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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1984-07-16PLANNING BOARD MINUTES MEETING OF JULY 16, 1984 The meeting of the Lexington Planning Board, held in Room G-15, Town Offices, was called to order at 7:37 p.m. by the Chairman, Mrs. Smith, with members Flemings, Uhrig, and Planning Director Bowyer present. Mr. Cripps and Mr. Sorensen were absent. SUBDIVISION OF LAND 152. Lincoln Hills, off Jean Road; Special Permit: The Board reviewed the draft of a decision on the special permit. It was agreed to change item three on the second page to specify peastone-gravel as the surface of the driveway. On the motion of Mrs. Uhrig, seconded by Mrs. Flemings, it was voted 3-0 to grant the special permit for the Lincoln Hills special permit and to approve the decision, as amended. 153. Ingleside, Final Release of Surety: The Board was in receipt of a memorandum from Francis X. Fields, Town Engineer, dated June 6, 1984 stating that the unac- ceptable drainage patch had now been corrected and recommending release of final surety. Mr. Bowyer reported the Town Counsel had orally approved the release of surety. On the motion of Mrs. Flemings, seconded by Mrs. Uhrig, it was voted 3-0 to release the surety, in the amount of $11,000, being held on the Ingleside sub- division. 154. Farmington Rise, Bow Street: It was agreed to hold the public hearing on the definitive plan and special permit on Wednesday, August 15 at 8:00 p.m. 155. Pheasant Brook Estates, between Maple and Woburn Streets: Angela Frick of the Conservation Commission reported that a poll of the members of the Commission acting on the subdivision plan thought that parcel A should be in Town ownership and that parcels B and C should be subject to conservation restrictions. Chester Kahn, of the Kahn -Quinn Group, said the plan would show a path around the pond on parcel A leading to the end of the right-of-way known as Snow Lane. There will be barriers, such as posts or boulders at the end of the lane to prevent vehicular access to the path around the pond. Access will be maintained to the houses which are serviced by the lane but Kahn -Quinn will not improve the lane, such as by more paving, except to clean brush. The Board discussed a number of potential street names. Mr. Bowyer reported that historical research had shown that Solomon Pierce and Nathan Fessenden, two Minute- men, had lived near this area. He reported on other names which historically have been associated with the area. It was agreed that the Board favored the following names for the streets, subject to review by the Police and Fire Departments: Road A -Munroe Meadows Drive Road B -Butterfield Road or Joseph Comee Road Road C -Nathan Fessenden Road or Fessenden Brook Drive Road D -Solomon Pierce Circle The meeting was recessed at 8:30 p.m. so that Mrs. Uhrig could meet with the Board of Selectmen about the proposed conference center at the Minuteman Vocational Technical School. The meeting was reconvened at 9:13 p.m. 1 Planning Board Minutes: July 16, 1984 2 The Board reviewed the draft of a certificate of action and special permit. It was agreed that the Board was not in favor of a permanent sign identifying the subdivi- sion at the entrances at Woburn Street and Maple Street. Mrs. Smith requested that her remarks, made at the public hearing about the Planning Board's interest in an RD rezoning for the land, be included in the special permit so that it was clear that the Planning Board had not voted to support higher density development on the land. 156. APPLICATIONS TO THE BOARD OF APPEALS The Board reviewed cases to be heard by the Board of Appeals on August 2, 1984. It was agreed to make no recommendation on the following case: 92-100 Hayden Avenue, Sprague Electric: SP, Sign. 1749 Mass. Ave, J & J Icecream: SP, Hours: With regard to the request by Steve's Ice Cream to extend operating hours until midnight, the Planning Board recommends that the same operating hours apply to each ice cream establishment in the center and that this request not be approved. 700 Waltham Street, John Carroll: SP, Public Service Use: While the character- istics of the present operation of the automobile junk yard may not be objection- able, the technique of referring to it as a public service use in granting a temporary special permit is a distortion of the zoning by-law. The Planning Board will restate the position it took in 1981 that the procedure is improper and an appropriate procedure for the use needs to be found. 9 Ward Street, Frank Compagnone: Appeal of Building Commissioner's Decision re Lots: The Board agreed to support the position taken by the Building Commissioner and the Town Counsel that lots 2-6, each of which has 25 feet of frontage, are one lot for zoning purposes. 10 Maguire Road, Itek: SPS: In a preliminary discussion of the proposed 155,000 square foot addition, it was agreed the development was too dense for the currently overtaxed street system. While the Board understood that a specialized piece of optical research equipment required an extraordinary height, it questioned why so much of the building had to be 70 feet high. Members requested that the staff calculate the floor area ratio for the development. The Board also wanted to include a current day disclaimer of the action of the 1960 Planning Board in endorsing Itek's master plan. REPORTS 157. Planning Board Members, Subcommittees a. Minuteman Conference Center: Mrs. Uhrig reported from her meeting with the Board of Selectmen earlier. Unbeknownst to the Town or to the Minuteman School Advisory Committee on which she serves, the Minuteman School district had filed legislation, which was enacted, which exempts the development of a hotel -conference center from local zoning. The Selectmen were very concerned about this lack of communication. Planning Board Minutes: July 16, 1984 3 b. Guidelines for Approval not Required Plans: Mrs. Smith said she had prepared a draft of a position paper on approval not required plans. She will distribute it to members of the Board, and other interested boards and departments. She suggested a target date of October 1984 for its adoption. The meeting was adjourned at 10:15 p.m. 45th/J. Uhrig, rk 1