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PLANNING BOARD MINUTES
MEETING OF APRIL 6, 2005
A regular meeting of the Lexington Planning Board held in Room G-15, Town Office Building, was
called to order at 6:05 p.m. by Chairman Harden with members Manz, Galaitsis, Hornig, Canale and
planning staff McCall-Taylor and Tap present.
************ ADMINISTRATION OF LAND DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS *************
SUBDIVISION OF LAND
58 Colony Road (Wisteria Lane), Preliminary Conventional Subdivision Plan, Homes Development,
Public Information Meeting: Present for this item were Mr. Esserian and Mr. Marino of Homes
Development Corp., applicant, and Mr. Gary Larson and Ms Linda Barnes of Larson Associates, Inc.,
landscape architects. Ten people were in the audience.
Mr. Larson presented locus and neighborhood context plans of the land at 58 Colony Road, zoned RO,
One-Family Dwelling, as well as the sketch plan shown to the Board in December 2004. The preliminary
plan shows three single-family dwellings on a new cul de sac street. Due to high seasonal ground water
levels, fill would be brought in to raise the mid-section of the roadway and parts of the house lots, on
average, three feet. A 20-foot wide road is proposed. Though the stormwater management system would
change somewhat at the definitive stage, what is shown tonight is basically correct. Many existing trees
would be lost in the interior of the property, but a good number would remain at the northwest rear to
screen the view of Fiske Common. Two section plans of the site illustrated the proposed change in grade.
Board concerns had to do with the loss of trees, ownership of the fourth lot, stormwater runoff, a possible
walking path to Fiske School, the change in grade and the size of the houses. The applicant responded that
a number of trees and other vegetation would replace removed trees; the houses would not exceed the
Zoning Bylaw height limit; the principal of Fiske School had indicated that a path from the subdivision
property would not be desirable relative to child safety due to where it intersects with the school
driveway.
Mr. Galaitsis commented that with proper installation basements can be built within the water table. He
would like to see dwellings with one less story, especially as they will be built on a raised grade.
Mr. Canale noted that he generally prefers teardrop-shaped-turnarounds, which require less paved surface.
Mr. Larson explained why the roadway could not be shortened more than a couple of feet.
Mr. Harden asked the difference in elevation between the first floor of the proposed houses relative to that
of existing homes in the area, and the gross floor area of the proposed houses. Mr. Larson indicated that
the difference in elevation would be about five feet. Mr. Esserian estimated the houses would have gross
floor areas of 7,400, 6,200 and 6,400 square feet. Mr. Harden indicated his lack of enthusiasm for the site
design as it disturbs the land too much, and for the proposed dwellings, which are out of scale with the
neighborhood, especially as they would be built on fill.
Responding to Ms. Manz' question about tree retention, Mr. Larson said that more trees would remain if
fill were not needed.
Audience comments and questions had to do with the path for school children, which was favored by an
abutter, how the stormwater management system would be maintained by the future homeowners, and
what kind of landscape screening would be installed. A resident of Colony Road said that tree removal on
the site would help her vegetable garden.
As the time to go to Town Meeting was approaching, the Board agreed to schedule a meeting for April 20
at 7:30 p.m. for the purpose of deliberating on the preliminary subdivision plans and other matters.
Minutes for the Meeting of April 6, 2005 2
************************ ARTICLES FOR 2005 TOWN MEETING ************************
Article 19, Conservation Land Transfer, North Street: After a brief discussion of the possibility that the
article would be divided into two separate votes on the two parcels that are the subject of Article 19, on a
motion duly made and seconded, it was voted 3-2, Mr. Galaitsis and Mr. Canale opposed, to leave lot 45
unrestricted. And on another duly made and seconded motion, it was voted 3-2, Mr. Galaitsis and Mr.
Canale opposed, to oppose the transfer of Lot 99 to Conservation at this time.
****************** PLANNING BOARD ORGANIZATION, SCHEDULE *******************
Liaison to HATS: Mr. Canale raised the issue of who would act as Planning Board liaison to the Hanscom
Area Towns Study Committee (HATS). The Board agreed to take it up at a future meeting.
On a motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to adjourn the meeting at 7:25 p.m.
Richard L. Canale , Clerk