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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2010-06-07-PB-min PLANNING BOARD MINUTES MEETING OF JUNE 07, 2010 A regular meeting of the Board of Selectmen was held on Monday, June 7, 2010 at 7:30 p.m. in the Selectmen’s Meeting Room, Town Office Building. Chairman Hank Manz, Peter Kelley, Norman Cohen, George Burnell and Deb Mauger of the Board of Selectmen; Carl Valente, Town Manager and Lynne Pease, Executive Clerk, were present. Lexington Planning board members Gregory Zurlo, Richard Canale, Charles Hornig and Anthony Galaitsis and planning staff Maryann McCall-Taylor were also present. *******************HARTWELL AVENUE TRANSPORTATION PLAN******************* Mr. Bryant, the Planning Department consultant for the Hartwell Avenue Traffic Mitigation Plan, presented the findings and recommendations for the Overlay District, which would include a roundabout on Bedford Street at the Route 95 interchange, at the Hartwell Avenue intersection and at Maguire Road on Hartwell Avenue. The plan on Bedford Street would include a pedestrian signal at Eldred Street and the road would include 4 lanes for cars, a median, bike lanes and sidewalks on each side. Hartwell Avenue to the Maguire intersection would also include 4 lanes for cars, a median, and bike lanes and sidewalks on each side. On Hartwell Avenue from Maguire Road to the Air Force Base would include 3 lanes for cars and bike lanes and sidewalks on each side. Traffic calming devices would be installed on Wood Street and at the intersection of Hartwell and Wood Street turns would be restricted. The presentation included an overview of the study process, infrastructure plan and funding, TDM plan and funding, implementation of MassDOT projects, policy plan, outstanding issues and next steps. The Budget total for the project is $12.4 million; $11.0 million from the state and $1.4 million from the Town, which is the amount needed for the design and permit process that the State does not cover. For the Impact Fee Determination: $1.4 million is the Town’s share with an Page 2 Minutes for the Meeting of June 7, 2010 adjustment factor of 1.5 making the adjusted town share $2.1 million. The potential new floor space on Hartwell Avenue is 678,834 square feet and the suggested fee is $3,100 per 1000 square feet of building floor space. Implementation involves a Project Need Form, a Project Initiation Form, as well as project review committee approval, project design, right of way takings, permitting and programming. Policy Plan components include restricting trucks from Wood Street, monitoring Hanscom realignment plans, coordinating TDM plans between Hanscom and Lincoln Labs, coordinating with the MBTA, curb cut consolidation, bike path grade separation, and creation of a Transportation Management Association (TMA). The goal of a TMA would be to allow employees to get to businesses on Hartwell with no cars. 3 It would be based on fees and it is suggested that it follow the 128 Cmodel. Outstanding issues include: project phasing, Route 128 roundabout design; Drummer Boy Green condominium access, and mandatory TMA membership. Next steps include having a final public hearing, preparing a final report and recommendations, creating the TMA and allocating funds. The Selectmen were interested in receiving locations of existing multi-lane roundabouts that they could look at. The speed on the roundabout is expected to be between 5 and 20 miles per hour. Feedback from the state has been positive. The roundabout at the intersection of Bedford Street and Hartwell Avenue would require land taking or donation. Mr. Burnell feels the plan should look to increase the capacity of the roadways to support increased development on Hartwell Avenue. Minutes for the Meeting of June 7, 2010 Page 3 Mr. David Kanter, resident of Drummer Boy, asked how traffic would be handled during the proposed changes. He also feels that Hanscom AFB should be part of the process. Mr. Adam Sacks is concerned about cyclists negotiating roundabouts and suggests the use of signage to direct cyclists to use sidewalks. Mr. Zeliff, Fifer Lane, asked what could be done for people exiting Winter Street onto Bedford Street. Mr. Jerry Van Hook, member of Bicycle Advisory Committee and Sidewalk Committee, thinks it would be better for Wood Street to have wider side striping for safer bike passage rather than traffic calming separation. If the Selectmen had any further input or questions, they were asked to send them to their Executive Clerk. The Clerk will compile the information and send it to the Planning Department. The Planning Board members left the Selectmen’s meeting and adjourned the Planning Board meeting. Anthony Galaitsis, Clerk