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PLANNING BOARD MINUTES
MEETING OF APRIL 21, 1987
The meeting of the Lexington Planning Board held in Room 111, Town Office Build-
ing, and Estabrook Hall, Cary Memorial Hall, was called to order in Room 111 at
7:38 p.m. by the Chairman, Mrs. Uhrig, with members Klauminzer, Sorensen, Wood,
Planning Director Bowyer, Assistant Planner Rawski, and Secretary Peters
present.
119. Approval of Minutes: The Board reviewed and corrected the minutes for
March 16, 1987. On the motion of Mr. Sorensen, seconded by Mrs. Klauminzer, it
was voted 3-0-1 (Mrs. Wood abstained since she had not attended the meeting) to
approve the minutes as corrected.
****************** ADMINISTRATION OF LAND DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS *********
PLANS NOT REQUIRING APPROVAL UNDER THE SUBDIVISION CONTROL LAW
120. Form A/87-8 and Form A/87-9, Solomon Pierce Road: Ms. Rawski reported the
two plans had been previously endorsed by the Board as Form A/86-28 and Form
A/86-22. Land Court has required some minor corrections to the plans before they
will record them, (shown in yellow on the prints), so that although no changes
have been made in lot lines in either plan as previously endorsed by the Planning
Board, the plans will require re -endorsement. On the motion of Mr. Sorensen,
seconded by Mrs. Klauminzer, it was voted unanimously:
to endorse the plan entitled "Plan of Land in Lexington, Mass. Being A
Subdivision of Lots 44 and 45 on Land Court Plan 19319K" dated November 10
1986, by T & M Engineering Assoc. Inc., certified by Erland S. Townsend,
Jr., Professional Land Surveyor, with application Form A/87-8, by Bernard L.
Huang, as it does not require approval under the Subdivision Control Law.
On the motion of Mr. Sorensen, seconded by Mrs. Klauminzer, it was voted
unanimously:
to endorse the plan entitled "Plan of Land in Lexington, Mass. Being A
Subdivision of Lots 24 & 25 As Shown on Land Court Plan 19319", dated Novem-
ber 26, 1985, by T & M Engineering Associates, Inc., certified by Erland S.
Townsend, Jr., Professional Land Surveyor, with application Form A/87-9 by
Pheasant Brook Estates, Inc., as it does not require approval under the
Subdivision Control Law.
APPLICATIONS TO THE BOARD OF APPEALS
121. Hearings of April 30, 1987: Mr. Sorensen gave an oral review of the
following applications:
101 Hartwell Ave. and 4 Hartwell Avenue, Instrumentation Labs., Variances,
walkways in yard setbacks,; and 101 Hartwell Ave., Instrumentation Lab.,
SPS, Expansion of Building to bring food services into the building.
Mr. Sorensen explained the company wished to expand their food service to
serve both buildings for the convenience of their employees. Since the
buildings are on two separate lots, variances are required to connect the
buildings via a covered walkway which will intrude into the setbacks of the
two properties. The Board felt the addition of cafeterias or food services
Meeting of April 21, 1987
Page 2
within office or industrial buildings for employees should be encouraged as
a means of lessening mid-day traffic on roads in Lexington, especially in
the center. On the motion of Mrs. Wood, seconded by Mrs. Klauminzer, it
was voted unanimously to recommend the variances and the SPS be granted.
475 Bedford Street, Lexington Club, SP, Changes to sign, parking, relocation
of exterior tennis courts and interior modifications to building: (Mrs.
Klauminzer abstained from taking part in discussion or action on this appli-
cation since she is a member of the club).
The Board expressed concerns about: 1) existing traffic congestion in the
area, 2) the proposed use of the word "community" in the sign and 3) the
possibility that non-members might begin to use the food services, thereby
increasing traffic congestion in the area.
On the motion of Mr. Sorensen, seconded by Mrs. Wood, it was voted 3-0-1
(with Mrs. Klauminzer abstaining): To recommend that if the special permit
is granted, the following conditions be included as part of the decision:
1) that all traffic exiting the property be directed to the right as
proposed by the applicant, 2) that the name proposed by the applicant not
contain the word "community" since this infers a municipal ownership rather
than a private ownership and 3) that there be no expansion of existing food
services since this could encourage non-member use of the facility as a
restaurant, thereby increasing traffic in an already badly congested area.
' The Board also agreed to make no comment on the following applications:
6 Utica Street, David Santo, Variance, Front Yard Setback,
12 Hancock Avenue, Edward Ward, Variance, Side Yard Setback,
2600 Mass. Avenue, Methodist Church, SP, Enlarge Non -Conforming Bldg.,
2 Hampton Road, George Gordon, SP, Swimming Pool
11 Wingate Road, Robert Murray, SP, Swimming Pool.
SUBDIVISION OF LAND
122. PUBLIC INFORMATIONAL MTG., W. R. Grace, Preliminary Subdivision Plan:
Mrs. Uhrig opened the meeting by introducing Kenneth MacKenzie, Attorney, repre-
senting W. R. Grace & Co. He presented a site analysis of the 37 acre parcel,
located in the CR district. The property is currently one lot containing two
buildings. The owners wish to subdivide the property into three lots, with the
two buildings on Lot A. Lot A and Lot C have legal frontage on Hayden Ave. They
propose to construct a dead end street, along the existing access road for the
parking lot, built according to Development Regulations to provide legal frontage
for Lot B.
Mr. MacKenzie noted the existing development has a Floor Area Ratio (FAR) of .13,
and the CR zone currently allows an FAR of .25. He added it has always been the
intent of W. R. Grace to develop the property to its fullest potential, which is
to the existing FAR of .25, so that although they are not considering any devel-
opment presently, they are filing this subdivision application to protect future
development options, since there is an article before Town Meeting to reduce the
permitted FAR to .15.
Meeting of April 21, 1987 Page 3
In response to a questions from the Board, Mr. MacKenzie explained they proposed
to reserve Lot B for future development, and Lot C would probably be undeveloped
since most of it is wooded wetland area. He added there would be a potential
future development of approximately 100,000 sq. ft. without exceeding the FAR
limit of .25.
In response to a question from Mr. Sorensen, Mr. MacKenzie said they would be
willing to accept responsibility for maintanence of the road as a way that would
never be accepted by the town.
In response to questions from the audience, Mr. MacKenzie explained they wished
to create a legal buildable lot so that they could sell Lot B if they wished, if
future expansion was not contemplated by the company. He reported the traffic
study had been done of existing traffic, since no additional development is
proposed at this time.
Mrs. Uhrig declared the hearing closed at 8:28 p.m.
Later in the meeting Ms. Rawski asked for Board direction on the application. It
was agreed, following an informal poll of the members, to recommend that the
application be approved, with the condition that residentially zoned land be used
for conservation purposes.
123. PUBLIC INFORMATIONAL MTG.. 191 Suring Street. Fuller's Hill. Preliminary
Subdivision Plan: Frederick DeAngelis, attorney, representating 191 Spring
' Street Trust, commented that they had met with the Planning Board and the South
Lexington neighborhood group to discuss zoning changes that are proposed for the
1987 Town Meeting, affecting future development at 191 Spring Street. As a
result, they have submitted a preliminary subdivision plan for their property
that is both in the RO residential district and the CR commercial district. He
added they have filed at this time to gain an eight year freeze of the zoning
governing the property. The property is to be divided into four lots: two
commercially zoned lots (1 & 2) and two residential lots (3 & 4), as shown in the
plans.
Richard Cook, engineer, presented the site analysis and stated that both subdivi-
sion roads have been laid out to conform to all development regulations for the
district in which they are located.
In response to a question from Mr. Sorensen, Mr. DeAngelis said they would be
willing to accept responsibility for maintenance of the roads as ways that would
never be accepted by the town. He added the developer has tried to submit a
"waiver -proof" plan, but would be willing to request a waiver for a longer than
650 ft. dead-end road (which could be granted by the Board in the CR district),
and to consider whether to deed lots 3 & 4 to the Town for conservation purposes.
In response to questions from the audience, Mr. Cook said that present plans call
for bringing the driveway up to subdivision standards for future potential devel-
opment. He added in order to hold to the 8% maximum road grade required by the
development regulations it would be necessary to cause more disturbance to the
site than they feel is necessary. Concerns with drainage problems on the steeper
portions of the site were expressed.
Meeting of April 21, 1987 Page 4
Mrs. Uhrig adjourned the meeting at 9:07 to reconvene in Room 111.
Later in the meeting Ms. Rawski asked for Board direction on the application. It
was agreed, following an informal poll of the members, to recommend that the
application be approved, with the recommendation that the subdivision road not
ever be accepted by the Town.
COMPREHENSIVE PERMIT
124. Hartwell Ave. and Wood St., Katandin Woods, recommendation to the Board of
Appeals for the 4/24/87 hearing on the developers request for an extension to the
Comprehensive Permit and Revisions to the plan:
The Board reviewed an "ANALYSIS OF KATAHDIN WOODS REVISED SITE DEVELOPMENT PLANS"
dated April 17, 1987, and a draft letter to Mrs. Riffin, Chairman of the Board of
Appeals, dated April 21, 1987, making corrections. On the motion of Mr. Soren-
sen, seconded by Mrs. Wood, it was voted unanimously to transmit to the Board of
Appeals the Board's recommendation as contained in the corrected letter dated
April 21, 1987.
**************************** ARTICLES FOR 1987 TOWN MEETING ********************
125. Article 43, Corrections for Final Motion: The Board reviewed questions and
recommendations prepared by TMMA members Jacqueline Davison, Julian Bussgang and
' Margaret Rawls.
In Section 4, Table 1, Part B, Commercial Uses, the Board agreed that:
1) Open-air storage of inoperable and unregistered motor vehicles will be per-
mitted as an accessory use only. (11.23)
2) In the residential zones, off-street parking will be permitted for not more
than one commercial vehicle, owned by the resident and parked in a garage; no
more than three parking spaces will be permitted without obtaining a special
permit; and not more than one unregistered car may be parked on a lot, but not in
the front yard. (1.30, 1.31 and 1.32) and
3) The retail sale of bakery products will be permitted under 8.31 in the CN,
CRS and the CB commercial districts, and the production of the bakery products
will be only permitted in the CS district.
The Board also agreed that screening requirements for facilities for refuse
disposal will be spelled out. (10.9.1)
PLANNING BOARD ORGANIZATION
126. Planning Board Vacancy: Mrs. Uhrig announced that on April 27, 1987, at
7:00 p.m., there will be a joint meeting of the Planning Board and the Board of
Selectmen to fill the vacancy on the Planning Board caused by the resignation of
Stephen Cripps.
127. Planning Board, Subcommittees:
a. Land Bank: Mrs. Klauminzer reported the Selectmen are proposing to
amend Article 41 so that 1/3 of the funds will be used for Conservation
purposes, 1/3 for housing purposes and 1/3 to be determined annually by
Town Meeting for either housing or conservation purposes.
Meeting of April 21, 1987
Page 5
128. Planning Director:
a. Pine Meadows Golf Course: Mr. Bowyer reported that he has met with
David Hanson, from Denver, Colorado, representing Thomas True of
Boston, who has said he has an agreement to purchase the golf course.
The meeting was adjourned at 11:37 p.m.
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Martha C. Wood, Clerk