Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2015-07-07-RPC-min PLANNING BOARD RESIDENTIAL POLICY COMMITTEE MINUTES JULY 7, 2015 MEETING A meeting of the Lexington Planning Board Residential Policy Committee, held in the Reed Room of Town Hall, was called to order at 7:20 p.m. Members present: Ginna Johnson, Richard Canale, Michael Leon, Tom Harden and Jeri Foutter The following members of the public also participated: Marianne Lazarus, 22 Woodland Road, Melinda Walker, 14 Larchmont Lane, Todd Cataldo, 168 Grant Street. Committee Administration 1.June 23, 2015 Meeting Minutes: The June 23, 2015 Meeting Minutes were unanimously approved. 2.Public Workshop  Committee agreed to set the date for the Public Workshop - September 24, 2015  Location TBD  Historical Commission to be invited via email 3.Affordable and Attainable Housing  As part of the annual goal setting requests by the BOS, the Lexington Housing Partnership submitted a request to have an annual distribution from CPA funds to a Housing Trust in order to build up a reserve. The reserve would then be readily available to purchase properties that come to market, allowing affordable housing initiatives to be more nimble as opportunities arise. Ms. Johnson offered RPC support of the annual funding for affordable housing in scattered sites, as they become available.  Residents have expressed concern over small homes being demolished and replaced by homes three to four times the original size. Possibly, the original home could be renovated into a two family and the original footprint kept intact.  Additional discussions included the use of Inclusionary Zoning, Overlay Districts, Caregiver apartments and LIPs.  Affordable housing opportunities in Neighborhood Conservation Districts was discussed. Jennifer Van Campen, Executive Director of Metro West CDC, will be invited to speak at the RPC meeting to discuss the zoning change for scattered sites.  Ms. Johnson suggested developing a map of the town showing the location of affordable home sites, to demonstrate the history and the widespread locations. 4.Senior Housing  During the Listening Session, residents have asked about additional Senior Housing options. Comments indicated that current options for seniors wanting to remain in Lexington are expensive or far from the Center, shopping, etc. The Committee discussed if there could be different incentives or assistance to help seniors stay in their home. Topics discussed included tax deferral with forbearance or with tax lien, Town’s right of first refusal to buy at appraised value or market value, or a possible senior tax.  Most homes sold by seniors are purchased by families. The incoming families add to the increasing school children population, which is a common concern of residents. Senior housing or accessible apartments could address some of the increases in school children.  Discussion occurred on the Sellers property for Alzheimer’s residents that went through Town Meeting. Property was damaged and there were environmental issues.  Mr. Canale asked if the market is saturated. What is the resale value?  Over 55 units may be viable, possibly in the center by use of an overlay district, as of right or by special permit. The Center would be optimal as it is within walking distance to shopping, etc. There is a height restriction in the business district so additional levels (units) above retail/street level would be limited.  The following sites were discussed as potential locations: Lexington Elks, behind the Fire Station, Fire Station building and the area by the high school Field House. 5.Dimensional Controls  Mr. Harden mentioned that two thirds of the lots in Lexington are non-conforming.  Mr. Harden distributed a handout about Concord Zoning that indicated if a Concord resident expanded their home by more than 50%, they needed a special permit.  Mr. Leon suggested using similar Concord language and adding site plan review.  Ms. Johnson voiced concern that the site plan review may not be applied equally so outcomes would not be similar.  Mr. Canale offered to share Weston’s link  Mr. Canale mentioned that the floor area article was pulled from Concord’s Town Meeting because if it was passed, it couldn’t be enforced.  Mr. Canale reminded committee that Concord has an intern working and that we should collaborate on research efforts. Mr. Canale will share his Town of Concord contact with Mr. Harden.  th Mr. Leon, Mr. Cataldo and Ms. Johnson met on Monday, July 6, for a quick discussion about: the time to permit issue, arbitrary 7.5 to 15 feet side set-backs, height issues (could be addressed as a way to minimize dimension), FARs, overall setbacks and gross floor areas.  Question: Should we address issues separately as present as a complete package? 6.Residential versus Commercial Tax Revenue  As a follow-up to the previous meeting, Ms. Foutter distributed a handout on the breakdown of the FY15 tax levy - 78.3% residential versus 12.4% commercial. Information received from Rob Addleson.  Ms. Foutter distributed a handout on small lot (5K – 10K lot size) research. 7.Teardowns  Mr. Harden felt we needed: to determine the highest effect for initiatives, to gather data before we discuss initiatives, and to categorize teardowns.  Discussion occurred on investigating policy changes that control after-demo stage, Why not a FAR? and What would be the %? 8.Concord Riverwalk – Mr. Canale reminded everyone about the Concord Riverwalk Tour hosted by the Minuteman Advisory Group on Interlocal Coordination (MAGIC). 9.Neighborhood Conservation Districts  Mr. Canale provided a handout on Wellesley Denton Road Neighborhood Conservation District which included a description of the neighborhood, how it was formed & their bylaws.  Bylaws can adopt neighborhood historical restrictions  Lexington Reconnaissance Report – Mr. Canale will send link  Mr. Canale provided the Mass Historical handout – What a preservation district should look like  To apply, need 80% to make a case, some opt outs, some opt ins, less onerous that a historic district  Mr. Leon discussed Article 46B – how do they define district restrictions, 27 page report on what makes it distinctive, what is the neighborhood trying to preserve?  Town’s General Bylaw – determines what a district will have, but each neighborhood can be different. 10.Meeting adjourned at 9:45 p.m. 11.Next Planning Board – Residential Policy Ad-Hoc Committee Meeting: Tuesday, July 21, 2015, Town Office Building – Parker Room 1625 Mass Ave at 7:15 p.m. Scribe Pro Temp: Jeri Foutter Documents Attached: Agenda, Sign-in Sheet, FY15 Residential vs. Commercial Tax Levy, Concord Riverwalk email, Wellesley Denton Road Neighborhood Conservation District