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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1985-06-17PLANNING BOARD MINUTES MEETING OF JUNE 179 1985 The meeting of the Lexington Planning Board held in Room G-15, Town Offices was called to order at 7:36 p.m. by the Chairman, Mrs. Smith, with members Cripps, Flemings, Sorensen, Uhrig and Planning Director Bowyer present. PLANS NOT REQUIRING SUBDIVISION APPROVAL 150. South Rindge Avenue, Moore Homes Inc., Form A-85/8: The Board reviewed a plan showing an adjustment in the side lot line between lots 12A and 13A and between lots 17A and 18A; the lots are in the Farmington Rise subdivision. On the motion of Mr. Sorensen seconded by Mr. Cripps, it was voted unanimously: to endorse the plan entitled "Plan of Land in Lexington Mass." dated April 24, 1985 by BSC, Bedford, Mass. certified by Roger M. Corbin, professional land surveyor, with application form A-85/8 by Roger M. Corbin, as it does not require approval under the Subdivision Control Law. 151. 71 Hancock Street, Stephen Nannis, Form A-85/10: The Board reviewed a plan showing the transfer of 1,299 sq. ft. of land from the Dunnicliff lot, with frontage on Adams Street, to the Nannis lot, with frontage on Hancock Street. There is no change in the frontage of either lot both of which have more than the the minimum lot area. On the motion of Mr. Sorensen seconded by Mrs. Uhrig, it was voted unanimously: to endorse the plan entitled "Compiled Subdivision Plan of Land in Lexington, Mass." dated January 31, 1985 by Miller and Nylander Company, certified by Donald J. Forand, registered land surveyor, with application A- 85/10 by Stephen Nannis and C. J. Dunnicliff, as it does not require approval under the Subdivision Control Law. 152. APPLICATIONS TO THE BOARD OF APPEALS Mr. Sorensen presented an oral review of cases to be heard by the Board of Appeals on July 11, 1985. On the motion of Mr. Sorensen seconded by Mrs. Flemings, it was voted unanimously to make no recommendation on all the following cases: 5 Fletcher Ave., Ellen Alaimo; variance, yard setback 22 Muzzey St., Daniel Yuill; variance, side yard setback 238 Wood St., MIT Lincoln Lab; SP, additional building 111 Adams St., Carole Esserian; SP, swimming pool 26 Blossomcrest Rd., Lawrence Elliott; SP, swimming pool SUBDIVISION OF LAND 153. Farmington Rise, Moore Homes Inc.; Acceptance of Surety: The Board was in receipt of a memorandum dated June 1985, from Town Engineer Francis Fields estimating that $40,000 would be necessary to complete the Farmington Rise sub- division. On the motion of Mr. Sorensen, seconded by Mr. Cripps, it was voted unanimously: Minutes, June 17, 1985 page 2 to set the amount of surety for the Farmington Rise subdivision at $40,000 and to accept Lexington Savings bank book no. 790033815 in the sum of $40,000, accompanied by an assignment of that bank book executed by Mark Moore, Jr., as surety for the construction of public facilities in the Farmington Rise subdivision. RECESS: At 7:55 p.m. the Board recessed to meet with the Board of Selectmen to receive land use maps prepared by the Metropolitan Area Planning Council. At 8:16 p.m. the Board reconvened. 154. Toga Property, Turning Mill Road; Preliminary Subdivision Plan: The Board reviewed two schemes for the subdivision of land off Turning Mill Road owned by Carl and Elayne Toga. In both scheme A and scheme B there is an offset in the proposed extension of Turning Mill Road to avoid a lot owned by Landau which projects into the extension of the Turning Mill Road right-of-way. The result is an awkward geometric configuration that does not comply with the Town's standards or good engineering practice. The Board found unacceptable the proposal in scheme A that the driveway for lot 2 pass through lot 3. On the motion of Mr. Cripps seconded by Mr. Sorensen, it was voted unanimously to disapprove both schemes A and B principally because of the proposed geometric configuration of the extension of Turning Mill Road. 155. Graystone off Pleasant Street, Boyd -Smith; Design Alternatives: The Board continued its discussion of design alternatives with William Smith, Joel Roos and landscape architect Rick Lamb. It was agreed that the sanitary sewer and storm drainage would be constructed as shown on the plans originally submitted by Boyd -Smith. A sidewalk will be constructed next to Pleasant Street between the subdivision street and Goldman property. The 30 inch oak tree would be preserved by weaving the sidewalk around it. Mr. Lamb pointed out the 30 inch oak tree might not survive as long as younger trees which might be lost by "weaving" of the side- walk; he would sacrifice the 30 inch tree in the interest of saving younger growing trees. It was agreed that a sidewalk plan would be shown on the defini- tive subdivision plan; if more detailed site examination shows an alternative alignment of the sidewalk would conform to the natural features of the land better, the Planning Board would consider the alternative as a field change. In discussing the profile of the road, it was agreed that slopes or retaining walls could be located within the right-of-way of the road provided there was a flat area of at least five feet adjacent to the paved street. In an informal Poll of the Board, Mr. Sorensen, Mr. Cripps and Mrs. Flemings said a 20 foot wide paved section would be acceptable in the turnaround only. The remainder of the subdivision street will be 24 feet wide. Mr. Lamb showed a plan with the limit of work delineated. Mr. Smith noted that in order to construct the drain/underdrain system the rear of lots 1,9,10 and 11, it would be necessary to have 15-20 foot swath cut through the area. He was willing to do that but wanted everyone, including abuttors, to understand that a lot of trees would be lost in the installation of the drain. Mr. Bowyer suggest- ed that the immediate abuttors be consulted to be made aware of the consequences of the elaborate drain system they had requested. Mrs. Smith will discuss the Minutes, June 17, 1985 page 3 issue with the Conservation Commission at its meeting the next evening. It was agreed that changes agreed to would be made to the mylars of the defini- tive subdivision plan. The staff will prepare a draft of a Certificate of Action approving the subdivision which will be presented to the Board for action at its meeting on July 1, 1985. 156. 188 Lowell Street, McNeill property: William Roop and William McDevitt of McNeill Associates were present to discuss a proposed subdivision of the land at 188 Lowell Street which was the subject of a rezoning petition (indefinitely postponed) at the 1985 Town Meeting. Using an assessors property map, Roop explained some of the alternatives under consideration, such as: 1) a land swap with the East Village Nursing Home, 2) construction of new subdivision streets to connect to Page Road or Sanderson Road, as well as Lowell Street, and 3) poten- tial participation in development, probably in stages, by John and Mary Castelli who own a 7.695 acre lot and a 1.15 acre lot adjoining the 11.5 acre lot owned by McNeill. Mr. Roop said that Castelli is not interested in selling but may participate in a joint venture. Board members responded by saying that a good access to Lowell Street, with good sight lines, was one concern with the overriding concern being the preservation of the natural characteristics of the land. It was agreed that McNeill would pursue the various alternatives further and afterward, based on a review of the topographic and site features, would meet again with the Board. PLANNING BOARD ORGANIZATION 157. Election of Officers. As provided in Section 2.1 of the Planning Board's "Proceedural Rules", the Board conducted its annual election of officers. For the office of Chairman, Mrs. Uhrig nominated Jacquelyn Smith; for the office of Vice Chairman, Mr. Cripps nominated Mrs. Uhrig; for the office of Clerk, Mrs. Uhrig nominated Mr. Cripps; no other nominations for any of the positions were made. On the motion of Mrs. Uhrig seconded by Mrs. Flemings, it was voted unanimously to elect Mrs. Smith as Chairman, Mrs. Uhrig as Vice -Chairman and Mr. Cripps as Clerk. REPORTS 158. PLANNING BOARD MEMBERS, SUBCOMMITEES a. Board of Appeals Hearing, June 13, 1985: The Board discussed the action of the Board of Appeals in granting by a 5-0 vote, a variance from parking requirements at 231 Bedford Street. Members commented that this would be a bad decision because: it could be used as a precedent to request other commercial parking in a residential zoning district; it violated the requirements for the submission of an off-street parking plan; the Conservation Commission had opposed the parking proposal because of its proximity to the North Lexington Brook; and the decision was a use variance which might have other repercussions. It was agreed that Mrs. Smith would talk with Chairman Taylor of the Board of Appeals prior to the decision being filed. 1 1 Minutes, June 17, 1985 page 4 b. 403 Waltham Street: Several members inquired about a large 2-3 story addition under construction over the beauty parlor at 403 Waltham Street. Members inquired how a building of that size could be built in compliance with the dimensional requirements and whether there was sufficient off- street parking. Mr. Bowyer will report at the next meeting. c. Center Revitalization Committee: Mr. Sorensen reported that due to a forthcoming change in his employment he will be unable to attend the meetings of the Center Revitalization Committee which occur in the noon hour. He intends to resign. Mr. Cripps indicated his willingness to serve on the CRC as the Planning Board's representative. d. Minuteman Tech, Conference Center: Mrs. Uhrig reported that she had talked with Representative Doran's office and that no legislation had been filed after the Town Meeting to permit a conference center to be built. They will keep their eyes open for such legislation and will contact Mrs. Uhrig if anything is filed. 159. Planning Director a. Lexwood Poultry Property: Mr. Bowyer reported that he had met with land surveyor Roger Corbin relative to the potential acquisition of the old Lexwood Poultry property at 170 Wood Street. Two barn structures were converted in 1946-47 to a two-family and a three-family dwelling. That conversion was not permitted by the Town but may have some legitimacy under post World War II emergency federal housing authorizations. In any event the new planned residential development section in the Zoning By -Law may permit the property to be legitimized if a subdivision plan is filed and the three family house is de -converted to a two family house. The meeting was adjourned at 10:13 p.m. Step en Cripps, Clerk