Item Coversheet
AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY
 
LEXINGTON PLANNING BOARD
AGENDA ITEM TITLE:

Continued Public Hearing: Article 34 Amend Zoning Bylaw and Zoning Map to establish Village Overlay Districts to allow multi-family housing for MBTA Communities
PRESENTER:

Board Discussion

ITEM NUMBER:

SUMMARY:

Continued Public Hearing (from February 1 & February 8). The Planning Board will hold a continued hearing for board members to deliberate on the zoning proposal. 

 

Planning Board's Zoning Bylaw and Zoning Map proposal is to create village overlay districts permitting multi-family housing with inclusionary housing requirements, and allows mixed use in some districts under specific conditions. 

 

This article implements the requirements of M.G.L. c. 40A § 3A by establishing new overlay zoning districts on the Zoning Map and amends the Zoning Bylaw to permit multi-family housing, and mixed-use developments (in some areas).  The Planning Board's zoning proposal will create new Village Overlay Districts in Section 7.5 of the Bylaw and on the Zoning Map as Village Overlay (VO), Village Mid-Rise Overlay (VMO), and Village High- Rise Overlay (VMO). 

 

More info and background here:  http://lexingtonma.gov/MBTAZoning

 

The presentation from February 1, modified through February 10 is attached.  The proposed zoning motion showing redlined (track changes) made on February 8 is attached. 

 

Summary of changes made since Feb. 1:

  • Lowered maximum height in center and North Bedford Street areas to 4 stories and 52 ft. (changed name to VO - Village Overlay)

  • Lowered maximum height in all the VLOs to 60 ft. (5 stories) for mixed-use in commercial districts and 52 ft. (4 stories) in any residential district. (40 ft. (3 Stories) is max. for projects that are only residential)

  • Changed name of VLO (Village Low Rise) to VMO (Village Mid-Rise) as result of max. height changes.

  • Increased max. height in the VHO (Hartwell/Maguire Rd.) to give a height bonus up to 115 ft. for mixed use in CM zone.

  • Increased minimum parking requirements to 1 per dwelling unit in all Village Overlays.

  • Added a 15 ft.-wide transition landscape screening buffer along boundary of all village overlay districts.

  • Change the inclusionary dwellings to all be eligible for listing on the Town's subsidized housing inventory (SHI).

  • Added in a few properties  




SUGGESTED MOTION:

Staff recommends the board discuss the amended zoning motion as amended after the February 8 meeting and discuss any final changes. Board members should be ready to give any final edits to the zoning proposal. At the end of the discussion, staff recommends the Board close the public hearing and provide a final recommendation on the zoning proposal so that staff can prepare a draft of the Board's Town Meeting recommendation for the Board's review on March 1st.

 

Staff recommends the Board direct staff to prepare a draft Town Meeting recommendation for the Board's review on Wednesday, March 1 at 6:00 pm on Zoom.





FOLLOW-UP:




DATE AND APPROXIMATE TIME ON AGENDA:

2/15/2023                           

 

ATTACHMENTS:
DescriptionType
DRAFT Art 34 Zoning Motion REDLINEDExhibit
DRAFT Art 34 Zoning Motion CLEAN Exhibit
Draft VOD map 2.9.23Exhibit
Draft VOD map with zoning 2.9.23Exhibit
02.10.23 Rev. Presentation Presentation