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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