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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1947-04-041 .5 BOARD OF APPEALS MEETING April 4, 1947 A meeting of the Board of Appeals was held in the Selectments Room, Town Office Building on Friday evening, April 49 1947, Chairman Locke, Mr. Redman, Mr. Brown and Associate Members Ballard andRipley were present at the hearing. TheClerk was also present. At 8;07 P.M., hearing was �delcared open upon the petition Of FrancesE. Allen for permission to operate an antique shop on the premises located at 114 Concord Turnpike. Notice of the hearing was read by Mr. Ballard. There were twelve persons present. Notices of the hearing have been mailed to the owners of all property deemed by the Board to be affected thereby, as they appear on the most recent tax list. Mrs. Allen stated that she and her daughter, Roberta, would occupy the garages. This is her first attempt to sell in a place of this kind. They have talked it over at great length, and it will not affect the antique dealers in Lexington. This being her first attempt, it will be a very small business - only for this year. Professor Judge has tentative plans for use of these garages later on. She will operate only from the middle of June through the middle of September. The garages are about one-quarter of a mile from Childs? Gas Station, and off the road. They are not near any other building. The garages are about one hundred yards from Professor Judge's house. Mr. Locke: How far from the ConcordTurinpike? Mrs. Allen; Perhpas one hundred yards. This is the old Hatch Estate. Mr. Locke; On Waltham side of the Turnpike? Mrs. Allen; Yes. Mr. Locke; If this petition were granted, what signs would you require? Mrs. Allen; I would put a sign on the gate - the gate of Professor Judges driveway. This sign would be about three feet by one and one-half feet. All my plans are tentative. Mr. Locke; What hours would you expect to operate? Mrs. Allen; 10;00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M., Monday through Saturday. Closed on Sunday. Mr. Ballard; Will there be any structural changes in the ' garages? Mr. Allen; I will have to put on new doors and locks for the insurance I would carry. That is about all. Mr. Redman; Hove would people come in? Mrs. Allen: They would have to drive in off the Turn- pike. The garages can be seen from the Pike now, but with the trees in bloom, I don't believe they will be. The sign would take care of that. There is a great deal of parking space - room for ten or twelve cars. Mr. Redman; There would be no parking an the highway? Mrs. Allen; No. Mr, Redman; Do the garages belong to the main house? Mrs. Allen; Yes. Mr, Arthur Mason, 46 Watertown Street, stated that he was directly across from this location, and cannot see where this is going to be any improvement to have antique shop. To change the Zoning Law for that purpose would lead to something else. He is opposed to such a shop: Mr. Licke explained to Mr. Mason that this was merely a variation of the Zoning Laws, not a change of Zoning. Mr. Mason further said that he thought it a shame to put anything on the Pike that would change the appearance, Dr, Lynch, 56 Watertown Street, thinks as Mr. Mason does - that if the Zoning Laws are modified and permitted for one, it will make it increasingly difficult to turn down further petitions. He wishes to go on record as against any change in the Zoning Laws. Mr. Eames, 2 Briggs Road, wishes to go on record as being opposed. Mr. Stephens, 3 Briggs Road, wishes to go on record as being opposed. Mr. Thwi ng, 3 Crescent Road,wishes to go on record as being opposed. John Judge, 114 Concord Turnpike, stated that he wed a large plot of land. His interest in this petitidn is ' merely to give Mrs: Allen a start in a business. He does not see how it could be of any bother to anybody. Mrs. Lynch, 56 Watertown Street, said that she looks directly over tb1 the Hatch Estate. She thinks that the comiings and goings of people interested in antiques, the parking of cars, and the followers that the business would have would lie very objectionable. She would not want to keep anybody from making a living, but feels that it would be a great detriment. Professor Judge said that during the summer months it was impossible to see the farm from the Turnpike; it is pretty well grown over, and anything that went on would not be visible to the eye of any neighbor. Mr. Locke; There would be no work done there; no processing of any kind? I Professor Judge answered in the negative. Mr. Mason stated that there might be old chairs et cetera around andhe does not feel that it improves any property to have anything of that kind. Professor Judge said that this type of enterprise was rare, old things; no carpentry. The barn that would be used consists of two rooms. It is not going to be a solely commerdial venture. The barn is about six hundred feet from the Pike, and very well shaded and covered. Mrs. Dolloff,41 Watertown Street, stated that she bought her property with the understanding that it was a residential section. She feels sure that once this is started, it will set a preceddnt in view of the fact that it is wresidential section. Mrs. Thwing, 3 Crescent Road, wishes to go on record as being opp6sed. She questioned what Professor Judge had in mind for later on. Mrs. Allen said this was merely for the summer. She would not want to stay in that location. The hearing was declared closed at 8;30 P.M. At 8;31 P.M., hearing was declared open upon the petition of Joseph F. Kelly for permission to construct a house on Lots 62 and 63 Sherburne Road. the construction of -shich will not meet the requirements of the Building By-law. Notice of the hearing was read by Mr. Brown. There were four persons present. Notices of the hearing have been mailed to the owners of all property deemed by the Board to be affected thereby -as they appear on the most recent tax list. Mr. Kelly stated that this hearing deals only with the founda- tion. He wishes to use a reinforced concrete mat for a foundation, with radiant heat in the slab. The change is only in the founda- tion; the change occurs below the ground, and is strictly a technical proposition. 414 fGk Mr. Lonke; How think is the slab. Mr. Kelly; Four to six inches - the slab carries the load. Mr. Kelly further explained that he had a 360 foot frontage, and plans to have a small swimming pool. He has a little over an acre of land. He said that this type of construction was better structurally than the conventional manner. He built 24 houses last year in Braintree. Mr. Ucke; Are you a builder? Mr. Kelly; yes, and an engineer. Mr. Redman; How long have the houses in Braintree been up? Mr. Kelly said a year. During the war, Mr. Kelly was a naval engineer. Mr. Ballard asked where Mr. Kelly had done his naval work, and the petitioner answered by saying he had been in Alaska. Mr. Ripley; Has your lot been excavated? Mr. Kelly; No. Mrs. Kieley, 3 Sherburne Road, stated that she had no objection to the erection of such a house. Mr. Nelson, 8 Sherburne Road, stated that he was very much in favor. Mr. Kelly further stated that the slab temperature is maintained at 85 degrees. Mr. Redman asked about heat and the petitioner said it was forced hot water; each room has its own coil. Mr. Redman; What is the ground area? Mr. Kelly; 21,500 feet. Mr. Redman; This is right on the ground. Mr. Kelly; yes, fourteen to sixteen ianhes above grade. Mr. Zpcke; What is the value represented hare. 1 1 1 49 Mr. Kelly; About 00,000.00. The house will cost between.$ 159000.00 and $183,000.00. It is a wood frame - modern house with a bow to the conventional. The hearing was declared closed at 8;55 P.M. At 8;57 P.M., hearing was declared open upon,the petition of Lewis Pollard for permission to erect a house on Lot 1, Lincoln Street, the construction of which will not meet the requirements of the Building By-law. Notice of the hearing was read by Mr. Ballard. There were 14 persons present. Notices of the hearing have been mailed to the owners of all property deemed by the Board to be affected thereby as they appear on the most recent tax list. Mr. Pollard stated that he wished to erect a cape cod type house. The house will set back about 120 feet from the street. It will have the standard foundation - concrete or cement blocks. Air. Murphy, representing the K. V. Wolsey Company of Malden, stated that the basic differences in this case would be that the walls are what as known as stress type of construction - 2 x 3 stud's instead of 2 x 4's, and plywood on the interior. ball panels are called prefabricated. They are made in the faebbry and brought to the site. The rest isthe same as a standard built house. It is not strictly a prefabricated house. Corner posts are two 2 x 3's instead of 4 x 61s; four 2 x 3's in each corner. They previously used 2 x 2's for studding, now use 2 x 3's which are even stronger; 16" OC. The rafters are 2 x 61s 16" OC which is even closer than the conventional built house. The panels are nailed and glued together - all sealed. They use badiant heat which is placed in the ceiling rather than in the floor. They have s gas fired boiler. ClapboRrding outside. Mr. Locke; What size sections? Mr. Murphy; The width varies - the longest are twelve feet. As to the strength, the PHA has approved it. The flooring is plywood which is comparable to two inches of ori9inary flooring. Mr. Locke; Are there many houses erected around this neighborhood? Mr. Murphy; They have been erected in Woburn, Condord, Framingham,'Melrose, Haverhill_. Mr. Locke; What happened to the Building Laws. Mr, Murphy; Melrose varied their Building Code for a period of two years, and they they will preview the case; Malden changes theirs, Framingham changed theirs. In some towns it is left to the discretion of,the Building Inspector. 10 Mr. Locke; How long has this general type of house been on the market. Mr. Murphy; They started offering the house nine months ago. The first two houses were finished slightly before Christmas. They built the original houses approx- imately two years ago. This type of construction has been on the market for some time. Mr.. Locke; Who does the building? Mr. Murphy; The Wolsey Company. They are manufacturers as well. Mr. Wolsey is well qualified. The FHA gr4nted 25 -year mortgages on this house. Mr. Ripley; Are they usually clapboarded. Mr. Murphy; They offer both- shingled exterior and clapboarded exterior. They use exterior grade plywood. As long as the paint is kept on it, it will stand up just as long as any finish. They advocate clapboards and shingles. It is a simple matter to shingle a house whenever the buyer wants to. Mr, Brown; How are the clapboards and shingles fastened. Mr. Murphy; With a regular shingle nail. They strap the house 1611 OC and leave a dead air space. Their house on the Pellsway is in one of the worst spots for it is out in the open with no -buildings within a few thousand feet of it. There are no signs of deterioration of shingles. Mr. Pollard stated that this house is much better than some of the ones that he has seen; pretty much in keeping with the houses in town. He is able to afford this house, but cannot afford the others. Mr. Meriam asked whether Mr. Poolard would use shingles or clapboards. The petitioner stated clapboards. Mr. Murphy stated that the heating is placed in the ceiling because it doesnot take any length of time to heat, and because it is considerably easier for them. They use inlaid linoleum on the floor. Mr. Locke asked the petitioner if there would be a basement in the house. The petitioner answered in the affirmative. Mr. O'Leary, 171 Lincoln Street, stated that there ' was no gas service on Lincoln Street. Mr. Pollard said that he understood the Building Inspector to say thdre was. The hearing was declared closed at 9;20 P.M. 11. ' Before the Board acted on the application of Frances E. Allen, professor John H. Judge called Mr. Locke, Chairman of the Board of Appeals on behalf of Frances Allen and requested that the application be wi'erthdravm. It was the unanimous opinion of the Board that no ruling should be made. Mr. Locke requested that the Clerk write to Mr. Judge and ask for confirmation of his telephone call of this evening. The Clerk was asked to contact Mr. Lindstrom, Building Inspector, to ask him to meet with the Board of Appeals on April 10, 19471 at 8;00 P.M. to further discuss the petitions of Mr. Kelly and Mr. Pollard. The meeting adjourned at 10;10 P.M. A true record, Attest; i Clerk, Board of Appeals .