. Policy on Construction Standards for Unaccepted Streets: The Board reviewed recommended amendments to the policy, dated April 20, 1984. Mr. Bowyer explained that the policy called for the Engineering Department to inspect improvements made to unaccepted streets. Town Engineer Francis Fields is not in favor of that pro- cedure because it may imply an approval by the Town, or imply some type of "accep- tance" by the Town and may represent some liability for the Town. He suggested that the procedure be that a plan of the improvements be prepared by a registered professional engineer who would then be responsible for the supervision and certi- fication that the improvements were made in accordance with the plan approved by the Planning Board. Mr. Bowyer explained that the other proposed amendment dealt with setting up a procedure for a direct application to the Planning Board in addition to receiving applications by referral from the Building Commissioner. Corrections were made in the recommended amendments. On the motion of Mrs. Flemings, seconded by Mrs. Uhrig, the policy was amended as set forth in the "Recommended Amendments" as corrected. Planning Board Minutes of April 23, 1984 4 REPORTS 106. Planning Board Members, Subcommittees a. Hanscom Area: Mrs. Uhrig reported that at the meeting of the Board of Selectmen, which she attended earlier in the evening, there was a discussion of commuter lines at Hanscom Field and the need for an improved method of reviewing their potential impacts. She also reported that the Hanscom Area Traffic Study Working Committee would be working on a final draft of its reports at a meeting the next evening. A meeting with Secretary of Transpor- tation and Construction Frederick Salvucci is scheduled for May 15 in Esta - brook Hall. 107. Planning Director a. Subdivision off Bow Street: Mr. Bowyer reported that Mark Moore had met with him to discuss the development of a single family home subdivision on the Cataldo Farm off Bow Street. The meeting was adjourned at 10:12 p.m. 4udith J. Uhrig, Clerk 1 I'