HomeMy WebLinkAbout2020-12-16-PB-min
PLANNING BOARD MINUTES
MEETING OF DECEMBER 16, 2020
Minutes of the Lexington Planning Board
Held on December 16, 2020, Virtual Meeting per Governor Baker's Order at 7:00 pm
Present: Robert Creech, Chair; Robert Peters, Vice-Chair; Richard Canale; and Charles Hornig. Also present was
Amanda Loomis, Planning Director. Ginna Johnson was not in attendance at this time and may join later. Sheila
page joined the meeting in progress.
Robert Creech, Chair, read the agenda into the record, introduced members of the Planning Board and Planning
Department Staff, and called the meeting to order at 7:01 pm on Wednesday, December 16, 2020.
Mr. Creech read the following statement relative to the recent outbreak of COVID-19.
Good evening. Consistent with Governor Baker's Executive Order of March 12, 2020, suspending
specific provisions of MGL. c. 30A, §18 due to the current State of Emergency in the Commonwealth due
to the outbreak of COVID-19, this meeting of the Lexington Planning Board is being conducted remotely.
In-person attendance is not permitted at this time.
Every effort will be made to ensure that the public can adequately access real-time proceedings via
technological means. In the event access cannot be provided, an audio or video recording of this meeting
will be available for review on the Town of Lexington website or through LexMedia as soon as possible
after the meeting.
For this meeting, the Lexington Planning Board is convening by video conference via Zoom. Specific
information for remote participation by the public can be found on the Planning Office’s web page. Please
note that this meeting is being recorded.
At this time, I will provide a brief review of the meeting proceedings.
1. For each public hearing, the Planning Board will request a presentation from the Applicant or
petitioner, followed by an opportunity for the Planning Board to ask questions or provide
comments. Then the floor will be open for public comments.
2. All comments during public participation need to be limited to 2 minutes or less and must be
respectful.
3. When the time comes for public participation, if you are dialing in, you may use *6 to mute or
unmute yourself and *9 to raise or lower your hand.
4. If at any time during the meeting you have a question, please use the Q&A feature, and staff will
respond.
1) Development Administration
a) 3 Minuteman Lane and 23 Battle Green Road, ANR
Ms. Loomis explained that this ANR plan was endorsable. Mr. Hornig said it was a
conforming lot with the 125 feet of frontage. Bob Creech had difficulty reading it but
will support this with the updated information.
Page 2 Minutes for the Meeting of December 16, 2020
Charles Hornig moved that the Planning Board find on reconsideration to
determine that the Plan of land for 3 Minuteman Lane and Battle Green Road
should be endorsed as it does not require approval under the subdivision control
law. Bob Creech seconded the motion. The Planning Board voted in favor of the
motion 4-0-0 (roll call: Charles Hornig – yes; Richard Canale – yes; Robert Peters
– yes; and Bob Creech – yes). MOTION PASSED
b) 344 Lowell Street and Harrington School, ANR
This item is not ready and will be placed on the next meeting agenda for the January
6, 2021 meeting. Attorney, Pat Nelson will join us at that time.
2) Board Administration
a) Annual Town meeting Warrant Review if potential Planning Board town
Meeting Article recommendations
Ms. Loomis asked the Board to review which articles they want placed on the
warrant since the deadline is tomorrow and will use just a short sentence to be a
placeholder.
Historic Preservation Incentives
All four members are in support of placing this on the warrant. Mr. Hornig
asked that the Board Members accept his proposal.
Special Permits for Walls
Mr. Hornig asked for clarification on what problem we were trying to solve
was it the walls or the fill. Ms. Loomis said we will need to discuss this
further.
Sheds in the Setbacks
Mr. Hornig said for the sheds we should include structures as well. We need
to work on the draft warrant language. Building staff is working on that
proposed amendment.
Floodplain Management
This is for identification and designation of a Community Floodplain
Administrator (FPA) in accordance with 44CFR and FEMA.
Technical Corrections- this is just a placeholder
Table of Uses- this is just a placeholder
Hartwell Innovation Park (HIP) -create a new Zoning District
Mixed-Use Transition Zoning for Bedford Street
Hartwell Avenue Area Transportation Overlay District (TMOD) –amend
zoning bylaw relative to the Hartwell Avenue Area TMOD
Mr. Hornig stated we will need to review and consider one for the 475
Bedford Street. Mr. Canale said that we asked Town Meeting that in the past
and were told no. Mr. Hornig said we need to get clarification from Town
Meeting on what it wants. Mr. Canale said it is premature unless we discuss
housing now. Ms. Loomis said there would be a stakeholder meeting next
Minutes for the Meeting of December 16, 2020 Page 3
week. Mr. Canale recommended that Mr. Creech speak with Mr. Lucente and
that he choose 2 Planning Board Members to represent the Board.
Zoning Map Amendments – create a HIP Zoning District; amend zoning map
for review and consider 459-475 Bedford Street; and amend zoning map
relative to the Hartwell Avenue Area TMOD.
General Bylaws
Stormwater Bylaw relative to HIP
Tree Bylaw relative to HIP
b) Hartwell Innovation Park (HIP) Review of Zoning Bylaw and table of Uses
Ms. Loomis said tomorrow morning we are having a coffee hour with no major
discussions. If power goes out due to a snow storm another will be scheduled and this
is not a Planning Board Meeting so there should be no discussion this is open for a
public discussion and answer questions. There will be other open discussions in the
future.
Ms. Loomis presented the tracked the changes being proposed to the Table of Uses.
Board Members will receive the document for them to review and provide edits.
Mr. Hornig said we should group the things that are treated the same, but should not
add more rows. We also need to share it with the a larger group of landowners.
Mr. Canale asked if are looking for a new Health Director and have the Board of
Health looked at this table since they should be the ones to approve some of those
uses. Ms. Loomis said we are still looking for a Health Director and will make sure it
is sent to Health staff. He asked for clarification regarding new definitions.
The Board Member’s will look at the Use Table individually and then discuss it in a
separate meeting. This is due January 7 so we would like input from the Board by
January 4. The Board will regroup on January 6 for review and discuss further
outreach.
Mr. Canale was asking if there was backup on inconsistencies that have been
discussed in the past to get more predictability. Ms. Loomis said staff is working on
that. The Board Members agreed to an additional work session to deal with this on
January 13, 2021.
Ms. Page joined the meeting.
Mr. Canale said since there will be looking at additional annual revenue we may not
want to wait for 2030 to do transportation and infrastructure improvements especially
if we are not likely to get Federal funding. We should look at what we need now as
quickly as possible. Mr. Canale was asking for clarification on how much additional
revenue we should expect. There is work to be done on the fees.
Ms. Loomis will send the Select Board the list of warrant Articles the Board is
requesting by tomorrow.
c) Lexington Next- Comprehensive Plan Advisory Committee (CPAC) Project
update Board Member Updates
Page 4 Minutes for the Meeting of December 16, 2020
Ms. Loomis said this discussion is being moved to January 6, 2021 for updates and
discussion. Mr. Canale asked if it pays to continue with the current liaisons. He
expressed concerns regarding the trend reports with all the edits and asked if they
were available to review to look at the scope and anticipated outreach.
Ms. Loomis said that they were finalizing items with the technical editor. There
would be a meeting next Friday with the chairs of the CPAC to determine the next
committee meeting date. The chair will be meeting with the Planning Board on
January 6, 2021. Mr. Canale suggested since he and Ms. Johnsons would not be
continuing on the Board they should select new liaisons. Mr. Hornig suggested
leaving one opening for a new Planning Board Member after the election. This will
be taken up on the January 6, 2021 meeting.
d) Planning Board Work Plan- Review of the Planning Board Work Plan
Ms. Loomis reviewed the work plan that was agreed upon in July by the Planning
Board. She reviewed the updates with the Board Members. Mr. Canale asked if the
subdivision control law zoning could be revoked. It was something that Ms.
Kowalski brought up at the last SPRD Committee meeting. Mr. Hornig will check if
it can be done? Mr. Canale discussed some of the items presented at the SPRD
meeting. Board Members discussed edits to the proposed work plan.
Ms. Page provided an update to the Board on the items for transportation on the work
plan.
Ms. Loomis will send out the updated work plan to the Planning Board for review.
e) Board Member and Staff updates
Ms. Page explained that some older special permit subdivisions are being
sold to new owners who are looking to build on additions and the impervious
surface is an issue if each lot was not allocated a certain amount of
impervious surface coverage in the deed. Some entire developments share the
entire impervious and did not divide it between lots so Engineering has been
working to help calculate the entire impervious surface so the home owners
could work with their Homeowner’s Association. So now we need to discuss
the definition of impervious surface as homeowners come forward with
modifications. The definitions in the bylaw are not helpful. Mr. Hornig said
the new homeowners would have to come in for a modification for those old
subdivisions and would have to be dealt with at that time.
Mr. Hornig said the CPC is have a hearing on the needs assessment
tomorrow night and taking the final votes on the FY2022 projects.
Mr. Peters said the 2020 vision committee survey contact information was
sent by Mr. Peters to Amanda Loomis if Board Members have comments
they want to send on the survey. Contact Ms. Loomis for contact information
and send then early January so the committee can wrap up the survey.
Mr. Creech said the Lexington Center Committee met and asked if the
Planning Board could update the CD rules. The rules for Lexington Place are
a done deal. The owner could possibly negotiate a modification with the
Town.
Minutes for the Meeting of December 16, 2020 Page 5
Mr. Canale said that sometime in March we will need a new Planning Board
Member for that committee.
f) Review of Meeting Minutes for October 19 and 28; November 4, 10, 18, 30;
December 1, 2 and 7, 2020:
Mr. Hornig shared his edits to the December 2, 2020 minutes.
Charles Hornig moved that the Planning Board vote to approve the Planning Board
Meeting Minutes of October 19 and 28, November 4, 10, 18, 30, and December 1, 2 and
7, 2020 as amended. Robert Peters seconded the motion. The Planning Board voted in
favor of the motion 3-0-1 (roll call: Robert Peters – yes; Richard Canale -abstained;
Charles Hornig – yes; Bob Creech – yes). MOTION PASSED
Adjournment
Bob Creech moved that the Planning Board adjourn the meeting of December 16, 2020.
Richard Canale seconded the motion. The Planning Board voted in favor of the motion 4-0-0
(roll call: Robert Peters – yes; Richard Canale – yes; Charles Hornig – yes; Bob Creech – yes).
MOTION PASSED
Meeting adjourned at 9:12 pm
The following documents used at the meeting can be found on the Planning Board website in Planning Board
packets. 3 Minuteman Lane &23 Battle Green Road
Applicants request for reconsideration dated December 15, 2020 (2 pages).
Ginna Johnson, Clerk of the Planning Board