HomeMy WebLinkAbout1984-11-26PLANNING BOARD MINUTES
MEETING OF NOVEMBER 26, 1984
The meeting of the Lexington Planning Board, held in Room G-15, Town Offices, was
called to order at 7:07 p.m., by the Vice Chairman, Mr. Sorensen, with members
Cripps, Flemings, Uhrig and Planning Director Bowyer present. Mrs. Smith joined
the meeting during Item 232.
SUBDIVISION OF LAND
232. Pheasant Brook, Acceptance of Covenant: On the motion of Mrs. Flemings,
seconded by Mr. Cripps, it was voted 4-0 to approve the covenant executed by
Chester Kahn and Paul D. Quinn for the Kahn -Quinn Group Limited and by Ralph
Saunders for the Home Savings Bank, dated November 26, 1984, and to endorse by
the signature of the Planning Board members, the definitive subdivision plan
approved on July 23, 1984. The Planning Board members signed the sheets of the
plan that showed the subdivision in lots. On the motion of Mrs. Flemings,
seconded by Mr. Cripps, it was voted 4-0 to authorize the Planning Director to
sign the other sheets in the definitive subdivision plan in behalf of the Board.
On the motion of Mr. Cripps, seconded by Mrs. Uhrig, it was voted 4-0 to attach
an appendix to the Certificate of Action approved at the meeting of July 23,
1984, to show the changes in the names of the streets approved at the Planning
Board meeting of October 29, 1984.
ARTICLES FOR NOVEMBER 25 SPECIAL TOWN MEETING
' Mrs. Smith assumed the chair of the meeting.
233. Article 4-5, "Poor Farm": The Planning Board position will be that it
supports the construction of housing for retarded citizens. It is concerned
about the density on a lot with substandard frontage.
The Board will defer a decision on whether to support Article 4 or Article 5
until it hears the Board of Selectmen's presentation to the Town Meeting. If the
Board of Selectmen indicate support for this type of housing and identify a pro-
cedure which deals with the concerns of neighbors and development of a building
which is architecturally compatible with the neighborhood and provides for input
from Town boards and commissions, the Planning Board will support not rescinding
the authorization voted at the previous Town Meeting. Mr. Sorensen was concerned
about the "trust me" approach in which changes are made after the fact from ear-
lier representations. He thought Town boards should deliver on what was promised
to the Town Meeting; changes made after the fact can undermine the credibility of
the Town administration with the Town Meeting.
DETERMINATION OF GRADE AND CONSTRUCTION OF UNACCEPTED STREETS
234. Hazel Road: CUS 84/2, Map 88, Lot 35: Mr. Bowyer reported that the action
taken by a 2-1 vote at the meeting of November 19 conflicts with Paragraph 1.4 of
the "Procedural Rules of the Planning Board" which provides the concurring vote
of at least three members is required for any decision or action of the Board.
For the members who were absent from the November 19 meeting, Mr. Bowyer repeated
his report on Town Engineer Frank Fields' observation and recommendation, i.e.,
Planning Board Minutes: November 26, 1984
2
that a new street with that grade would not be acceptable but the proposed con-
struction would improve the existing conditions. Mr. Sorensen argued the Board
should abide by its policy - it had set a maximum grade at 10%; the proposed
grade is 15.7%, nearly 60% greater. Mrs. Smith commented that the Town had
foreclosed the applicant's options by installing the sanitary sewer, which made
it impractical and uneconomic to reduce the grade which would require relocating
the sewer to a lower elevation.
On the motion of Mr. Cripps, seconded by Mrs. Flemings, it was voted 4-1, with
Mr. Sorensen opposed, that:
1. In the opinion of the Planning Board, Hazel Road, insofar as it provides
frontage for Lot 35, as shown on Map 88, is not now of adequate grade and
construction. If the improvements identified on "Plan and Profile of Hazel
Road," dated October 22, 1984, prepared by Miller & Nylander Company, and
bearing the stamp of Francis D. DiPietro, Registered Professional Engineer,
are made and a written certification by Mr. DiPietro is submitted that the
improvements, as shown on the plan, have been completed, then Hazel Road,
insofar as it provides frontage for Lot 35 on Map 88, will be considered to
be of adequate grade and construction.
2. The section of Hazel Road shown on the plan shall be considered to be of
adequate grade and construction for a period of two years only from the time
of Mr. DiPietro's written certification that the improvements have been made
in conformity with the October 22, 1984 plan.
3. It is not desirable to have road construction occurring during the winter
months and the Planning Board would not object to the Building. Commissioner
issuing a building permit for the construction of a dwelling prior to the
construction of the road improvements provided no certificate of occupany is
issued until the improvements have been made and Mr. DiPietro's written
certification has been received.
4. This opinion is limited to the construction of the street only and should
not be interpreted as implying that the lot under consideration meets other tests
of the Zoning By -Law to qualify it as a building lot.
The meeting was adjourned at 7:57 p
Judith J. U4ig, Clerk