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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2018-07-19-PB-min PLANNING BOARD MINUTES MEETING OF JULY 19, 2018 A meeting of the Lexington Planning Board, held in the Selectmen’s Meeting Room, was called to order at 7:01 p.m. by Chair, Ginna Johnson with members Charles Hornig, Nancy Corcoran- Ronchetti, Richard Canale, and Bob Creech, and planning staff Carol Kowalski, David Kucharsky, and Lori Kaufman present. There was an audience member recording the meeting. *******************************STAFF REPORTS******************************** General Updates: The Planning Director search has been reopened until filled, with a milestone date of July 27, 2018. The Town Manager search has 42 candidates and will be brought down to 3 or 4 names for interviews. LCB Senior Living has refiled for 331 Concord Avenue for an assisted living facility. Staff expects 7 Hartwell Avenue will be filing for a rezoning to a CSX District. Hartwell Avenue Zoning Initiative Update: The joint sponsors of the Board of Selectmen and the Planning Board of this initiative agree this item will not be ready for the Fall Special Town Meeting. They have selected a consultant and realistically should have it ready by the spring for the 2019 Annual Town Meeting. *********************DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION************************ 167-177 Cedar Street (Winding road) Conventional Subdivision Tripartite Reduction Request: The applicant, Finnegan Development is requesting a reduction on their Tri-Partite agreement by $171,673.16. All the work completed has been reviewed and accepted by the Engineering Department. On a motion of Mr. Hornig, seconded by Mr. Canale, it was voted, 5-0, to approve the reduction of the Tri-Partite Agreement in amount of $171,673.16. 443 Lincoln Street, Definitive Balanced Housing Development (BHD) Special Permit Discuss decision: Ms. Johnson recused herself from this special permit and Mr. Leon, Associate Planning Board Member will sit in her place for this special permit discussion. Vice Chair Mr. Creech said the Planning Board will discuss any changes to the draft decision. Mr. Canale filed the Mullin Rule certification and will participate in this matter. Page 2 Minutes for the Meeting of July 19, 2018 Board Comments:  Rewording on page 7 regarding the fiscal impacts and development will be over seen by the owners and condo association  The trail connection is based on the new trail change revision on the plans dated July 12 showing walking trails.  The common open space should exclude the driveway.  Clarify condition 6.  Have you spoken with abutters about speed bump on the road and speak with Mr. Kucharsky regarding that. The applicant said if the Town wants a speed bump it should be done by the municipality and we will contribute.  Will this be a condo? Mr. Rhuda said yes. Note on the decision this is a condo association.  In special condition #10 there is concern of this development’s impact on the Hobbs Brook Reservoir and add wording the applicant shall comply with all applicable requirements of any Town of Lexington post construction stormwater management requirements which may be adopted subsequent to the issuance of the permit with an annual report to the Cambridge Water Department and the Town of Lexington.  Open space is it open to the public or only identified walkways?  Are areas of contiguous open space for connectivity for the public to use?  In special condition #8 the schedule of maintenance compliance should be specific and incorporated by attachment or reference.  Make sure the Cambridge letter is attached for reference. On a motion of Mr. Hornig, seconded by Mr. Canale, it was voted, 4-1, (Ms. Corcoran-Ronchetti opposed), to approve the draft decision as modified for the 443 Lincoln Street BHD. On a motion of Mr. Hornig, seconded by Mr. Canale, it was voted, 5-0 to authorize the Planning Director to sign on the Board’s behalf. PUBLIC HEARINGS 8 Adams Street, Definitive Site Sensitive Special Permit (SSD): Mr. Hornig filed with the Town Clerk a Disclosure of Appearance of Conflict of Interest as required by G.L.c. 268A, § 23(b)(3) regarding 8 Adams Street and believes he can be objective with this project and will participate. Chair, Ms. Johnson, opened the continued public hearing at 7:36 p.m. with approximately 60 people in the audience. Minutes for the Meeting of July 19, 2018 Page 3 Present was Gary Larson, landscape architect, Randy Hiller, applicant, Mike Cappelltti, project engineer from Meridian, Patricia Nelson, attorney, and Collin Smith, architect. Mr. Larson said the Hillers have lived there for over 25 years and want to do a SSD on 1.4 acres and preserve the home built in 1903 and construct a new low profile home where the 3 car garage exists. The proof plan shows two lots. The garage was approved for demolition by the Historical Commission in 2016. The revised plans reduced the size of the driveway from 20 to 18 feet which was discussed with the Fire Chief who would prefer a 20 foot wide street. The landscape plan shows additional buffering for privacy. The applicant is asking for relief from site coverage for the SSD which would be 883 feet over the limit. Individual Board Comments:  You got permission to take down the garage have you discussed anything about the main house? Mr. Smith said he has not reviewed the project with the Historical Commission recently, but did speak with the Building Commissioner and are not changing more than one wall of the house so it is not considered a substantial demolition.  What is the necessity for a three-car garage as opposed to a two-car garage? The existing home has a three car garage so just looking to put back what is currently there.  The Fire Department does not have to give you a permit no matter what the Planning Board approves. Staff spoke with Assistant Fire Chief who is comfortable with the 18 foot width for the common drive.  See there are retaining walls for the proposed dwelling will there be any for the existing house?  The trees that are proposed why did you choose a Ginkgo tree? They are hearty trees. Did you look into the historic landscape? No. Audience Comments:  The immediate abutter lived here for 57 years and said they have lost a tremendous number of trees. The more hot top added the more drainage issues there will be.  Want the mansion preserved.  Would like a special condition to protect the drainage. Individual Board Comments:  Like the circular driveway.  Like the two-story house better than the 2.5 story house even with the extra site coverage. Not sure about the waiver.  Like to see more trees added. Page 4 Minutes for the Meeting of July 19, 2018  Like the plan as it stands. Keep the consistent appearance for Adams Street. Mr. Hiller invited neighbors to meet and have some abutters who like the plan.  Tighten up additional screening for the two neighbors.  Would favor an 18 foot width driveway. Get in writing from Assistant Fire Chief that would be acceptable.  The new house needs to feel smaller and subservient to the existing mansion.  Concerned that the landscape plan should have additional plantings and a historic perspective and not Ginkgo trees. Mr. Larson said the Ginkgo trees are there to allow you to see the house as you pass it. This should be referenced with historic trees and come back to us.  If the footprint can be changed to save the trees would like more plantings. Mr. Hiller said a smaller home would be more out of place.  Take the overage on site coverage out of the carriage house replacement. Mr. Cappeletti said there is additional infiltration systems to prevent extra water flow off the site.  Want the reduction of site coverage from carriage house and simplified. The Board recessed from 8:27 p.m. to 8:29 p.m. On a motion of Mr. Hornig, seconded by Mr. Richard, it was voted, 5-0, to close the public hearing at 8:30 p.m. Staff will draft a decision for the next meeting. 55-56 Watertown Street (Belmont Country Club) Planned Development 3 (PD3): Chair, Ms. Johnson, opened the public hearing at 8:30 p.m. with approximately 70 people in the audience. Present was John Farrington, attorney, Ted Tye, managing partner for National Development, Steve Senna, vice president of National Development, Christine McVay, senior project manager for Stantec. Mr. Farrington said this will be a rezoning. Mr. Tye reviewed the project, the company’s history, the website, and outreach made to abutters. There will be 116 Independent living units and 40 assisted living units on the 13.18 acres and 48 memory care units on 4.35 acres. This is a non-medical residential unit facility and restricted to resident 62 year and older with 15% affordability units that can be counted on the SHI. Individual Board Comments:  Get a letter from the Fire Department for the emergency access for memory care.  Is the restricted age of 62 for both facilities?  Is the tree buffer going to remain as shown, which is 50 feet? Minutes for the Meeting of July 19, 2018 Page 5  Is the chain link fence coming down? Mr. Senna is discussing with the Golden Avenue residents and the thought is to have less disturbance and keep what currently exists.  There will be approximately 127 emergency calls annually to which building about 2 per week. This was for both buildings.  This should be a slam dunk, but the Planning Board has gotten more negative responses than any other development. Mr. Canale went through the PSDUP for clarifications and corrections.  There was concern expressed that this is a non- medical facility.  Like affordable housing.  Trees at the entry are good but when looking at grading plans which needs huge retaining walls find this to be unacceptable. This site plan has a long way to go.  There was concern expressed that there was not agreement on the traffic counts and that the impacts are negligible. Audience Comments:  What kind of income would a senior have to have? Mr. Tye the average age of seniors is in the early 80’s rents are $5000 per month plus services.  If this project was proposed 25 years ago it would be good, but this is a little country lane and is bizarre with the progress of commuters that this is the worst intersection. This is the most impossible location.  nd Who is the land owner of the parcels? Belmont Country Club. This is the 2 project and ask that a conservation restriction be placed on the remaining 50 acres.  Make these buildings green with LEEDs certification.  How many staff are you planning for? Don’t have that information yet but approximately 30 in the Bridges full time employees and the ratio across the street and maybe 60 full time employees 24 hours a day.  There is a big need for this type of care. The parking you have is not sufficient.  Consider units for spouse who want to stay together even if only one needs memory care and the other does not. Consider 10 affordable units in Bridges.  The design of the large building looks very institutional.  This is the wrong site and out of proportion to that property. This is about scale and the traffic study which did not take into consideration the feeder street.  Would prefer to not see the top of the building from Route 2. Page 6 Minutes for the Meeting of July 19, 2018  The average age for residents is in the 80s but people at 62+ still use cars? This type of housing is not really for 62 who are still working and active the reality is that most people will not go to one of these housing units.  Winter Street is not road conducive to adding additional traffic. Running infrastructure to that site will be difficult on the local abutters.  The trees are not evergreens and after 6 months the structures will be seen.  The HVAC units were not shown on the building.  The other units you compared to they are in urban areas and there is transportation available and there is no transportation available at this location.  The scale and style of this project is like no other anywhere in the area around it.  Is this the right development for the site? If it is approved it should match the architectural structures around it.  Greenways corridor would like a provision to include a trail link to Pleasant Street, have the applicant paying for the survey and build, and give money to the Town for mowing.  The Wellesley project is at 80% affordable.  With the downward slope of the Bridges building how many homes would be able to see the building with the slope and buffer?  A Belmont traffic officer came here to get information on the traffic safety and asked to be part of the conversation with safety.  The Town of Lexington does not have a K-9 unit and look into fencing to provide safety for memory care residents.  Traffic is a primary concern and the thought of adding this additional traffic will be difficult and further studies need to be done.  We seriously need this housing if this not in the right place then be part of the downtown area like the Douglas House.  Look at the true impact of the staffing.  Consider the environmental impact on lighting, HVAC, construction, and rodent problems.  Provide pedestrian access to get to Belmont. Individual Board Comments: What was said by the Fire Department? We submitted everything and are waiting for a response from them.  Regarding noise from air conditioning do we have documents showing their location? Minutes for the Meeting of July 19, 2018 Page 7  The architectural plans look loose in terms of elevation. We need architectural design and the building footprint is too large. Lower the Bridge building roofline.  Were there elevator structures on the roof? On a motion of Mr. Hornig, seconded by Ms. Corcoran-Ronchetti, it was voted, 5-0, to continue the public hearing to August 30, 2018, at 7:00 p.m. in the Selectmen’s Meeting Room. *************************BOARD ADMINISTRATION************************* Comprehensive Plan Update: A public event (World Café) will be September 25, 2018 in Battin Hall at 7:00 p.m. Two more public events will be held on October 23 and November 27. Upcoming Meetings & Anticipated Meetings: The next meeting is August 16 to open the public hearing for 331 Concord Avenue (Planned Development). August 30 is the continued public hearing for the Belmont Country Club. The site visit for Fairland Street will be attended by Mr. Canale on August 5, 2018. Minutes: On a motion of Charles Hornig, seconded by Nancy Corcoran-Ronchetti it was voted, 5-0, to approve the minutes of June 4, as amended, June 7, and 21 as submitted. On a motion, duly made and seconded, it was voted to adjourn the meeting at 10:57 p.m. The meeting was recorded by LexMedia. The following documents used at the meeting can be found on the Planning Board website in Planning Board packets.  8 Adams Definitive Site Sensitive subdivision plan set (10 pages).  Staff report regarding 8 Adams Street (2 pages).  Board of Health comments regarding 8 Adams Street (2 pages).  Abutter letters from 1 and 8 Adams Street (2 pages).  Letter from attorney Patricia Nelson regarding 8 Adams Street (8 pages).  Stormwater Analysis and Calculations for 8 Adams Street dated 5/24/18 (79 pages).  Renovation and new residence for 8 Adams Street dated 5/22/18 (1 page). Documents for (PD3) 55-56 Watertown Street (Belmont Country Club) (PSDUP)  Introductory letter  Zoning petition  Corporate overview and sample projects  Zoning text Page 8 Minutes for the Meeting of July 19, 2018  Reasons for rezone  Comparison to base zoning  Analysis of compliance with comprehensive plan  Environmental and infrastructure report  Fiscal impact analysis  Waterstone architectural drawings  Bridges architectural drawings  Waterstone site drawings  Bridges site drawings  Waterstone Stormwater management  Bridges stormwater management  Traffic study Nancy Corcoran-Ronchetti, Clerk