HomeMy WebLinkAbout1929-05-03SPECIAL MEETING - May 3, 1929.
Notice having been given of an informal hearing
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to, be held on the layout of Hill Street from Bedford
Street to Cedar Street to the abutting land owners,
hearing was declared open at 8 P.M. A large number bf
the property mwners were present.
The plan of the layout of the street to a width Hill St.
of 50 t was placed before the meeting by the Town hearing.
Engineer. None of the parties present had any
objection to the layout, in fact, expression of
opinion was that it would be a good thing for the
Selectmen to make this layout.
The meeting adjourned at 8:20 P.M.
The Board discussed the advisability of making
any assessments upon this layout. The opinion of
the Board was that they would not make any assessment.
At 8:30 P.M. notice having been given to the
abuttors of property along Lowell Street from the
present terminus of the highway to East Street and
East Street across private lands to North Hancock
Street and thence through private lands to Bedford
Street, Yearing was declared open. A number of
property owners were present.
The plans showing the various sections of the
layout were placed before the megting by the Town
Engineer,
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The meeting was conducted by Theodore A. Custance.
eco` nee ng uki th esentt��j�ld
w e a o nee ng n with t �ir present.
State highway and that they had been studying this
matter with our local Engineering force and were in
favor of a layout which would connect the street with
Lowell Street. The purpose of this route would be
to draw traffic around the center of the Town.
Bir. Basil Deering asked whether or not the
land would be taken from the other side of his house.
The Town Engineer explained that on the northerly
side of Ledgelawn Avenue the lots were laid out exactly
1001 in depth while on the southerly side, the lots(
were 1201 in depth, therefore the street was laid out
so that the lots 'would be of an even depth.
Mr. Deering asked whether or not the street was
laid out as a 601 street, and he was Informed that it
was now a 40t street.
The first plan shown was the plan of the layout
of street from Bedford Street to Ledgelawn Avenue.
Mr. Charles J. Jones stated that he thought
that his house would be within 101 of the curb and the
plan of the proposed road goes through his front lawn,
and he would be set off in a place that was only fit
for a roadside stand.- He objected very strenously to
the layout of the street in this seption.
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Lowe 11 St.
hearing.
Mr. Edward W. Robbins stated that this plan would
wreck his place. He stated that his garage would
have to be removed and that the street would run'
through where about 20 or 30 trees are in his orohard,
and it would out the garage in two, and his house
would be left within 35+ of the road. He stated that
he came to Lexington to live �n a quiet place and
that it would drive them out if they had a State
highway so near their place.
Br. Bliss Janes, son of Charles J. Jones,
also objected tery strenuously to the layout saying
that to his mind the house would be about 8 ? from
the road and that his home was one of the oldest Iouses
the Town and a great deal of money had_•been spent there
to fix it up.. He suggested that if a thoroughfare
is needed for these who wish to%cut olt the Town,
he felt that the land in the locality in that section
would soon be developed and it was a residential
section, and he could not see why.a road could not
be made from East Street to the corner of Burlington
Street and he felt that this was a more direct route.
Mr. Jones suggested that even a more diredt
route would spoil less real estate and be of more ,
advantage to tax payers of the Town, to run a street
across country to the Smith Bell Farm, through waste
land and. through an -'entirely new development and run
into Bedford Street.
Pyr. Leslie Bull stated that he also objected to
the layout of the street. He stated that he has
lived here for 15 years, and he felt that Hancock
Street was a residential street and should be kept so,
and if a State road is run by his property; it would
destroy the land value
Mr. John Chiesa was not present, but he
previously registered himself in favor of this project.
Air. Bliss Jones explained that he felt that a
route could be arranged whereby the road could go
across private lands and come into Simonds Road
across to Bedford Street. lir. Custance explained
that this was a preliminary hearing and he desired to
get all the views of the persons present so that the
matter could be given careful study and consideration
by the Planning Board after this meeting was over.
He explained that the present layout was in a direct
straight line from Lowell Street to Bedford Street and
was the most direct route.
Mr. Robbins stated that he felt that the route
over Simonds Road should be investigated and he felt
that if it were given some thought and study, it
might prove to be a better route than the one
suggested. He therefore requested that this be given
consideration.
Mr. Emery explained that he felt that Simonds
Road was absolutely prohibited from the point of view
of through traffic inasmuch as it was not a direct
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route and there would be considerable curves in the woad.
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Bir. Robbins called attention to the new road
that Mr. Ford built in Sudbury and felt that that
was an example of a recent State Road and that it
had many curves and hills.
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Mr. Daffy of the Planning Board asked that the
8009 8calel plan be shown so that all parties present
could -see the exact location of streets talked of in
connection!with the layout of other streets in the town.
Miss Robbins also favored the study of a road
leading into Simonds Road:
Mr. Custance explained that on the new streets
that were being laid out, the State was trying.to
avoid curves on hills as much as possible and they
favored this layout as being the best possible layout
and whenever they consider a layout, it is considered
for the most number of people and perhaps not for the
few who own property. He felt that the Town should,
however, study some of the suggestions made at this
meeting.
The Engineer showed two layouts of what might
be done to take out the curves in East Street.
Mr. William E. Fiske who owns property, questioned
the measurements of the distances made from his house
to the street by the Engineers and stated that he
was not in favor. with the layout.
Mr. Arthur Fiske also objected stating that he
felt that his house would be ruined completely. He
felt that the taking should be made,on the other side
of the street and it would be less expensive. He
stated that he owned 5J acres of land, and the
widening of the street would reduce his valuation.
Mr,. Amos E. Hill also asked questions in regard
to the layout.
Mrs. Edith C. Deering stated.that from what she
gathered from the meeting, there was a great deal of
destruction work considered in this layout and
wondered if a route through the continuance of Lowell
Street to Bedford would not be perhaps a better route.
Air. Custance explained that the State had
given up the study of continuing Lowell Street and
that they are not interested in that proposition but
are interested in connecting up the present State
highway with another state highway.
Mr. Daniel Crowley stated that he objected to both
locations of the change in location of East Street.
Air. Carlson of the firm of Brown & Carlson also
asked questions in regard to the layout as did Air.
William E. Doran; and Mr. Amos Hill objected to the
plan showing the layout of the street back of Mr.
Bailey's house.
Mr. Emery made a lengthy statement in regard
to the position of the Town in regard to the layout
of through highways. He stated that on either end of
the Town there must be a through highway so that the
increased traffic can be handled. He stated that this
cannot be done unless new roads are built and layouts
made, and these layouts must go through property owned
by someone and that property owners must make up their
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minds that this must be done sooner or later. He
stated that this is only one of the schemes that
will be brought before the Town within the next five
years. He stated that the thoroughfare through
Lexington Center will not be adequate to handle all the
traffic that comes through to the White Mountains,
and that plans must be made for five or ten years hence,
and for this reason these problems are now being
studied by the Planning Board.. He also informed the
meeting that Mr. Harriman of the Metropolitan Planning
Board has viewed this layout and it seemed to him
that North Hancock Street was impossible to be widened;
and he suggested the layout through the Dix property.
Firs. Annie Bierenbroodspot of North Street, stated
that she owned five acres of land and she would be
willing to have the Town take some of her land to lay
out a street as she felt that it was necessary that
this be done.
Mr. Charles Jones suggested that the Engineers
draw up another plan incorporating the suggestions
made at the meeting,
Mr. William Porter wished to be recorded in
favor of the layout.
Mr. Gustaf Lidberg and Mr. Hobert Millican also
were in favor of the layout.
The hearing closed st 10:15 P.M.
A true record, Attest: � c')
Clerk.
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