1956-03-08 - Laserfiche WebLink

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't B ; ! ECAC t March 8, 1956 ' Alic meeting 3.ng was held in 13stabrook Hall, Cary Memorial Build- ing Qn March 8, 1956 at 7:55 p.m. for the owners of real estate within the historic districts being proposed for Lexington by the Planning Board. On March 1, 1956 the Board had sent to these owners a letter informing them of the meeting, enclosing a copy of the proposed legislation and ex- plaining some of the purposes and background of said proposal. • The Chairman opened the meeting by amplifying upon the Board's letter and discussing the procedure to be followed in conducting the meet- ing, Pointing to a map he then described the boundaries of the proposed districts and inquired if there were any guesti6m about the outline of the areas. He read a letter from Mr. Frank Tobin, 12 Bedford Styin Which Fkr. Tobin stated his opposition to the northerly boundary of the Battle Green District and expressed concern about business encroaching on property owners on Bedford Street. Dr. Howard W. coley of 5 Harrington Road sug- gested extending the boundary line to his back land. An unidentified person, Mr. Michael W. Morrison, and Miss Helen E. Ryan of 13 and 10 Bed- ford Streetirespectively, suggested extending the boundary line to the A & P store. Miss Ryan stated Vat what the property owners in the area wanted was a buffer disCrict. She asked if zoning in the area could be chaWd at a later date. Miss Ryan felt that if the business zone were ' extended along Bedford Street that the approach to the Battle Green would be` changed. Mr. Fred R. Van Norden, Jr. of 8 Bedford Street asked if the boundary of the district could not be extendedfarther along Massachusetts Avenue. He expressed the opinion that if the proposed historic districts were established that they would act as a deterrent to re -zoning for business. In commenting upon these suggestions, the Board felt that there was some question as to how far a boundary line can be extended outt"ide the mediate area which has historical significance. It was thought that if the lines were extended too far that the proposed act might not be con- stitutional as it applies to a particular case. For this reason the Board confined .the bounds of the districts to more or less historic areas. It was '.pointed out further that the proposed act did not constitute zon- ing and that any of the R 1 area could be re -zoned without referring the matter to the proposed historic districts commission. Mentioning the fact that the city of Salem did include historic districts legislation in its zoning ordinance, it was noted that most people find that this inclusion is just a temporary measure and not sufficient to deal with the problem. At the request of the Chairman, Mr. Jaquith then gave a brief analysis of the proposed bill stating that in general the proposal followed provisions taken from either the act creating the historic Beacon hill dis- trict or similar districts in Nantucket. Mr. Jaquith said that the Board's proposal was not designed to affect any particular person or area to his or its detriment. He asked that the Board be advised if the legislation created a particular problem fo: anyone so that something could be done about it before the Town Meeting.