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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2009-09-09-PB-min PLANNING BOARD MINUTES MEETING OF SEPTEMBER 9, 2009 A regular meeting of the Lexington Planning Board was held in the Selectmen’s Meeting Room, Town Office Building, and called to order at 7:30 p.m. by Clerk Galaitsis with members Manz, Hornig and planning staff McCall-Taylor, Henry, and Kaufman present. Mr. Zurlo was absent and Mr. Canale had recused himself from consideration of the Lexington Technology Park application since he was an abutter to an abutter. He joined the meeting in progress. ***********************************TOWN MEETING********************************** PUBLIC HEARING Patriot Partners, Lexington Technology Park: Mr. Galaitsis called to order the continued public hearing for Lexington Technology Park at 7:30 p.m. There were approximately 20 people in the audience. In attendance was the development team consisting of Robert Buckley and Ethan Solomon of Reimer and Braunstein, Rick Bryant of Tetra Tech Rizzo. Mr. Howard Muise of VHB who had been hired by the Town to do a peer review of the traffic study was also present. Mr. Bryant said there was very little new information on the traffic report, but a peer review had since been done. It was determined that reasonable standards of operation were used and the trip generation figures were based on ITE figures for office use even though the building was a mixed use. Mr. Muise of VHB had reviewed the traffic study of August 2009, which included the three additional intersections, and concurred that appropriate standards for the calculations and proper methodology for the analysis were used. Audience Comments: ? The report was done in August, were the numbers adjusted to reflect seasonal changes in traffic. Mr. Bryant said there was a drop off in the peak hours and that was included in the report, which added the three new intersections. Also included were the counts from Ledgemont; there did not appear to be a lot of seasonal variation. ? What was the level of service (LOS) at the intersections now and what would be some possible solutions to mitigate the impacts at those intersections? Mr. Bryant said the data was all in the report. ? There was dismay that LOS was not part of the public hearing. Some conceptual plans to fix the area were in the report. The mitigation package included a total cost of $2,000,000 with $65,000 up front to do a further traffic study and give ideas for a solution. The main concern was to 2 Minutes for the Meeting of September 9, 2009 Page determine the level of the problem and see if the mitigation package was in the ball field to try to solve capacity problems. ? The shuttle to Alewife run by Shire is very helpful; how do they handle it and would it be continued? Mr. Buckley said he believed that it was provided free to LTP tenants and that it would be continued. ? At the July 29 meeting the Board requested a consolidated traffic review of LTP, Cubist and Shire. Has one been done? Mr. Buckley said it would be in the peer review of Cubist and would include all the figures. ? What was the status of traffic calming? The MOU being worked on would provide for traffic calming on Shade Street. Would a shuttle be made available to residents? Mr. Buckley said they did not want to create an auxiliary parking lot, but would look into insurance and liability issues. This should also include a turnaround to encourage people to be dropped off. On a motion duly made and seconded, it was voted, 3-0, to continue the public hearing to October 7, 2009, at 7:30 p.m. in the Selectmen’s Meeting Room. There was a question as to when the PSDUP was due. It would be 30 days prior to Special Town Meeting. An amended PSDUP was filed today and would be made available on the website. The TMMA list would be notified. ************************************* MINUTES ************************************** Mr. Canale joined the meeting in progress. Review of Minutes: The Board reviewed the minutes for the meeting of July 29, 2009. On a motion duly made and seconded, it was voted, 3-0-1, to approve the minutes as amended. Mr. Galaitsis abstained as he had not been present at the meeting. The Board reviewed the minutes for the meeting of August 19, 2009. On a motion duly made and seconded, it was voted, 4-0, to approve the minutes as amended. *****************************TRAFFIC CALMING POLICY****************************** The Board discussed the draft of the Traffic Calming Policy and what their recommendation would be to the Board of Selectmen. On a motion duly made and seconded, it was voted, 4-0, that the Planning Board would send a memo to the Board of Selectmen supporting the concept of traffic calming as outlined in the first paragraph and ask that the policy include clear delineations of responsibility for traffic calming in new developments as Page 3 Minutes for the Meeting of September 9, 2009 opposed to existing conditions. ***********************************SITE PLAN REVIEW******************************* 101 Hartwell Avenue: The applicant for 101 Hartwell Avenue had requested an extension of time for the Planning Board to act on the site plan review to October 23, 2009. On a motion duly made and seconded, it was voted, 4-0, to accept the extension of time for the Planning Board to act on the site plan review for 101 Hartwell Avenue to October 23, 2009. Site Plan Review Regulations: The Board discussed draft 7 for the Rules and Regulations for Site Plan Review. Input from the Planning Board included the following: ? The more guidance the better, so there would no surprises; ? It would be fine to set a base with existing standards; ? Parking maximums were discussed; ? Aesthetics and what the Board wanted on Hartwell Avenue with regards to the height and width of what would be built; and ? Changing the language on enforcement. ********************************BOARD ORGANIZATION****************************** Mr. Canale said that the agendas should be sent to the Lexington List Server in addition to the TMMA list. The current schedule should be emailed to the Board by staff. The use of electronic packets was discussed and it was decided to continue using paper copies at this time. **********************************STAFF REPORTS********************************** The Attorney General’s office approved all the amendments to the Zoning Bylaws voted at the 2009 Annual Town Meeting. ***********************************BOARD REPORTS********************************* Mr. Hornig said the Citizens for Lexington Conservation have a list of native species recommended for use and they would like to speak with staff about it at some time in the future. On a motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to adjourn the meeting at 10:42 p.m. Wendy Manz, Acting Clerk