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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2002-11-06-PB-minPLANNING BOARD MINUTES MEETING OF NOVEMBER 6, 2002 The 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 Gal aitsis with members Chase, Davies, Harden, Kastorf and planning staff Garber, McCall- Taylor, Tap and Machek present. MINUTES Review of Minutes The Board reviewed and corrected the minutes for the meeting of October 9, 2002. On the motion of Mr. Kastorf, seconded by Mr, Harden, the Board voted 4 -0 to approve the minutes, as amended. * * * * * * * *T * ** ADMINISTRATION OF LAND DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS * * * * * * * * * * ** UNACCEPTED STREETS Bartlett Avenue, Request that Final Action be Delayed Ms. McCall- Taylor reported that Mr, Wayne Jalbert, engineer for the applicant, requested that final action on the Bartlett Avenue Street Construction Plan be delayed until the owner's attorney can be present at the meeting. The Board agreed to delay action. Rangeway Extension, James Raymond, Sketch Street Construction Plan under Subdivision Control Mr. James Raymond, the applicant, and Mr. Fred Russell, engineer, were present for this item. There were 10 people in the audience. Mr. Russell presented a plan for improvements to about 150 feet of Rangeway that would provide frontage for lot 87 on town property map 37. One new dwelling unit, in which Mr. Raymond intends to live, is shown. The plan showed three possible configurations for a turnaround and a road width of 16 or 18 feet. Comments and Questions: Questions from the Board had to do with the current condition of the street, which was characterized as terrible, and the location of a sign identifying the entrance to conservation land. The Board suggested that Mr. Raymond upgrade part of James Street along with Rangeway and urged him to work closely with the neighbors. Comments from abutters in the audience were heard. Mrs. Dolores Stevens, Drummer Boy Way, asked if the driveway could be switched to the other side of the house and if the most trees possible would be retained. The answer was that most trees would be retained but that the Drummer Boy development had a 50 foot buffer already and switching the driveway would bring it much closer to the single - family house at 27 Rangeway, next door to Mr. Raymond's lot. Mr. Stephen Schick, who lives at 27 Rangeway, presented some photographs of the site that showed where the conservation sign is and the road's condition. He also gave the Board a petition signed by residents on Rangeway asking the Board not to waive street requirements that would compromise public safety. Mr. Richard Sargent, 29 James Street voiced his support of the proposal, saying it would improve public safety. Mr. Galaitsis suggested that the neighbors realize that the sign to the Conservation land may not be ... ........ -- - - - - -. ......._. _........ .._...... accurately placed and that land they were used to walking through is privately owned. Mr. Kastorf described the best solution will be one that everyone agrees on in the end. The Board asked Mr. Russell to stake the property as the Board would like to walk the site. Neighbors are welcome on the site walk. Mr. Raymond said he would work with the neighborhood. 47 -53 Pleasant Street, Gene LlionZo, Sketch Conventional Subdivision Plan with Revisions Present for this item were the Luongo family, the applicants, and Mr. Gary Larson, landscape architect. Mr. Larson described the current plan as a blend of the Luongos' development program and Planning Board preferences. The development team tried out a couple of cluster schemes but in the end decided that they Minutes for the Meeting of November 6, 2002 2 were not suitable to the site or to Mr. Luongo's goal for the site. The current plan shows five single - family houses with footprints of ±2300 square feet, reduced from the previous sketch plan. Board Questions/Comment in response to a suggestion that the open land be parkland, Mr. Luongo said he thought the homeowners would not like that, but that the land will remain wooded. Various ways to protect the open space and what that would mean to the owners were discussed. In response to the applicant's stated wish to have the road be accepted by the Town, Ms. McCall Taylor said that that would require a full cul de sac to be built. Mr. Harden wondered if that would be a marketing plus, as it would lessen the agricultural character of the site. It was agreed that the sidewalk requirement should be waived if it would interfere with the existing stone wall along Pleasant Street. Mr. Luongo's grandfather built the wall. Several suggestions were made as to house siting and road layout. The Board agreed that a conventional . subdivision layout could work for this site and that a preliminary plan could be submitted next. PLANNING DIRECTOR'S REPORT * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ** Comprehensive Plan Implementation — Housing: Mr. Garber reported that intern Elizabeth Machek has been creating a master database of all housing growth. Modeling scenarios can be created showing growth without intervention compared to growth with intervention. Her work will be part of a report to the 2003 Town Meeting on the Board's progress on implementing the housing element of the Comprehensive Plan. Zoning Reform Working Group Mr, Garber described the intense efforts of the Zoning Reform Working Group to crafting what they hope will be sweeping reforms in the Subdivision Control Law. Their work will result in a bill to be presented by a coalition of lawmakers by December 3, 2002. FY04 Budget Defense Mr. Garber reiterated his concern that cuts in the Fiscal Year 2004 will eliminate a third professional position in the Planning Department budget. He said that the department's workload requires the third professional. Aaron Road Improvements, Mr. David Kocher's Concerns Mr. Garber reported that staff received a letter from Mr. David Kocher, 4 Nickerson Road, who has repeatedly voiced concerns over the Mr. Mark Barons' Aaron Road construction plan's drainage component. After a brief discussion, it was agreed to forward NW Kocher's letter to the Superintendent of Roads and Drains, where the matter will undoubtedly be handled in the appropriate manner. RECOMMENDATIONS ON APPLICATIONS TO THE .BOARD OF APPEALS Applications To Be Heard on November 14, 2002: Mr. Harden gave an oral review of the following applications: Im 12 Adams Street Special Permit under §4.4, Historic Preservation Incentives, to allow the waiver of frontage requirements in order to create a second buildable lot. The Planning Board agreed unanimously to urge the Board of Appeals, in the strongest possible terms, to deny this special permit. It viewed the strategy employed by the applicants to build a second house on their land as a subversion of the Zoning By -Law in general, and section 4.4, the Historic Preservation Incentives, in particular. The Board asked the staff to compose a letter detailing their objections. 6 Abernathy Road — Variance from site coverage requirement to allow an application for a Special Permit for the conversion of a one - family dwelling into a dwelling containing two dwelling units; and Special Permit for conversion of a one - family dwelling into a dwelling containing two dwelling units — Minutes for the Meeting of November 6, 2002 3 In view of its recently published housing element of the comprehensive plan, the Planning Board wants to support the provision of new accessory apartments but agreed that this proposal fails to meet the basic objective of providing housing that fits into the context of the neighborhood. Section 5.3.2.b of the Zoning By -law that states, "the dwelling to be converted shall be designed so that the appearance of the structure remains that of a detached one - family dwelling ". The plan the Board reviewed shows two distinct units connected by a breezeway, not a structure that reflects the appearance and character of the town's single- family neighborhoods. The Planning Board will recommend that the applicant be asked to return with a design that meets this standard. The Board agreed to make no comment on the following applications: ° 536 -540 Lowell Street Continued discussion on the petition of Rising Tide Development LLC for a Comprehensive Permit M 231 Bedford Street — Illusions Hai Design and Tranquilities Modification of existing Special Permit for sign ° 224 East Street — Variance from front yard setback to construct a new front entry 42 Ward Street — Variance from side yard setback to construct a new front entry porch and steps 57 Taft Avenue Variance from front and secondary street setbacks to construct an addition; and Special Permit to construct a second floor addition over nonconforming portions of a single - family dwelling ° 36 Haves Avenue Variance to replace existing nonconforming fence with 8' tall fence within setback 544 Lowell Street — Plant Action — Renewal of Special Permit to continue the operation of a commercial greenhouse. On a motion duly made and seconded, the Board voted unanimously to adjourn the meeting at 10:15 p.m. /arI Clerk