1927-12-10 - Laserfiche WebLink

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IPLANNING BOARD REPORT FOR 1927 The Planning Board was conceived as an instrument by which this community might guide its development in such a manner as to preserve and enhance its economic and aesthetic values. Being an advisory board only, its success in such an endeavor is peculiarly dependent upon the understanding interest and the support of the citizens and their executive officers. The present acceleration of the growth of Lexington forces upon the Planning Board problems of large scope and the active support of the citizens is needed if the present community standards are to be protected and excessive future community costs avoided. Not only should the protection afforded by the zoning by-law be carefully preserved, but there should be provision made for comprehensive and constructive plans for the guidance of the future development. As a practical matter, the Town is at present to a con- siderable extent at the mercy of activities of out-of-town, speculative real estate developers. Their plans are drawn primarily to secure the maximum of saleable lots, and the streets are planned with little regard to contiguous areas, and with little respect to the costs of maintenance, drainage and public utilities which the town must later carry. Such plans receive the attention of the Board of Selectmen and the Planning Board, and every effort is made to secure such changes as will result in a plan and layout favorable to the interest of the town. While such efforts are often successful, some are not, and there are now several developments of a type inimical to best interests and economies of the town, due to lack of cooperation on the part of developers and tardiness of action looking to their control. The Planning Board believes that a comprehensive plan should be developed, fixing the location of new through streets and important ways which will establish a favorable basis for future development in large areas at present unimproved, and otherwise benefit the town. Also, that the need, suitability availability of lands for park, schoolhouse, and drainage pur- oses be studied and fixed upon. It foresees the inevitable development of the town as a populous suburb and is convinced that plans for the future must be on broad and generous, as well as on sound economic lines. All planning work, whether on the immediate demand of some real estate developer, or of a broader and more anticipatory ' character, is based upon engineering data as to topography, soil conditions, property lines, street locations, etc. A com- plete and accurate large scale map of the town incorporating this data is a present essential need.