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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1985-10-21PLANNING BOARD MINUTES MINUTES OF OCTOBER 21, 1985 The meeting of the Lexington Planning Board, held in Room G-15, was called to order at 7:39 p.m. by the Chairman, Mrs. Smith, with members Cripps, Flemings, Sorensen, Uhrig and Planning Director Bowyer present. SPECIAL PERMIT, CONVERSION OF MUNICIPAL BUILDING 229. Conversion of Franklin School, Special Permit: Mr. Bowyer reported that more information had been submitted since the Board discussed the proposal on September 30, 1985. Assistant Planner Rawski has been working with GBCD's lands- cape architect. Most of the site planning details have been resolved and many of the planning department's suggestions have been incorporated into the design. However, some of the fussy details that are somewhat questionable, such as drain- age, will depend more on how construction takes place in the field than on design changes now. Mrs. Flemings noted that the landscaping plan showed only the location of plant materials and surface treatment but did not specify species and size or mater- ials. She thought these details were important for the overall appearance of the development. The Board agreed that the landscaping plan presented at the hearing should show the species, size and materials in the landscaping plan. The Board was disappointed that elevations of the buildings were not available. They thought the Town should know the exterior appearance of the building at the special permit stage. Several changes were agreed to in Section 2 - Major Topographical Changes, and 3 - Surface and Ground Water Drainage. On the motion of Mr. Cripps, seconded by Mr. Sorensen, it was voted unanimously to approve the report, as revised. 230. Minute -man Commuter Bikeway: The Board reviewed a draft of a letter to the Board of Selectmen supporting the construction of the proposed Minute -man Bikeway on the former Boston and Maine railroad right-of-way. The letter comments on the role of a bikeway as part of a diversified transportation system within the town. Several editorial changes were made. On the motion of Mrs. Uhrig, seconded by Mr. Sorensen, it was voted unanimously to support the construction of the propos- ed Minute -man Bikeway and to approve the letter to the Board of Selectmen, as revised. ARTICLES FOR SPECIAL TOWN MEETING 231. Footpath between Willow Ridge subdivision and Bowman School: Mr. Bowyer reported the staff had met with Attorney Thomas Callahan about the Willow Ridge subdivision. They explored opportunities for a cluster subdivision, with build- ings on the higher, drier land, rather than the previously submitted conventional subdivision which had some lots adjacent to Beaver Brook. He considered the meeting to be encouraging; Callahan appeared enthused about the prospects for a cluster subdivision and he will do further design studies on it. One of the items raised in the staff's meeting with Callahan was the possibility of the Town deeding to Callahan a 6,000 sq. ft. land -locked tax title parcel in exchange for the Willow Ridge development constructing a footpath from the exten- sion of Barrett Road across open land to Bowman School. The footpath would be a Minutes, October 21, 1985 page 2 paved all -season route which would reduce the walking distance to Bowman School by about 1/2 mile. The footpath would cross land now in the Willow Ridge subdi- vision, the edge of the Dunback Meadow conservation land, and the Bowman School site. In order to construct the footpath through conservation land, Town Counsel has indicated it will be necessary to have the permission of the Town Meeting and of the Legislature. The Chairman had requested that an article be submitted earlier in the day, when the Warrant for the December 2 Special Town Meeting closed, with the understanding that further work on this matter may result in the article being withdrawn or deferred until the Annual Town Meeting. The Board concurred in that action. COMPREHENSIVE PLANNING, POLICIES 232. Comprehensive Plan, Housing Element: The Housing Needs Advisory Committee, with members Klauminzer, Adler, Clarke, Hays, Nablo and Spencer attending, were present for work on the draft of the Housing Element dated October 18, 1985. Mr. Hays thought there was a conflict between the residential character object- ive, which appears to stress maintaining the status quo, and the other three objectives, diversity, equity -fairness and local responsibility, which appear to argue for change, particularly toward more affordable housing and socio-economic diversity. His point triggered an extended discussion of whether the residential character objective was fundamentally in conflict with the other three and how the sequence of presentation of the objectives might need to be organized. Mrs. Smith responded that while there might be tension between the two points of view, they can be reconciled and for the housing element to be politically viable, they must be reconciled. She noted the Kelly -Perry proposal on Woburn Street had to be acceptable from both an environmental -design -density perspective and from the affordable housing perspective. The Town will not ignore design and density criteria because a proposed development contains affordable housing. That does not make the production of affordable housing any easier but it is a political fact of life. It was agreed the Board would work through the entire draft and then review the best sequence of the four sections on objectives. Another general topic of discussion was reduction in lot sizes or increase in density to promote affordable housing. Mr. Sorensen advocated that any such treatment should be done in an evenhanded manner on a town -wide basis. Due to the historical development pattern, any special treatment for smaller lots or large older homes may result in a concentration of affordable housing in the older neighborhoods near the center of town or in East Lexington. Mrs. Nablo questioned why a new two-family dwelling could not be constructed in a single-family neighborhood if appropriate design and density standards are met. The Zoning By -Law now permits the creation of two-family houses in the single family districts by the conversion of the single-family house to either an acces- sory apartment or a two-family. It does not now permit the construction of a new two-family. It was agreed that would be studied further. In policy 1.8 it was agreed to delete any reference to any acceptable numerical targets for density. The policy will be rewritten to state that maximum density has to take into account both affordable housing and a design compatable with the natural features of the site and the effect on public services. Minutes, October 21, 1985 page 3 REPORTS 233. Planning Board members, subcommittees: a. Pheasant Brook subdivision: Mrs. Smith reported that the developer and property owners had represented to the Conservation Commission that the Planning Board had "approved" revised designs that extended beyond the limit -of -work line. She thought the understanding was that the Planning Board would not review proposed changes in site plan until after they had been acted upon by the Conservation Commission. She asked the staff to coordinate that procedure. The meeting was adjourned at 10:31 p.m. n Cripps, Clerk