HomeMy WebLinkAbout2012-04-04-PB-min
PLANNING BOARD MINUTES
MEETING OF APRIL 4, 2012
A regular meeting of the Lexington Planning Board, held in Room G-15, Town Office Building
was called to order at 6:00 p.m. by Chairman Richard Canale with members Greg Zurlo, Michelle
Ciccolo and Charles Hornig and planning staff Maryann McCall-Taylor, Aaron Henry and Lori
Kaufman present. Wendy Manz was absent.
************************DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION*********************
186 -192 Woburn Street, continued public hearing:
Mr. Canale called the public hearing to order at 6:00 p.m. with six people in the audience. Present
at the meeting was Steven and Jackie Hamilton, the applicants, and Fred Russell, the engineer.
Mr. Hamilton said the changes to the plan included a 20 foot wide water easement, proposed
monuments, widening the right of way (ROW) to forty feet, which contains the utilities, a utility
plan, the T-turn for the fire trucks with a template to show the trucks can make a three point turn,
the walking path within the ROW, extension of the pathway up to Dunham Street, location of the
foundation to be removed on lot three, and update of the elevations at 11 Dunham Street showing
the location of the path, which is three feet below the level of the abutting yard.
Board Comments:
The path should be continued to the corner of the intersection of the two streets within the
ROW of the paper street with no obstruction within two feet of the driveway pavement.
Is the water line directly under the retaining wall? Mr. Hamilton said it was just slightly
north of the wall. The water line should be able to be dug up without having to dig up the
retaining wall; include a condition that the owner of lot three would be required to
replace the retaining wall without Town expense even if the Town demolishes it in an
emergency.
Show all overhead utilities being removed in plan, gas and sewer service to be shown in
the as-built plans.
Show impervious surface and site coverage maximums; the allocation for each lot should
be reflected on the deed as each lot is sold.
There is concern about the total impervious surface being proposed and if there is enough
flexibility left for the future.
Page 2 Minutes for the Meeting of April 4, 2012
There was a request for a waiver from the tree bylaw within the looped water system.
Mr. Hamilton said he would have to remove a tree in order to looped the water system as
required.
There was a petition and letter received by the Board regarding the requirement of a path in the
development. There are three issues to consider, which are safety, the request to block four homes
access to Dunham Street and the path could encourage trespassing.
Audience Comments:
A survey was taken in the neighborhood on Dunham Street and Utica Street and the
neighbors do not want a path since it would break up the tranquility of the neighborhood.
The issue of the path has become divisive and the path does not fit as well as the other
elements of the plan.
Board Comments:
A path is a very important part of connectivity. 11 Dunham Street and lot four would be
protected from the path by grading and screening along the ROW to make it acceptable.
Homes will be built and a pathway will make it safer and more secure down the line.
When there is isolation vandalism is more likely to occur.
The path is important, but there are mixed concerns about placement.
Audience Comments:
Why does there have to be a cut through for five houses? It is not safe to walk on Woburn
Street. Dogs being off leash is a big concern.
Who would benefit? Choose another location for the path other than next to their back
yard.
Who would maintain the fence and path legally? The property owner could construct
their own fence it desired. The paper street is owned by the abutters and maintained by
the abutters.
Board Comments:
The Association documents should include reasonable regulations to limit the use of the
path.
The path as shown is easier to mitigate, but should retain flexibility in materials, but
height is important for screening.
Minutes for the Meeting of April 4, 2012 Page 3
The developer should come back with a landscape plan after consultation with the
neighbors and the approval can be conditional to allow for changes to the landscape plan,
which is considered minor.
On a motion duly made and seconded it was voted, 4-0, to close the public hearing at 7:21 p.m.
The following are conditions to include as well as those listed above:
The path elevation should be no higher then 220 foot elevation.
Continue the easement for the path all the way to Dunham Street.
No Certificate of Occupancy will be issued before the legal documents are approved by
Town Counsel and recorded.
Screening for the path should be 6 feet in height above the path elevation.
There will be no waiver for tree replacement within the water easement.
On a motion duly made and seconded, it was voted, 4-0, to approve the special permit with site
plan review for a site sensitive development located at 186-192 Woburn Street with the
conditions discussed tonight.
On a motion duly made and seconded, it was voted, 4-0, to approve the Certificate of Action for a
site sensitive development located at 186-192 Woburn Street with the conditions discussed.
Rockville Avenue Extension, endorse mylars and accept surety:
On a motion duly made and seconded, it was voted, 4-0, to accept surety in the amount of
$97,108 to secure the completion of Rockville Avenue Extension.
On a motion duly made and seconded, it was voted, 4-0, to endorse the mylars for Rockville
Avenue Extension.
********************************TOWN MEETING*******************************
The proposed amendment to Article 34 (2027 and 2013 Massachusetts Avenue) is expected
tomorrow and staff hopes to have them on the website tomorrow before the end of the business
day. Conservation closed the public hearing last night.
Page 4 Minutes for the Meeting of April 4, 2012
On a motion duly made and seconded, it was voted, 4-0, to recess to the Town Meeting session in
Cary Hall and to adjourn at its close without an additional vote. The session of Town Meeting
was called to order at 7:30 p.m. and adjourned at 10:26 p.m.
The meeting was recorded by Lexmedia.
The following documents used at the meeting can be found on file with the Planning Department:
1. Submission for 186-192 Woburn Street, dated March 29, 2012 (3 pages).
2. Definitive Site Sensitive Development plans for 186-192 Woburn Street, dated March 12,
2012 (4 pages).
3. Draft Grant for Special Permit for 186-192 Woburn Street (6 pages).
4. Letter from the Li Family regarding 186-192 Woburn Street (1 page).
5. Letter from the Dunham/Utica residents regarding 186-192 Woburn Street (1 page).
6. Petition from the Dunham Street Residents regarding 186-192 Woburn Street (1 page).
7. Letter from the Luke Sotir regarding 186-192 Woburn Street (2 pages).
Michelle Ciccolo, Clerk