The Town of Lincoln, MA - Planning Board Minutes, March 19, 2008

The Board reviewed a draft letter to the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection. Mr. Domnitz noted that the letter should eliminate the reference to the Board of Health. A motion was proposed to authorize the Chairman, R. Domnitz, to write a letter to Mass DEP and this motion was approved unanimously.

Mr. Hatsopoulos was away on business and was represented by Mr. Ken Eisner. Mr. Eisner stated that Mr. Hatsopoulos grows lemon and lime trees and would like to remove part of an existing greenhouse and a shed and replace them with a new greenhouse. The Board examined the plans and photos of the existing commercial style greenhouse provided by Mr. Eisner. It was noted that large hemlocks block the view from the intersection of Conant and Weston Roads. There is more potential for visual contact from abutters’ properties: King, 97 Weston Road and Cunningham, 7 Woodcock Lane. Mr. Eisner stated that the proposed greenhouse will be 6 feet less high than an existing greenhouse that is to remain on the site, so it would be partly hidden from Ms King’s property. There is some limited screening vegetation on Mr. Cunningham’s property line.

Mr. Eisner stated that Mahoney’s in Concord and the Perkins School both have similar style greenhouses - multi peak greenhouses which come in sections. The greenhouse comes in 3 modules which are 20 feet to the peak and total 37½ feet wide by 51½ feet long. The Board examined the existing and the proposed building footprints. Mr. Eisner stated the proposed greenhouse is for personal use, not commercial use. Mr. Snell asked if it could be considered to be reconstruction but Mr. Whitehead advised that it would not qualify as reconstruction under the by-law. Mr. Eisner said that this is a large site.

Mr. Domnitz inquired about water drainage. Mr. Eisner responded that there will be a sophisticated drainage system with a pipe underneath the soil to a new dry well located next to the greenhouse. Mr. Eisner said the current drainage system dumps water on the ground. Soil conditions are sand and gravel with good drainage characteristics.

The Board asked about heating. The proposed greenhouse will have an energy curtain at the ceiling which will roll across and seal the top at night. The nighttime temperature will be 50 or 55 degrees. Propane will be used for heating and the warm air will be circulated. An existing oil-fired generator will provide backup electrical power during outages.

Doug Wilkins and Eric Campbell represented the applicant. Mr. Wilkins explained that Cingular plans to change out the antennas with the same number of antennas and add diplexers and equipment changes to aid in the merger of AT&T and Cingular’s operations. A special permit held by Cingular for this site is due to expire around the end of 2008. Mr. Wilkins stated that the proposed changes will have minimal visual impact. Mr. Campbell stated that there will be two antennas in each sector totaling six. They will be rectangular antennas mounted externally to the pole at a centerline of 82 feet. The antennas will incorporate both AT&T and Cingular’s frequencies. No changes are proposed to the ground equipment. Mr. Campbell stated that the applicant owns the tower.

Mr. Wilkins referenced submission requirements from the Zoning By-law, Section 12.6.4. The by-law provides for waivers for items that the Board determines are not relevant to the current application. The applicant is seeking waivers for the balloon/ crane test, tree canopy and topography information and documentation of prior communication with the FAA (Subsections e,f,g,h and i). Mr. Campbell stated there have been no communications between the applicant and the FAA. Mr. Domnitz requested that the Planning Board be kept informed when communications do occur.

Mr. Domnitz inquired about health issues and noted that the site is adjacent to a large multifamily housing development, currently under construction. Mr. Domnitz added that the health data is usually gathered at ground elevation and he encouraged the applicants to work with the Town Planner’s office to look at the plans for the Deaconess development and determine how far away the buildings are and the relationship to the antenna height.

Tower lighting was discussed. Mr. Domnitz noted that a shield is available for tower lights. Mr. Campbell said that Cingular originally planned a smaller beacon similar to Verizon’s on an adjacent lot (Morrisey). However, they have different options under FAA rules, such as a dual beacon where there is a white light during the day and a red light at night. David Segal, a site ownership trustee and nearby resident, asked if they could use a light with the least impact. According to Mr. Segal, the Sprint tower which is nearby on the same lot as Cingular’s was acquired by Crown Castle, who installed a big flashing light three times as bright. Mr. Domnitz suggested that he and Mark Whitehead should meet with the FAA and research this issue.

Mr. Snell asked about the ownership and use of the generator located on the site plan near the Sprint/Nextel tower. Mr. Campbell responded that its use is shared. Mr. Domnitz replied that the applicants need to be prepared to provide information about the generator.

A MOTION was proposed by Mrs. Wolf and seconded by Mr. Hurd, to allow waivers of submission requirements for the balloon test, tree and topography information and prior FAA documentation requirements for the Cingular, Yagjian site. Passed 5-0

PRE-APPLICATION CONFERENCE: NEW CINGULAR WIRELESS PCS, Tracey’s Property, 0 Bedford Road (rear of 131 Cambridge Turnpike) Map 29/Lot 25, for renewal of special permit and replacement of antennas under Section 12.6.

Doug Wilkins and Eric Campbell represented the applicant. Mr. Wilkins stated that there are currently three 8 foot antennas and the applicant wishes to replace them with three pairs of 4 foot side by side antennas as depicted in the elevations. The antennas will be externally mounted at a centerline of 76 feet on the 85 foot monopole. The new equipment will assist with the merger of Cingular and AT&T’s operations. The existing special permit, which has no expiration date, was granted to AT&T which now owns Cingular. Mr. Domnitz asked if there would be a generator and Mr. Campbell responded that there would not be a generator at this location.

The applicant requested waivers from some of the submission requirements in Section 12.6.4 of the Zoning By-law. The by-law provides for waivers for items that the Board determines are not relevant to the current application. The applicant is seeking waivers for the balloon/ crane test, tree canopy and topography information and documentation of prior communication with the FAA (Subsections e,f,g,h and i). Mr. David Segal, a town resident with an interest in another cell tower site, stated there is currently a blinking strobe light at this location.

Mr. Snell and Mr. Wilkins discussed the issue of access to the Tracey’s site. There are homes behind the gas station with a private access road called Rockwood Lane. Mr. Snell asked the Board to make sure that any decision on the special permit makes clear there is no public access through this private road and the Board agreed to consider this condition.

A MOTION was proposed by Mr. Snell and seconded by Mrs. Wolf to allow waivers of submission requirements for the balloon test, tree and topography information and FAA documentation requirements for the Cingular, Tracey’s site. Passed 5-0

Doug Wilkins and Eric Campbell represented the applicant. Cingular’s current special permit for the tower on this site will expire early in 2009. Mr. Wilkins noted that it is an 80 foot monopole with a thin pole inside so that antennas can be mounted internally. Cingular wishes to replace its existing antennas, diplexers and amplifiers with newer models, at the same centerline height.

The history of height considerations at this site was discussed. The by-law normally limits towers to 60 feet where there is no tree canopy, and the previous permit was dependent on a variance. However the by-law now allows greater height if a finding is made that the benefits outweigh the impacts. Mr. Flint inquired about the coverage at this site and whether it is satisfactory to the applicant. Mr. Campbell responded that the coverage is basically okay, but could be improved and also that coverage maps will be part of the application. The Board asked whether the tower is structurally capable of having more height added in future. Cingular agreed to investigate and provide information.

Mr. Domnitz inquired whether the applicants will have any more needs in Lincoln for 2008 and 2009, other than what has been discussed here tonight. Cingular’s representatives responded that they will not have any more needs in Lincoln, other than the renewals of permits and antenna replacements discussed tonight.

A MOTION was proposed by Mr. Snell and seconded by Mr. Flint, to allow waivers of submission requirements for the balloon test, tree and topography information and FAA documentation requirements for the Cingular, Public Safety site. Passed 5-0

Ms. Breiter noted at the last Planning Board meeting, she was asked to address where the gabions end and presented plans showing this and how the fence would be angled. The plan also depicts the trees more completely, showing both existing and proposed trees and what the view will look like from the road. Ms. Breiter stated that there will be a few more bushes planted to fill out and also that the wooden fence has not been selected yet. She said that her research indicates that a fence with more texture would break up sound waves better than a flatter wooden fence with no spaces. Mr. Flint and Mr. Domnitz both expressed skepticism that this is accurate.

Ms. Breiter reiterated her intention to plant ivy to cover the gabion walls. Ms. Breiter further stated that the “jog” in the line of the panel fence suggested by Mr. Hurd in the February 6^th meeting, has been taken care of by planning to weld one support piece to get the angle that was requested.

Mr. Domnitz suggested that it would be advantageous for the Board to talk about conventional developments, 250 foot lot width and 120 foot frontage requirements since cluster subdivisions have been receiving a lot of attention recently. It was noted that a minor street requires a minimum of 12 acres with 3 acre lots. The Land Use and Economic Development subcommittee meeting is next Tuesday.

Mrs. Wolf mentioned that the Mayo Group is involved in a couple of projects, including one in Lynn, where they are reducing the size of the loft units to market these more effectively. Mr. Domnitz said that he received an email from Sarah Mattes regarding a possible Cyberspace Command Center. If this potential project came to fruition at Hanscom, there would be an issue of where to house people who work there. It might be a potential use for Minuteman Commons. Mr. Whitehead noted that for this possibility to work, the Town would need to release the 55 and over stipulation. Mrs. Wolf stated if we want the Air Force to remain at Hanscom, we need a place to house their families. The contractor for the Hanscom base housing project, American Eagle, has ceased doing business while only half done with its project.