HomeMy WebLinkAbout1987-05-06PLANNING BOARD MINUTES
MEETING OF MAY 6, 1987
The meeting of the Lexington Planning Board held in Room G-15, Town Office Build-
ing, was called to order at 7:12 p.m. by the Clerk, Mrs. Wood, with members
Klauminzer, Sorensen, Williams, Planning Director Bowyer, and Assistant Planner
Rawski present. Chairman Uhrig was absent.
*********************ADMINISTRATION OF LAND DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS ************
138. APPLICATIONS TO THE BOARD OF APPEALS
Hearings scheduled for May 14, 1987: Mrs. Wood gave an oral review of the
following applications scheduled by the Board of Appeals.
258 Worthern Rd East, Jeffrey Schriesheim & Dewie Weiner, Variance, to
change legal address: Mr. Bowyer reported the only physical access to the
property is off Dover Lane via a common driveway, although the legal front-
age is off Worthen Road, East. The Board agreed granting this variance
would be consistent with the new Section 7.3.2, passed at the 1987 Town
Meeting, which allows the owner to gain vehicular access to his property
from a street other than the frontage street. (See Section 7.3.2 in Article
42, Technical Corrections, number 5). On the motion of Mrs. Klauminzer,
seconded by Mrs. Wood, it was voted unanimously to recommend the variance be
' granted because it will reduce confusion for emergency and delivery vehicles
which might seek to access the property off Worthen Road, rather than off
Dover Lane where the physical access is actually located.
14 Sunnyknoll Terrace, Michael Saunders, Variance, dimensional controls:
The Board noted an anomaly in this application; that if the lots were
"grandfathered" there is no need for a variance; if they are not "grand-
fathered" a variance may not be justifiable. Insufficient lot area is not
one of the three criteria that are cited in the statute for granting a
variance. Also, no hardship such as the shape or topography of the lot has
been demonstrated. On the motion of Mr. Sorensen, seconded by Mr. Williams,
it was voted unanimously to recommend the variance be denied.
Albermarle & Winn Avenues, Elena Massimilla, appealing decision of the
Building Commissioner: The Board agreed this was a clear case of combina-
tion of lots by use, and that both the guidelines prepared by the Town
Counsel and the Butts court case in Lexington provide the most direct prece-
dent, saying that combination by use is evidence that the lots have been
combined, and can not be subdivided again. On the motion of Mr. Sorensen,
seconded by Mrs. Klauminzer, it was voted unanimously to recommend the
decision of the Building Commissioner be upheld, and pointing out that
overturning the decision of the Building Commissioner would also lead to a
situation requiring several substantial variances to build on the small lot
that would be created.
80 Westview Street, Colin Richardson, SP, to demolish an existing structure
and construct an automobile repair facility in the CM district. The Board
agreed to postpone consideration of this application until next week, pend-
ing the outcome of the vote on Article 43.
Minutes for May b, 1987 Page 2
The Board also agreed to make no comment on the following application:
643 Waltham Street, James Catalano, SP, to continue operation of retail
business.
************************ ARTICLES FOR 1987 TOWN MEETING ************************
139. Article 43. Comprehensive Commercial Revision: The Board agreed they would
support the amendment, proposed by Town Meeting Member Webb Sussman, which would
add in Section 12.3.4 of the Zoning By -Law, an additional "action and program":
"6) bicycle parking facilities, and other measures such as locker and shower
facilities to encourage bicycle commuting."
The Board unanimously agreed to oppose the amendment, proposed by Dean Curtin,
which would designate the Getty gas station, Auto Engineering and small office
properties on Marrett Road near Spring Street, to be in the CLO, local office
district.
The meeting was adjourned at 7:59 p.m.
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Martha C. Wood, Clerk