HomeMy WebLinkAbout2019-11-12-PB-min
PLANNING BOARD MINUTES
MEETING OF November 12, 2019
A meeting of the Lexington Planning Board, held in the Parker Room, in the Town Office
Building was called to order at 6:33 p.m. by Chair Bob Creech with members Ginna Johnson,
Charles Hornig, Robert Peters, Richard Canale, and planning staff Sheila Page present. The
meeting was also taped by LexMedia for later on-demand viewing.
*************************BOARD ADMINISTRATION****************************
Discussion & Recommendations for Special Town Meeting Planning and related articles:
Mr. Creech indicated that the Board had previously voted on and drafted reports for those articles
to be considered by the Special Town Meeting.
Mr. Creech then briefly highlighted the points from the written report that he would mention in
his oral presentation to the Special Town Meeting.
With regard to Article 7, to Amend the Zoning By-law and zoning map, 186 Bedford Street, he
indicated that he would mention:
Addition of bicycle storage
Improvements that the property owner made to the site plan with regard to parking and
transition zones to residential abutters.
The barn would be preserved, and utilized as the on site office and not as rentable
commercial space.
The Planning Board previously voted 5-0-0 in support of the article.
With regard to Article 6, Amend Zoning Bylaw to Restrict Automatic Teller Machine as a
Principal Use in the Center Business District Mr. Creech indicated that the rationale for the
change was to be consistent with the intent of Town Meeting’s prior action to restrict banking
uses in the Center Business District, and to support by by-law the Building Commissioner’s and
the Zoning Board of Appeal’s action in regard to a bank’s application to lease a storefront in the
Center solely for un-staffed ATM presence. The Planning Board previously voted 4-1-0 in
support of this article. Mr. Creech then asked how he should describe the minority vote of the
Board for this article. Mr. Hornig shared that, in his opinion, it was not worth the time and effort
to make this change since the circumstances were extremely limited where a bank could make a
Page 2 Minutes for the Meeting of November 12, 2019
case for an ATM use as a primary use in the Center based on the interpretation of the Building
Commissioner and the Zoning Board of Appeal.
Next, Mr. Hornig reviewed his presentation on Article 5, Petition to Amend Zoning Bylaw from
CD-1 District to CSX District - 7 Hartwell Avenue. He indicated that Article 5 was the best way
to accomplish this change in the short term and that the intention of the Board was to include this
site in the future rezoning of the Hartwell Avenue area. The Planning Board previously voted 5-0-
0 in support of this article.
Then Mr. Hornig reviewed his presentation on Article 8, Appropriate Funding for 25% Design of
the Route 4/225 Bedford Street-Hartwell Avenue-Wood Street Transportation Improvement
Project. He indicated that this has been a goal of the Planning Board since 2009, and that the
Board had previously voted 5-0-0 in support of this article.
Review and Approval of the Minutes of September 25, October 16 & October 30, 2019
Mr. Creech then brought up the minutes for the Planning Board meeting of September 25, 2019.
A typographical error on page 5 of the draft was corrected.
Motion: To approve the minutes of the September 25, 2019 Planning Board meeting as corrected.
Moved: Mr. Hornig
nd
2: Mr. Canale
Vote: 5-0-0
Then came the minutes for the Planning Board meeting of October 16, 2019.
Motion: To approve the minutes for the Planning Board meeting of October 16, 2019.
Moved: Mr. Hornig
nd
2: Mr. Canale
Vote: 5-0-0
Next, the minutes of the October 30 meeting were discussed, and board members felt that there
were additions and corrections needed prior to approval. Mr. Creech then indicated that
Minutes for the Meeting of November 12, 2019 Page 3
consideration of the minutes of the October 30 meeting would be postponed until the next
regularly scheduled Planning Board meeting.
Next, Ms. Page advised the Board of the likely agenda items for the next meeting which is
scheduled for November 20, 2019.
With no further business, Mr. Creech requested a motion to adjourn.
Motion: To adjourn
Moved: Mr. Hornig
nd
2: Mr. Canale
Vote: 5-0-0
Documents used during the November 12, 2019 Planning board meeting
November 12, 2019 Planning Board Agenda
Article 6 PPP slide for Special Town Meeting 2019-1– one page
Mr. Creech’s town meeting notes for Article7
Article 6 Planning Board Report
Article 7 Planning Board Report
Article 8 Planning Board Report
Robert D. Peters, Clerk