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Home My WebLink About2021-03-04-PB-min PLANNING BOARD MINUTES MEETING OF March 4th, 2021 Minutes of the Lexington Planning Board Held on March 4th, 2021, Virtual Meeting per Governor Baker's Order at 7:04 pm Present: Charles Hornig, Chair; Robert Peters, Vice-Chair; Michael Schanbacher, Clerk; Charles Robert Creech; and Melanie Thompson. Also present was Sheila Page, Assistant Planning Director; and Amanda Loomis, Planning Director. Robert Creech, Chair, read the agenda into the record, introduced the Planning Board and Planning Department Staff members, and called the meeting to order on Thurday, March 4th, 2021. 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 12th, 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. *****************************TOWN MEETING********************************** 1. Continued Public Article 39 - Hearing: Historic Preservation Incentives - Amend the Lexington Zoning Bylaw to allow special permits for historical preservation under § 135- 6.2 to allow for additional uses where necessary to preserve historical elements. Page 2 Minutes for the Meeting of March 4, 2021 Robert Creech, Chair, opening the public hearing and requested an update from Charles Hornig. Mr. Hornig requested an update from Sheila Page regarding a recent conversation with the Zoning Board of Appeals Chair. Ms. Page provided a review of recent discussions with the Zoning Board of Appeals Chair and the Historical Commission's desire to review a project. Mr. Creech, Chair, requested comments from the Planning Board. No comments were provided.  Robert Peters requested clarification regarding the Zoning Board of Appeals procedures and their review of historical projects. Mr. Creech, Chair, opened the floor for public comment. The following comments were received.  A request to see how other sections of the Bylaw were impacted. In addition to clarification regarding the provision about moving buildings.  Request for clarification regarding the procedure of project review. Mr. Creech questioned if any Planning Board members had additional questions or comments. No additional questions or comments were provided. Charles Hornig moved that the Planning Board close the public hearing for Article 39: Historic Preservation Incentives. Melanie Thompson seconded the motion. The Planning Board voted in favor of the motion 5-0-0 (roll call: Charles Hornig – yes; Melanie Thompson – yes; Michael Schanbacher – yes; Robert Peters – yes; and Robert Creech – yes). MOTION PASSED Charles Hornig moved that the Planning Board recommend favorable action to Annual Town Meeting relative to Article 39: Historic Preservation Incentives. Michael Schanbacher seconded the motion. The Planning Board voted in favor of the motion 5- 0-0 (roll call: Charles Hornig – yes; Michael Schanbacher – yes; Melanie Thompson – yes; Robert Peters – yes; and Robert Creech – yes). MOTION PASSED 2. Vote Status of Article 37 – Stormwater Charles Hornig provided a review of the proposed language for Article 37: Stormwater. Mr. Hornig stated that the new language would read "requires a special permit or a special permit with site plan review." Charles Hornig moved that the Planning Board make a favorable recommendation to Annual Town Meeting for Article 37: Stormwater. Robert Peters seconded the motion. The Planning Board voted in favor of the motion 5-0-0 (roll call: Charles Hornig – yes; Robert Peters – yes; Melanie Thompson – yes; Michael Schanbacher – yes; Robert Creech – yes). MOTION PASSED 3. Vote Status of Article 38 - Trees The Planning Board briefly discussed Article 38, Trees, and agreed to postpone the article indefinitely. Charles Hornig moved that the Planning Board recommend that Article 38, Trees be indefinitely postponed. Michael Schanbacher seconded the motion. The Planning Minutes for the Meeting of March 4, 2021 Page 3 Board voted in favor of the motion 5-0-0 (roll call: Charles Hornig – yes; Michael Schanbacher – yes; Melanie Thompson – yes; Robert Peters – yes; Robert Creech – yes). MOTION PASSED 4. Presentations to Town Meeting The Planning Board discussed who would be presenting the various articles to Annual Town Meeting. It was determined that Article 37 would be presented by Charles Hornig; Article 38 would be presented by Robert Peters; Article 39 would be presented by Charles Hornig; Article 40 would be presented by Jennifer Gingras; Article 41 would be presented by James Kelly; Article 42 would be presented by Amanda Loomis; Article 43 would be presented by Robert Creech; and Articles 44 and 45 would be presented by staff from the Planning Office and Economic Development. *************************BOARD ADMINISTRATION**************************** 1. Planning Board Reorganization Robert Creech, Chair, requested that the Planning Board reconsider reorganizing before Annual Town Meeting. Mr. Creech nominated Charles Hornig for the position of Chair, and that Robert Peters remain Vice-chair. Robert Creech moved that Charles Hornig be made Chair of the Planning Board. Melanie Thompson seconded the motion. The Planning Board voted in favor of the motion 5-0-0 (roll call: Melanie Thompson – yes; Michael Schanbacher – yes; Charles Hornig – yes; Robert Peters – yes; Robert Creech – yes). MOTION PASSED The Planning Board discussed the position of Clerk. Robert Creech nominated Michael Schanbacher as Clerk. Robert Peters seconded the motion. The Planning Board voted in favor of the motion 5-0-0 (roll call: Robert Peters – yes; Melanie Thompson – yes; Michael Schanbacher – yes; Charles Hornig – yes; and Robert Creech – yes). MOTION PASSED Robert Peters thanked Mr. Creech for his service. 2. Board Liaison Assignments Staff Updates Charles Hornig presented a review of the Planning Board representatives and liaisons to Boards and Committees. The Planning Board reviewed the various positions and determined who would serve on or be recommended for the respective boards and committees. Select Board Appointments Board/Committee Role Planning Board Designee Housing Partnership Board Voting Member Mr. Peters Vision for Lexington Committee Voting Member Mr. Peters Special Permit Residential Development (SPRD) ad Voting Member Mr. Hornig hoc Committee Page 4 Minutes for the Meeting of March 4, 2021 Planning Board Appointments Board/Committee Role Planning Board Designee MAGIC (MAPC Subregion) alternate Voting Member Mr. Creech Hanscom Area Towns Committee Voting Member Mr. Peters Community Preservation Committee Voting Member Mr. Hornig Economic Development Advisory Committee Liaison Mr. Hornig Transportation Advisory Committee Liaison Ms. Thompson Bicycle Advisory Committee Liaison Mr. Peters Sustainable Lexington Committee Liaison Mr. Peters Greenways Corridor Committee Liaison Mr. Creech Lexington Center Committee Liaison Ms. Thompson Turning Mill NCD Voting Member Mr. Schanbacher Pierce-Lockwood NCD Voting Member Mr. Creech Design Advisory Committee Liaison Mr. Schanbacher Comprehensive Plan Advisory Committee Liaisons (2) Mr. Creech Ms. Thompson Planning Board Observing Board/Committee Role Planning Board Designee Tree Committee Mr. Schanbacher Historic Districts Commission Mr. Creech Historic Commission Mr. Creech Conservation Commission Mr. Hornig Zoning Board of Appeals Ms. Thompson School Committee Appointments Board/Committee Role Planning Board Designee School Master Plan Advisory Committee Voting Member Mr. Schanbacher Robert Peters moved that the Planning Board accept the various appointments to the Town Boards and Committees. Robert Creech seconded the motion. The Planning Board voted in favor of the motion 5-0-0 (roll call: Robert Creech – yes; Robert Peters – yes; Melanie Thompson – yes; Michael Schanbacher – yes; Charles Hornig – yes). MOTION PASSED 3. Board Member Updates  The Planning Board discussed the upcoming meeting schedule. It was confirmed that the thth Planning Board would be meeting on March 10 and March 17. The Planning Board thst agreed that they were all available to meet either on March 24 and March 31 from 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm. All members stated that they were available on both dates.  Charles Hornig provided an update regarding the upcoming League of Women Voters th First Friday session on March 5. 4. Review of Meeting Minutes for February 10th, 2021 The Planning Board deferred the review of the February 10th, 2021 minutes to March 10th, 2021 Minutes for the Meeting of March 4, 2021 Page 5 Robert Peters moved that the Planning Board adjourn its meeting of Thursday, March 4th, 2021. Melanie Thompson seconded the motion. The Planning Board voted in favor of the motion 5-0-0 (roll call: Robert Creech – yes; Melanie Thompson – yes; Robert Peters – yes; Michael Schanbacher – yes; Charles Hornig – yes). MOTION PASSED Meeting adjourned at 9:03 pm. 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. Town Meeting:  Proposed motion language for Draft Article 39, Historic Preservation Incentives dated February 26, 2021 (3 pages).  Proposed motion language for Draft Article 37, Stormwater (1 page). Planning Board reorganization:  Planning Board Procedural Rules dated June 21, 2017 (5 pages). Planning Board Liaison Assignments:  Planning Board Liaison/Committee list dated May 2, 2019 (1 page). Michael Schanbacher, Clerk of the Planning Board