HomeMy WebLinkAbout1986-04-02PLANNING BOARD
MINUTES OF APRIL 2, 1986
The meeting of the Lexington Planning Board, held in Room G-15, Town Office Building,
was called to order at 7:06 p.m. by the Vice Chairman, Mr. Cripps, with members
Klauminzer and Sorensen, Planning Director Bowyer and Assistant Planner Rawski
present. Mrs. Uhrig and Mrs. Wood joined the meeting shortly after it started.
********************* ARTICLES FOR 1986 TOWN MEETING *******************************
98. Article 47, Waltham Street, Choate-Symmes Development: Members of the Board of
Directors of Choate-Symmes Life Care, Inc., namely Fred Bailey, Eric Clarke, Anne
Justice, Donald Reenstierna, Natalie Riffin, Anne Scigliano and Executive Vice Presi-
dent Thomas Huebner were present. Members of the South Lexington Civic Association
were also present, namely Jacqueline Davison, Carol Grodzins, Louise Kava, Marilyn
Mairson, Alan Wade and Caleb Warner.
Mr. Huebner reviewed points contained in'a letter to the Board dated April 1, 1986,
which described revisions in the plan. One major change is that the number of dwell-
ing units has been decreased by 31.6, more than the reduction of 30 units requested by
the South Lexington Civic Association. After discussions with the Town Manager, the
payment in lieu of real estate taxes has been increased to $175,000 per year, to be
adjusted annually with the tax rate. The original estimate was $87,000 per year. A
more detailed analysis shows that 361 of projected annual costs are associated with
' housing rather than the 50% estimated earlier. The cost of the units has increased by
$5-10,000 in response to the decrease in the density and the higher tax payment.
To comply with the inclusionary housing policy, a one-time cash payment of $402,000
will be made to the Lexington Housing Authority or LEXHAB to be used at the Town's
discretion. While that satisfies the inclusionary housing policy, Mr. Huebner thought
the development would also meet the objective of having 25% of the units occupied by
households who meet the definition of moderate income.
Mr. Cripps inquired about changes in the site plan. Mr. Huebner said about 8,000 sq.
ft. would be eliminated from the two floors of the nursing home and community build-
ing, with another 30,000 sq. ft. of floor area eliminated from the Waltham Street side
of the development. The buildings are still interconnected.
Mr. Cripps asked whether Choate-Symmes would accept a provision that the development
could not be converted to condominiums, citing the Woodhaven RD development approved
at the 1985 Town Meeting as precedent for that provision. Mr. Huebner said that
Choate-Symmes had no problem with that provision because all of their financing and
other arrangements were predicated on a rental type development using the endowment
fee. Mr. Bowyer suggested a provision limiting the age of occupants to senior citi-
zens may be as important as the rental condominium -issue.
Mr. Sorensen said he was disturbed by the use of part of the property for parking for
the Haynes office building. Mr. Huebner said Choate-Symmes did not like it either,
but that was the only way they could obtain a second means of access over the Haynes
Management property.
In order to obtain some direction for the staff to prepare a report, an informal poll
of the Board was taken. Mrs. Uhrig and Mr. Cripps said they were pleased with the
changes outlined in the letter which indicated a reduction in the density and mass of
the development. Mr. Sorensen still had difficulty with the intensity of the
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development which he noted would be one of the largest buildings in town. He thought
that affected all of the site planning. He thought that the Board should evaluate the
proposal like any development and not give special consideration to Choate-Symmes
because it is an organization serving the community.
Mrs. Klauminzer commented on the trade-off between density and affordability. She
thought the revised proposal was at the mid -point of the trade-off which maintains
some degree of affordability while having a workable density. She thought that the
payment of $402,000, 3% of the "sales price" in lieu of providing affordable units was
reasonable and the Town would put the money to use for affordable housing. Mrs. Wood
was still concerned about the amount of the entrance fee and the monthly maintanence
fee thinking the housing was still expensive.
Mr. Sorensen said he could not make a final judgement until he had seen the revised
site plan but his position would probably be a negative recommendation at this time.
Mr. Cripps also wanted to see the revised site plan, and requested that it be shown as
an overlay of the existing site plan so that changes will be indicated.
It was agreed the Board would defer making its recommendation until it had seen the
revised site plan. Mr. Huebner said that would be available for the Board's meeting
on April 7, 1986.
The meeting was adjourned at 7:48 p.m.
Martha Wood,
Clerk