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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2005-01-12-PB-min PLANNING BOARD MINUTES MEETING OF JANUARY 12, 2005 A regular meeting of the Lexington Planning Board held in the Selectmen's Meeting Room, Town Office Building, was called to order at 7:35 p.m. by Chairman Kastorf with members Galaitsis, Harden, Manz, Davies and planning staff McCall-Taylor and Tap present. ************************************* MINUTES ************************************** Review of Minutes: The Board reviewed and corrected the minutes for the meeting of December 8, 2004. On a motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to approve the minutes as amended. ***************************** AFFORDABLE HOUSING ****************************** Piper Ridge Local Initiative Program Proposal : Mr. John Esserian, President, and Mr. Joseph Marino, both of Homes Development Corporation, were present. Mr. Marino presented the company's plans for a Local Initiative Program development proposal for land bordered by Route 2, Waltham Street and Piper Road. The plan shows eight dwelling units in three structures, two of which would be affordable and eligible for Lexington's DHCD Affordable Housing Inventory. Six units would be priced at approximately $650,000. Mr. Marino said that the Housing Partnership has seen the plans and has offered input. According to AvalonBay's methodology, there would be nine school-age children; using the Battle Green Inn's methodology, only 2 school-age children would live at Piper Ridge. The units are intended for "empty-nesters”. Annual tax revenue to the Town would be approximately $14,000. However, Mr. Marino declined to put in a clause that would limit the units to empty nesters. Mr. Marino noted that impervious surface could cause site plan issues in the LIP development scheme, but the developer could build dwellings by-right on the site with the same site coverage. He wants to work with the Town on this project. Homes Development is committed to building a development that reflects well on the company. Eight units are needed in order to create two affordable ones and have a financially viable project. Profit on this scheme is the same as one with two-single family homes. The developer hopes that the Planning Board will make a favorable recommendation to the Selectmen, the SPGA for LIP projects. Board Questions and Comments Concerns raised by the Board had to do with mitigating traffic noise from Route 2, blasting needed to connect to town sewer in Waltham Street, eight units are too many for the site, potential for a high number of school-age children, emergency vehicle access and traffic safety. Mr. Robert Bicknell, Housing Partnership chair, reported that the Partnership's interactions with Homes Development have been positive, due to the inclusion of two affordable units. It also favored the idea of providing an accessory apartment, though they also realize that parking for the unit would be a problem due to added impervious surface. The Board would like to see a preliminary plan next, as that would provide more engineering data. Fewer units would be desirable as eight creates a majority of the site design problems. Mr. Harden commented that eight smaller units would alleviate some of those problems and offer valuable attainable dwellings, which Lexington lacks. Mr. Davies suggested varying the sizes of the units, as a plan with eight identical footprints makes him suspect that insufficient thought went into site design. Mr. Galaitsis said he preferred a four-unit plan, with one of those affordable. It was agreed that some noise measurement and mitigation information is needed. Mr. Kastorf summed up the Board's comments. He indicated that the preliminary plan should show more thoughtful site planning; with less impervious surface and a greater range of unit sizes and prices, e.g. $500,000 to $800,000. Minutes for the Meeting of January 12, 2005 2 ************************ ARTICLES FOR 2005 TOWN MEETING ************************ Zoning Bylaw, Accessory Apartment Amendment: Ms. McCall-Taylor listed the issues that remain to be resolved in the Board's proposed amendments to the Accessory Apartment provisions: limit size by percent of dwelling area or by a discrete number of square feet; should limit of two-bedrooms remain; should apartments be permitted in new home construction or in homes less than five years old. The Board discussed these issues. ************************** INTER-BOARD COOPERATION **************************** Board of Selectmen Goals: The Planning Board reviewed their January meeting with the Board of Selectmen. Chair McKenna had indicated that background material on the DPW Operations siting decision would be provided but the material turned out to be an undated one-page memo with a list of questions. The Board felt that in order to make informed comment, they would need intersection level of service data for Hartwell Avenue at Bedford Street among other information. The Selectmen's timetable for making the siting decision is very short. The Board directed staff to prepare a letter to the Selectmen saying that the Board looks forward to receiving the information on the important matter of re-siting DPW Operations, or renovating the facility at 201 Bedford Street. RECOMMENDATIONS ON APPLICATIONS TO THE BOARD OF APPEALS Ms McCall-Taylor reported that Jefferson Union 's application for approval of the substitution of a nonconforming use—to convert the small factory building at 31 Fletcher Avenue to dwelling units—will be heard by the Board of Appeals on January 27. The surrounding neighbors of the Jefferson Union plant have sent a letter questioning the process by which the applicant would be granted a special permit. Ms. McCall-Taylor confirmed that as the proposal shows more than three dwelling units, the Planning Board would be the SPGA. The Board directed staff to prepare a letter responding to the neighbors. Ms. McCall-Taylor also reported that the Board of Appeals would hear DEBCO Properties' petition for a special permit to build a 10- or 12-unit 40B development on Grandview Avenue on February 10. She noted that the application is very disorganized, hard to decipher and is not complete. Board members agreed that they wish to review the application and make a recommendation to the Appeals Board. Mr. Kastorf asked Ms. McCall-Taylor to convey to the Appeals Board that the Planning Board has insufficient data to make an informed recommendation on DEBCO Properties' application. The Board requests that a complete submittal be made available for the Board to review at its February meeting. Ms. McCall-Taylor said she would outline some site design issues and forward them to the Board. Mr. Davies and Ms. Manz offered to review the application material and report back to the other members. On a motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to adjourn the meeting at 10:50 p.m. Wendy Manz, Clerk