1939-05-18 - Laserfiche WebLink

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PLANNING BOARD HEARING MAY 18th, 1939. A hearing of the Planning Board was held on May 18th at the Selectmen's Room, Town Office Building, at°8:00 F.M. All of the members of the Planning Board were present. Members of the Board of Assessors, Appropriation Com- mittee, the Building Inspector, real estate agents and several other interested parties were also present at the hearing. Mr. Greeley, Chairman of the Planning Board, opened the hearing for discussion. He stated that the Planning Board had drawn up a proposed amendment for an R.3 or apartment zone. He said that the purpose of the Planning Board in presenting the proposal was to put before the town something which could be discussed and perhaps make it possible for Lexington to have a type of apartment house which would not in any way injure the town but would be an asset rather than a liability. He stated that the Planning Board felt that apartment houses would be a great advantage to Lexington as they believed there was a real need for them. The Planning ' Board also felt that an unlimited permission for an apartment house of any type would be unwise so they have tried to pre- sent something which would make possible an apartment house which would be governed as to construction and design so that the citizens of Lexington would have something that would be advantageous. He said that a requirement was made for a two and a half story apartment house as they felt that it should conform to the type of house that would probably by in the district. This, of course, does not include apartments in a business zone. Mr. Greeley said this would conform to our present law which is defined by the State in the so-called Tenement Mouse Act for Towns, which we made a part of our Building Law and which still stands. Mr. Greeley stated that there was at the present time a committee working on the revision of the Building Laws, particularly the Tenement House chapter, so that if the amendment being considered now is passed, it might be altered in its actual effect by a sub- sequent amendment proposed by the committee on the Building Law, which with the Zoning Laws, determines the character of apartment houses. Mr. Greeley asked if there was anyone desiring to speak in favor of the proposed amendment. Mr. Eugene G. Viano stated that he wished to commend the Planning Board for the construction of the amendment. He said that he felt it eliminated the possibility of any undesirable type of apartment buildings in Lexington. He stated that he felt there undoubtedly was a_need for such construction in the town as at the present time there were a number of persons in the town who desired to make their homes in such a building. He stated that these people, of necessity, must move out of Lexington unless such accommodations are made. He said that there were many people who did not want