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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2006-03-22-PB-min PLANNING BOARD MINUTES MEETING OF MARCH 22, 2006 A regular meeting of the Lexington Planning Board held in the Selectmen's Meeting Room, Town Office Building, was called to order at 7:30 p.m. by Chairman Manz with members Galaitsis, Canale, Zurlo and planning staff McCall-Taylor, Schilt and Tap present. Mr. Hornig was absent. ************************************* REPORTS ************************************* Committee Representatives/Liaisons: The Board members discussed the issue of communication between the Board and its representatives to various committees. In order to keep up on committee activities they will ask to receive minutes of Bicycle Advisory Committee and Sidewalk Committee meetings. Mr. Canale said that economic development is important and there should be a policy person on the 2020 Economic Development sub-committee. It was agreed to ask Mr. Hornig to serve as the Board’s representative to the sub-committee. Mr. Zurlo agreed to try to cover the meetings if Mr. Hornig is unavailable. Sidewalk Committee, Report by Liaison John L. Davies: Mr. John Davies was present at the Board's invitation to report on the activities of the Sidewalk Committee. He had agreed to be the Board's liaison to the Sidewalk Committee at the last meeting he attended before retiring from the Planning Board in March 2004. Mr. Davies said that the Sidewalk Committee meets once a month and has formed numerous subcommittees with a variety of focuses. He is part of the walkway group whose major activity is identifying existing pedestrian impediments and hazards, which will then be prioritized for mitigation. They are identified on a map and the data has been entered into a spreadsheet. Another map shows high- traffic routes. The Safe Routes to School initiative, which has sub-groups for each elementary school working with teachers and parents, is especially active. Sidewalks in Lexington Center: Research is ongoing into appropriate paving materials vis-à-vis special populations, durability and safety. In terms of categories of sidewalk disrepair, Mr. Zurlo suggested that using photos of representative states of disrepair would help to promote consistent sidewalk condition assessment. Mr. Davies said that Roads Superintendent Wayne Brooks is a member of the Sidewalk Committee; his computer data and aerial photos have been a resource. Mr. Canale asked if this could lead to budgeting for sidewalk upgrade and repair the same as for streets. He pondered the proper balance between funds spent on sidewalks versus streets. It was noted that inter-resident/-committee/-Board communication is important, due to different priorities and needs, e.g., the desirability of meandering sidewalks, vs. old tree-lined streets vs. uncomplicated maintenance, and the like. Pleasant, Prospect Hill and Spring Streets are narrow, tree-lined and heavily traveled streets. The Board asked Mr. Davies to continue representing it on the Sidewalk Committee. ************************************* MINUTES ************************************** Review of Minutes: The Board reviewed and corrected the minutes for the meeting of January 18, 2006. On a motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to approve the minutes as amended. Mr. Zurlo abstained as he was not a member at that time. ************************ ARTICLES FOR 2006 TOWN MEETING ************************ Article 4, Inclusionary Housing Amendment: Ms. Manz will move for indefinite postponement without further comment. She will address inclusionary zoning in her report under Article 2. Minutes for the Meeting of March 22, 2006 2 Article 5, Impervious Surface in Cluster Subdivisions: The Board reviewed a draft report to Town Meeting on Article 5, Impervious Surface. Mr. Galaitsis indicated that he could have supported changing the allowed impervious surface to 17 percent and 22 percent, but no more than that. On a motion duly made and seconded, it was voted 3-1 (Mr. Galaitsis in opposition) to approve the report on Article 5 and release it to town meeting with no recommendation or signatures for publication. This would allow Town Meeting members to have the benefit of the information in the report. Article 6, Center Parking: Mr. Zurlo asked if the center parking spaces in the Town Permit Parking program are for employees of Center businesses or for their customers. The answer was that they are intended for employees. On a motion duly made and seconded, it was voted not to support Mr. Julian Bussgang's proposed amendment to the Planning Board's motion for the article, which the Board believes would cancel its intended effect. On a motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to release the report to Town Meeting on Article 6 for information purposes. The Board would revote their recommendation on the article at the meeting on Monday, prior to Town Meeting. Article 8 Scenic Byway: On a motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to support the article as it was in keeping with recommendations in the Comprehensive Plan. ********************* SPECIAL PERMIT WITH SITE PLAN REVIEW ********************* 31 Fletcher Avenue, Jefferson Union Building, Historical Commission Action: Mr. Hornig, Ms. Manz and Mr. Canale attended a recent Historical Commission meeting. That night the Commission considered the 31 Fletcher Avenue stop work order, issued the previous week when it was determined that the developer had exceeded the amount of demolition of the Jefferson Union building allowed by its demolition permit. The amount of demolition was subject to the approval of the Historical Commission, but the developer failed to seek that approval. The Historical Commission voted to impose a two-year permit moratorium on the project. It was noted that the Commission's structure is rigid and offers few options for acting on infractions of its requirements. ************************************* REPORTS ************************************* Planning Board Central Transportation Planning Staff (CTPS): Mr. Canale reported on a report issued by the Central Transportation Planning Staff (CTPS) at a recent Boston Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) meeting. It was on the subject of the MPO's south Lexington transportation corridor study and traffic analysis of all of the major Concord Avenue intersections: Waltham Street, Pleasant Street, and Spring Street. The study included a detailed build-out analysis of Waltham. MAPC will make the results of the build-out available on its website. Citizen Planner Training Collaborative (CPTC): Ms. Manz noted that CPTC will hold three affordable housing workshops. Ms. McCall-Taylor said that the Planning Department could subsidize registrations up to $50 for each Board member. On a motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to adjourn the meeting at 11:05 p.m. Anthony G. Galaitsis, Clerk