HomeMy WebLinkAbout2004-06-16-PB-minPLANNING BOARD MINUTES
MEETING OF JUNE 16, 2004
The meeting of the Lexington Planning Board held in the Selectmen's Meeting Room, Town Office
Building, was called to order at 7:35 p.m. by Chairman Harden with members Davies, Galaitsis, Kastorf,
Manz and planning staff Garber and McCall - Taylor present.
**** * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ** MINUTES ***** * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * **
Review of Minutes The Board reviewed and corrected the minutes for the meetings of February 11 and
May 12, 2004. On a motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to approve the minutes as amended.
* * * * * * * * * * ** ADMINISTRATION OF LAND DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS * * * * * * * * * * * **
PLANS NOT REQUIRING APPROVAL UNDER THE SUBDIVISION CONTROL LAW
Form A/04 -04: The Board reviewed an Approval Not Required Plan for land at Forest Street and Muzzey
Street. On the motion of Ms. Manz, seconded by Mr. Galaitsis, the Board voted to endorse the plan
entitled "Plan of Land located in Lexington, MA (Middlesex County) ", dated June 8, 2004, prepared by
Meridian Associates, Inc., Danvers, MA, certified by Kevin E. Danahy, Professional Land Surveyor, with
Form A/04 -04, submitted by Tim Remy, applicant, as it does not require approval under the Subdivision
Control Law.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ** WORK PROGRAM FOLLOW THROUGH * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * **
Lexington Center Committee (LCC) Meeting Follow -up The Board had agreed to meet again with the
LCC in late July. A sub -group will be meeting in the interim focusing upon an updating of physical plan
elements and connectivity between parcels. Wendy Manz is the Planning Board representative but she
said she would welcome the participation of one more Planning Board member in the subgroup. Mr.
Harden agreed to participate as well.
Mr. Harden summarized the last week's meeting with the LCC. He said that connectivity seems to be
LCC's priority and is something the committee could work on with the individual property owners. The
Board of Selectmen would be the ones to implement the VHB parking study recommendations, but the
LCC might want to suggest priorities within those. The Planning Board has the least clear task, changes
to the downtown zoning, particularly with regard to parking. Mr. Harden felt that if the group is really
going to move forward it should probably expand its membership. They may want to explore ways to
make information available, possibly through the town web site.
Ms. Manz, who attended the LCC meeting the morning after the joint meeting with the Planning Board,
said that her impressions were in line with Mr. Harden's She felt that the LCC had been happy with how
the meeting had gone. She said the LCC was going to address connectivity by developing a plan of what
might be done. The Center Revitalization Committee report done in 2002 would be the subject of
discussion the following night.
Mr. Garber reported that the Board was close to getting a draft of the downtown study by Rick Taintor. It
will aid the Planning Board, LCC, Selectmen, business community and others in planning for the center.
The Board then discussed parking in the center — availability, need, convenience, turnover, etc. Mr.
Harden said that if the Board were to suggest liberalizing current regulations it would have to know the
current situation. They agreed they should look at the Planning Board's report to Town Meeting from
1984 when the current regulations were voted on.
Minutes for the Meeting of June 16, 2004 2
* * * * * * * * * * ** ADMINISTRATION OF LAND DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS * * * * * * * * * * * * *
48 Summit Road Sketch Plan for a Reduced Frontage Subdivision — This item had been scheduled for
earlier in the evening but had been postponed in hopes that the applicant would arrive. Being now 9:00,
the Board decided to go ahead with their review. The discussion centered on whether this site was eligible
to come before the Board since it was not on a public street. It was agreed that the provision only applies
for lots on a public street as defined in the bylaw. On the motion of Mr. Galaitsis, seconded by Mr.
Davies, the Board voted to deny the sketch plan because the lot was on a non - public street and therefore
not eligible for this type of relief.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ** *WORK PROGRAM FOLLOW THROUGH * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * **
Traffic Mitigation by Patriot Partners — Mr. Harden felt that the Planning Board had agreed to at least
start a discussion on how to use the $100,000 in traffic mitigation funds, focusing on the Spring Street
and Marrett .Road intersection. While ultimately it is the Board of Selectmen's decision, the Planning
Board can take the first step by convening a small meeting of the stake holders now, with a public
meeting in the fall. Mr. Harden suggested the small meeting might be with representatives from the
Planning Board, the Board of Selectmen, the South Lexington Civic Association, the Engineering
Division, and possibly the South Lexington Transportation Organization. Mr. Kastorf said the Capital
Expenditures Committee had asked to be a part of this process and should be added. Mr. Garber agreed to
do a brief memo for a mid -July initial meeting.
RECOMMENDATIONS ON APPLICATIONS TO THE BOARD OF APPEALS
Applications To Be Heard on June 24, 2004: The Planning Board reviewed the following applications,
raising some questions:
• 125, 131, 141 Spring Street — Lexington Technology Park — special permit for signs — While the
Planning Board members would have preferred to see all aspects of the site plan at once, they
recognized that market factors dictated another schedule. The Board deferred to the Design
Advisory Committee in matters of sign design. However, the Board wanted to inform the
applicant that some change in the signage might be required at a later date based on a
comprehensive review of the entire site if it seemed necessary to integrate building and sign
design.
S Drew Avenue — variance to subdivide back lot — The Board recommended unfavorable action
on this application. The members felt that the back lot had been combined with the front lot
when it was purchased and could not now be divided off. Neither lot by itself has enough square
footage to even qualify for grandfathering under the state statute that requires a minimum of
5,000 square feet of area.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ** PLANNING BOARD ORGANIZATION, SCHEDULE * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * **
Being the last scheduled meeting in June and with a full board present, the members elected new officers.
Mr. Harden nominated Mr. Kastorf for chair. Mr. Davies seconded this. For vice -chair Ms. Manz,
seconded by Mr. Kastorf, nominated Mr. Harden. Mr. Kastorf nominated Ms. Manz for clerk, seconded
by Mr. Davies. All officers were given unanimous votes. Thanks were given to the outgoing officers for
their work.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ** PLANNING DIRECTOR'S REPORT * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * **
Mr. Garber gave a brief legislation update. He said it appears that the smart growth/affordable housing
initiative is on a fast track and will be passed in this session. The bill allows a community to designate a
Minutes for the Meeting of June 16, 2004
Q
district for up- zoning for dense residential development and provides for cash payments and state aid
prioritization to help mitigate impacts such as increased school -aged children. He said it appears only
two aspects of the Land Use Reform Act are being carried forward. Approval Not Required (ANR) plans
would be eliminated, as would some of the generous zoning vesting /freezes /grandfathering provisions.
The many 40B reform bills have been collapsed into one, which is now in committee, and probably won't
pass in this session.
REPORTS
Mr. Galaitsis said that he had been asked by John Frey of the Tree Committee for a letter from the
Planning Board in support of the Tree Committee's grant application. The grant would be used to
inventory existing public trees. After making a few minor changes, the members agreed to send the letter
that had been provided.
On a motion duly made and seconded, the Board voted unanimously to adjourn at 10:10 p.m.
John L�Davies, Cleric
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