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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1987-07-14PLANNING BOARD MINUTES FOR JULY 141 1987 The meeting of the Lexington Planning Board held in Room G-15, Town Office Build- ing, was called to order at 7:37 p.m. by the Chairman, Mrs. Uhrig, with members Klauminzer, Sorensen, Williams, Planning Director Bowyer and Assistant Planner Rawski present. Mrs. Wood arrived during Item #189. 188. Approval of Minutes: The Board reviewed and corrected the minutes for the meeting of May 11, 1987. On the motion of Mr. Sorensen, seconded by Mrs. Klau- minzer, it was voted unanimously to approve the minutes of May'll, 1987, as corrected. On the motion of Mr. Sorensen, seconded by Mrs. Klauminzer, it was voted 3-0-1 (Mrs. Uhrig abstained as she did not attend the meeting), to approve the minutes for the meeting of May 6, 1987 as written. On the motion of Mr. Sorensen, seconded by Mrs. Klauminzer, it was voted unani- mously to approve the minutes for the meeting of May 13, 1987 as written. ****************** COMPREHENSIVE PLANNING, POLICIES **************************** 1987-88 AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROGRAM 189. New Muiti-Family Affordable Housing Developments, Criteria for Sites: Mr. Bowyer suggested the Board develop criteria for the selection of sites for multi- family affordable housing developments, then circulate the draft to appropriate committees and boards for comment. Mrs. Klauminzer asked at what point the Housing Advisory Committee could get involved in the site selection process. She felt they should play a larger role and be a source of advice throughout the process. She added it was often more difficult financially to develop and maintain smaller sites. She also suggested they identify sites that will be difficult to develop conventionally. Mr. Soren- sen recommended the sites not be located in areas of high density. The Board discussed whether the sites should be near schools, shopping and trans- portation. Mrs. Klauminzer suggested they identify sites that are not perceived as suitable for single-family housing, such as Katandin Woods, Lowell Street, the Sellars property and Treetops. Mr. Williams preferred consideration of small sites, such as Judges Way, a maxi- mum of 16 unit sites, unobtrusive and not offensive to neighborhoods. He added concentrations of affordable housing should be avoided; that environmentally sensitive or valuable property not be considered and that the Board be alert for conversion possibilities of industrial or institutional buildings, such as the Metropolitan State Hospital, for use as affordable housing. The Board discussed several properties having potential as sites for affordable housing. Mrs. Wood arrived during discussion of item #189. Minutes for July, 14, 1987 Page 2 DETERMINATION OF GRADE AND CONSTRUCTION OF UNACCEPTED STREET 190. Revision of Policy of Construction Standards: The Board discussed whether to reduce from 300 feet to 150 feet the requirement for paving a portion of unaccepted street in front of a building lot before a building permit can be issued for the construction of a new dwelling unit. Mrs. Wood supported the reduction to 150 feet and made a motion to that effect. There was no second to the motion. Mr. Williams opposed the motion, saying it would not produce afford- able housing. Mr. Sorensen favored leaving the length at 300 feet and not making the standards so stringent. The Board agreed to invite the Town Engineer to the next meeting and obtain his recommendations, before making a final decision. ****************** ADMINISTRATION OF LAND DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS ************** PLANS NOT REQUIRING APPROVAL UNDER THE SUBDIVISION CONTROL LAW 191. Form A/87-17. Meriam Street and Oakmount Circle: The Board reviewed a plan showing the division of a parcel of land into three lots, one showing its front- age on Oakmount Circle, an unaccepted street. The Board agreed Oakmount Circle is not of adequate grade and construction to provide frontage for a building lot on an unaccepted street. On the motion of Mr. Sorensen. seconded by Mrs. Wood, it was voted unanimously: to not endorse the plan entitled "Subdivision Plan of Land in Lexington, ' Mass.", dated June 22, 1987, prepared for John F. Snell, certified by Albert A. Romano, Registered Land Surveyor, because the proposed plan appears to create a subdivision that may require approval under the Subdivision Control Law in that it creates a lot (#3 on the plan which abuts the Oakmount Circle right of way) which does not have frontage on a way in existence when the subdivision control law became effective in Lexington, which has, in the opinion of the Planning Board, sufficient width, suitable grades, and ade- quate construction to provide for the needs of vehicular traffic in relation to the proposed use of the land abutting thereon or served thereby and, in its present condition, would not be adequate to serve additional lots. SUBDIVISION OF LAND 192. Minuteman Ridge, Scott Road, Ted Freeman, Release of Surety: Mr. Bowyer reported the property had been sold, and it appears the new owner has planted shrubbery in the conservation easement. The Board agreed the appropriate action for the Town to take would be for the Conservation Commission to enforce the provisions of the easement and for the Planning Board to release the remaining surety. On the motion of Mr. Williams, seconded by Mrs. Klauminzer, it was voted unani- mously to release the surety on the Minuteman Ridge subdivision. 193. Trinity Covenant Estates, Clematis Road, Ted Freeman, Release of Surety: Ms. Rawski reported that since the Board's vote to release the surety at their last meeting: 1) the as -built plans have been delivered to the Engineering Department, 2) the developer has been notified there are four dead trees that he must be replaced, and 3) an inspection by the Engineering Department has unco- vered a problem with one of the water connections in the street, and if it has to Minutes for July, 14, 1987 Page 3 be fixed, the street may have to be dug up. In light of this new information, Ms. Rawski did not process the release of surety. On the motion of Mr. Sorensen, seconded by Mrs. Wood, it was voted 4-0-0 (Mr. Williams was out of the room) to rescind the vote taken at the June 29, 1987 meeting (see item 4183) to release surety, until the problem with the water connection has been corrected, and the dead trees have been replaced. 194. Royal Circle, Grove Street, Barry Couette, decision on preliminary plan: On the motion of Mr. Sorensen, seconded by Mrs. Klauminzer, it was voted 4-0-0 (Mr. Williams was out of the room) to approve the preliminary subdivision plan for Royal Circle, land off Grove Street. 195. Maple Tree Estates, final release of surety: Mrs. Wood questioned whether surety should be released since the person asking for the release was not the person who provided the surety. On the motion of Mr. Williams, seconded by Mr. Sorensen, it was voted unanimously not to release the surety. 196. Graystone, Boyd -Smith, Tree Planting Plan for Dover Lane: The Board re- viewed a revised plan. Ms. Rawski reported they propose more planting than the Town requires, and the Tree Warden has also reviewed the plan. On the motion of Mr. Sorensen, seconded by Mrs. Klauminzer, it was voted unanimously to approve the tree planting plan. ' 197. Tracer Lane, Comments for Environmental Notification Form - MAPC: Ms. Rawski reported on an environmental notification form received which addresses how the developer intends to construct the subdivision, the procedure they will go through to construct the bridge and how they propose to monitor water quality after the building is constructed. The Board reviewed and approved, with cor- rections, a letter to respond to this notification, which states that not enough information has been furnished on potential long term impacts, that no mitigating measures are proposed and that recommends the applicant be required to prepare an environmental impact statement on the project. Mr. Bowyer added that before any futher distribution is made for comments on a plan that does not conform to zoning and other regulations of the Town, the plan be revised to meet Towns standards. 198. CONTINUED PUBLIC HEARING, Busa Farms Lillian Road, A & D Realty Trust definitive subdivisionplan: Mrs. Uhrig called the hearing to order at 9:05 p.m. Frank Di Pietro, of BSC - Bedford and representing the applicant, explained the revisions to the plan that have been .required by the Planning Board, the Town Engineer and the Conservation Commission. Drainage concerns were expressed by Shelia Copelotti, 30 Pearl Street, and Joan Carmini. Mr. Di Pietro commented they were upstream from the site. The hearing was closed at 9:27 p.m. 199. Toga Property, Turning Mill Road, sketchplan: Frank DiPietro, of BSC - Bedford and representing the applicant, reviewed the plan. Mrs. Wood and Mrs. Uhrig objected to the proposed 18' wide roadway. Mr. Williams objected to the roadway being 35 feet from the wetlands. The Board expressed displeasure with the plan, and said they would not consider granting the requested waivers. 1 Minutes for July, 14, 1987 Page 4 200. Simonds Estates - Mead Circle, accept surety and release lots 17, 18, 19 and 20: Ms. Rawski reported that the Town Engineer recommends surety be set at $15,000 for the completion of Mead Circle, and that Lots 17, 18, 19 and 20 can be released. On the motion of Mr. Sorensen, seconded by Mr. Williams, it was voted unanimously to set surety at $15,000 and to release Lots 17, 18, 19 and 20. ************************** REPORTS ************************************** 201. Planning Board, Subcommittees a. Hanscom Field development: Mrs. Uhrig reported on a meeting in Bedford, with Sen. Carol Amick and representatives from the HATS towns, to discuss proposed State legislation that would require any non -airport related com- mercial development proposed for Hanscom Field to conform to the town zoning where it is proposed. The meeting was adjourned at 10:05 p.m. Eleanor Klauminzer, Clerk