HomeMy WebLinkAbout2010-07-28-PB-min
PLANNING BOARD MINUTES
MEETING OF JULY 28, 2010
A regular meeting of the Lexington Planning Board in the Selectmen’s Meeting Room, Town Office
Building was called to order at 7:30 p.m. by Chairman Greg Zurlo with members Richard Canale, Charles
Hornig, Anthony Galaitsis, Wendy Manz and planning staff Aaron Henry, and Lori Kaufman present.
**************************SUBDIVISION ADMINISTRATION****************************
Unaccepted Street plan:
34 Wachusett Drive: George Murnaghan wants to demolish a 1957 cape house and construct a new house
on an unaccepted street. At the last meeting the applicant was granted an extension of time to allow the
planning staff to meet with the Fire Department regarding concerns about the width of the road. There
was a second e-mail from the Fire Chief, which was not favorable for the applicant. Mr. Murnaghan was
only aware of the first e-mail which was favorable and received a copy of the second email from the Fire
Chief from staff a few hours earlier today.
Board Comments and Questions:
There should be some provisions made for the unobstructed path allowing two fire engines to
pass one another.
There would need to be enough unobstructed space to allow passage where parked vehicles were
present.
There would need to be enough unobstructed space to allow passage when there would be plowed
snow on the sides of the road.
Where the road way is 16 feet wide there should be no street parking allowed.
Stabilize the shoulders including the grass area.
Why did the petition submitted from the neighbors have so many addresses missing? If there was
an accident and a house burned there could be legal consequences. The applicant said there were
a lot of people away on vacation and not available to sign.
There was a concern about setting a precedent for future applications.
Audience comments:
There were safety concerns from the resident whose house was at the top of the crest of the hill
and several times almost got hit leaving the driveway. If the road were made wider it would
encourage more people to step on the accelerator.
Page 2 Minutes for the Meeting of July 28, 2010
Several trees including a large oak tree would have to come down if the road were made wider.
33 Wachusetts Drive had the same fact pattern and was approved; what has since changed?
Who would be responsible if a tree was destroyed by the pavement?
There was a huge intersection at 24 Wachusetts Drive, why not use that as a turnaround?
On a motion duly made and seconded, it was voted, 4-1, (Mr. Zurlo opposed), that the Board determines
that the road in the vicinity of 34 Wachusetts Drive is not presently of adequate width and construction,
but would be adequate if the road were improved to provide, in a manner acceptable to the Planning
Board, the ability for fire vehicles to proceed down the road in the presence of parked cars and in the
presence of plowed snow and for one fire vehicle to pass another at an appropriate point.
On a motion duly made and seconded, it was voted, 5-0, that the Planning Board grant a waiver of §175-
68F(2) that requires street improvements to be completed prior to the issuance of a building permit, but
does not waive the requirement that the street improvements must be complete prior to the issuance of an
occupancy permit.
*************************HARTWELL AVENUE AREA STUDY***************************
Discussion of Board Action on consultant’s report:
The Board discussed Ricks Bryant’s report “Traffic Mitigation Plan for the Hartwell Avenue
Transportation Management Overlay District”.
Board comments:
The assessments of the impacts were on the high side and overestimated.
It would be reasonable that when anticipating expected growth based on assumptions that things
could change and affect the timeline.
Within a 10 to 20 year period there would be an increase in demand on high density. There would
need to be external drivers and mandates established since they would not happen on their own.
West Lexington Greenway traffic, traffic calming and design speed to ensure safe pedestrian
crossing with vehicles going at a reasonable speed needed to be discussed.
The median center islands should be landscaped.
Undergrounding utilities should be incorporated
Wood Street regarding diverting truck traffic, bike safety to share the road and sidewalks need to
be addressed further.
Minutes for the Meeting of July 28, 2010 Page 3
The Bike Committee and West Lexington Greenway Plan Committee should have a
representative come before the Board and do a formal presentation.
*************************************MINUTES***************************************
On a motion duly made and seconded, it was voted, 5-0, to accept the minutes for July 10, 2010 as
amended.
**********************PLANNING BOARD ORGANIZATION, SCHEDULE******************
The next meeting will be a regulatory meeting on August 11, 2010.
***********************************STAFF REPORTS**********************************
Dee Road will be coming before the Board regarding frontage. Hancock Street has a new Engineer Fred
Russell and Surveyor James Keenan.
The following documents used at the meeting can be found on file with the Planning Department:
1. Letter from William Middlemiss, Fire Chief, regarding 34 Wachusett Drive, dated 7/15/10. (1
page)
2. Letter from William Middlemiss, Fire Chief, regarding 34 Wachusett Drive, dated 7/23/10. (1
page)
3. Letter from abutters and neighbors, regarding 34 Wachusett Drive, dated 7/26/10. (3 pages)
4. Traffic Mitigation Plan for the Hartwell Avenue Transportation Management Overlay District,
Lexington, MA, submitted 7/2/10, by Tetra Tech Rizzo.
5. Letter from Peggy Enders, Chair of the Lexington Bicycle Advisory Group, dated 7/9/10
regarding the Hartwell Avenue Traffic Mitigation proposal. (7 pages)
6. Comments on the Hartwell Avenue TMOD and the West Lexington Greenway by Mike
Tabaczynski and Stew Kennedy. (2 pages)
The meeting was recorded by Lexmedia.
On a motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to adjourn the meeting at 11:00 p.m.
Anthony Galaitsis, Clerk