1974-05-21 - Laserfiche WebLink

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1 1 Lexington Housing Realty Trust Hearing (continued) Dunham Street is a private way. Mr. Ostroff: That's right. LAUGHTER Does that exclude it for a fire? Chairman: You are running out of time. -10 Mr. Goldstein: To promote better site and building design in relation to the surroundings. Other members here tonight have talked about the building design and with deference to the gentleman who is here who is the designer this isn't much of a design. It's more an attempt to see how many units they can get on the lots and that's why they are packed in. There's no sidewalks. It's an architectural fiction to say, by calling it a town house, that you have one house on one lot, albeit 25 foot lots. To preserve open spaces. There should be no doubt to anyone who has looked at the area that this is now open space. I have yet to figure out how you are protecting an open space by building 4 long straight buildings on it unless you say you are protecting open space by Eliminating open spaces. Clearly and I think I have touched upon it here and it's in the "Brief" that under the Massachusetts General Laws under which Mr. Ostroff has petitioned_ He does not comply with the petition he has petitioned under. It's not con- sistent with local needs. The question I want to leave you with is "Does Lexington need this type of housing in this area?" MUCH CLAPPING Manfred P. Friedman, TMM Prec. 7: When I first came to Lexington, I lived in this area. I am familiar with this neighborhood. The statement that the construction would not have an impact on the neighborhood is ridiculous. It is in a sense a block buster........ Name ? This same developer came in before the Board in October for the right to put in a private home and was denied permission for lack of services, for lack of a good plan and what have you. He's gone home, done his homework and is taking a ploy at snob zoning to get what he wants. He's pulling a fast one on us. MUCH CLAPPING Herbert L. Slade, 14 Rumford Rd.: I have a comment about the parking. I had a brief view of the plans yesterday. It appears to me that some of the drive- ways are 24 feet long. Perhaps the sidewalk is being used as part of the driveway. The other comment. It would appear to be 15 feet between driveways off the street. An intermediate automobile is 17.5 ft. long! Frank Sandy, TMM Prec. 6: I don't quite understand the legal basis for his petition. As I understand it 774 allows you to waive zoning for low income ' subsidized housing. It doesn't allow you to waive zoning for ordinary housing of which 3/4 of this proposal is, for non low income housing. I understand that MHFA will give you financing with only 25% low income providing your devel- opment meets local requirements. But the fact he can get financing from NUA doesn't give him the right to waive zoning and 774 only allows him a variance from zoning for subsidized housing only. It doesn't meet those requirements.