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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2005-03-23-PB-min PLANNING BOARD MINUTES MEETING OF MARCH 23, 2005 A regular meeting of the Lexington Planning Board held in the Selectmen's Meeting Room, Town Office Building, was called to order at 7:30 p.m. by Chairman Harden with members Manz, Galaitsis, Canale and planning staff McCall-Taylor and Tap present. Mr. Hornig was absent due to illness. ************ ADMINISTRATION OF LAND DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS ************* DETERMINATION OF GRADE AND CONSTRUCTION OF UNACCEPTED STREETS 33 Wachusett Drive: Ms. McCall-Taylor reported that Matthew and Andrea Crowley wish to demolish their house at 33 Wachusett Drive, which is on an unaccepted portion of the street. They provided information on the condition of the street from the Town Engineering Division and from Aggregate Industries, a paving company. Mr. Canale commented that he examined the street in that area and found the pavement to be solid and level, with no cracks. Based on this information, on a motion duly made and seconded, the Board voted that the unaccepted portion of Wachusett Drive that provides frontage for 33 Wachusett Drive, is currently of adequate grade and construction. The finding of adequacy is only applicable to this street frontage as provided for in the General Code Section 175-68A. The Building Commissioner will be notified of this decision. SUBDIVISION OF LAND Luongo Farm Lane Conventional Subdivision, Minor Revision of Grading Plan: Mr. Eugene Luongo, applicant, Mr. Gary Larson, landscape architect of Larson Associates, and Mr. Robert Phelan, developer, were present to ask the Board to approve a minor revision to the Luongo Farm Lane Subdivision's grading plan, a roughly two-foot change in grade in the roadway. They provided the Board with plans showing the change. Mr. Larson indicated that the approved roadway plan had been designed so as to save some vegetation but as construction began it was clear that a slight modification of the roadway design would improve safety and mobility at the street turnaround. Mr. Matthew Foti, a certified arborist, determined that the vegetation was not really very healthy so designing around it was not worthwhile. Upon a motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to approve the requested minor change to the Luongo Farm Lane subdivision definitive plan, as shown on definitive plan sheet five, dated October 28, 2003, revised May 7, 2004 and March 3, 2005 and sheet six, dated October 28, 2003, revised May 7, 2004, August 11, 2004 and March 3, 2005. ************************************* MINUTES ************************************** Review of Minutes: The Board reviewed and corrected the minutes for the meeting of February 2, 2005. On a motion duly made and seconded, it was voted 3-0 to approve the minutes as amended. Mr. Canale did not vote, as he was not a Board member at that time. The Board reviewed and corrected the minutes for the meeting of March 2, 2005. On a motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to approve the minutes as amended. ************************ ARTICLES FOR 2005 TOWN MEETING ************************ Article 10 Accessory Apartment Provisions: After some discussion, on a motion duly made and seconded, it was voted 3-1, Mr. Galaitsis opposed, to recommend approval of Article 10 to Town Meeting. After reviewing the Report to Town Meeting on Article 10, on a motion duly made and seconded, it was voted 3-1, Mr. Galaitsis opposed, to approve the Report to Town Meeting Mr. Harden and Ms. McCall-Taylor agreed to present Article 10 to Town Meeting, currently scheduled on April 4, as Mr. Hornig would not be available. Minutes for the Meeting of March 23, 2005 2 Article 4, CBD to CD, Battle Green Inn Property: The Board discussed the complications arising from negotiations with the Battle Green Inn rezoning proponents over the past several months for the best plan for the town. In earlier years, the preliminary site development and use plan (PSDUP) for rezoning proposals had to be finalized by early January and that plan was the subject of the public hearing and report to Town Meeting. Recently, however, rezoning proponents have been urged to reach out to the community in the weeks before Town Meeting by holding neighborhood meetings about the proposal and seeking residents' input. Likewise, town boards and committees have actively engaged in communicating their needs and desires to the proponents, who, in turn, respond with changes to their proposal. The Battle Green Inn rezoning in particular has been a constantly evolving proposal from week to week, right up to the present. And the Board's report must respond to the changes and get to town meeting members before the first session this year. Mr. Galaitsis remarked that an earlier Planning Board vote on its position on Article 4 was based on a previous iteration of the PSDUP. The Board agreed that the rezoning process needs to be examined. Mr. Galaitsis noted that he would present a minority report to town meeting on Article 10 and Article 4. Articles 7 and 8 Community Preservation Act: After brief discussion, on a motion duly made and seconded, it was voted 4-0, to recommend approval of Articles 7 and 8 to Town Meeting. Mr. Canale will present the Board’s position to Town Meeting. Articles 11 and 12: Board members discussed other articles that will be before Town Meeting and decided to take no action on Article 11 regarding the appointment of the Town Manager and to take no action at this time on Article 12 dealing with the recall of various elected officials Article 19, Transfer of North Street land to Conservation: Ms. Manz will present the Board's position on Article 19. The Board had previously voted 3-2, Mr. Galaitsis and Mr. Canale opposed, not to support transfer of the land to conservation at this time, as it could be transferred at a later time, after other uses for portions of the land, e.g., by the Lexington Housing Assistance Board (LexHAB) or the Council on Aging, are explored. Article 21, Middlesex County Hospital Open Space: Upon a motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to recommend approval of Article 21, Middlesex County Hospital Open Space. Article 22, Fast Track Auction Law: On a motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to recommend approval of Article 22, which is a resolution against the Fast Track Auction Law. Mr. Canale noted that he would speak on this article in his capacity as the town's Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC) representative. Article 23, Acquisition of Franklin School Apartments: After a brief discussion, as not enough is known at this time about the status of the apartment building, the Board agreed not to take a position on Article 23, Acquisition of Franklin School Apartments. They agreed to leave open the option of taking a poll on the floor of Town Meeting after they heard the presentation. Upon a motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to adjourn the meeting at 10:10 p.m. Wendy Manz, Clerk