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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1957-01-14-CEC-min.pdf MEETING OF THE CAPITAL bArENDITURES COMMITTEE. WITH THE PLANNING BOARD January 14, 1957 Present for the Planning Board. Mr. Donald Hathaway, Chairman; Messrs. Chprles Abbott; Alan Adams; Levi Burnell; Thomas Grindle; Wilbur Jaquith; and Samuel Snow Present for the Capital Expenditures Committee: Mr. Sanborn Brown, Chairman; Messrs. John A. Carrier; D. Sargent Goddard; Norman Royle; and Mesdames Arthur (Rosemary) Fitzgerald end dames (Jean) Wanless, Secretary. Mr. Hathaway asked what information the Committee wanted. Mr Brown replied we want the costs of capital expenditures for the next five years -- sewers, water, play areas, etc. Mr. Hathaway said it is difficult to forecast the cost in dollars Some recreation areas may be acquired for little or no cost (such as Sun Valley, Tech Built area, and they may swap tax title property for recreation area in East Lexington) Mr Brown said that the Cap. Ex. Committee has carried $10,000 each year for play areas — but this has usually not been spent. He asked for an average amount for the next five years, pointing out that this committee's function is to forecast costs ahead and that 1957 expenses are thus the least important to it. It was noted that the Recreation Committee and Planning Board now work more closely together on some planning. The Planning Board recommends the acquiring of land for recreation, but it is up to the Recreation Committee to develop it after the town purchases it. The primary purpose of the Planning Board is to determine the use of the land on a town-wide or neighborhood use basis; the Recreation Committee must decide how to use the land for recreation (for baseball, skating, other). Thus the Planning Board picks the recreation sites; but the development and planning for the the Landis done by the Recreation Committee, who budget through the Selectmen. * *Footnote from the Town Warrant Article 8 passed at Town Meeting last November 1956. ARTICLE' XXIX Playground and Recreation Centers (added to General By-Laws) Section 4 All other powers over playgrounds and recreation centers . shall be exercised by the Board of Selectmen. These powers shall include, without limitation, the acquisition, construction, maintenance and development of land, buildings and physical facilities. Section 5 The Recreation Committee shall carry on continuous study and planning in reference to the development, improvement, maintenance, and equipment of playgrounds and recreation centers in the Town and shall make recommendations thereon from time to time to the Board of Selectmen. THE PLANNING BOARD - Jan. 14, 1957 (cont.) page 2 Mr. Adams said we must wait to see how the Hayden Recreation Centre affects the town. The Town Meeting turned down a recreation area purchase in the Woodhaven section several years ago and it would have cost only $3,000 to $4,000. Kineen's Pond area cost $8,500 when done. Suggested that the new school should have a playground area. Mr Snow said the School Committee decides how school land is developed (as at new junior high and Fiske) Mr Brown said the Capital Expenditures Report has been carrying money for the continuation of Worthen Road (estimated at $720,000); is this reasonable? Mr. Hathaway replied that this project is in a state of flux. The traffic pattern study is now on and the state has changed plans for the Concord Turnpike entry planned at Pleasant Street (to be an overpass, not a cloverleaf) Route 2 is to become a limited access highway They should know more by September The new Hayden Recrea- tion Centre also affects Worthen Road plans. Mr Adams suggested changing the Worthen Road money to the improvement of town traffic arteries. Mr Brown asked if the amount should be raised to one million or more. The answer -- at least one million recommended for major arteries. Mr Snow suggested as a cost estimate to multiply the cost of the new road from Bedford Street to Grove Street (3500 feet long) by ten more such connee- _Vtions We are toGayer. iso cw - 7 get this cost from Mr. Mr Brown asked about replacing the town dump with an incinerator (estimate $250,000) Mr Hathaway replied the present dump may last less than five years. There may be a second dump rather than an incinerator Mr. Adams said an incinerator requires municipal collection -- more expense. Mr Brown asked about a water main along Route 128 (estimate $1,000,000) and trunk sewers and laterals (estimate $2,000'000) Mr Hathaway replied they are waiting for the Attorney General's decision about the article passed last November by the Town Meeting which states any building constructed in a C-3 or M-1 area must connect with a sanitary sewer The federal government is supposed to construct a road from Bedford Street to Wood Street. It would be well for the town to add sewer and water at the same time but the timing is unknown now. Mr Brown showed the Planning Board the Cap. Exp. Committee's map of possible future capital expenditures. Mr. Adams said Allen Street relocation and widening will come up again as it is now a very narrow street and is bound to be built up. Other comments while looking at map: Anthony Street to connect to Lowell and A Street to be abandoned; Policy of Planning Board for subdividers to tie into major connections; Appletree Lane area needs sewer; Minute Man highlands area will require expensive sewer as poor area for percolation around Chadbourne Road. a THE PLANNING BOARD - Jan. 14, 1957 (cont.) page 3 Mr Brown asked how much the Committee felt the town should spend on sidewalks. Mr. Hathaway replied the Board now requires them in subdivisions when badly needed. Mr. Brown said Public Works Dept estimates $40,00 per year for five years for side- walks The Board agreed sidewalks are necessary. The location of future fire stations was discussed. Mr Jaquith said the new street connecting Bedford Street and Grove Street will help the Robinson Road area. Mr. Brown said the new Worthen Road has not helped the Fire Department because of the corner at Massachusetts Avenue Mr Adams said some of the fire apparatus is under- powered and that the traffic lights on Bedford Street need correcting. The third station on Marrett Road was planned ten years ago so the three stations would cover the town pretty well. Zoning is also fire protection when houses are farther apart. Industry might change our Fire Department plans Mr Brown said street changes affect whether or not the Cap. Ex. Committee recommends the third fire station. Mr. Jaquith said there would be no ladder truck for the possible Marrett Road station. Population growth was discussed. Mr. Snow is studying this. There were the same number of houses built in Lexington this year as last, even though many building permits taken out late in the fall indicate more last year (1956) Roughly a house a day (350 x 3 people) equals 1000 per year population increase. Nationally there should be a drop in housing in the next five years as housing needs are filled. Mr. Snow is to get more accurate figures on population to the Cap. Exp. Committee. In answer to a question, Mr Snow said the state will give more accurate information on Routes 2 and 3 maybe within a year The state is now acquiring land and the longer they wait the more it costs. Mr Hathaway said that next year the Planning Board can be more accurate in their estimates. They can not announce specific areas for recreation and roads because then the prices of the desired land would go up. The Board is trying to acquire land or get options and stop speculation.