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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2004-11-17-PB-minPLANNING BOARD MINUTES MEETING OF NOVEMBER 17, 2004 A regular meeting of the Lexington Planning Board held in the Selectmen's Meeting Room, Town Office Building, was called to order at 7:30 p.m. by Chairman Kastorf with members Davies, Harden, Manz and planning staff McCall - Taylor, and Tap present. Mr. Galaitsis was absent. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *x* * * * * * ** MINUTES Review of Minutes The Board reviewed the minutes for the meetings of October 26 and November 3, and the executive session of November 3, 2004. On a motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to approve the minutes as amended. PLANNING BOARD POLICIES Review of Planning Board Policies: Mr. Kastorf called attention to the copies of Planning Board policies and guidelines that had been included in their packets and asked board members to review them for future discussion and potential changes to make sure they are still relevant. The documents are the Transportation Demand Management policy, The 1985 Inclusionary Housing policy and the Cluster Subdivision Guidelines. * * * * * * * * * * * ** ADMINISTRATION OF LAND DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS * * * * * * * * * * * ** PLANS NOT REQUIRING APPROVAL UNDER THE SUBDIVISION CONTROL LAW Form A/2004 -8, 36 -36a Woburn Street The Board reviewed an Approval Not Required Plan for land at 36 & 36A Woburn Street. On a motion duly made and seconded it was voted to endorse the plan entitled "Plan of Land Showing New Lots, 36 -36A Woburn St., Lexington, MA ", dated October 28, 2004, prepared and certified by John W. McEachern, Professional Land Surveyor, Arlington, Mass., with Form A/2004 -8, submitted by Joshua E. Latham for Janet W. Lopez, as it does not require approval under the Subdivision Control Law. Form A/2004 -9, lb Slocum Road and Rowland Avenue The Board reviewed an Approval Not Required Plan for land at 16 Slocum Road and Rowland Avenue. On a motion duly made and seconded it was voted to endorse the plan entitled "Plan of Land located in Lexington in Massachusetts ", dated October 5, 2004, prepared and certified by Kevin E. Danahy, Professional Land Surveyor, Westborough, Mass., with Form A/2004 -9, submitted by Kevin E. Danahy for Barbara E. Palant, as it does not require approval under the Subdivision Control Law. SUBDIVISION OF LAND 14 Glen Road South Cluster Subdivision -Continued Public Hearin4, Request to Postpone: Mr. Kastorf opened the public hearing at 7: 50 p.m. Ms. McCall- Taylor reported that the applicants, Mr. Oberteuffer and Ms. Mockett, asked for a postponement of the public hearing on the 14 Glen Road South Cluster Subdivision to the next meeting at which the full Board would be present. Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to postpone the continued public hearing to Wednesday, December 1, 2004, at 7:45 p.m. Clelland Road Conventional Subdivision Acce t Sure : The Board reviewed an Estimated Cost to Construct form dated November 12, 2004 filed by the developer of the Clelland Road subdivision, which showed that a total of $45,133 would be needed to finish the public facilities. Ms. McCall- Taylor reported that the Town Engineer approved the amount as sufficient. Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to accept surety against the completion of public facilities in the Clelland Road Subdivision in the form of a bank check for $51,902.95 (which includes a 15 percent contingency fee) made out to the Town of Lexington. The Revenue Officer will deposit the check in an escrow account at a local bank, where it will remain until the Planning Board is satisfied that necessary work in the subdivision has been done and votes to release the funds. Minutes for the Meeting of November 17, 2004 2 Ms. McCall- Taylor reported that the applicant wants to install a second streetlight at the end of Clelland Road. Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted not to approve an additional streetlight, as it would impact the neighbors too much. Roosevelt Road Special Residential Development, Request for Approval to Finish Basements The Board discussed the requests of a number of owners of units at the Roosevelt Road Special Residential Development. The members agreed that they have no objections to the finishing work the development's residents wish to do in their basements. Brookhaven Expansion Ms. McCall- Taylor informed the Board that the City of Waltham was appealing the special permit granted Brookhaven for the expansion of the facility. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ** ARTICLES FOR 2005 TOWN MEETING * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ** Planning; Board Zoning Initiatives In previous discussions as to what to prepare to present to the 2005 Town Meeting, several affordable housing related measures – adaptive reuse, inclusionary housing requirements and accessory dwelling units – were considered. It became clear that adaptive reuse is inseparable from the inclusionary housing issue and the Board agreed that the two subjects would need more preparation than is possible to saccompiish before the 2005 warrant closes. The Board decided to go forward with revisions to the accessory apartment provision of the Zoning Bylaw. Relative to revitalizing Lexington Center and tackling parking issues, about which the Board has been meeting with the Center Committee, Mr. Kastorf indicated that Mr. Eric Shapiro and partners' proposed rezoning of the Battle Green Inn property would be the predominant issue at Town Meeting for the central business district. It would involve potential mixed uses in the center – residential and commercial – and parking. He could not see how a separate measure dealing with center parking could be developed. Board members have indicated their support for mixed uses in the center and are working with the Center Committee on "connectivity" to improve auto and pedestrian navigation. The Board agreed that all of these issues would be raised by the rezoning petition and could be creatively linked to the Battle Green Inn condo /retail project during negotiations. It was suggested that the project might provide impetus to form a Business Improvement District in the center. Reporting on the meeting that morning of the Center Committee, Mrs. Manz indicated that support for eliminating the center parking provisions altogether is nearly unanimous among the membership. She also reported that some LCC members would be leading a "connectivity" walk of the center on Tuesday, November 23 at 8:00 a.m., leaving from the depot area. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ** BOARD MEMBER REPORTS Planning Director Search: Mr. Davies reported that the Town Manager's office has received 13 applications for the Planning Director position. The deadline for applications was extended from November 12 to the 19th. He said that two panels would interview the selected candidates; one made up of representatives of major Boards and Committees and one made up of senior staff members. On a motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to adjourn the meeting at 9:45 p.m. I �y— Wendy M ,Clerk