HomeMy WebLinkAbout2004-04-07-PB-minPLANNING BOARD MINUTES
MEETING OF APRIL 7, 2004
The meeting of the Lexington Planning Board held in Room 227, Clarke Middle School, was called to
order at 7:00 p.m. by Chairman Harden with members, Davies, Kastorf, Manz and planning staff Garber,
McCall- Taylor, and Tap present. Mr. Galaitsis arrived after the discussion of the minutes.
****** * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ** MINUTES x***** * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * **
Review of Minutes The Board reviewed the minutes for the meeting of January 28, 2004 and for the
Executive Session of January 28, 2004. On a motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to approve
the minutes as written. The Board also reviewed but did not vote on the minutes of March 3, 2004 as a
point of information needed verification by Mr. Galaitsis. It was agreed to vote on them next week.
* * * * * * * * * * ** ADMINISTRATION OF LAND DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS * * * * * * * * * * * **
PLANS NOT REQUIRING APPROVAL UNDER THE SUBDIVISION CONTROL LAW
Form A/04 -3 Walnut Street former Middlesex Hos ital : Ms. McCall- Taylor reported that on October 9,
2002 the Board had voted to endorse an ANR plan entitled "Plan of Land in Waltham/Lexington in MA,
dated February 18, 2002, revised June 4, 2002," prepared and certified by Kevin W. Hinds, Professional
Land Surveyor, Southborough, MA. This plan was never filed at the Registry of Deeds. A revised plan
was then submitted so that the endorsement of both municipalities would be on a single plan. That plan
was never registered, as there was an error in the description of Bow Street on the plan. A second revised
plan is before the Board tonight that allows for both municipalities to sign one plan with the correct
reference to Bow Street.
After a brief review, upon a motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to rescind the endorsement of
the plan entitled "Plan of Land in Waltham /Lexington, MA," dated February 18, 2002, revised June 4,
2002 and February 7, 2003, prepared and certified by Kevin W. Hinds, Professional Land Surveyor,
Southborough, MA showing a subdivision of the land formerly the known as the Middlesex Hospital, and
to endorse the plan entitled "Plan of Land in Waltham/Lexington, MA," dated February 18, 2002, revised
June 4, 2002, February 7, July 3 and August 7, 2003, prepared and certified by Kevin W. Hinds,
Professional Land Surveyor, Southborough, MA, with Force Al2004 -3, submitted by John M. Farrington
for HCRI Holding's Trust, as it does not require approval under the Subdivision Control Law.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ** ARTICLES FOR 2004 TOWN MEETING * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * **
Article 6 Open Space in Residential Developments: The Board reached consensus on what to do about
Article 6, Open Space in Residential Development. While members were now in agreement as to the
direction of a future article they felt there would not be sufficient time to allow Town Meeting members
to review a revised article. Mr. Galaitsis volunteered to make a brief report to Town Meeting explaining
that the issue would be brought back to next year's Town Meeting. On a motion duly made and seconded,
it was voted to recommend indefinite postponement of Article 6.
Article 11, Center Parking Amendment It was agreed that Mrs. Manz would present the Board's position
on Article 11. Mrs. Manz will write a draft statement to Town Meeting.
Article 8, Home Occupations, Possible Reconsideration Mr. Garber reported that he had talked with Mr.
John Bartenstein, who had served notice of reconsideration on Article 8, Home Occupations, the night the
Article was approved by Town Meeting. Mr. Bartenstein said he plans to make two amendments to the
motion if Town Meeting votes to reconsider the measure on April 26.
Minutes for the Meeting of April 7, 2004
Article 12, Amendments to Standards for RD Districts, and Article 13, RO to RD Metropolitan State
Hospital Site by AvalonBay The Board agreed to put off discussion of Article 12 as it will only be
considered if Article 13 is passed and they thought it was more important to continue their efforts to
clarify their position on Article 13, the rezoning of Metropolitan State Hospital property.
Mr. Harden reported on his conversation with Mr. Michael Roberts, AvalonBay, Communities, Inc., the
developer, about redrafting the fiscal impacts report using the figure of 114 school -age children. Mr.
Larry Koff, who had performed a peer review of AvalonBay's projected revenue neutrality, found that
with 386 units andl14 school -age children, the expected fiscal impact of the AvalonBay community
would be minus $40,000, which could be considered revenue neutral within the ratio of .95 to 1.05.
However Mr. Roberts was asked to adjust the unit mix to come up with a fiscal impact projection of 1.0
or less. There was discussion of a revenue neutrality guarantee. Mr. Kastorf reported that at the meeting
with DCAM the previous week there had been some discussion of a guarantee but it was in return for no
tax assessment until the Certificates of Occupancy were issued. Ms. Dawn McKenna who was at the
DCAM meeting had said she was not sure that the Board of Selectmen could support the project without a
guarantee. At that meeting Ms. Jeanne Krieger had said that her position was to reach a comfort level
with the projections and that that would be the guarantee. Mr. Galaitsis said that while an ongoing
guarantee might not be within the zoning powers, a temporary relief -valve for an extraordinary project
could be valuable. Mr. Davies said he was troubled by Lexington seeming to tax children. Mr. Kastorf
asked if having insurance about the school -aged children was a make it or break it issue for the Board.
While a guarantee would be great to have in trying to leverage the vote at Town Meeting he felt he could
still support the development without a guarantee. Mr. Kastorf also reported that at the meeting with
DCAM there had been no indication of what DCAM would do with the site if AvalonBay's proposal is
turned down by Town Meeting.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ** PLANNING BOARD ORGANIZATION, SCHEDULE * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * **
Meeting Schedule: The Board agreed to meet at 6:00 p.m. on Monday, 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday and 7:00 on
Wednesday of the week of April 12.
On a motion duly made and seconded, the Board voted unanimously to adjourn at 7:55 p.m
John L. Davies, Clerk