1956-04-09 - Laserfiche WebLink

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and your reply of Sept. 12, 1955 in regard to the sale of tax title and other town property which might have possible use for recreation purposes. In your letter you indicated that,the Planning Board would only be interested in land for recreational purposes. After further consideration of this matter the Board feels that it might be interested in any tax title lots being sold regardless of size or location. The Board would, therefore, appreciate that you send it notice of any possible sale of tax title or other town owned property before such sale is consummated. This request is being made for the following reasons: 1. At present this Board's recreation studies are only in the form of notes and rough maps. Before publishing its recommended recreation plan, the Board wishes to complete and correlate its neighborhood plan studies. The Board also believes it should negotiate for and, if,possible, obtain options on land in order to avoid speculation, inflated land values and high costs to the Town. 2. In a number of instances it may be desirable to develop fairly good existing and proposed sites into better ones through the expansion of an area, the gain of a better access, or provision of access where none is available now. It may also be possible to do this without direct purchase by exchanging now privately owned for tax title or other town lands even in instances where individual lots have an area much too small to be used for recreation in themselves. This is one reason why the Board would like to have the opportunity to recommend the retention of certain town -owned parcels should it feel that these could be used to the advantage of the town for other than building purposes. 3. The Board has noted that there are a number of larger parcels of land which serve as potential residential developments but which are not now being considered because there are house lots between the parcels and nearby streets. It is thought that it would be to the best interests of the Town if properly -located vacant lots, either privately or town -owned, could be retained as parcels only to be used as access into back land useable. for development. It is for this reason also that the Board'`would like to be able to review the matter before any possible future sale of tax title or other town -owned property. As soon as it can fit such work into its present schedule, the Planning Board will prepare a map indicating ' where it recommends lands be acquired, retained or exchanged for recreation or street access purposes. When this is com- pleted this Board would then like to meet with the Select- men to discuss these recommendations. Very truly yours, LEXINGTON PLANNING BOARD /s/Alan G. Adams, Chairman