HomeMy WebLinkAbout2002-09-04-PB-minPLANNING BOARD MINUTES
MEETING OF SEPTEMBER 4, 2002
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 Galaitsis with members Chase, Davies, Harden, Kastorf and
planning staff Garber, McCall- Taylor, and Tap present.
MINUTES
Review of Minutes The Board reviewed and corrected the minutes for the meetings of August 7 and 21,
2002. On the motion of Mr. Davies, seconded by Ms. Chase, the Board voted unanimously to approve the
minutes, as amended.
* * * * * * * * * * ** ADMINISTRATION OF LAND DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS * * * * * * * * * * * **
SUBDIVISION OF LAND
42 and 36 Cap , Avenue — Sketch Cluster Subdivision Plan Robert Smith: Present for this item were Mr.
Robert Smith and Mr. and N i Robert Smith, Jr., the applicants; .Mr. Gary Larson, landscape architect, of
Larson Associates, Inc.; Mr. John Farmington, attorney; and Richard Waitt, Jr., engineer, of Meridian
Engineering. There were 16 people in the audience.
Mr. Larson began by showing the Board a site analysis of the property at 42 and 36 Cary Avenue and then
presented a plan showing a cluster development with a total of six dwelling units. Two of the units are
existing homes on the lots nearest Cary Avenue. Four new dwellings, fronting on a proposed cul de sac are
shown on land behind the two houses. Mr. Larson said that the existing character of the Cary Avenue
streetscape will not change. Shown alongside the existing stone wall is a footpath. Mr. Larson briefly
presented three other layouts that the team considered, including one with eight dwellings, but they
considered the six -un.it scheme the best for the site. The houses will have footprints of about 2000 square
feet.
Questions from the Board
Mr. Galaitsis thanked the applicants for pursuing a cluster scheme. Noting that units in the cluster look quite
far apart, he asked if they had considered attached dwellings. Mr. Larson responded that they want to stay
with single - family units, believing that attached units would not fit as well into the neighborhood.
Ms. Chase asked if they had measured the existing homes to see how the proposed houses compare in size.
Mr. Larson responded that they worked estimated footprints from aerial photographs. Mr. Davies
commented that just defining the footprint does not convey the bulk of the total square feet of the living
space. He also remarked that the cluster scheme preferred by Mr. Smith offers a better buffer between the
proposed houses and the houses on Kinney Road than the conventional layout does.
Mr. Kastorf said that bringing the four units closer together would require less driveway pavement. Mr.
Larson responded that the plan already provides more than the required 25% of open space and has less than
the limit of impervious surface. He said the hammerhead would be smaller in the final plan. Relative to the
stone wall, he said that site grading might affect it but that any disturbed portions can be rebuilt. In response
to a question about the character of the rear buffer area, Mr. Larson said that the area has many trees which
would provide a good visual screen and some evergreens could be added for winter screening.
Questions from the Audience
Mr. William Levison, 19 Phinney Road, asked if someone could, at a later time, cut down some of the trees.
Ms. Brenda Deutsch, 17 Phinney Road, asked why the Board considers cluster development a good thing.
Another person expressed the abutters' shock at the proposed development in their neighborhood. Mr.
Kastorf acknowledged the shock they feel, saying we all feel it but that the owners of the property have a
right to develop that land. Mr. Garber explained the cluster impact measures concept. Further abutter
Minutes for the Meeting of September 4, 2002
questions had to do with traffic and the status of the street after construction.
2
Direction from the Board
The Board summarized their thoughts on the proposed development:
• Combine two of the schemes, using best features of each.
• Minimize the distance between the units and cluster them toward the center of the site to allow more
buffering on the perimeter.
• Permanently mark the walkway along the stonewall that leads to the common open space at the rear
of the lot
• A cluster with five dwellings would be preferable.
• Explore hammerhead street configurations.
LONG -RANGE PLANNING
Long-Range 7e Plaunin lnitiatives Setting Priorities For 2003 Work Session Three: Mr. Garber reported that
three firms responded to the Comprehensive Plan, Implementing Actions RFP: Philip B. Herr and
Associates; Larry Koff and Associates with Bluestone Planning Group; and Frederick Taintor and
Associates.
Executive Order 41.8, Grant Ap lication Mr. Garber also reported that, relative to the staffs application for a
Determination of Equivalency for the first four elements of the comprehensive plan from the Department of
Housing and Community Development, DHCD has asked for more information. The staff is in the process of
preparing that information in connection with seeking a grant of $30,000 in consultant services from the
agency to help fund work on the comprehensive plan.
Planning Board Member Concerns and Initiatives
Using a table listing possible initiatives to pursue prepared by Mr. Garber, the Board debated on which area
of concern to use the consultant and staff time and to concentrate the coming year's resources. The Board
agreed that one big project is probably enough given their and the staff's other commitments. In response to
Ms. Chase's question of how many person -weeks are available, Mr. Garber responded that there are
approximately 300 person -weeks available to apportion to tasks. In the end, comparing the level of effort
required by the various tasks, and their level of importance, the Board agreed unanimously that the problem
of limited alternative housing types in Lexington is paramount and that inclusionary housing would be the
focus of efforts for the coming year. The threat of hostile 40B housing proposals and the growing number of
million - dollar -plus homes in town makes action imperative.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ** PLANNING BOARD ORGANIZATION, SCHEDULE * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * **
Meetings in October The Board scheduled meetings on October 9 and 23.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ** BOARD MEMBER REPORTS * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * **
Planning Board Member Concerns and Initiatives Mr. Davies said that Mrs. Jacquelyn Davison told him of
her concern about the possible sale and development of six acres of land on Shade Street sometimes referred
to as Hayden Homestead. She is organizing a committee to pursue getting it under town control of some
kind. Mr. Davies said he has offered to help her and indicated that they might ask for some staff support.
On a motion duly made and seconded, the Board voted unanimously to adjourn the meeting at 10:17 p.m.
Karl P. Kastorf, Clerk