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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1987-03-02PLANNING BOARD MINUTES MEETING OF MARCH 2, 1987 The meeting of the Lexington Planning Board held in Room G-15, Town Office Build- ing, was called to order at 7:35 p.m. by the Chairman, Mrs. Uhrig, with members Cripps, Klauminzer, Sorensen, Wood, Planning Director Bowyer, Assistant Planner Rawski and Secretary Peters present. ****************** ADMINISTRATION OF LAND DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS *************** PLANS NOT REQUIRING APPROVAL UNDER THE SUBDIVISION CONTROL LAW 55. Form A/87-3, Lowell Street: The Board reviewed the resubmittal of a plan the Board had previously endorsed, which action it rescinded on January 26 (See Minutes of that date, item 25) with notification to the Registry of Deeds because the plan had been altered after endorsement by the Board. On the motion of Mr. Sorensen, seconded by Mr. Cripps, it was voted unanimously: to endorse the plan entitled "Birchknoll Terrace Plan of Land in Lexington, Massachusetts," dated February 1987, by Bethel, Duncan & Associates, Inc., certified by David A. Duncan, Registered Professional Engineer, with applica- tion form A/87-4 by Timothy Harrington, as it does not require approval under the Subdivision Control Law. 56. Form A/86-4, Larchmont Lane: The Board reviewed a plan showing the division ' of Lot 64-98A into Parcel A and Parcel B, with both parcels conforming to the frontage and acreage requirements of the residence zone. On the motion of Mr. Sorensen, seconded by Mrs. Wood, it was voted unanimously: to endorse the plan entitled "Plan of Land in Lexington, Mass. (Middlesex County)" dated February 24, 1987, by BSC - Bedford, certified by John A. Hammer III, Professional Land Surveyor, with application Form A/87-4 by Anthony 6 Debra Tropeano, as it does not require approval under the Subdivi- sion Control Law. SUBDIVISION OF LAND 57. Farmington Rise, dated February 25, 1% has complied with all Permit, Order of Cond tions. On the motion mously to release the Final Release of Surety: The Board reviewed a memorandum 37, from the Engineering Department stating that the developer conditions and terms of the Certificate of Action, Special itions and all requirements of the Standard Town Specifics - of Mr. Sorensen, seconded by Mr. Cripps, it was voted unani- final surety of $6,000 held by the Town. 58. Farmhurst V, Release of Lots (Remainder of lot 13): Ms. Rawski reported that a reference to Lot 13 as shown on a plan entitled "Farmhurst Section 5 Lexington, Mass.," Sheet 2, dated January 17, 1985 and last revised 4/16/85, had inadvertently been included in the subdivision and had not been released as were the other lots in the subdivision. On the motion of Mr. Sorensen, seconded by Mr. Cripps it was voted unanimously to release the remaining portion of Lot 13 shown on a plan enti- tled "Farmhurst Section 5 Lexington, Mass.," Sheet 2, dated January 17, 1985 and last revised 4/16/85. Minutes for March 2, 1987 Page 2 59. Carriage Drive, Woodhaven Realty, Presentation of Sketch Plan: Gary Larson of Larson Associates, representing the developer, presented a new sketch plan (without a loop road) for the land off Carriage Drive, for 12 lots and a road connecting the end of Carriage Drive to Winter Street. In response to questions from Board members, he said road grades would be approxi- mately 4-5%, the foot prints of the homes shown on the plan are approximately to scale, and that Woodhaven Realty will be the builder. The Board saw no major problems with the plan. They noted that the area of the sidewalks and driveways must be included in the calculation of the impervious surface ratio, and that they wished to see a 12 foot walking easement into adjacent conservation land included as part of the development. 60. Royal Circle, off Grove Street, Barry Couette, Presentation of Sketch Plan: Gary Larson of Larson Associates, representating the developer, presented a prelim- inary study of the 6.78 acre property showing the tree coverage, slope analysis, the layout of six single family dwelling lots and a preliminary road layout. Proposed road grades were less than 8%. A common driveway was shown for two lots, which will require a special permit from the Planning Board. The Board noted that the area of the sidewalks and driveways must be included in the calculation of the impervious surface ratio whether or not they are paved. The ' Board saw no major problems with the proposal. 61. Pine Meadows Golf Course: The Board reviewed and edited a draft report enti- tled "Planning Board Guidelines and Approach to Development of Pine Meadows Golf Course Property", and approved the revised draft for distribution to the Board of Selectmen, Recreation Committee and the Conservation Commission. APPLICATIONS TO THE BOARD OF APPEALS 62. 8 Emerald Street, Petition for Rehearing Variance Application for Deck: Mr. Bowyer reported that the Board of Appeals has received a request from William C. Hays, Chairman of LEXHAB, for permission to resubmit the application for a variance from the front -yard setback requirements denied last December by the Board of Appeals. They have voted to allow the reapplication provided all but one of the members of the Planning Board consent to a rehearing. According to the Board's Procedural Rules and an opinion of Town Counsel, the Board must hold a hearing on this request, notify abutters and the like. The Board agreed to schedule a public hearing on April 6, 1987 at 7:30 p.m. in Room G-15. 63. Hearings of March 19, 1987: Mrs. Klauminzer gave an oral review of the fol- lowing hearings scheduled for March 19, 1987: 6 North Hancock, Folsom's, SP, take-out food service: On the motion of Mr. Sorensen, seconded by Mr. Cripps, it was voted unanimously to recommend the special permit be granted, providing all previous conditions are again includ- ed in the permit, especially the condition that no frying of foods be allowed on the premises. Minutes for March 2, 1987 Page 3 36 Garfield Street, Bernard Foster, variance, front yard addition: Mrs. Klauminzer noted that if the variance were granted, the deck would leave only an eighteen foot front yard setback. On the motion of Mrs. Wood, seconded by Mrs. Klauminzer, it was voted unanimously to recommend the variance be denied because no hardship has been demonstrated. 181 Bedford Street, Robert Kleven Co., SP, use of basement: The Board agreed the Building Commisioner had made the correct decision when he ruled the applicant could not convert the storage portion of the basement into office space as of right. On the motion of Mr. Sorensen, seconded by Mrs. Wood, it was voted unanimously to recommend the special permit application to convert part of the basement in Unit 2 from storage use to general office space be denied for the following reasons: 1) The shared parking arrangement with the Knights of Columbus was a generous concession on the Town's part in 1981 and should continue to be honored. The parking situation has not improved; there has been a worsening of the overlap- ping parking arrangement between the two users, since there is more daytime activity at the Knights of Columbus building than originally stated. 2) The proposed comprehensive commercial revision of the Zoning By -Law, (Warrant Article 43 of the 1987 Annual Town Meeting) proposes a floor area ratio (FAR) for this zoning district. The existing floor area ratio (FAR) is ' .34 which is higher than any allowable floor area ratio in the proposed amend- ment. A floor area ratio of 0.25 is a reasonable maximum for this district. 3) Under Chapter 40A, section 6, MGL, the proposed development is subject to Article 43, if approved by the Town Meeting, unless the special permit were granted prior to the date of the first notice of the public hearing on the proposed amendment. The notice of the public hearing for the comprehensive commercial revision amendments appeared in the newspaper on December 18, 1986 and again on February 5, 1987 well before this application was submitted. 198 East Street, Alexander McKenzie, variance, front yard, addition: The Board agreed to make no comment since the non -conformity of the front yard setback will not be increased with the proposed addition. 12-18 Hartwell Avenue, Mico Realty Trust, SP with Site Plan Review (SPS): Mr. Bowyer reported the applicant proposes to demolish an exising one story building and construct a two story office building. The Board noted he has proposed no mitigating measures to reduce the impact of the increased traffic generated from his proposal, and has apparently ignored existing traffic problems in the Hartwell Avenue area. On the motion of Mrs. Wood, seconded by Mr. Cripps, it was voted unanimously to recommend the application be denied by the Board of Appeals. The staff was instructed to prepare a draft recommendation reflecting this for the Board to act on at their next meeting. Minutes for March 2, 1987 Page 4 ***************** ARTICLES FOR THE 1987 TOWN MEETING **************************** 64. Articles 42, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48 and 49, discussion: Article 42 Technical Corrections: Mr. Sorensen raised the question as to whether a special permit should not be required for reconstruction of the burned -out build- ings in the Town Center. He proposed additional language be included in Article 42 to require this in the Zoning By -Law. Other members had difficulty discussing this proposal without specific language before them. It was agreed time would be re- served on next week's agenda for more discussion of Mr. Sorensen's proposal. Article 44, Swiming Pools: It was agreed that language requiring dense screening five feet high, measured at ground level, be added to Article 44. ************************************ REPORT ************************************* 65. Planning Board, Subcommittees: a. Board of Appeals: Mrs. Uhrig reported the Board would be joined by the Board of Appeals at next Monday's meeting, to discuss the Comprehensive Com- mercial Revisions proposed for the 1987 Town Meeting. b. Hanscom Field: Mrs. Wood announced that on March 11 at 11 a.m., a hearing will be held on legislation requiring that buildings proposed at Hanscomb ' Field that are not aviation use -related must conform to zoning regulations of the Town it in which the site is located. The Board agreed a letter should be sent supporting this legislation, and Mrs. Wood agreed to prepare a draft for the next meeting. The meeting was adjourned at 9:48 p.m. 1 Martha Wood, Clerk