HomeMy WebLinkAbout2003-08-13-PB-minPLANNING BOARD MINUTES
MEETING OF AUGUST 13, 2003
The meeting of the Lexington Planning Board held in the Selectmen's Room, Town Office Building, was
called to order at 7:30 p.m. by Chairman Harden with members Chase, Davies, Kastorf and planning staff
McCall- Taylor, and Tap present. Mr. Galaitsis and Mr. Garber were absent.
MINUTES
Review of Minutes The Board reviewed the minutes for the meetings of June 11, June 18 and July 16,
2003. On a motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to approve the June 11 and June 18 minutes as
amended; the minutes of July 16 were approved as written.
* * * * * * * * * * ** ADMINISTRATION OF LAND DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS
DETERMINATION OF GRADE AND CONSTRUCTION OF UNACCEPTED STREETS
25 Richard Road Definitive Road Construction Plan DEBCO Properties: Mr. David Burns, the
applicant; Mr. Joseph Steinlrauss, attorney; and Mary Cassidy, owner of 25 Richard Road, were present.
Mr. Burns explained that he wants to demolish the house at 25 Richard Road, an unaccepted street, and
build a new house. His plan shows the resurfacing of 125 feet of Richard Road. Two years ago, builder
Mark Barons improved a section of the roadway to provide frontage for a house he built at 23 Richard
Road.
The memo from the Engineering Division suggested an alternative to rebuilding the 125 feet of roadway
might be overlaying with 2 inches of blacktop the existing pavement from the proposed start of
refinishing down to the existing manhole shown on the plan near the Follen Road intersection with a
bituminous berm from the edge of the proposed driveway down to the existing catch basin, a distance of
about 250 feet.
Mr. Burns said he would be happy to do as Engineering suggested. The Board asked him to provide a
plan showing this road improvement. On the motion of Mr. Davies, seconded by Mr. Kastorf, it was
voted that the portion of Richard Road from the proposed driveway down to Follen Road would be of
adequate grade and construction after Mr. Burns puts down a 2 -inch overlay of paving and installs the
berm described in the memo from the Engineering Division.
SUBDIVISION OF LAND
Lexington Hills Cluster Subd ivision, Walnut Roseland LLC, Continued Public Hearine: Mr. Harden
opened the hearing at 7:50 p.m. Ms. McCall - Taylor reported that the applicant has requested a 90 -day
extension of the time for the Board to act on its Lexington Hills Cluster Subdivision plan. The approvals
they needed from Waltham have not yet been received.
On the motion of Mr. Kastorf, seconded by Ms. Chase, it was voted to grant the requested 90 -day
extension of the time the Board has to issue a decision on the Lexington IIills Cluster Subdivision
definitive plan and the special permit, from August 29, 2003 to November 29, 2003 and to continue the
public hearing to November 5, 2003 at 7:45 p.m.
Aaron Road Conventional Subdivisio New England Construction Co., Release of Covenant: Ms.
McCall - Taylor informed the Board that Mr. Mark Barons has requested release of the covenant for 3
Aaron Road, lot 2 of the Aaron Road subdivision. After a brief discussion, on the motion of Mr. Davies,
seconded by Ms. Chase., it was voted that as sufficient surety remains in the form of the lot still under
covenant to secure performance of the construction of ways and installation of municipal services to serve
lot 2 in accordance with the provisions of the Covenant dated July 2, 2002, lot 2 is hereby released from
the restrictions as to building and sale specified in the covenant.
Minutes for the Meeting of August 13, 2003 2
Marvin Street Conventional Subdivision Cornerstone Concepts Bond Release: Mr. Steve Hamilton,
Cornerstone Concepts, has requested the release of the performance bond on his three -lot subdivision on
Marvin Street. He provided the required documentation and the Town Engineer verified the satisfactory
completion of all work in the subdivision,
On the motion of Mr. Kastorf, seconded by Mr. Davies, it was voted to release the performance bond on
the Marvin Street subdivision.
Scottish Glen Definitive Cluster Subdivision Plan Endorse Plans As a set of Mylar plans for the
definitive Scottish Glen subdivision was not available, the Board was unable to endorse them.
AFFORDABLE HOUSING
Lexington Housin Assistance Board LexHAB Proposed Affordable Dwellings on Ran ewa Road:
Mr. Marshall Derby, LexHAB Chair, was present to explain LexHAB's plan to build a duplex on 1.43
acres of surplus town -owned land at 14 Rangeway Road. He said the plans were discussed with the
neighbors, who had no objections, and with the Selectmen, who are supportive, on the whole. The
Selectmen authorized LexHAB to take the next steps necessary toward building a two - family house,
which, like a previous LexHAB dwelling on Spencer Street, will appear to be a one - family. Mr. Derby
said that LeXHAB has chosen to use the process defined in Section 135 -51 of the Lexington Zoning
Bylaw.
The Planning Board advised Mr. Derby to talk with the assistant fire chief about the placement of the
driveway and road improvements and to find out how the neighbors feel about improvements to
Rangeway Road.
Lexington Hills - The Board discussed the question of basements in the three affordable units to be built
as part of this development. The members felt it was important to provide basements for storage and
utilities. If the basements could not be built as originally shown due to the high water table, perhaps it
could be done by raising the building slightly, waterproofing the area, or by adding storage space
elsewhere, although the Board was hesitant to consider any increase in square footage or lot coverage.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ** COMPREHENSIVE PLAN IMPLEMENTATION * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * **
Housing Initiative The Board reviewed a draft letter to the Board of Selectmen asking them to meet with
the Planning Board /Housing Action Forum to discuss the group's requests that the Selectmen act to
establish a Lexington Housing Partnership, and to join a HOME consortium. The decision to ask to join
the Newton Home Consortium this year would have to be made before the Consortium's November
meeting.
RECOMMENDATIONS ON APPLICATIONS TO THE BOARD OF APPEALS
Applications To Be Heard on August 1,4, 2003 Ms. McCall - Taylor gave a brief review of petitions to the
Board of Appeals to be heard on Thursday, August 14.
700 Waltham Street (formerly know as 31 Allen Street) — Renew special permit to pick up and
keep cars on the premises.
• 9 Nichols Road Variance to construct a garage with 8.1' side yard setback and a 6.8' rear yard
setback.
• 44 Simonds Road — Variance to construct a porch with a 14.6' and 17.3' side yard setback along
Dexter Road and a 24.1' front yard setback.
Minutes for the Meeting of August 13, 2003 3
0 26 Weleb Road — Variance to construct a garage with a side street setback of 16.4' instead of the
required 20'.
0 33 Centre Street — Variance and special permit to convert a single family dwelling to a two family
dwelling and to increase the pitch of the roof to allow for a walk -up attic.
0 228 Lincoln Street — Variance to allow a bay window with a front yard setback of 27.5' and an
8'x 8' covered front entryway with a front yard setback of 22'.
0 59 Worthen Road (Grace Chapel) -- Variance to exceed the maximum floor area ratio and to
reduce the number of required parking spaces.
62 Liberty Avenue — Variance to allow an accessory apartment or overturn the decision of the
Zoning Enforcement Officer.
As there were no compelling planning issues involved, the Board agreed to make no comments. It was
agreed that staff would call the chairman if they thought it advisable for a Board member to go see a
particular property in question.
REGIONAL, INTERTOWN ISSUES
Metropolitan State Hospital Development Mr. Kastorf reported that at a recent meeting, Mr. Michael
Roberts of AvalonBay, the selected developer of the former Met State Hospital site, had offered to show
the Board around an affordable housing development they are building in Newton. Mr. Roberts suggests
Friday, September 5 or 12.
REPORTS
New Stormwater Regulations Ms. McCall- Taylor reported on a meeting of the Design Review Team.
New federal stormwater regulations will be issued soon
On a motion duly made and seconded, the Board voted unanimously ao, adj ourn,d 9:15 m.
John L. Davies, Clerk