1964-11-05 - Laserfiche WebLink

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PLANNING BOARD HEARING November 5, 1965 The Lexington Planning Board held a public hearing in Estabrook Hall, Cary Memorial Building, on Thursday, November 5, 1964 at 8;00 p.m. on the petition of more than 100 registered voters to consider a proposi- tion to add to the C 1 Local business district an area of approximately 283000 sq. £t. of land on Marrett Rd. owned by Daniel P. and Eleanor M. Curtin. Present were Chairman Meyer, Members Bryson, Campbell, Riff in and Secretary Macomber. Daniel A. Lynch of 5 Goodwin Rd., attorney representing Mr. Curtin, explained that this meeting was for the purpose of hearing arguments on both sides in order that the Planning Board might have facts on which to base its recommendation to the Town Meeting at which time the town meeting members would vote on the issue. Nothing decisive could come from this hearing. Part of Mr. Curtin's piece of property is zoned for business, C 13 and always has been so zoned. In 1927 this property was granted a gasoline filling station permit. It still has that permit. It is still being operated. Many uses can be put in that location of approximately 54,000 sq.ft. In that zone many uses may be made of the property without let or hindrance from anybody. (Read from the zoning by-law the uses permitted in C 1.) Many other uses can be permitted by Board of Appeals - a large filling station, supermarket, etc. Mr. Curtin is asking for change in zone to C 1 on another piece of adjoining property which he acquired in 1954. His house is on it. In 1950 this piece was also in business zone and was tkaen out at the request of the then owner so it would be taxed for residential instead of business. Mr. Curtin is.planning to put up a neighborhood shopping district in early American architecture. The build- ings would be of one story - anything above a first floor would be used for storage; they would be frame buildings with asphalt roofs -- all in accord— ance with building and zoning laws of Lexington. It would be a nice devel- opment of about 12 retail stores - no liquor or manufacturing. There would be provision for 160-165 automobiles - no parking on the street. There would necessarily be some increase in traffic - if you have twelve stores and people going in and out to shop there would be more traffic. A traffic light could be put in at Spring St. and Marrett Rd. if necessary. (Here pictures of the development were shown on the screen.) It will be an ad- vantage to the neighborhood to have these stores. It will increase the taxes received on this property about ten times. If this is not rezoned, the other piece could be used for a large filling station or rented as a single operation by a large supermarket. A question was asked as to access to which Mr. Lynch replied that the access would be from Marrett Rd. This was a State road and access to the property was controlled by the State. It is the only one available at ' present. Mr. Campbell of the Planning Board asked if they intend to continue