HomeMy WebLinkAbout2003-04-28-PB-minPLANNING BOARD MINUTES
MEETING OF APRIL 28, 2003
The meeting of the Lexington Planning Board held in the Carpenter Room of the National Heritage
Museum, was called to order at 7:00 p.m. by Chairman Galaitsis with members Chase, Davies, Harden.,
Kastorf and planning staff Garber and McCall- Taylor present.
MINUTES
Review of Minutes The Board reviewed the minutes for the meetings of February 5 executive session,
March 12 and 19 and April. 14, 2003. On the motion of Mr. Davies, seconded by .Mr. Harden, it was
voted unanimously 5 -0 to approve the minutes for February 5 executive session, March 12 and April 14,
2003, as amended. The minutes of March 19 will be corrected and brought back to the next meeting.
PLANNING DIRECTOR'S REPORT
Mr. Garber informed the members that Elissa Tap had agreed to be the recording secretary for the
Selectmen's Meetings. She had arranged back -up coverage if needed. This work will be done in addition
to her Planning Board position,
Article 12 — This article will be indefinitely postponed.
Article 14 -- Mr. Davies said that it was his understanding that the article would ask for $30,000 to be
appropriated for architectural programs and schematics. Mr. Harden said that given the discussions about
the Worthen Road site that had been on the TMMA e -mail that afternoon such studies could be helpful.
There was a question of whether a senior center would even fit on the site. Ms. Chase wondered about
how useful a programmatic design unrelated to a site would be, and how much it might cost. Mr. Davies
said that something worthwhile could be done for $10,000 but he doesn't want to have the Council on
Aging have to wait a year if they get a site, so he thinks releasing $30,000 would be fine. Board member
speculated about what the money would be used for. Ms. Davison who was in the audience and has been
active on the siting committee, said that they wanted a program analysis with square footage
requirements, a spaces need analysis for a senor /community center. Ms. McCall- Taylor referred the
members to the memo from Mr. LaPointe which outlined the tasks the money would be used for as
follows: validate the social services and activities that the senior center should provide; confirm space
needs; and, develop the architectural program and create alternative conceptual building and site designs.
Mr. Kastorf asked if there was a planning issue in this and Mr. Harden responded that if asked, the
Planning Board could endorse the article. On the motion of Mr. Kastorf, seconded by Mr. Harden, the
Board voted that if the Planning Board is asked for a position on Article 14 they should respond that it
represents careful planning and it should trove forward. The motion passed 5 -0.
Article 25 — Mr. Kastorf asked if it were true that the Planning Board would not be asked for a report
during the discussion scheduled for the recess. Ms. McCall- Taylor said it was her understanding that that
was the case and that Town Meeting would not vote on the motion until the next session. Mr. Kastorf
suggested putting the article aside until Wednesday night, after they had heard the discussion. Mr.
Galaitsis suggested making comments tonight but not voting. Mr. Harden said that the substantive issue
here is the traffic issue generated by moving the DPW to Hartwell Avenue. Mr. Galaitsis said it is hard to
know what to say without a traffic study of some sort. Mr. Galaitsis expressed concern that it might give
political ammunition to Hanscom if the town were to allow more traffic on Hartwell Avenue. Mr. Davies
said he felt it was worth it to move the DPW and free up the Bedford Street site. Mr. Harden said that if
this were a commercial proposal it probably would not pass, traffic would be a major concern and traffic
studies would be required. Tlie consensus was to defer a vote on the article.
Minutes for the Meeting of April 28, 2003
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Article 23 — Mr. Garber said that the Conservation. Commission had gone back and forth on the North
Street parcel but as of that afternoon were planning on asking for indefinite postponement of that part of
the article. The Conservation Commission :Felt that Article 90 covering the disposal of public parkland
would protect the site.
AFFORDABLE HOUSING
The Board briefly revised the flyer on the housing meeting scheduled for May 29. Although they had
some questions they felt that it could be copied for distribution at Wednesday's Town Meeting session.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ** PLANNING BOARD ORGANIZATION, SCHEDULE * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * **
The meeting of April 30 will be moved up to 6:30 to allow continued discussion of the DPW article.
On a motion duly made and seconded, the Board voted unanimously to adjourn at 8:00 p.m..