Planning Board Considers Street Extensions

Wednesday night's Planning Board meeting brought several decisions on road extensions and unaccepted street plans, including on Stedman Road, Wachusett Drive and Rockville Avenue.

A continued public hearing was held on a subdivision plan for Stedman Road, with the board ultimately voting 3-1 to approve an extension of the road, with a set of waivers and modifications, as part of a plan.

David Romero, of Commonwealth Engineering, Inc., detailed minor changes made to the plans, based on previous discussions with the town boards and staff. Changes included drainage and snow storage sytems, and updated signs on a multiuse path extending from the end of Stedman Road.

Barbara Rommelfanger, a Hilltop Avenue resident, said she hoped signs would say, "not a through way" instead of "no stopping" to discourage drivers from thinking the pedestrian and bike path was for use by cars. The path extends from Stedman Road past Clarke Middle School, continuing past Hilltop and Farm Crest avenues toward Marrett Road.

Discussing the plan, members said the 16 waivers included seemed to be a lot. Member Wendy Manz said though there were many waivers, what they covered is in the spirit of town bylaws and in the public's interest.

While member Tony Galaitsis said he thought approving so many waivers could set the stage for future applicants to expect a similar approval of numerous waivers, Canale said he had the public's interests in mind, and Stedman Road as an access point to the Clarke School would increase safety for students.

"This would serve the young folks in town – they won't have to compete with cars," he said. "I think a number of things make this in the public's interest which is why I will vote for this."

Members voted 3-1, with Galaitsis opposed.

In other business, Lexington resident George Murnaghan asked the board for an extension on an adequacy determination to accept street at 34 Wachusett Drive after the board indicated it was interested in hearing from the Fire Department about whether it thought modifications would be needed on the street, which is 16 feet wide, four less than the board's requirement for 20-foot wide streets.

Murnaghan, who said he plans to build a new energy-efficient home at the site after demolishing the current one, said he had give the Fire Department use of the property for training earlier this year and the engines had no problem accessing the house. He also said widening the street would have a significant impact on trees and the neighborhood, and had not been required when another project on the road came before the board several years ago.

"I think it's inconscionable to destroy a neighborhood to meet a compliance that does not seem justified," Murnaghan said.

Several other residents from the neighborhood also spoke, saying widening was unnecessary and contrary to the spirit of the families who live in the neighborhood. They said residents had undertaken a paving project on the road in recent years, and many moved to the street because of its quiet, small-street feel.

Canale encouraged neighbors to also send their opinions by letter. The board will take up the issue at its July 28 meeting, after hearing from the Fire Department on its ability to access 34 Wachusett Drive.

Also before the board was continued discussion and presentation of a sketch plan to extend Rockville Avenue to accommodate two new houses by landowners at the end of the street.

The board weighed scenarios for the end of the road, and ultimately had a "lukewarm" preference to creating a hammerhead turnaround versus a cul de sac, though members also indicated the land owners may want to consider applying for the projects together, as a site-sensitive development or a balanced-housing development in order to ease legal issues and the number of variances that may be required.

The board also approved an unaccepted street application for 142 Marrett Road, at Bacon Street, for the purpose of rebuilding the house there.

The board also discussed the Hartwell Avenue Transportation Management Overlay District plan, and considered adopting an interim plan before an actual plan is approved, which is expected to happen in September.

Doing so would help a new tenant at 101 Hartwell Ave. with a remodeling project, by not requiring a traffic study at the site. The board ultimately decided the issue could be dealt with administratively to help the tenant through its remodel process until the transportation plan is approved.

Finally, the board voted 4-0 to approve Janet Johnson as an associate member of the board.