HomeMy WebLinkAbout2003-07-09-PB-minPLANNING BOARD MINUTES
MEETING OF JULY 9, 2003
The meeting of the Lexington Planning Board held in the Selectmen's Room, Town Office Building, was
called to order at 7:00 p.m. by Chairman Harden with members Chase, Davies, Galaitsis, Kastorf and
planning staff Garber, McCall- Taylor, and Tap present.
**** * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ** MINUTES ******* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * **
Review of Minutes The Board reviewed and corrected the minutes for the meeting of June 4, 2003. On
the motion of Mr. Davies, seconded by Mr. Kastorf, it was voted to approve the minutes, as amended.
* * * * * * * * * ** ADMINISTRATION OF LAND DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS * * * * * * * * * * * **
SUBDMSION OF LAND
Lexington Hills Cluster Subdivision Definitive Plan_ Walnut Roseland, Continued Public Hearing
Present for the hearing were Mr. Jeff Nadherny, Belmont Advisors; Mr. Gary Larson, Larson Associates;
Mr. John Farrington, attorney; Mr. Rick Waitt, Meridian Engineering; Mr. Steve Hurley, Janovsky &
Hurley Architects; and Mr. Charles Kalauskas, traffic engineer, BSQ and Mr. Roger Wruble of Habitat.
There were 14 people in the audience.
Mr. Larson gave an overview of the project's progression thorough the permitting process, which began
with a sketch submission in December 2001 and a preliminary submission in 2002. The definitive plan
was filed in April 2003. It shows 27 dwellings in a mixture of detached and attached units. Three attached
units will go to the Lexington Housing Assistance Board, one at no cost, two at building materials costs
only. Still missing from the application is a signed right of easement from the City of Waltham relative to
the emergency access road, part of which is in Waltham. The Planning Board agreed to go ahead with the
public hearing anyway, though it would not vote on the definitive plan tonight.
Mr. Larson briefly presented the locus and existing conditions plans as well as the road layout plan, which
has not changed significantly since the sketch plan, except for a reduction of six units. However, the
turnarounds are now shown as loops instead of hammerheads in response to requests from the fire and
engineering departments. The plan meets the open space requirement of the cluster bylaw but falls short
on usable open space, some of which will be mounded to provide a buffer between the dwellings and the
road. The berms are meant to enhance the character of the site. The affordable units account for 4,000 of
the 46,000 square feet site coverage figure.
The development team has been working with Roger Wruble, director of Habitat in Belmont, one of 41
Audubon Society nature sanctuaries, to come up with a way to tie the proposed regional nature trail
associated with the Western Greenway project, into this subdivision approval Mr. Hurley described the
style of the proposed dwellings, pointing out that the style of the LexHAB units blends with that of the
market rate units as the Board had requested. .
Board Questions and Comments
Walking Trails: There was a lengthy discussion about the proposed walking path and how it could Iink up
to an existing nature trail. Mr. Wruble was present to describe the original trail as it went through the site,
linking Habitat with Trapelo Road, east to west. He said that the Lexington Hills development will
interrupt a forested wildlife corridor but he is glad that a trail connection can be made, preserving access
from east to west. Mr. Nadherny assured him that the area where the disrupting work is done would be
landscaped so that the corridor perhaps can be reestablished. The construction work, however, is
unavoidable. The Board asked that a concrete agreement be reached before the Board votes on the
definitive plan.
Minutes for the Meeting of July 9, 2003 2
Impervious Surface: Mr, Galaitsis remarked that the amount of impervious surface seemed to him to have
increased from earlier plan stages, and asked if the two loop turnarounds were included in the
calculations. Mr. Larson answered no. There was some discussion about how impervious surface is
calculated, because it is unclear whether the ratio is 14 percent or 20 percent. Mr. Larson commented that
the impervious area proposed, even at 20 percent, is lower than the current impervious area on the site.
Mr, Galaitsis responded that the impervious area should not exceed the allowed limit, which is 15 percent.
Traffic Impacts: Mr. Galaitsis also asked why the smallest house size was used as the house size factor in
calculating traffic impacts. Mr. Harden agreed that it would seem to undercount the traffic impact. Mr.
Larson said they took a conservative approach. Ms. McCall - Taylor commented that she had run the
calculations using three bedrooms as the factor and the traffic impacts were still within the cluster limit.
Mr. Galaitsis further commented that the 1.86 figure used by Mr. Larson for the projected number of
occupants per unit was far below what could reasonably be expected.
Usable Open Space: The Board generally approved of the use of berms as appropriate to this site, though
usually usable open space is meant to be mostly level ground. Mr. Galaitsis preferred that the areas be
level as it can be used to control the size of a development, as can the limit on impervious surface. These
measures, however, are not precisely defined and so are difficult to use.
There was some discussion about the LexHAB units. They may not have basements as do the other units,
due to their low elevation over the water table. Mr. Nadherny assured the Board that he would try to make
sure they could have basements, and that water intrusion would not be a problem. Mr. Harden also raised
concern about whether the units would be subject to flooding because of the first floor elevation in
relation to the level of the infiltration chamber in the rear yard. He asked that LexHAB have the right to
review and approve construction plans for these units, since they will be buying them.
Mr. Galaitsis stated that this development benefits greatly from the fact that the subdivision road is not a
through road and suggested that all three LexHAB units should be donated in return. He also said that he
thought the market rate units would in reality become 3- and 4- bedroom units, as the rooms labeled
"study" or " office " would probably be used as bedrooms. Ms. McCall - Taylor said that at Johnson's Farm
cluster subdivision, potential buyers are being told they cannot finish basements or convert rooms, and the
building commissioner refers such questions to the planning department. This would be true at Lexington
Hills as well.
Audience Comments and Questions Mr. Steven Heinrich, president of the Potter Pond condo association,
expressed the Potter Pond residents' concern about increased traffic on Walnut Street as well as the
grouping of the LexHAB units together. Ms. Jacquelyn Davison, a member of the South Lexington Civic
Association, said that south Lexington residents are concerned about the amount of site coverage and lack
of open space, the greenway issue, and the grouping of the LexHAB units.
All residents who spoke mentioned traffic impacts, especially on Walnut Street. It was agreed that a
regional approach to traffic management is needed due to future large scale developments at Met State
and across the town line in Waltham. Mr. Kastorf asked if Potter Pond residents would take part in a
traffic mitigation program. Association president Heinrich said they would consider it but would not like
to initiate or oversee the program. Planning Director Garber pointed out that nowhere in the United States
could a subdivision proposal be turned down purely because it would generate traffic.
Minutes for the Meeting of July 9, 2003
The Board's major issues at the end of the evening were:
a The walkway - its need to maintain the connection with the existing Habitat trail and be integrated
into the overall subdivision plan. It was felt that bicycles would not be appropriate due to the
dangerous conditions on Walnut Street.
■ The LexHAB units Their grouping is all right since they are the only rental units. Mr. Nadherny
said they would be among the first units built and will have basements, if at all possible. Provision of
a copy of the agreement with LexHAB would be a condition of approval.
The berms were still an issue relative to the usable open space limit, though some members believe
they enhance the site design.
a The Board would like to see fewer units to lessen site coverage and impervious surface.
a Provision of the signed easement from Waltham would be a condition of approval.
The hearing was continued to August 13.
Porter Lane The Windermere Group, Amendment to Landscape Plan Mr. John Austin was present to ask
the Board to approve a minor change to the landscape plan for Porter Lane, off Adams Street. He would
like to remove some unattractive trees, mostly white pines, which would have the effect of helping more
attractive trees grow. More planting will be added as well.
On the motion of Mr. Davies, seconded by Mr. Galaitsis, it was voted to approve the requested change to
the Porter Lane landscape plan.
RECOMMENDATIONS ON APPLICATIONS TO THE BOARD OF APPEALS
Applications To Be Heard on July 2003 Ms. McCall - Taylor said she had reviewed the July petitions to
the Board of Appeals and found no planning related issues on which to comment. Due to the failed
override, the Board of Appeals clerk position was eliminated so planning staff is helping to cover some of
those tasks.
DETERMINATION OF GRADE AND CONSTRUCTION OF UNACCEPTED STREETS
Bird Hill Road Scott Seaver: Ms. McCall - Taylor said that Mr. Scott Seaver, Seaver Construction
Company, has asked the Board to determine that the portion of Bird Hill Road that he recently upgraded
to allow two homes to be built, may also provide frontage to 23 Bird Hill Road. Mr. Seaver's request was
made within the prescribed six months for allowing recently constructed roadway to serve as frontage for
another lot. The size of the proposed house would about 3,500 square feet of living space, the same as the
other homes he built on Bird Hill Road. After a brief discussion, on a motion duly made and seconded, it
was voted that the portion of Bird Hill Road providing frontage for #23 is of adequate grade and
construction
STAEFREPORTS
Mr. Garber reported that the first legislative hearing for the Land tJse Reform Legislation would be on the
morning of July 24. He urged any Board member who could to attend.
Mr. Garber also handed out a proposed work program based on his assessment of known work and
changing (decreasing) staff capacity. At a future meeting it should be discussed as the staff needs
guidance from the Board on how to allocate its time and choose among alternative activities.
Minutes for the Meeting of July 9, 2003 4
PLANNING BOARD ORGANIZATION, SCHEDULE * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * **
Signature sheets for Registry of Deeds and Land Court As required by State statute, the Board endorsed
signature sheets, required to be on file with the Registry of Deeds and the Land Court, reflecting the
current membership of the Board and staff members authorized to sign for the Board.
On a motion duly made and seconded, the Board voted unanimously to a journ at 1 1:00 .m.
P
John L. Davies, Clerk