HomeMy WebLinkAbout1985-03-21PLANNING BOARD MINUTES
MEETING OF MARCH 21, 1985
The meeting of the Lexington Planning Board, held in Room 111, Town Offices, was
called to order at 7:37 a.m. by the Chairman, Mrs. Smith, with members Cripps,
Flemings, Sorensen, Uhrig and Planning Director Bowyer present.
ARTICLES FOR 1985 TOWN MEETING
85. Article 13, FAR, CM, CH Districts: Mr. Bowyer reported that the analysis of
the site development characteristics was nearly completed. He had data on the
aggregate floor area ratio for the CM and the two CH districts. The remaining
task, identifying all private lots with development potential remaining, is
important. That is a more accurate indicator of future growth potential than the
aggregate total for the district.
Mr. Sorensen suggested the Board recommend a floor area ratio of 0.25 for both
the CH and CM districts. He based this recommendation on the dimensional stand-
ards in the two districts and his observations of a number of buildings whose FAR
was 0.25 or less.
The Board made a preliminary review of a draft of the report on this article
dated March 14, 1985. Editorial changes were suggested.
It was agreed to try to make a decision and issue a report on both articles 11
and 13 by Wednesday, March 27.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:04 a.m.
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K�Judith J. UhnYg, Clerk
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PLANNING BOARD MINUTES
MEETING OF MARCH 25, 1985
The meeting of the Lexington Planning Board, held in Room G-15, Town Offices, was
called to order at 7:09 p.m. by the Chairman, Mrs. Smith, with members Cripps,
Flemings, Sorensen, "rig and Planning Director Bowyer present.
ARTICLES FOR 1985 TOWN MEETING
86. Article 11, Planned Residential Development: On the motion of Mrs. Uhrig,
seconded by Mr. Cripps, it was voted 4-1, with Mr. Sorensen opposed, to recommend
that Town Meeting adopt the proposed amendment and to approve the report as
written.
87. Article 13, FAR, CM, CH Districts: The Board had the final analysis from
the Planning Department. Mrs. Uhrig, who is responsible for presenting the
article, said the 0.20 FAR for the CM district seemed the most defensible. Mr.
Sorensen proposed that the Board recommend 0.25 for all three districts. Mrs.
Uhrig said she would have trouble defending a 0.25 FAR because it permitted a 45%
increase in a district that is already saturated with traffic. Mr. Cripps and
Mrs. Smith agreed with the 0.20. Mrs. Flemings said she preferred 0.25 but would
support 0.20.
On the motion of Mrs. Uhrig, seconded by Mr. Cripps, it was voted unanimously to
recommend that the FAR for the CM district be 0.20. On the motion of Mr. Cripps,
seconded by Mr. Sorensen, it was voted unanimously to recommend that the FAR for
the CH district be 0.25.
88. Article 8, Housing Resolution: The Board of Selectmen has requested to meet
with the Planning Board to discuss the proposed resolution that would place
greater emphasis on housing for Lexington residents and to direct the Board of
Selectmen to revise the policy. There was general agreement that the housing
resolutions adopted by the Town Meeting in 1979 and in 1981 did not need revision
and the Town did not need a third housing policy. The Planning Board will con-
tinue to report to Town Meeting on progress on meeting goals for low and moderate
income housing even though the requirement to report expired in 1984.
89. Article 20, RD, 188 Lowell Street: Mrs. Smith read a letter from William
McDevitt saying McNeill and Associates has decided to indefinitely postpone
Article 20.
90. Article 21, RD, Woburn Street (discussed after the recess): There was a
general discussion of the position to take on this article. Mre. Smith said she
was willing to be positive. Mrs. Uhrig did not want to recommend in favor of a
plan which might differ significantly from what the Planning Board was proposing
in its planned residential development amendment. She realized that the devel-
oper was not legally bound to the proposed amendment but since the proposed
amendment represented the Planning Board's best thinking, it would be difficult
to support a proposal that was not generally compatible with it. She noted that
the revisions prepared by landscape architect Gary Larson appeared to make the
proposal conform to proposed Article 11. Mrs. Flemings was in favor and Mr.
Sorensen was opposed.
Planning Board Minutes: March 25, 1985 2
Mr. Cripps said there had been charges by residents of the area that he had a
conflict of interest in this development. Both Peter Kelley and Richard Perry
are neighbors of his and he has had some minor business dealings with them. He
does not have any business dealings now. He has discussed the situation with
Town Counsel, whose initial verbal response was that there was not a conflict of
interest. Town Counsel will research the question further and give Mr. Cripps an
opinion on this question.
The staff was requested to prepare a report with a favorable recommendation.
91. Article 23, Franklin School Conversion: The Board reviewed a draft of a
letter to be written from the Chairman to the Executive Director of the Greater
Boston Community Development Corporation in support of their application to MHFA
for SHARP funds. It was agreed to send the letter as written.
92. APPLICATIONS TO THE BOARD OF APPEALS •
The Board reviewed the hearings scheduled for March 28, 1985. It was agreed to
make no recommendation on:
324 Marrett Road, Gulf Oil: SP, signs
58 Middle Street, Thomas Cahill: SP, temporary use of trailer
229 Follen Road, Bruce Maloof: SP, use of home as an office
The Board recessed at 7:48 p.m. to attend the Town Meeting session. It was
announced that if the Town Meeting session did not run too long, the Board might
reconvene and continue its business meeting.
At 9:42 p.m., the Board reconvened in Room G-15.
SUBDIVISION OF LAND
93. Farmhurst, off Bridge Street: After discussion, it was agreed that the two
undersized lots would either have to be joined with another building lot in the
subdivision, conveyed to an abutter or to the Town. Mr. Cripps, Mrs. Smith and
Mrs. Uhrig are prepared to disapprove the subdivision. It was agreed to defer
action and have the staff consult with Town Counsel.
The meeting was adjourned at 10:57 p.m.
ith J. Ul g, Clerk