TOWN OF LINCOLN
MINUTES OF PLANNING BOARD MEETING
Held on August 11, 2009
At 7:30 PM in the Donaldson Room, Lincoln Town Offices
PRESENT: B. Wolf (Chair), J.Craig, K.Hurd, D. Boynton ABSENT: R.Domnitz
STAFF: M.Whitehead, C.Perry
7:30 PM BUSINESS:
Wilkinson, 9 Tabor Hill Road
The Board signed the decision approving a site plan for a reconstructed residence.
Metro PCS, Public Safety site,169 Lincoln Road
The Board signed the decision granting a special permit for a wireless communication facility.
Metro PCS, Tracey’s site, 0 Bedford Road
The Board signed the decision granting a special permit for a wireless communication facility.
Minutes
The Board voted unanimously to approve the minutes of the meeting held on July 14th as submitted.
Gutierrez, 16 Old Sudbury Road
The Board reviewed a lighting plan submitted under the terms of the site plan approval, voted on July 28th. It noted that the house lighting shows separate switching for different types of light, as recommended. It considered that the amount of site lighting was more than needed. It proposed deleting three of the lights around the driveway/ parking area, five of the lights around the pool and two of the lights in the pool. It marked these changes on the plan. In relation to the driveway entrance light shown, the Board wished to check if a light currently exists there.
The Board viewed the final elevations provided by the architect. Mr. Whitehead pointed out that some portions of the roof are higher than 36 feet from the lowest point by approximately 18”but reported that the architect states that these are the portions of the existing house that are to stay. The Board noted that the proposal was not presented as a complete teardown.
PUBLIC HEARING CONTINUATION: RYAN ESTATES, 140 Lincoln Road, Map 95/ Lot19, sign permit
Mr. Whitehead reported that the applicant requested a further continuation.
A MOTION was proposed by Mr. Hurd and seconded by Mr. Craig, to continue the hearing to November 10th at 8:00 PM. Passed 4-0
8:00 PM PUBLIC HEARING CONTINUATION: NEW CINGULAR WIRELESS, 51 Sandy Pond Road, Map 44/ Lot 2, renewal of special permit for Wireless Communication Facility under Sections 12.6 and 17.
Attorney Susan Roberts of Anderson and Kreiger and Richard Detsch of AT&T appeared on behalf of the applicant. A pre-application conference was held on May 6th. The public hearing was formally opened on July 14th but was immediately continued due to lack of a quorum for a special permit.
Ms. Roberts presented the application, which is for renewal of a special permit for an existing facility. No changes to the equipment are proposed at this time but may be proposed in future. At the pre-application conference, the Board requested submission of actual field measurements of radio frequency emissions (including the roof terrace) and a list of other WCF sites, and these have been included in the application packet.
The Board asked if there were any other operators at the site. Mrs. Perry recalled that a special permit was granted to T-Mobile for a separate rooftop facility but that at the pre-application conference, the museum representative stated that it had not been installed.
Mr. Boynton referred to the RF study and noted that even on the roof terrace, RF levels are shown as 0.3% of the permitted maximum. Mr. Detsch reported that the RF consultant took measurements in the late afternoon.
Mr. Craig asked if any complaints had been received about noise from the facility. The representatives stated that the facility is quiet as it has no generator; it has batteries for emergency backup power.
The Board was satisfied with the application materials. It reviewed the terms of the previous special permit.
A MOTION was proposed by Mr. Boynton and seconded by Mr. Craig, to grant the renewal of the special permit for five years with similar conditions to the ones that applied previously. Passed 4-0
8:30 PM MINOR CHANGE TO SITE PLAN: DAVID BAU, 88 Lincoln Road, Map 85/ Lot 1, request for approval of landscaping plan under Section 17.7.
David Bau attended with his project manager. The minor change relates to a site plan with scenic road approval, for a single family house, approved in September 2008. A grading plan and planting proposals were submitted. Mr. Bau noted that the landscape architect’s previous ideas for the front edge of the site did not meet with the Board’s approval. He wished to discuss the matter to find out what would satisfy the Board as well as meeting his objectives, so that the development can be completed.
The Board explained that the landscape design proposed previously was considered to look too unnatural in terms of the grading of the proposed berm. Mr. Bau said that he wants the treatment of the road frontage to look good and also to provide some protection for the dwelling from road noise. He hopes to be allowed to construct a stone wall along the whole frontage by extending the remains of the old wall in both directions; he aims to implement this work over some time. In terms of grading, his latest thinking is to have less of a berm and rely more on the wall. He showed a sketch plan with flatter grading than in the submitted plan.
Mr. Boynton expressed concern about the height of wall proposed in the submission. The landscape architect’s memorandum refers to a wall up to 40” high. Mr. Boynton showed photographs of both sides of the road alongside the property, with some containers as height references. In his view the height proposed for the wall was higher than the majority of stone walls in town. The Board noted that on the opposite side of the road, there is a retaining wall supporting the roadside path. It considered that there was a danger of a canyon-like appearance if the wall on the Bau side was made too high or unvaried. Mrs. Wolf suggested that it would be acceptable to fill in the gaps in the existing wall without adding to the height. In response to a question, Mr. Bau confirmed that he intends to break the
wall where existing trees are in its line. The stones will be dry laid, with weathered ones used at the front. The wall will be at least partly in the Right of Way. The DPW Director’s approval will also be sought.
The Board was satisfied with the proposed planting. It wished to view the site to consider the wall further, and agreed to do so on Saturday August 22nd at 11:00 AM.
9:00 PM COMPREHENSIVE LONG RANGE PLAN: Discussion and final editing.
Peter Sugar, Sara Mattes, Al Schmertzler and Judi Barrett attended for this item.
Ken Hurd reported that the Steering Committee found the Planning Board’s recent proposed changes acceptable. The Agricultural Commission did not respond in time to have further material included in the Plan. Mr. Craig asked about the argument made at the public hearing against setting out the process and criteria for considering land use changes. Mr. Hurd affirmed that most of the people involved with the Plan support inclusion of this guidance.
There was further discussion on economic development recommendations ED2.2 and ED2.3. Mr. Hurd reported that Ken Bassett has requested minor changes to these recommendations to reference the land use criteria. Judi Barrett recommended against this suggestion as she felt it would lengthen the wording unnecessarily and might suggest that the criteria are primarily about economic development rather than land use. The group noted that the criteria are already referenced in the action items under the recommendations. Sara Mattes raised a concern about the references in these recommendations to the neighborhood as well as the town, as she felt it created an unnecessary dichotomy. After discussion it was agreed to combine the two recommendations, refer to benefit to the town rather than the neighborhood and omit
reference to the land use criteria. Mr. Hurd agreed to circulate exact language. The Executive Summary and Implementation Plan will need to be adjusted to reflect this change.
Mr. Hurd drew Ms. Barrett’s attention to a bulleted paragraph that he has relocated in the text, which may help to fill in the discussion on the Lincoln Station area.
Mr. Whitehead reported that he is awaiting responses on prioritization of action items in the Implementation Plan. Ms. Barrett agreed to adjust the numbering to reflect recent changes so that the correct version can be used for prioritization.
OTHER BUSINESS:
Route 2 Crosby’s Corner Project
Selectman Sara Mattes gave an update on the status of the project in relation to the Transportation Improvement Program. Town representatives have been working in support of the project via the MPO, MAPC, MAGIC and HATS. The project is still included in the TIP at this point.
The Planning Board noted that the deeds for the properties that are being fully taken passed at the end of June, and the money is expected to be issued shortly.
Newcomers/ Old Timers event
Peter Sugar reported that an event is being planned at the Pierce House on the afternoon of October 18th and invited the Planning Board to send a representative.
Committee Reports
Mr. Hurd reported that the Historic District Committee approved some steps but not an arbor at 5 Sandy Pond Road.
The meeting was adjourned at 9:55 PM.
Submitted by Catherine Perry
Approved September 8, 2009
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