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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1987-11-09PLANNING BOARD MINUTES MEETING OF NOVEMBER 9, 1987 The meeting of the Lexington Planning Board held in Room G-15, Town Office Build- ing, was called to order at 7:38 p.m. by the Chairman, Mrs. Uhrig, with members Klauminzer, Sorensen, Williams, Wood, Planning Director Bowyer, Assistant Planner Rawski and Secretary Peters present. Mrs. Wood arrived at 7:55 p.m. during Item 4/288. ******************* ADMINISTRATION OF LAND DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS ************* SUBDIVISION OF LAND 286. North Street Development, action on request for extension of time: The Board reviewed a letter from Harry S. Fuller, of Carol R. Johnson & Associates, Inc, dated November 3, 1987, requesting an extension of time for action. On the motion of Mr. Sorensen, seconded by Mrs. Klauminzer, it was voted unanimously to grant an extension of time for action by the Board until November 25, 1987. 287. Turnburry Hill, Hill Street, review of draft response to sketch plan: The Board reviewed, making corrections to, a draft letter to Otis S. Brown, dated November 9, 1987, that summarized the Board's thoughts and recommendations on the development. On the motion of Mr. Sorensen, seconded by Mrs. Klauminzer, it was voted unanimously to send the letter as amended. 288. Pine Meadows, Meeting with Moore Homes: Mark Moore presented his develop- ment team: landscape architect Ronald Wood, engineer Frank DiPietro of BSC - Bedford, and architect William Hubner and Frank Carney of Moore Homes Inc. The Board discussed briefly a letter, dated November 9, 1987, prepared by Moore Associates, outlining their plans for the development of the golf course proper- ty and posing six questions for the Board. Mr. Moore noted they expect to complete the development in three years, and estimate that approximately 130 to 150 housing units can be built, after deduct- ing wetlands. He plans to gain access to the site from Cedar Street and Oxbow Road. He expressed doubts as to whether the golf course could remain open and still build that much housing. He added he hopes to avoid taking the proposal to Town Meeting because of the unpredictability of Town Meeting action. Mr. Carney reported that at an earlier meeting with the Selectmen, they had been asked to explore combining the Meagherville school site with their plans to develop the golf course. The Board expressed strongly their hopes that the golf course would remain open. Individual members suggested: the school site be examined for housing in combi- nation with an operating golf course and that a combination of various types of housing be considered rather than just single family. It was also suggested the plan could be approved on an overall concept basis, laid out in stages in greater detail over time and developed as villages in a cluster arrangement. 289. Graystone subdivision: The Board reviewed a letter from Boyd/Smith Devel- opment Trust, dated November 4, 1987, requesting a waiver from Section 6.9 of the Development Regulations concerning underground installation of electrical ser- vice, for the house at Lot 2, Dover Lane. Because of severe grade changes, they Meeting of November 9, 1987 Page 2 wished to service Lot 2 via overhead wires from Pleasant Street. After examina- tion of the plans, the Board agreed the developer should reexamine the plans for an alternate underground route from the transformer. On the motion of Mrs. Wood, seconded by Mr. Sorensen, it was voted unanimously not to grant the waiver. APPLICATIONS TO THE BOARD OF' APPEALS 290. Hearings for November 19, 1987: Mr. Williams gave an oral review of the following applications: 12 Revolutionary Road, Vladimir Schwartz, Variance, for overhang of addition over the breezeway and garage: Mr. Williams commented that at their meeting on Octo- ber 26, 1987, the Planning Board had noted the original application should have been for a variance rather than for a a special permit. The Board continued to agree that granting the variance would result in a superior design more in keep- ing with the rest of the dwelling and the neighborhood. It recommended the variance be granted. 544 Lowell Street, Peter Cavallaro, renewal of a special permit, to operate a commercial greenhouse in the RO residential district: The Board agreed they had no objection to the renewal of the special permit for a period of not more than five years, provided the same conditions contained in the previous special permit are included in this special permit. 11 Bowker Street, George S. Grey, Jr., special permit, to operate a television ' repair business from his home. Mr. Williams reported the applicant said he had conducted the same sort of business on Cherry Street without any problems. The Board agreed this use could not be considered a home occupation and should not be permitted in a residential district. They felt that granting the permit would give the applicant an unfair economic advantage over similar businesses who rent space in the properly zoned commercial districts in town. On the motion of Mr. Sorensen, seconded by Mrs. Wood, it was voted unanimously to recommend the spe- cial permit be denied. 409 Massachusetts Avenue, D & R Realty Trust, special permit, additions to Lex- ington Toyota. The Board recalled being told by Mr. Brown of his plans to ac- quire additional MBTA land at the rear of his property for the proposed addi- tions. As this did not appear to have occurred as yet, the Board felt the filing of the application was premature, They noted the application did not include the landscaping plan, as required by Section 10 Landscaping, Transition and Screening, of the Zoning By -Laws. They also agreed that an application for a special permit is required to be accom- panied by a landscaping plan, and that this requirement cannot be waived or set aside verbally. On the motion of Mrs. Wood, seconded by Mr. Sorensen, it was voted unani- mously: 1) to recommend the application be returned to the applicant for the inclusion of the landscaping plan, as required by Section 10 of the Zoning By -Law and 2) to recommend that the application not be accepted for action by the Board of Appeals until the additional land from the MBTA hqs been acquired by the applicant and made a part of the submittal, or the applicant states he does not intend to acquire the parcel. 1 Meeting of November 9, 1987 Page 3 The Board also agreed to make no comment on the following applications: 10 Maguire Road, Itek Optical Systems, special permit, standing sign. 42 Paul Revere Road, Hazel, B. Merlin, special permit, continues use of a single family residence. 47 Liberty Avenue, Ming-Jer & Huan Rosa Tsai, special permit, addition of second story to dwelling. 2600 Massachusetts Avenue, Lexington Methodist Church, special permit, to install a steeple. ******************** 1988 TOWN MEETING *********************** 291. Accessory Apartments, continued discussion: Elizabeth Flemings, William Spencer, Thomas Coffman and Edmund Grant, from the Housing Advisory Committee joined the Board. Mrs. Uhrig commented the Board has been working toward imple- mentation of the Housing Resolution passed at last year's Town Meeting. This has involved the preparation of draft papers on the development of criteria for site selection for affordable housing; the allocation of tasks among various Town boards and committees, and their staffs; and work on the Town owned school sites. Mrs. Urhig asked for the Housing Advisory Committee's thoughts on amending the Accessory Apartment section of the Zoning By -Law, since the Board planned to have go to the 1988 Town Meeting with amendments. She added it would also be helpful if the Board receives input from the Committee on the criteria for sites for affordable housing, the policy issues presented in Mr. Bowyer's paper on the use of the four school sites and other issues dealing with affordable housing. There was agreement to meet again on December 7, 1987 for more discussion. ***rte********************* REPORTS ********************************** 292. Planning Director a. Pheasant Brook, Phase II: Mr. Bowyer reported that .rumors are Kahn - Quinn has, or is about to sell, Phase II to Fine Homes Realty Inc. The Board ageed the new developer should be discouraged from continuing with development of the sketch plan previously before the Board and encouraged to develop a cluster plan. b. Carriage Drive: Mr. Bowyer expressed concern about the process which allowed the Board to be placed in the position of having to react to a plan without receiving any background information in advance of the meeting. He felt the revised plan presented had not provided the Town with sufficient benefits to warrant the Board's encouraging the developer to continue its preparation. C. Parking Deck: citizens who fear accompanied with turn down. Mr. B discussion, and t present anything. minutes of their Mr. Williams reported he has been contacted by concerned the plan for a parking deck will go to Town Meeting, funding from the State, and become a difficult proposal to owyer reported there was no specific plan prepared, only he committee had a great deal of work to do before it could Mrs. Uhrig reported Mrs. Battin will send the Board recent meeting. F C Meeting of November 9, 1987 Page 4 293. Planning Board. Subcommittees a. Board of Appeals: Mr. Sorensen reported they had granted all the appli- cations for the Meeting of October 29, 1987, except they did not allow the installation of the fryolator in the Maunders application. The meeting was adjourned at 10:30 p.m. Eleanor H. Klauminzer, Clerk