1958-09-04 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Donald E. Nickerson, William G. Potter, Stephen T. Russian ' and Alfred P. Tro.oeano. Mr. Wilbur M. Jaquith of the Plan- ning Board commented on the remarks or answered the ques- tions. Mr.1,1ay asked if Lexington physicians.who had offices in their present homes were compelled to con- tinue to live in their homes in order to keep their permits for professional offices. He pointed out that perhaps a physician had resided in a house which is now too small for his present needs and wishes to move to another area but does not wish to move his office. He asked if there were a time limit on the permits. Mr. Jaquith replied that if a doctor had a permit for an office in his residence for ten,years and changed his residence to another location, he would have to ob- tain a permit to continue to use a portion of his former residence as an office. Mr. Jaquith commented that a doctor should be willing to reside in the house where his office is incidental to residence and not establish an office in a residence just for business. Mr. Tropeano asked if when a doctor wished to locate an office in a residence, whether or not it would make any difference if it were his family or some other I which lived in the residence. Mr. Jaquith said it would make a difference, the professional person having to reside In the dwelling as stated in the Planning Board proposal. He stated that it was the custom in olden days to have an office in the home, that the Board wanted to permit professional per- sonnel to continue that custom in the future, but wanted to discontinue - and, if possible, eliminate - in resi- dential districts the conversion into office use houses which are not being used for residences. Dr. Mooney inquired as to the meaning of the use of a dwelling as an office of a professional person and as incidental to such residence. Mr. Jaquith stated that incidental meant a minor part of a residence, not, for example, eight rooms for office purposes and only one or two for residence. Dr. Mooney commented that space for equipment, examining and waiting rooms, extra bathroom, etc. could not be incidental to residential use. To which Mr. Jaquith replied that if all this space were utilized in the average residence, the building would have become commercialized. Commenting on Dr. Mooneyts further statement that ' a doctor is not a businessman, Mr. Jaquith stated as far