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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1988-01-25PLANNING BOARD MEETING MEETING OF JANUARY 25, 1988 The meeting of the Lexington Planning Board held in Room G-15, was called to order at 7:41 p.m. by the Chairman, Mrs. Uhrig, with members Klauminzer, Soren- sen, Williams, Planning Director Bowyer and Assistant Planner Rawski present. Mrs. Wood joined the meeting between items 30 and 31. 27. Annual Report: The Board reviewed a draft of the annual report and made a number of editing changes. On the motion of Mr. Sorensen, seconded by Mrs. Klauminzer, it was voted 4-0 to approve the annual report as amended. ******************** ADMINISTRATION OF LAND DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS *********** SUBDIVISION OF LAND 28. Tracer Lane, Definitive Subdivision Plan: Mr. Bowyer reported that the Board had until February 25, 1988 to file its decision with the Town Clerk. Assuming the Board would act on the decision on February 22, it would have to hold the public hearing earlier. It was agreed that the public hearing would be February 17, and that the notice of the public hearing would refer to plans on file in the Planning Board office as of that date. The Board will not conduct the hearing on plans submitted at the last minute or at the hearing. Mr. Williams asked that all of the material recently received by the Cambridge ' Water Board be distributed in addition to the summary letter. He noted that the fire Chief had required that there be two means of access for the Raytheon devel- opment off Spring Street. His requirement caused Raytheon to apply to the Board of Appeals for permission to have an emergency access road out to Shade Street. Mr. Williams thought that was relevant to the Planning Board's requirement that there be two means of access to a property which is more than 650 feet from a through street. ********************* ARTICLES FOR 1988 TOWN MEETING ************************* 29. Zoning Amendments, Public Hearings: The Board agreed that it would hold public hearings on proposed zoning amendments as follows: Monday, February 22, 1988: The Conservation Commission's Minimum Develop- able Site Area, Accessory Apartments, and Middlesex Mall, CD Rezoning. Monday, February 29, 1988: Technical Corrections, Adjustments - Various Sections, and Nonconforming Situations. 30. Accessory Apartment Amendment: The Board continued its review of the pro- posed amendment dealing with accessory apartments, working from the draft dated 1/22/87. The four members present agreed the minimum floor area in a dwelling in a dwelling should be reduced to 2,000 sq. ft. The four members agreed to have the maximum size be 35% or 1,000 sq. ft. of floor area whichever is less. The members agreed that an addition could be constructed to bring a dwelling over the 2,000 sq. ft. threshold provided the lot conformed with the requirements for the district in which it was located and there were no other setback violations. For an accessory apartment to be constructed in an existing accessory structure, it was agreed the lot would have to conform to the requirements for the district Minutes for meeting of January Z5, 1988 in which it was located. It was agreed to retain the requirement that an acces- sory apartment must be a dwelling connected to public water and sewer service. Mrs. Wood joined the meeting at this point. ******************** ADMINISTRATION OF LAND DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS *********** SUBDIVISION OF LAND 31. 90 North Hancock Street Preliminary Plan, PUBLIC INFORMATION MEETING: David Crispin of BSC Engineering, speaking in behalf of the applicant, Jeffrey Hodgdon, presented the plans. One difference in this subdivision plan is that it is proposed to have the right-of-way of the turnaround flattened on one side; that leaves enough room for a turnaround. Mr. Hodgdon explained that all the land formerly owned by Mrs. Ruth Morey, had the potential for four lots. On one lot, facing Blake Road, Mr. Hodgdon has built his own house. He proposes to subdivide the remaining land, providing one lot for the existing house and one new lot. He wants the land developed with only one new house rather than the two he might squeeze out of the property. The Board discusssed the width of the street to be constructed within the right- of-way. Mr. Crispin said that it was proposed to have it be a private street privately maintained. Mr. Williams thought a reduction to 18 feet in width would be acceptable, but there must be a sidewalk. After discussion it was finally ' agreed the street width could be reduced to 22 feet with a meandering sidewalk not necessarily adjoining the street. Stanley Casazza, 99 Hancock Street, pointed out that the trees along the proper- ty line blocked the view coming out of the driveway where the proposed street would be located. It was agreed that the definitive site plan should show safe sight distances for entering and exiting. Another resident inquired whether the owner of the newly constructed house would have the right to build a driveway connecting directly into North Hancock Street rather than into the proposed subdivision street. That would be undesirable for both traffic and visual reasons. It was agreed that a condition could be includ- ed into the subdivision approval, that would run with the land, that no driveway could be built connecting into North Hancock Street. 32. Ridge Estates III, Establishment of Surety: The Board was in receipt of a recommendation from the Town Engineer dated 1/20/88 that $41,278.75 was needed as surety for completion of the subdivision. On the motion of Mr. Sorensen, se- conded by Mrs. Klauminzer, it was voted 5-0-0 to set the amount of surety at $42,000. PLANS NOT REQUIRING APPROVAL UNDER THE SUBDIVISION CONTROL LAW 33. Form A/88-1, 37 Walnut Street, Robert E Phelan: Mr. Bowyer explained that that a side lot line was being adjusted because a deck had been constructed too close to the existing sideyard lot line. On the motion of Mr. Sorensen, seconded by Mrs. Wood, it was voted 5-0: Minutes for meeting of January 25, 1988 -3- to endorse the plan entitled "Plan of Land in Lexington, Mass. (Middlesex County)" dated January 22, 1988, by The BSC Group - Bedford, Inc. certified by Norman Irving Lipsitz, Professional Land Surveyor, with form A/88-1 by applicant Robert E. Phelan . On the motion of Mrs. Wood, seconded by Mrs. Klauminzer it was voted to authorize the Planning Director to sign the plan in behalf of the Board. 34. Turnbury Hill: The Board reviewed a proposed response to Otis Brown about the Turnbury Hill sketch plan. Mr. Sorensen suggested that there be no qualify- ing language in the response to minimize the length of the 10% grade. None 'of the other members favored deleting that language. On the motion of Mrs. Klau- minzer, seconded by Mr. Williams, it was voted 4-1, with Mr. Sorensen opposed, to approve the letter to Mr. Brown. ************************ ARTICLES FOR 1988 TOWN MEETING *********************** 35. Zoning Amendment, Adjustments, Various Sections: The Board resumed its review of the proposed amendment working on the draft dated 1/21/88. It was agreed that a commercial vehicle not larger than 10,000 pounds, gross vehicle weight rating, which is the size of a large pick-up truck, would be suitable for the one commercial vehicle permitted to be parked outdoors. The one other com- mercial vehicle, permitted to be parked in a garage only, could have a weight not in excess of 15,000 pounds gross vehicle weight rating. ' In proposed section 9.3.5 dealing with the type of buildings permitted in a cluster subdivision, it was agreed to include specific references to semi-detach- ed dwellings and townhouses and to refer to the definition section. Other gram- mar and editing changes were made. It was agreed the proposed amendment was in adequate shape to advertise and conduct the public hearing. Other changes can be made after the public hearing. 36. Article E, Incentives for Affordable Housing: The Board continued its review of the draft dated 12-17-88. Mrs. Wood and Mrs. Uhrig expressed concern about permitting the Board of Appeals to reduce the dimensional standards by up to one third on isolated lots. They have received a number of negative comments about construction of houses on undersized grandfathered lots. While the objec- tive of promoting affordable housing is desirable, it should not result in a further crowding of land on undersized lots, many of which are in older neighbor- hoods that already appear more crowded. They also questioned whether Town Meet- ing would concur in the density bonus proposed for cluster developments. It was agreed that the Article would not be presented to the 1988 Town Meeting and that the Board of Selectmen should be notified that the Article is withdrawn. The Board may wish to reexamine the subject at a later time. ********************************* REPORTS ************************************ 37. Planning Department Staff: a. Resignation of Jennie Rawski: Mrs. Uhrig expressed the regrets of all the members of the Board that Assistant Planner Jennie Rawski had resigned her position to take a new job with the Executive Office of Communities and L, - Minutes for meeting of January 25, 1988 Development. Mrs. Uhrig presented Ms. Rawski with a framed pen and ink sketch of Buckman Tavern as a memento of her 2 1/2 years of service to the Planning Board. She expressed the Board's appreciation for the outstanding work that Jennie had done and the highly professional way in which she had conducted herself. 38. Reports. Planning Board. Subcommittees a. Bond Sale, Choate Symmes: Mrs. Wood and Mr. Williams expressed objec- tion to receiving a solicitation for the sale of bonds to finance construc- tion of the Choate Symmes Brookhaven Life Care Center. It is inappropriate and could be interpreted to be a conflict of interest, for members of the Planning Board who have voted on the proposal to invest in the development. b. Minuteman Article on Affordable Housing: Mrs. Klauminzer registered her objection to the headline and incorrect reporting of the meeting held on January 6 on affordable housing attended by various boards and committees. The Planning Board did not "nix" the use of the Monroe School for housing, and has not taken any vote on it. c. Board of Appeals Hearings: Mrs. Uhrig reported on Board of Appeals decisions for the hearings on January 21, 1988. A new landscaping plan was submitted for the Toyota agency on Massachusetts Avenue and the Board of Appeals approved a variance calling for a 27 foot setback. The Board of Appeals approved the special permit with site plan review for Raytheon, including the principal condition recommended by the Planning Board. The meeting was adjourned at 10:23 p.m. ev��f Eleanor Klauminzer, Clerk