1920-12-10 - Laserfiche WebLink

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PLANNING BOARD REPORT FOR 1920 During the year 1920 the Board has been occupied with numerous questions, including the following: 1. Repair of station, future disposition of railroad lands, safeguarding entrance from Merriam Street, etc. The Board, acting with the Selectmen, has succeeded in getting the President of the railroad to order the repair of the present station, with the addition of important features. Estimates are under way. A plan contemplating the abolition of the Merriam Street grade crossing has been outlined. 2. Land developments. The Board co-operated with the Board of Survey in conferences with the Town of Arlington to settle the future use of the Great Meadows, and later on con- ferred with the Town Engineer and the State Department of High- ways. The resulting plan was partially carried out by a vote of the town taking for park purposes certain lands bordering the Great Meadow. In North Lexington developments, two in number, have been visited with the Town Engineer. In the case of the "Lex- ington Park" land, the Selectmen of Bedford were called in con- ference. Your Planning Board assisted in the preparation of a plan, which is now under discussion. The Kendall Farm Development is at this writing await- ing the result of public hearings. A plan has been prepared by the Town Engineer, including all the surrounding territory bounded by Bedford, North Hancock, and Burlington Streets. The Planning Board has advised in favor of the local control of as much of the undeveloped areas as is possible. In all cases of land development by outside parties who are not interested in the town, the Board of Survey Act gives the Town power, under penalty of witholding public service (water, sewerage,. street maintenance, etc.) from such land, to approve or disapprove layouts submitted by the owners. The town has insisted that such layouts shall show proposed streets (1) conforming to the natural topography, so as to give easy grades, proper drainage, etc., and (2) at such distances apart as to allow proper depths for house lots for the type of resident likely to buy in the locality under consideration. 3. The Board has taken up the question of a legislative act to require the Land Court to obtain the approval by local boards of survey or planning boards of land sub -divisions, be- fore such sub -division shall be recorded by the said court.