HomeMy WebLinkAbout2000-03-15-PB-minPLANNING BOARD MINUTES
MEETING OF MARCH 15, 2000
The meeting of the Lexington Planning Board held in the Selectmen's Room Town Office Building, was
called to order at 7 :35 p.m. by Chairman Davies with members Bridge- Denzak, Colman,, Galaitsis, Director
of Comprehensive Planning Bowyer, and Assistant Planner McCall - Taylor present. Mr_ Merrill and Mr.
Garber were absent.
***** * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ** MINUTES ******** * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * **
34. Review of Minutes The Board reviewed and corrected the minutes for the meeting of December 8,
1999_ On the motion duly made and seconded, the Board voted unanimously to approve the minutes, as
amended.
The Board reviewed the minutes for the meeting of December 14, 1999, including the Executive Session.
On the motion duly made and seconded, it was voted unanimously to approve the minutes, as written.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ** PLANNING DIRECTOR'S REPORT * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * **
35. Recent Activity
a. Cotton Farm Cluster Subdivision Sketch Subdivision Plan, Rollout Ms. McCall - Taylor rolled out a
sketch plan for the Cotton Farm Cluster development, off Marrett Road, that was submitted by Todd Cataldo
on March 14, 2000_ The staff has yet reviewed the plan in detail.
b. Metropolitan State Hospital Reuse: Mr. Bowyer reported on a joint meeting of the Belmont,
Waltham and Lexington planning staffs on the subject of the access to the Met. State Hospital site in the
eventual reuse implementation. He and Mr. Garber attended the meeting.
* * * * ** * * ** ADMINISTRATION OF LAND DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS * * * * * * * * * * * **
SUBDIVISION OF LAND
36. Grandview Avenue Conventional Subdivision, DEBCO Inc. PUBL HEARING Present for this
item were David Burns, DEBCO, Inc., the applicant, Michael Weinmayr, Weinmayr and Associates, Inc.,
landscape architect, Douglas Miller and Daniel Ward, Commonwealth Engineering, and Edmund Grant, his
attorney_ There were 31 people in the audience.
Mr- Grant spoke to the fact that the Grandview development is both a subdivision and a special permit_ He
addressed at length the assertion that the Planning Board has subdivision jurisdiction over this three -lot
subdivision, pointing out how narrow the exemption in the statute is. He quoted Town Counsel Palmer and
Dodge's brief of December 28, 1999 on the subject of Orphan Lots. He contended that Mr, Burns has gone
to great lengths to .respond to the Planning Board and neighborhood concerns. Ile explained that the waivers
from the development regulations they are requesting are intended to avoid an overly urban look for the
street_
Mr. Weinmayr said that the greatest impact is on numbers 15 and 19 Welch Road, one of which actually
encroaches on land owned by Mr. Burns. Mr, Burns has offered an easement to that owner to allow him to
continue using this overlapping land. Mr. Weinmayr explained the site analysis and talked about the
maximum house size preferred.
Douglas Miller described the proposed drainage system saying it is essentially a private system with full on-
site reeharge, with an interception stone trench to handle run -off to Welch Road_ At the request of the
Engineering Division, sump structures with catch basin grates were added, he noted.
Minutes for the Meeting of March 15, 2000
2
Questions from the Planning Board bad to do with the finish floor elevation of the proposed dwellings_
Several members were concerned that the houses would "loom" over the existing houses, though they did
commend Mr. Burns for limiting the houses' size to 3,200 square feet; the design will be according to the
buyer's wishes. Mr. Weinrnayr noted that the proposed houses are farther apart than other houses on the
street. Mr. Davies suggested that there are architectural solutions to lessen the visual impact of the houses.
Further questions had to do with the limit of work line and whether or not the street would be private_ Mr.
Burns said it will be a private way.
Questions and comments from the audience had to do with street maintenance, the drainage system, the
number of trees to be removed, and possible blasting effects. Attorney Emily Sample, representing the
abutters, strongly questioned the original grandfatbering determination by the Zoning Officer. Mr. Grant
responded that that is irrelevant.
An extension of the public hearing was discussed. On behalf of the applicant, Mr. Grant requested a
continuation of the nearing for the limited purpose of exploring architectural solutions to site issues such as
height of buildings and the amount of clearing_ On the motion of Mr. Colman, seconded by Mr. Galaitsis,
the Board voted unanimously to continue the hearing to a date to be determined_
The meeting was adjourned at 11:00 p_m_
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