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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1988-05-04PLANNING BOARD MINUTES MEETING OF MAY 4, 19$8 The meeting of the Lexington planning Board, held in Room G-15, Town Office Building was called to order at 7:08 p.m. by the Chairman, Mrs. Uhrig, with members Klauminzer, Sorensen, Williams, Wood, Planning Director Bowyer and Assistant Planner Nordby present. ****************** ARTICLES FOR 1988 TOWN MEETING ******************* 134. Article 39, Adjustments: In response to a question from Mr. Williams as to the status of Article 39, Mr. Bowyer said that since Part C of the Article did not pass, the provisions for the calculation of density in cluster developments in the current Zoning By -Law remain in effect. Several members report on concerns that had been expressed to them after the last town meeting session about the amount of discretion the defeated amendment appeared to give to the Board as the special permit granting authority. Mrs. Klauminzer noted, and the Board agreed, that since questions remain as to what effect Part C of Article 39 would have on the process of zoning administration, and since the current By -Law will be unchanged by the defeat of Part C, the Board should not press for reconsideration of Part C. Town Meeting Member Ephraim Weiss joined the meeting. Mr. Bowyer briefly reviewed the conflicts in the Zoning By -Law that occur as a result of Mr. Weiss' amendment to Part D of Article 39 which passed at Monday's Town Meeting (see the minutes of May 2, 1988). Mrs. Klauminzer recommended that she move reconsideration making clear to the Town Meeting that she intended to promptly move indefinite postponement. Mr. Weiss noted his purpose had been to simplify the By -Law. He felt the Zoning By -Law had become too complicated and hard to understand. He had not realized the interdependent nature of various sections of the By -Law. He hoped in the future the Board would try to untangle some of this interdepen- dency. He agreed to support and to speak in favor of reconsideration of Part D of Article 39. Mr. Weiss also noted the definition section of the By -Law needed strengthen- ing. He felt the definitions scattered in other sections of the By -Law should be consolidated into the definition section, and volunteered his time and efforts to this task. Mr. Sorensen recommended the Board propose reconsideration of the original motion under Part D. The rest of the Board did not agree. Mrs. Uhrig said, and the Board agreed, this would open the door to further undesirable amend- ments being proposed, adding that although she agreed with Mr. Sorensen in principle, she felt the reality was problems and confusion would result. 135. Article 41, Accessory Apartment, Bussgang amendment: Mrs. Uhrig repor- ted that after the passage of Article 41, Town Meeting Member Julian Buss - gang has drafted an amendment, he proposes to bring up under reconsidera- tion, because of concerns about nonconforming height, setbacks, etc., occur- ring as a result of allowing the use of an accessory structure for an acces- Meeting of May 4, 1988 -2- sory apartment. She reported there may be problems with the moderator accepting the filing of this amendment by Mr. Bussgang. After talking with Mrs. Rawls, it was reported that he would defer the presentation of his amendment for this town meeting, and he will ask the Planning Board propose it as a technical correction next year. 136. Article 134, Joint Housing Report: Mr. Bowyer reported there appeared to be some confusion about the nature of this article; that it was a report on what action has been taken in response to the charge contained in the Housing Resolution passed at the 1987 Annual Town Meeting. Apparently various citizen's groups plan to use this article to speak in opposition to the Engler report and the use of school sites in their precincts for afford- able housing. Mr. Williams left the meeting at this time. ************* ADMINISTRATION OF LAND DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS ******** PLANS NOT REQUIRING APPROVAL UNDER THE SUBDIVISION CONTROL LAW 137. Form A/88-7, Maple Street, Pheasant Brook Estates: The Board reviewed a plan showing a rearrangement of existing lot lines to combine developable upland area onto one lot, shown as Lot 2, which meets the frontage and lot area requirements of the residential zone it is in. Lots 1 and 3 are not buildable lots, and that is stated on the drawing. On the motion of Mr. ' Sorensen, seconded by Mrs. Klauminzer, it was voted 4-0-0: - to endorse the plan entitled "Compiled Plan of Land in Lexington, Mass., (Middlesex County)" dated April 15, 1988, by BSC Group - Bed ford, Inc., certified by Norman Lipsitz, Professional Land Surveyor, for Robert Cataldo with Form A/88-7, as it does not require approval under the Subdivision Control Law. SUBDIVISION OF LAND 138. Pond Court, off Lowell Street, Sketch Plan: The Board continued its review of a sketch plan showing a two lot cluster subdivision, each lot containing two dwelling units. The RO residentially zoned property is near the Friend Lumber Company and is across the street from the Middlesex Mall in Burlington. The Board generally favored the plan and instructed the staff to prepare a memorandum advising them to proceed to the preliminary plan stage, with the addition of more information and a rearrangement of the service drive to provide the dwelling units with a more pleasant view. On the motion of Mrs. Wood, seconded by Mrs. Klauminzer, it was voted 4-0-0 to approve the sketch plan, with their recommendations as contained in a staff memo. *************************** REPORTS ******************************** 139. Planning Board, Subcommittees a. Pine Meadows Advisory Committee: Mrs. Klauminzer reported on the progress of this committee. They have had two meetings; they have elected Margaret Rawls, chairman. They have met with Landscape Archi- tect Gary Larson and Conservation Administrator Charles Wyman and agree Meeting of May 4, 1968 -3- the intent of the committee will be to offer an alternative to having the land developed privately, examining a range of how much or how little should be done by private development. Messrs. Wyman and Larson will report back in two weeks with options for future discussion. Town Counsel was invited to come and explain Chapter 61B in more detail for the committee. b. Bikeway Path Committee: Mrs. Wood reported the final hearing on the design plan will be held May 12, 1988. c. HATS meeting schedule: Mrs. Uhrig reported the next meeting would be held on May 5, 1988. The meeting was adjourned at 7:54 p.m. L Eleanor Klauminzer, Clerk