Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Transportation topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Board grants design waiver for driveway spacing, requires tenant parking guidance
Summary
The Planning Board granted a design waiver for driveway spacing at the four‑unit Kaufer Lane project (51.2 ft proposed vs. 60 ft required) and required mitigation including planting strips, tenant signage to discourage parking on Kaufer Lane, and excess on‑site parking to reduce spillover into neighboring streets.
A key technical variance at the March 9 hearing was a design waiver for the distance between curb cuts. The final plan shows four private driveways serving four units but only two curb cuts (northern and southern). The planner characterized the site as "abnormally shaped" and argued the proposed spacing and landscape treatment satisfy the design intent.
The board was told there will be landscaping between the driveway aprons to break up vehicle openings and improve safety. The applicant also agreed on the record to post signage advising tenants and guests not to use Kaufer Lane as overflow parking and to include parking guidance in tenant materials. The developer noted on‑site parking exceeds ordinance minimums and planned for one EV stall per unit.
Planner Matthew Flynn described the relief as a design waiver rather than a (c)(2) use variance and said the project's benefits — improved streetscape on Kaufer Lane, removal of an overgrown vacant lot and new housing that ties into nearby multifamily — outweigh any detriments created by the narrower curb‑cut spacing.
