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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1985-07-01PLANNING BOARD MINUTES MEETING OF JULY 1, 1985 The meeting of the Lexington Planning Board held in Room G-15, Town Offices, was called to order at 7:40 p.m. by the Chairman, Mrs. Smith, with members Cripps, Flemings, Sorensen and Planning Director Bowyer present. Mrs. Uhrig was absent. PLANS NOT REQUIRING SUBDIVISION APPROVAL 160. 57 Spring Street, Robert Ericson, Form A-85/11: The Board reviewed a plan showing one 15,000 sq. ft. lot being combined with another 15,000 sq. ft. lot and a 10,000 sq. ft. lot being combined with a 20,000 sq. ft. lot. The result is that each the two lots will have 30,000 sq. ft, of area; each will have 75 feet of frontage. On the motion of Mr. Sorensen, seconded by Mr. Cripps, it was voted 4-0: to endorse the plan entitled "Subdivision Plan of Land in Lexington, Mass." prepared by BSC, Bedford, certified by Donald J. Forand professional land surveyor, with application form A-85/11 by Robert Ericson, as it does not require approval under the Subdivision Control Law. 161. APPLICATIONS TO THE BOARD OF APPEALS Mr. Sorensen made an oral report on one additional case scheduled to be heard on July 18, 1985. A second floor addition is proposed on a building with a non- conforming front yard. The facts are virtually identical with the recent 101 Spring Street case. On the motion of Mr. Sorensen seconded by Mr. Cripps, it was voted to make no recommedation on 19 Valley Road, Douglas Baker; variance, sec- ond floor addition. SUBDIVISION OF LAND 162. Graystone, off Pleasant Street; Certificate of Action: William Smith and Joel Roos of Boyd -Smith Inc., were present. Mr. Roos explained they had made two minor changes; on sheet 2A the limit of work line had been outlined in color; on sheet 3 the house locations had been changed. Mr. Bowyer said those changes were made during the day and have not been checked by the staff. Mr. Bowyer reported there were a range of solutions to the drainage problem along lots 1, 9, 10 and 11. Assistant Planner Delori had talked with the property owners on Worthen Road East who abutted the proposed subdivision and explained a swath of trees would need to be removed to construct an "underdrain" system. The consensus of the property owners was that a Swale was an acceptable compromise with minimal disruption of existing trees. The Town Engineer thought that a Swale was adequate; his earlier recommendation for an underdrain was to provide greater than the minimum protection and to reduce potential complaints about maintenance to the Town or property owners. The Board agreed that the Swale was a suitable compromise because protecting existing vegetation and tree cover was an important consideration too. The Board discussed the name of the subdivision street without reaching agree- ment. Boyd -Smith will comment on the historic names under consideration. Mrs. Flemings commented that the Board needed to have a follow-up monitoring procedure, such as one year later to be sure that newly planted trees are healthy. She said that should apply to all subdivisions. Minutes, July 1, 1985 page 2 The Board reviewed the draft of the Certificate of Action. In paragraph 5 of the conditions it was agreed that field inspection would be done by the Board's designated representative, who will probably be the Assistant Planner, who is a landscape architect. Condition 12 is cross referenced to the Order of Condi- tions approved by the Conservation Commission on May 21, 1985. Mrs. Smith will coordinate with the Commission about the change in the drainage system to a swale. On the motion of Mr. Sorensen seconded by Mrs. Flemings, it was voted 4-0 to approve the definitive subdivision plan entitled "Graystone, comprising six sheets, and to approve the Certificate of Action as amended. 163. Hampton, off Concord Avenue, Change in Site Plan: Joel Roos showed a plan with a new design for the house, which keeps more trees. There is no change in the elevations. On the motion of Mrs. Flemings seconded by Mr. Cripps, it was voted 4-0 to approve the revised grading -siting plan for lot 6. 164. Farmington Rise, off Bow Street; Release of Lots: With surety having been provided, on the motion of Mr. Sorensen seconded by Mr. Cripps, it was voted 4-0 to release lots 7 through 21 inclusive. 165. Lincoln Hills; Acceptance of Surety, Release of Lots: On the motion of Mr. Cripps seconded by Mrs. Flemings, it was voted 4-0 to accept Lexington Savings Bank passbook number 74334 in the name of Lincoln Hill Realty Trust, Jeffrey Pechet, Trustee, in the amount of $12,000, as surety for the Lincoln Hills Sub- division and to release lots 1-A, 1-B and 1-C. ' 166. Pheasant Brook, Amount of Surety: The Board was receipt of an estimate from the Engineering Department dated July 1, 1985 showing that the cost to construct the public improvements was $1,290,490 of which an estimated $805,270 had been completed leaving about $485,000 of work to be done. On the motion of Mr. Sorensen seconded by Mrs. Flemings, it was voted 4-0 to set $500,000 as the amount of surety to be provided. The Board was in receipt of a letter from James H. MacDowell date June 19, 1985, requesting that in lieu of the granite curbing shown on the approved subdivision plan for the Butterfield Road and Lothrup Circle cul-de-sacs that a bituminous concrete curb be allowed. Mrs. Flemings and Mr. Cripps said that they were opposed to that substitution. On the motion of Mrs. Flemings seconded by Mr. Cripps, it was voted 3-1, with Mr. Sorensen opposed, to deny the request to substitute bituminous for granite curbing. 167. 188 Lowell Street, McNeil Associates, Sketch Plan: William McDevitt and Russell Burke of McNeil Associates were present and showed the Board a series of plans of their site analysis. They said that a conventional single-family subdi- vision was the best alternative. They proposed to utilize an easement between the Pappas property to provide access to Page Road. Mrs. Smith and Mrs. Flemings responded with questions about how the lot and street layout related to the analysis. They commented that: 1) if the road were on the opposite side of the lot, it would act as a buffer against the nursing home; 2) the road is laid out on some of the steepest parts of the lot; 3) there was an excessive amount of grading;and 4) the stand of white pines was unneces- sarily disturbed. The Board agreed that McNeil should work harder on its site design. It was suggested that McNeil pursue a development relationship with the Minutes, July 1, 1985 page 3 adjoining Castelli property which would provide much greater flexibility in design and avoid the limitations of their narrow lot. Essentially the Board wanted to see a design more compatable with the natural features of the land. 168. Grassland Street: Mr. Bowyer reported that additional research had been done on the proposed development by Robert Phelan to build eight new dwellings on eight lots with substandard frontage on Grassland Street. Phelan had proposed a common driveway (20 foot wide gravel) to serve the houses. The research suggests the owner of a lot must have a legal right of access. Frontage must provide "adequate access" which means vehicular access to each lot over the frontage to the dwelling to be erected thereon. As there is a vegetated wetland on the property between the nominal frontage and the location of the proposed dwelling on each lot, it does not appear that Phelan will be able to obtain permission from the Conservation Commission and to provide the adequate vehicular access. Therefore it appears that Phelan will have to submit a planned residential devel— opment to the Planning Board. The new zoning regulations provide him greater flexibility in design. REPORTS 169. Planning Board Members, Subcommittees: a. Congregate Housing Committee: Mrs. Flemings reported that the Congregate Congregate Housing Committee has been looking at several different types of ' congregate housing. They feel the need for a joint meeting with the Planning Board. It was agreed that the meeting would be held on August 12. 170. Planning Director: a. 231 Bedford Street: Mr. Bowyer distributed copies of the Board of Appeals decision granting the variance from numerous violations. Mrs. Smith commented that there were two major problems with the Board of Appeals action. First, it permits commercial use in a residential district. Second, the layout of the spaces does not comply with the parking regulations so that a number of the spaces shown will not be usable. She was concerned as to what precedent this decision would set for other lots which are divided into two zoning districts, one of which is commercial. Mr. Cripps, Mrs. Flemings and Mrs. Smith were in favor, and Mr. Sorensen was oppossed, to sending a letter to the Board of Appeals, with a copy to the Board of Selectmen, enumerating the Board's concerns about this decision. The letter should set forth the position of the Planning Board and ask to have the Board of Appeals meet with the Board. b. Appointment of Sally Peters: Mr. Bowyer reported that the Town Manager had approved the appointment of Sally Peters of Wayland as the secretary in the Planning Department. She will start work on July 8, 1985. The meeting was adjourned at 9:59 p.m. Step en Cripps, Clerk