HomeMy WebLinkAbout2009-10-28-PB-min
PLANNING BOARD MINUTES
MEETING OF October 28, 2009
The Planning Board sponsored a community meeting to introduce public and business owners to
the Hartwell Avenue Traffic Mitigation project. Planning Board members Manz, Hornig and
Canale were present, as were planning staff McCall-Taylor and Henry. Mr. Galaitsis and Mr.
Zurlo were absent. The meeting was held at Clarke Middle School, beginning at 7:00 p.m.
*******************HARTWELL AVENUE AREA STUDY******************
The meeting was run by the consultants Rick Bryant and Sasha Wood of Tetra Tech Rizzo.
Tetra Tech Rizzo gave presentations describing existing traffic conditions; forecasts of potential
increases in travel demand; and, alternative strategies to accommodate the increased travel
demand.
Comments from the audience:
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Pedestrian/bike accommodations through Bedford Street roundabout
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Residential zoning along Hartwell?
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Crosswalks with pedestrian lights along Wood St? Lincoln Labs/bus stops (school & MBTA)
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Narrowing along Wood Street could be an issue for bikes
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State’s position on a pedestrian signal on Bedford Street – has it changed since 17 years ago?
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Service road along south side (or possibly the north side) of Bedford Street – plan from the
State (Hanscom Air Force Base closure)
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Jughandle at Eldred Street
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Drummer Boy Way not a public road
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Shared use path along Hartwell a better option
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Solution for crossing Wood Street (greenway)
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Winter Street would not be accommodated with the roundabout or modified signal concepts
at the jughandle
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More traffic down Eldred Street and Winter Street when Page Road bridge is open
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Options to get Hanscom/Lincoln Labs off of Wood Street should be considered sooner rather
than later
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Minutes for the Meeting of October 28, 2009 Page
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Moving gate at Hanscom back and allowing Route 2A access
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Similar examples of roundabouts in Eastern MA?
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Accessible route for bikes from Wood Street to Hartwell Avenue/Minuteman Bike Path
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Lincoln Labs may have other uses on site
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Reinforce residential characteristics of Bedford Street area
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Bike lanes along Bedford Street, if possible
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Eliminating right turns out of Lincoln Labs will just shift volume to the left (there are some
houses there, as well)
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Winter Street impacted by more than just Drummer Boy Way
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If Drummer Boy access to the roundabout is restricted, could roundabout option still work?
?
Fifer Lane is also a private road, so relief for non-Drummer Boy Way residents by way of the
Drummer Boy Way connection would not be desired by residents of the condos. So far, Town
has refused to accept either Fifer Lane or Drummer Boy Way as public roads, so a public
connection would likely need to be made by an eminent domain taking.
?
Would like to see a summary trip generation chart for all 4 quadrants
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Would like to see a column for ITE trip generation for existing space added to the Overlay
District Vehicle Trips slide
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Would like clarification on the lack of a background growth rate
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Bikes on Bedford – will need better accommodations if you’re going to improve Hartwell
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Queuing at the Gate (fast lane or other options) – note security issues
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5-lane boulevard south of Maguire is not a good idea
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What are calming measures supposed to do in off-peak hours? Reduce speeds? Make
stronger case for any calming measures on Wood Street.
The meeting recessed at 9:00 p.m. to move to the Selectmen’s Meeting Room in the Town Office
Building. The meeting reconvened at 9:30 p.m.
*************************TOWN MEETING *************************
Lexington Technology Park – The major focus of the deliberations was on the issue of noise that
currently exists on the site, what to do about it, and how it may affect the recommendation for
noise standards in the proposed Amended Preliminary Site Development and Use Plan. There is
Page 3 Minutes for the Meeting of October 28, 2009
a covenant that was executed at the first rezoning (2004) which all agreed was very strict as it
prohibited perceptible noise at the property line from manufacturing uses. Members discussed
how to protect the residential abutters and hold the developers to a reasonable standard. There
were also concerns about how to establish a baseline for existing noise. Language for the
PSDUP was proposed which would require that noise be minimized to the extent practicable.
Landscaping Buffering – Members agreed to recommend the additional language proposed by
the neighbors although they felt the current language was strong enough. The provision for an
easement for a trail seemed to be sufficient as it referred to on-going discussions and could be
incorporated in the DSPUP.
Lighting- The Board supported the removal of the two-year enforcement period as it seemed to
limit protection rather than strengthen it and made the Zoning Board of Appeals the monitoring
and enforcement agent, which it is not. The members supported the changes suggested by Mr.
Hornig that referenced the Town’s bylaw and allowed the ZBA to impose further conditions on
lighting.
Building Exterior –The design of the buildings has not been fully vetted as this is a preliminary
plan. When the definitive plan is filed, it should be reviewed by the Design Advisory Committee
as well as the Planning Board. The report should emphasize that the visible presence of the
building on Route 2 is important and it should be given careful attention. Non-reflective material
should be specified as well.
On a motion duly made and seconded the Board voted, 3 to 1, to recommend favorable action on
the rezoning petition to Town Meeting with changes to the language in the PSDUP in the
sections “Landscaping”, “Lighting and Illumination”, “Noise” and “Building Exterior.” Mr.
Zurlo, Mr. Hornig and Ms. Manz voted in favor. Mr. Galaitsis voted in the negative. Mr. Canale
had recused himself from the deliberations as he is an abutter to the abutter.
On a motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to adjourn the meeting at 11:20 p.m.
Anthony Galaitsis, Clerk