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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1963-01-30-min 142 altC- SELECTMEN'S MEETING Streets January 30, 1963 The Board of Selectmen held a hearing in Esta- brook Hall, Cary Memorial Building, on Wednesday, January 30, 1963, at 8:00 P.M. Chairman Adams , Messrs . Cole, Burnell and Brown were present. Mr. Robert Higgins, Assistant Town Engineer, and Miss Murray, Executive Clerk, were also present . The Chairman called the hearing to order and intro- duced Ha.explained that the hearings are held for the purpose of making and establishing layouts of the streets to be presented to the Annual Town Meet- ing in March. He reported that notices of the Board' s intention to pass orders for the extensions, layouts, and relocations, if any, were served by Constable to all property owners as they appear on the most recent tax list. He explained that each property owner would be given an opportunity to see the plans and to register opposition or favor if they so desired. He emphasized the fact that the final decision as to whether or not these streets would be accepted would be made by the Town Meeting Members at the Annual TownMeeting to be held March 18, 1963. The first street taken up was Alcott Road from Alcott Burroughs Road 1546' westerly to Thorear Road. Road No one wished to be recorded in favor or in op- position and the hearing was declared closed. Hearing was declared open upon notice of intention to lay out Baskin Road from Loring Road 1393 feet . Baskin Road No one wished to be recorded in favor or in oppo- sition and the hearing was declared closed. Hearing was declared open uponnotice of intention to lay out Bowser Road from Daddle Club Road a distance Bowser Road of 966 feet southerly to Todd Road. No one wished to be recorded in favor or in oppo- sition and tie hearing was declared closed. Hearing was declared open upon notice of intention to lay out Brown Road from Burnham Road 648 feet easterly. Brown Road No one wished to be recorded in favor or in oppo- sition and the hearing was declared closed. I . No one wished to be recorded in favor or in oppo- sition and the hearing was declared clsed. Hearing was declared open upon notice of intention to lay out Ross Road from Paul Revere road 956 feet to Oxbow Road. Ross Road No one wished to be recorded in favor or in oppo- sition and the hearing was declared closed. Hearingwas declared open upon notice of intention to lay out odd Road from Grant Street a distance of 750 feet easterly Todd Road No one wished to be recorded in favor or in oppo- sition and the hearing was declared closed. Mr. Franklyn Crosby, 8 Freemont Street, asked what the cost would be and Mr . Higgins replied that the esti- mated ctst..is $10.00 per foot and this street would come up later Hearing was declared open upon notice of intention to lay out Ames Avenue from Carville Avenue 600 feet easterly to Baker Avenue . Ames Avenue Mras E. T. Berglund, 5 Tavern Lane, said she was executor under the will of Dorothy VanGemert, late of 63 Baker Avenue. She said some years ago sewer was put in the street, now drainage and water . She ex- plained that the property is at the corner of Baker II and Amen Avenue and has been in the same family for many years. She said each time the betterments were put through, the slope was cut and asked if the Town intended tobuild a retaining wall. Mr. Higgins explained that construction plans would not be available until after the street is accepted by Town Meeting and the department has had an opportunity to make a survey He explained that when final plans are prepared, the grade of the road will be determined and usually the Town tries to avoid building walls. Mrs. Berglund stated that the road has dropped and the bank has remained up and needs some kind of a wall She asked if the shrubbery would be replaced and Mr. Higgins replied in the affirmative The Chairman asked if Mrs. Berglund was requesting a retaining wall and she replied in the affirmative. No one else wished to speak and the hearing was declared closed. Hearing was declared open upon notice of intention to lay out Drew Avenue from Bow Street a distance of 146 270 feet westerly to Cliffe Avenue. Drew Avenue No one wished to be recorded in favor or in oppo- sition and the hearing was declared closed. Hearing was declared open upon notice of intention to lay out Eastern Avenue from School Street 1135 feet easterly to Fairland Street. Mr. Frederick Koury, 26 Eastern Avenue, said part of the street is completed and he assumed drainage and sewer would be installed. Mr. Higgins stated that sewer is in and drainage will be included. Mr. Arthur DeLisle, 42 Eastern Avenue, asked when the assessments would start. Eastern The Chairman said betterments would not be assessed Avenue until next year. Mr. Higgins explained that the bills go out six months after the construction . He stated that some of the land on Eastern Avenue is registered land and if Mr. DeLisle had dealings with the Land Court , his land is registered. He stated that if it is in the Land Court, the betterment is recorded against the certificate and if it is in the registry, it is re- corded against the land He explained the betterment would be recorded within a month after the Town Meeting which would be some time in April and he would not re- ceive a bill until December. Mr. DeLisle asked if the legal responsibility would be in April. Mr. Higgins stated meat in the Land Court, it would be against Mr. DeLisle and in the registry, it would be against the property. Mr. DeLisle asked what the significance was, and Mr. Higgins replied that thereis no legal significance and if Mr. DeLisle sold his property, he would have to take care of the betterment either way. Mr. Arthur Casavant, 1 Frances Road, said the drainage on Frances Road seems to be a gravity type. He said he lives on a corner and wanted to know what would be done to assure that the road is blended in. He asked how his land would be protected Mr. Higgins explained that in building one street, provisions are made for all side streets coming in . He said if necessary catch basins would be used, but that the actual construction plans would not be avail- able until June . Mr. Casavant said he was concerned about the drain- age running in front of his property and stated that the water flows right into Eastern Avenue. Mr. Higgins said the drainage would not be blocked off and no water would be thrown on Mr. Casavant 's property. 11 Hearing was declared open upon notice of intention to lay out Burroughs Road from East Street a distance of 2253 feet northerly and weste ly to Thoreau Road. Burroughs No one wished to be recorded in favor or in opposition Road and the hearing was declared closed Hearing was declared open upon notice of intention to lay out Constitution Road from Oxbow Road 937 feet easterly and southerly. Mr. Theodore E. Lannefeld, 2L Constitution Road, inquired about the construction of sidewalks. The Chairman explained that sidewalks are not part of accepting the street and said he believed in the new Subdivision Rules and Regulations of the Planning Board, sidewalks are now a requirement. Constitution Mr. Leo Poplawski, 11 Oxbow Road, asked if this Road was just a matter of acceptance by the Town and if the strefit met specifications. The Chairman explained that is according to the Subdivision Rules and Regulations which have the same specifications as town streets and no betterments would be charged. No one else wished to speak and the hearing was declared closed. Hearing was declared open upon notice of intention to lay out Cooke Road from Douglas Road 1540 feet to Fulton Road. Cooke Road Mr. Carl Berger, 18 Cooke Road, asked if any addi- tional improvements or other charges would be made. The Chairman replied this is a subdivision road and there mould be no charges. Mr. Harry K. Goldstein, 7 Cooke Road, said he wanted to akk about sidewalks on Cooke Road, trees and "go slow" signs. The Chairman explained this aoes not come under the acceptance of the streets and suggested that Mr. Goldstein write the Board of Selectmen. He explained that betterments are charged for sidewalks No one else wished to speak and the hearing was declared closed. Hearing was declared open upon notice _ of intention to lay out Douglas Road from East Stret 2191 feet easterly. Douglas Road No one wished to be recorded in favor or in oppo- sition and the hearing was declared closed. Hearing was declared open upon notice of intention to lay out Fulton Road from 170 feet north of Rolfe Road Fulton Road a distance of 655 feet northerly to Douglas hoad. 144 MC Co No one wished to be recorded in favor or in oppo- sition and the hearing was declared closed. Hearing was declared open upon notice of intention to lay out Freemont Street from Constitution Road a dis- tance of0 ,� 3 feet northerly. Mr. Warren S. Little, 67 Freemont Street, asked if the sidewalk rule applied to Freemont Street and inquired Freemont about curbing without the sidewalks. Street Mr. Higgins explained that there is a piece of granite curb in there that was installed to control the drainage. He said it did not mean that sidewalks will be put in there. No one else wished to speak and the hearing was declared closed. Hearing was declared open upon notice of intention to lay out Jeffrey Terrace from Demar Road a distance Jeffrey of 378 feet easterly. Terrace No one wished to be recorded in favor or in oppo- sition and the hearing was declared closed. Hearing was declared open upon notice of intention to lay out Lillian Road from 240 feet south of Anthony Lillian Road a distance of 232 feet southerly. Road No one wished to be recorded in favor or in oppo- sition and the hearing was declared closed. Hearing was declared open upon notice of intention to lay out Oxbow Road from Revolutionary Road 2030 feet northerly. Mr. Leo Poplawski, 14 Oxbow Road, asked if this was a matter of accepting the road and if it met specifi- Oxbow Road cations. The Chairman explained it was constructed under the subdivision control and the builder was required to put in the road according to town specifications . He said no betterments were to be charged as in theory the de- veloper pays all the cost . No one else wishdd to speak and the hearing was declared closed. Hearing was declared open upon notice of intention to lay out Roosevelt Road from 200 feet west of Wilson Roosevelt Road a distance of 128 feet westerly. Road No one wished to be recorded in favor or in oppo- sition and the hearing was declared closed. Hearing was declared open upon notice of intention to lay out Saddle Club Road from Grant Street a distance of 938 feet easterly. fir. Mr. Gordon E. Masters, 4 Frances Road, asked if curbing would be installed on Eastern Avenue. Mr. Higgins stated that it is the policy to put curbing in on anything over a 6% grade, and Eastern Avenue is about 10%, so there will be curbing on most of Eastern Avenue. He said at the end of School Street there is a piece of less than 6$ and no curbing will be placed there. He said he was fairly certain it would be bituminous curbing and it would go all the way up the hill. Mr. Herbert McConchie said he has property at the corner of Eastern and Deering Avenue and on Eastern Avenue he has 104 feet. He asked if the betterment would be against that 104 feet. Mr. Higgins explained that the theory on corner lots is that the Town can assess both bides of the property. However, in Lexington the property owners pay only on the longer frontage. No one else wishing to speak, the hearing was declared closed. Hearing was declared open upon notice of intention to lay out Freemont Street from Cedar Street 1290 feet southwesterly to Battle Green Village Development. Mr. Stanley Hewitt, 19 Freemont Street, said there is a storm drain that flows under his land and asked if this drain would be eliminated. Freemont Mr. Higgins replied that he was not sure in which Street house Mr. Hewitt lived. He explained the main outlet is a drain that runs through the West property at the end of the unfinished portion, and it would be picked up in the drainage and carried out . Mr. Robert Hopwood, 48 Bellflower Street, asked if Bellflower Street would be paved, and Mr. Higgins replied in the negative Mr. Hopwood said Freemont and Homestead would be paved. The Chairman explained that the Board had received more than double the number of requets for streets this year and it is simply trying to keep the tax rate down and present the streets with the largest percentage of signatures Mr. Higgins stated that Bellflower Street would definitely not be done this year. Mr. Peter Grimes, 20 Freemont Street, asked about the width of the street . Mr. Higgins explained that the pavement will be twenty-four feet and the sidewalk area will be eight feet on each side, but that doesnot mean that side- walks will be built . 148 c- Mr. Grimes said the street would be accepted in March and the worst time is in the spring. He asked if the Town would thLn do something about the mud con- dition. The Chairman stated that the design engineering has to be done after the Town Meeting and the Board tries to do all the streets at one time, thereby getting a better bid and it would not be done in the spring. Mr. Grimes asked if there was anything the Town could do after it owns the street in March. The Chairman said he would inquire about it but he thought it was the policy not to do any work. Mr. Walter W. Webber, 5 Elm Street, Stoneham, asked the rate of assessment . The Chairman explained that it is based on 40 per front foot for each side of the street and this is the maximum. Mr. Webber said the house he owns is just about on the street and when he heard about the twenty-four foot width, he had visions of the lady living there not having any front door steps; house #45. The Chairman said as he understood it, the Town is not taking any land. It is laid out and recorded forty feet wide. The pavement will be twenty-four feet. Mr. Crosby said he had a seventy foot frontage and that would mean it would cost him about S700. The Chairman said that was the estimate. Mr. Crosby asked if it was prorated. The Chairman replied that he could pay it all at once, or over a period of twenty years at in- terest. Mr. Manuel Souza, 33 Freemont Street, asked if curbing would be installed in the section where he lives. Mr. Higgins explained that normally curbing is put on anything over 6% and Freemont is not . Mr. Souza said all the water goes down onto his land. Mr. Higgins said if it cannot be controlled by curbing, catch basins would be installed. No one elae wishing to speak, the hearing was declared closed. Hearing was declared open upon notice of intention to lay out Manning Street from Bedford Street 505 feet westerly to Milk Street. Mr. Robert Strong, 11 Manning Street, said he would like to go on record objecting to the per foot frontage fee. He said in his case there is a ninety-four foot frontage and six foot backage. 149 The Chairman said the betterment estimate is based on a flat figure which has proved a good average over a period of time and while the estimate is $10, it is maximum. He explained there has to be some leeway Manning in the event the job comes in high. Street Mr. Strong asked if there were any exceptions, and the Chairmanieplied that if he felt the betterment is too high, he could always appeal to the Board of Selectmen. No one else wishing to speak, the hearing was declared closed. Hearing was declared open upon notice of intention to lay out Winter Street from Rangeway a distance of 44 feet westerly. Winter Street Mr Walter S. Harrington pointed out his lot on the plan and said it appeared to be 214 feet of frontage to be assessed at $10 a foot. He said during 1962 he spent a lot of time in this lot to make the subdivision possible. He said at the time, from information made available to him, he came to the conclusion that by giving them land to make the street Coach Road, his assessment would be on Coach Road rather than Winter Street. Mr. Higgins stated that Coach Road is being built under the subdivision, but has not yet been built. Mr. Harrington said part of the street is already under construction, but there is no house on it. He said the house would be on Coach Road. The Chairman said this 1s a question that he would have to ask Town Counsel. He said, as he understood it, Mr. Harrington' s lot is facing one street being built by Town standards and on the other side, the street is being built under the Betterment Act . Mr. Harry Sullivan, 38 Maple Street, said the lot he owns he has owned for many years and paid taxes on it. Now it looks as though he might as will give it to the Town. The Chairman asked him which lot he was referring to, and Mr. Sullivan replied #9. He said the developer came in here, got this lot and the Town permitted him to build without frontage, and to give him a circle, the Town is taking his lot. The Chairman explained the policy is that the culdesac is easy to plow in the winter and asked if Mr. Sullivan wished to be recorded in opposition. Air. Sullivan replied that he has paid taxes all these years. Mr. Brown asked if Mr.Sullivan had a buildable lot and Mr. Sullivan replied in the negative. The Chairman said it looked as though Mr. Sullivan had frontage on a finished street and he would think it would enhance the property. 150 Mr. Richard Tringale, 12L1 Winter Street, said he lives across the street and has a forty-five foot lot and gave up a good percentage of his frontage so the Town would have a safety for the fire engine. He said he has lived there four years and each year has been unable to use his car because the water freezes from the slope down to the base of his driveway. He said the people spent time on this turnabout because of the safety, and they want to be able to use the road. He said they have $40,000 homes that look like $20,000. He said it is essential that they have a road. Mr. E. L. Cram, 120 Winter Street, said he was on the end of the proposed culdesac and asked about the grade. Mr. Higgins explained that he would guess it at about 3%. Mr. Cram asked if there would be drainage in the culdesac . Mr. Higgins replied that it is the intent to put the drainage in there and e.narry it out the whole of Winter Street. The Chairman stated that when the street is paved, the necessary drainage for the road goes in too. Mr. Cram said he owns lot #8, is on the end of the culdesac and for the culdesac hewill.,have to give up about 1200 feet and that he is agreeable to this. Mr. Sullivan said that after paying taxes for many years, he will now be assessed for this betterment and the Town has taken his property. He asked if he would be reimbursed in any way. The Chairman asked if Mr. Sullivan had a buildable lot. Someone said Mr. Sullivan does not live there, has a good buildable lot and asked why the other people should have to suffer Mrs. Dorothy Sullivan said it is unusual to put a culdesac in a road where the road is continuing and the Chairman explained that it would be h temporary culdesac . Mr. Nicholas Colette, 131 Winter Street , said he ha- the most frontage on the street and is willing to have the road put in with the turnabout with the deadend because it means a good deal to the people living there. There being no further questions, the hearing was declared closed and the meeting adjourned at 8:55 P.M. A true record, Attest: J�e -EXectltiv , Clem, Select en e 1J