HomeMy WebLinkAbout2010-08-25-PB-min
PLANNING BOARD MINUTES
MEETING OF AUGUST 25, 2010
A regular meeting of the Lexington Planning Board in the Selectmen’s Meeting Room, Town Office
Building was called to order at 7:35 p.m. by Chairman Greg Zurlo with members Charles Hornig,
Anthony Galaitsis, Richard Canale and planning staff Maryann McCall-Taylor, Aaron Henry, and Lori
Kaufman present. Ms. Manz was absent.
*************************HARTWELL AVENUE AREA STUDY***************************
Continued discussion of Board Action on consultant’s report:
The Board continued the discussion on Ricks Bryant’s report “Traffic Mitigation Plan for the Hartwell
Avenue Transportation Management Overlay District”.
Board Comments:
Wood Street improvements:
The Board discussed whether to set a design speed of 25 mph. There was a question of why 25
mph was selected. It would be a policy choice and if bikes have to share the pavement 25 mph
seemed reasonable. It was determined that it may not be necessary to specify a design speed now.
Bicycle accommodations on both sides of the street would be needed if Wood Street were to be
eligible for State and Federal funding.
Provide a sidewalk on the southwest side from Old Massachusetts Ave. to 182 Wood Street.
Provide crosswalks at appropriate locations. Raised crosswalks should be left to the design phase
and are very controversial.
Limit the truck traffic on Wood Street as part of the action plan, not as part of the infrastructure.
Look at existing width of the pavement to provide equalized safety for bikes and vehicles.
It is not the Planning Board’s charge to make design determinations and hope to hire a design
firm.
There should be some sort of physical improvements for traffic calming.
Increased development will increase traffic. If traffic calming is used on Wood Street it would be
at the expense of Hartwell Avenue and there would be increased traffic counts spread throughout
the area.
Audience comments:
Richard Thuma said he did not know how to respond to a plan that did not have traffic calming and a
Page 2 Minutes for the Meeting of August 25, 2010
specific design speed incorporated in it. The guiding principles do not contain mitigating traffic impacts
in abutting residential neighborhoods. At some point there would have to be some decisions made and set
forth to get the support of the neighbors.
Stewart Kennedy, of the Bicycle Advisory Committee, said he agreed with the decisions on bike
accommodations on Wood Street and the intersection at the West Lexington Greenway and favored of a
design speed of 25mph.
Funding:
All the numbers need to be updated since they do not include the changes.
There needed to be a reasonable assessment of anticipated funding available from the various
programs.
Who would fund this state, federal, town, new developers, existing businesses? 80% from state
and federal funds and a portion to be paid by the Town. The Town should ask developers to fund
as much as practical to charge. There was discussion about what and whether it would be
appropriate to charge existing landowners. Any funding deficiencies would be made up through
the taxpayers. There would need to be investments made to attract developers. There was
agreement on the concepts, but concerns were raised about using betterments. This would be an
area that would require consultation with the Board of Selectmen as would programs for sources
of funding.
Mitigation Fees:
Set a fee for special permit developments over the .35 FAR. A surcharge could be imposed for very large
projects not simply over .35 FAR, so not to discourage projects. Ms. McCall-Taylor said this was a very
last minute and a fairly arbitrary way to set fees and may require further study and supporting nexus.
What would happen if a developer came in late to go to the .35 FAR and the bigger developer already
took up the capacity? Incorporate the surcharge as part of the special permit process and regulations. The
mitigation fee of $5.00 was discussed; the rationale provided for that amount, as well as, for other
possible mitigation fees was requested.
Off Street parking and loading:
There was opposition to an absolute cap, but could consider discouraging parking by charging a
penalty for excess parking. The cap could be waived, but most developments are over the cap
already. Find out where caps prevent bank funding and go back to a mitigation fee and add a fee
per space over the cap, which would go into the mitigation fund. If they were all over the caps
Minutes for the Meeting of August 25, 2010 Page 3
then don’t put in caps.
There should be more bicycle parking. Use the same language as in section 135-64.F(2), but
requiring two bicycle parking spaces and make it one additional bicycle parking space shall be
provided for each increment of 15 motor vehicle parking spaces over the 30 motor vehicle spaces
and for all uses.
Parking and transportation demand management plans:
Limiting the use of single occupancy vehicle use for the site work force was discussed and could
there be a penalty if a requirement was not met?
Equally subsidizing all employees irrespective of travel mode was discussed to see if possible.
Would the Town set up the TMA?
A TMO would be needed to coordinate the area with the Town as the major initiator.
At the Wednesday, September 1 meeting the Board will discuss Parking and TDM, Implementation of the
Program and Voluntary Participation in the TDM programs along with the Board of Selectmen’s
comments and then possibly circle back. Make sure not to set unrealistic expectations.
*************************************MINUTES***************************************
The minutes of July 28 were deferred to the September 1 meeting to allow for review of the motions for
Wachusetts Drive.
The following documents used at the meeting can be found on file with the Planning Department:
1. Traffic Mitigation Plan for the Hartwell Avenue Transportation Management Overlay District,
Lexington, MA, submitted 7/2/10, by Tetra Tech Rizzo.
2. Draft dated August 19, 2010, of the Transportation Management Overlay District Plans.
The meeting was recorded by Lexmedia.
On a motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to adjourn the meeting at 10:59 p.m.
Anthony Galaitsis, Clerk