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Home My WebLink About1985-02-191 1 PLANNING BOARD MINUTES MEETING OF FEBRUARY 19, 1985 The meeting of the Lexington Planning Board, held in the auditorium of Jonas Clarke Junior High School, was called to order at 7:37 p.m by the Chairman, Mrs. Smith, with members Cripps, Flemings, Sorensen, Uhrig, Planning Director Bowyer and Assistant Planner Davidson present. PUBLIC HEARING ON PROPOSED ZONING AMENDMENTS The Board conducted a public hearing, as required by Chapter 40A, on the follow- ing proposed amendments to the Zoning By -Law: Article 18, 917 Waltham Street, CD, Nicholas Cannalonga Franklin School Conversion, GBCD, Section 9.3 Article 19, 16 Hayden Avenue, CD, Temple, Barker & Sloane The hearings were concluded at 10:37 p.m. and the Board recessed at that time. The Board reconvened at 10:42 p.m. 46. APPLICATIONS TO THE BOARD OF APPEALS Mr. Cripps presented an oral review of cases to be heard by the Board of Appeals on February 28, 1985. It was agreed the Board would make no recommendation on the following case: 31 Chase Avenue, Elaine Sullivan: SP, non -complying dwelling: The Board would comment that it was pleased to see a certified plot plan had been submitted. 22 Muzzey Street, Daniel Yuill: SP, conversion of one -family dwelling: The proposed conversion would conform to the Planning Board's proposed amendment to this section (Article 12) except that the lot area is only 12,500 square feet rather than 15,500. The Board thought this application may be a worthwhile exception to that standard because of its location abutting the boundary to the CB district. On the motion of Mrs. Flemings, seconded by Mr. Cripps, it was voted unanimously to recommend in favor of granting the special permit. 197 Massachusetts Avenue, Richard Vasapoli: SP, karate school: On the motion of Mr. Cripps, seconded by Mrs. Flemings, it was voted unanimously to make no recom- mendation on this application. 2 Wallis Court, Wallis Court Associates: Variances, parking requirements: The Board reviewed a draft of a recommendation and made a number of editorial changes. On the motion of Mr. Sorensen, seconded by Mrs. Uhrig, it was voted unanimously to oppose the granting of the variances and to approve the report as corrected. ARTICLES FOR 1985 TOWN MEETING 47. Article 20, Woburn Street, RD: Mr. Bowyer reported that a letter had been received from Harris Cohen, 20 Peachtree Road, questioning the legitimacy of the public hearing on this rezoning proposal because the required information had not been submitted and available for inspection in the Planning Board office. Mr. Planning Board Minutes: February 19, 1985 2 Bowyer reported he had discussed the issue raised by Mr. Cohen with Steven Ander- son of Palmer and Dodge who will research the question further. He had written a letter to Peter Kelley urging him to submit all missing material by February 21, when the notice of the continued hearing will appear in the Minuteman. Mr. Bowyer was uncertain as to the legal questions raised by Mr. Cohen but was clear that the applicants were not complying with the Planning Board's policy and procedures for RD rezoning petitions. By a poll of the Board, it was agreed that if the missing materials are not submitted by February 21, the Board will make a negative recommendation to the Town Meeting. Mr. Bowyer was instructed to inform Mr. Kelley of that position. REPORTS 48. Planning Board Members, Subcommittees a. Student Government Day: Mrs. Smith reported that five high school students will be acting as Planning Board members on Student Government Day on April 10. The Board will meet with the five students sometime in mid- March. It was suggested that they be given a zoning article to work on as representative of the Planning Board's work. They should be invited to a Planning Board public hearing as well. b. Grassland Street Development: Mrs. Smith reported on a proposal that has been submitted to the Conservation Commission for the development of nine ' existing lots on Grassland Street, eight of which have about 50 feet of frontage. The lots are long and narrow; the part nearest the street is wetland and the part farthest away is higher land on which eight new houses are proposed to be constructed in addition to the one existing house. One gravel access drive is proposed to serve the nine houses. The drive would be T-shaped and would not comply with the standards for street construction in the Subdivision Rules and Regulations. Mr. Bowyer reported that he had discussed the proposal with Conservation Administrator Charles Wyman and said it did not appear the Zoning By-law covered this type of situation. It is not a subdivision as these are pre- existing, non -conforming lots. Mrs. Smith said she had asked Steven Anderson of Palmer and Dodge to research this proposal. The questions include: 1) is workable, physical access impli- cit in the requirement for lot frontage? and 2) is the presence of wetlands, which prohibits construction of driveways to dwellings, a physical impediment that should be considered in determining workable access for frontage? It was agreed the Board should pursue these issues as the proposed development of nine houses should be subject to the same type of standards as several subdivisions, of 3-5 dwellings, which have been before the Planning Board in the last few years. The meeting was adjourned at 11:25 p.m. CJudith J. Uhrig, Clerk PLANNING BOARD MINUTES MEETING OF FEBRUARY 25, 1985 The meeting of the Lexington Planning Board, held in the auditorium of Jonas Clarke Junior High School, was called to order at 7:38 p.m. by the Chairman, Mrs. Smith, with members Flemings, Sorensen, Uhrig and Planning Director Bowyer pres- ent. Mr. Cripps was absent. PUBLIC HEARING ON PROPOSED ZONING AMENDMENT The Board conducted a public hearing, as required by Chapter 40A, on the follow- ing proposed amendment to the Zoning By-law: Article 11, Planned Residential Development The hearing was adjourned at 9:55 p.m. to be reconvened on Monday, March 18, in Cary Hall. The Board recessed. The Board reconvened at 9:58 p.m. COMPREHENSIVE PLANNING, POLICIES 49. Inclusionary Housing Policy: Acting Chairperson Eleanor Klauminzer, Joel Adler, William Hays, Ruth Nablo and William Spencer of the Housing Needs Advisory Committee were present for a continuation of the review of the draft of the housing element of the Comprehensive Plan. The discussion focused on a section called "Inclusionary Housing Policy" and a draft dated February 8, 1985. It was agreed to have Policy 1.2, Compensatory Benefit, appear as a proposal for study and not as a policy. It was agreed to consider middle income households only as purchasers of affordable housing and not to consider them as renters because they could afford to pay between $975 and $1,200 per month for rent, which is about the market rate for rentals in this area. It was agreed to: a) include in some policy a preference for affordable family housing units, b) show the financial contribution to LE%HAB or LRA in lieu of providing units as a last choice after efforts to construct units have failed, c) to require a greater commitment at the Town Meeting stage in Policy 1.7, and d) to have the Town assume responsibility for monitoring affordable housing. The staff will incorporate these comments into a revised draft. PLANS NOT REQUIRING SUBDIVISION APPROVAL 50. Castle Road, Clare Reed: The Board reviewed a plan showing the division of Lot 11 into two lots, each of which is to be joined with an abutting lot. As the abutting lots are not shown on the plan, the Board will not act on the plan until the abutting lots are shown in their entirety. This plan is to be considered an informal submission. 51. APPROVAL OF MINUTES A number of typographical errors and editing changes were noted in minutes. On the motion of Mrs. Fleming, seconded by Mrs. Uhrig, the minutes of the meetings of January 14, 21, 28 and February 4, 11, 13 and 19 were approval, as corrected. PIANNING BOARD MINUTES: FEBRUARY 25, 1985 2 REPORTS 52. Planning Board Members, Subcommittee a. Fair Housing Resolution: Mr. Spencer reported on Article 8, which calls for changes in the Fair Housig Resolution approved by the Town Meeting in 1981. He said the proponents of the resolution have a technical point that the Housing Policy Plan of 1979 expired after five years. It was agreed the Planning Board and the Housing Needs Advisory Committee would attempt to meet with the Board of Selectmen on this matter. b. HNAC: Mrs. Klauminzer reported that the Housing Needs Advisory Commit- tee had been approached by several developers seeking zoning amendments to the RD district. She inquired whether the Board thought it was proper for the HNAC to meet with them independently of the Planning Board. It was agreed that it was proper for them to do so. The meeting was adjourned at 11:35 p.m. Judith J. Uhffg, Clerk (� 1 1