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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1960-11-10-min 1-11 224 CD SELECTMEN' S HEARING November 10, 1960 The Board of Selectmen held a hearing in Estabrook Hall, Cary Memorial Building, on Thursday, November 10, 1960, at 7:30 P.M. Chairman Morey, Mr . Adams , Mr. John J. Carroll, Town Engineer and Superintendent of Public Wroks, and the Executive Clerk were present. The hearing was held for the purpose of making and establishing extension and layout of Worthen Road from Massachusetts Avenue 3370 feet, more or less, south- easterly to Waltham Street . Notices of the intention of the Board to pass an Order for the extension and layout were delivered by the Constable to all property owners as they appear on the most recent tax list. Mrs . Morey called the meeting to order and intro- duced Mr. John Carroll. She asked that any individual desiring to speak in favor or in opposition give his or her name and address for the record. She explained that Worthen Road is a project that the Board has been dis- cussing for a long time and now that the need for a new additional secondary school is apparent, the placing of that school has made imminent the laying out of Worthen Road, and that is the reason for the hearing . She called attention to plans placed on the walls . She explained that a portion of the road which would be Worthen Road of Loring Hill . Mr. Warren Kunz, 11 Baskin Road, asked if the ac- ceptance of the present length was a condition to the acceptance of any other roads on Loring Hill . He asked if Worthen Road must be accepted by the Town before Baskin, Road can be accepted. The Chairman replied that she believed it is the policy of the Town not to accept any street that does not abut another accepted street. Mr. Carroll explained thzt all the streets in the Baskin Hill subdivision are private ways and said that Worthen Road, the part already constructed, is, in effect, a driveway. It is a road constructed on Town property. He said that the policy of the Town has been not to ac- cept a street un]e ss it abuts on another accepted street. He explained th, t the streets in the Baskin Hill sub- division couldbe accepted if there was an accepted street on the upper end. He said that there is none at the present time and unless Fair Oaks Drive, Wachusett Drive , has already been constructed to permit the development 225 etc. , are accepted, it wouldseem that the streets in the Baskin Hill Development could not be accepted. He stated that it is intended this year to include in the warrant for the next Town Meeting the Baskin Hill subdivision to be accepted after Worthen Road has been accepted. Carlton M Davis, 2 Baskin Road, asked when the proposed construction would begin . The Chairman replied that the Board intends to request funds to do part, if not all, of the con- struction at the Annual Town Meeting in March as it has to be built in conjunction with the secondary school. Mr. Davis asked if the school would be built an the site of the dump. The Chairman replied that there would be a dis- cussion on that subject upstairs in Cary Hall at the close of this hearing. She explained that there has been a study made of the 150 acres the Town owns as to the best land usage . Mr. Davis asked if, when the road is widened, it would be widened as it exists today. He said he lives at the corner of Baskin and Worthen Roads and it is a very narrow road. Mr. Carroll explained tht the pavement would be thirty feet, the same as the pavement on the section on which Mr. Davis lives, with provisions made to widen it to forty-four feet. He skated that provisions would be made for catch basins for drainage so that when it becomes necessary to widen it to forty-four feet it can be easily done ; the gravel base will already be there. Mr. Davis asked about both sides of the street . Mr. Carroll explained that it is planned now to build a thirty-foot pavement, a little wider than the normal subdivision street . There will be a twelve-foot lane and a ten-foot lane on either side. Mr. Davis said that between his house and Waltham Street there is a drainage pit containing stagnant water and asked if it would be filled Mr. Carroll said that if Mr. Davis would give him a call sometime he would be glad to take a look at it . Mr. Davis asked what the plans are for thil ditch on the west side, and Mr. Carroll replied that he would take a look at it . The Chairman etplained that the construction of the road will have adequate drainage for the road and a finished job will have to be done . She said when Worthen Road, so-called, was built, it was built rather fast in order to permit the owners of the property to 226 1.1 put in their development and was built without a complete study of the entire eaea. This will have a complete drainage study. Mr. Davis asked if the Town proposed to put curbs in Worthen Road to Baskin Road. Mr. Carroll replied in the negative . Mr. Davis said his lawn is all run over. Mr. Carroll stated that curbing might be installed on the corner but it is not intended to put curbing the entire length of the road. Mr. Carroll stated tht there are no plans for planting of trees as far as this layout is concerned. However, the Town would be glad to consider a request for trees, and there is quite a list every year. Mr. Charles Stein, 15 Baskin Road, asked what the extension would cost and what effect it would have on the tax rate next year. The Chairman replied that there is an estimate of the cost and the Town Meeting November 28 will be asked to appropriate funds for an engineer' s study to be made . After that, a more accurate estimate of the cost can be given She said the figure the Board is working on at the moment is between $300,000 and #400,000. She said this road will alleviate the heavy traffic through the center of Lexington. Mr. Stein asked if there was any estimate as to the effect it would have on the tax rate, and the Chairman replied in the negative . Mr. Carroll explained that the figures the Chairman gave were high and something he made up. They include the possibility of channelization of traffic at the intersection of Massachusetts Avenue and Worthen Road, possibly the relocation of the intersection at Lincoln Street at a later date, grading, paying for the house known as the Hagerty house at 2 Massachusetts Avenue and the possible location of part ofthe cinder brack if that is necessary. He said a request will be made for funds for engineering to design exactly what is to be constructed at this time . He said it is planned to go to Town Meeting with a very definite estimate. Mr. Stein asked if trees would be planted in the way of screening . Mr. Carroll replied that there are no plans in mind . Mr. Stein said it seemed to him that the road would take out some big oak trees and if some type of screening trees were planted, it would go a long way to alleviating their fears of citifying . Mr. Carroll saidthd would be taken into consider- ation. 227 Mr. James B. Williams, 10 Stratham Road, said he would like to go on record as questioning some of the concepts. Many people do not understand what it is all about. He said the basic premise on which this was proposed some years ago should be explained. He said the traffic would be diverted only a few hundred yards He said he questioned if the concept of the traffic flow in Lexington has been looked at with the passing of time . He said Worthen Road was at one tins for the Fire Department axtd that is no longer a fact . The use of the part of Worthen Road that exists now is dangerous. It has no lights or traffic control. He also said that it does not seem too logical to cut the recreation center in pieces . The Chairman suggested that Mr. Williams attend the meeting in Cary Hall at eight o'clock when the use of the area is going to be explained by Mr. Snow. The Chairman asked if there were any abutters present who were notified ofthe hearing by registered mail or notices served by the Constable . Mr. M. E. Bushnell, 217 Waltham Street , said when Worthen Road was constructed, as far as it is, he heard it was to be limited access and would not border on his property. He asked if the proposed road bordered on his property. Mr. Carroll explained the impression was caused by the fact the road was built as a driveway over Town pro- perty and Mr. Bushnell had no legal frontage on the street . Now when the road is laid out, he will have legal frontage and there would be a betterment. Mr. Bushnell said he had land and wanted to know if there would be legal frontage . Mr. Carroll replied in the affirmative . Mr. Charles Davis, 2 Baskin Road, said one ofthe reasons for the road was to relieve the traffic from the center of Lexington. He said the traffic would build up at the other end of Waltham Street and will not relieve the situation. He said he objected to the building of the road itself. Mr. Carroll said that at the present time there are very defthntte steps under way to construct Worthen Road beyond Waltham Strest . He explained that a section has already been built in Colonial Acres and at the Garden Apartment area, the -=e will be a section built to connect to the Colonial Acres subdivision. He said Worthen Road would be over to Marrett Road before too long. 228 Ore Mrs . Charles Stein, 15 Baskin Road, said the traffic would build up so much at the foot of Baskin Road that they will never be able to get out . She said the traffic now is so bad it is impossible to get out . Mr. Charles Davis, 2 Baskin Road, asked if there were any plans to do anything about Waltham Street it- self. He said the street is narrow and it is almost impossible to get out during the early morning rush and five o'clock. He asked if there would be any traffic lights Mr. Carroll explained that about two years ago by vote of Town Meeting, Waltham Street was widened at the intersection of Worthen Road . He said the layout was widened so that at a later date it could be physically widened and that is one of the items it is expected will be investigated. He said he expected provision would be made for lights if they are needed. He explained that when Worthen Road was constructed at Bedford Street, ducts were laid underground so when the need for lights arose, no excavation had to be done . He said the problem would be studied but lights could not be put in arbitrarily and the State will not authorize the installation of lights unless it is proven that there is a problem. He said it means that the intersection has to be designed so that at a later date lights can be installed. He said the problem would very definitely be studied. Mr. Dagis asked if there was an overall program to do this. He said he could not see that this will relieve the traffic unless the whole job is done . Mr. Carroll said that Worthen Road in Colonial Acres has already been constructed and he understood that it is a matter of a very short time before the plans would be presented to the Planning Board, and there was some talk about getting it done this year. One gentleman asked if the road level would be raised at the foot of Baskin Road, and Mr. Carroll replied in the negative . He said the corners would be widened and the grade raised four or five inches and the road would meet the existing driveway. Mr. William E. Maloney, representing the Josiah Willard Hayden Recreation Center, said that the Center has no objection even though it will mean the loss of a great deal of land. He said as far as the Trustees are concerned, they would like to see something done one way or another with this road because they do have a program. He said the road would be an asset to the Center if completed and they have no objections . 229 The Chairman said that, after listening to the report upstairs, if there was any doubt in anyone ' s mind, they could feel free to discuss the subject there as part of this hearing. The hearing was adjourned at 8:05 P.M. to Cary Hall for a discussion on land usage . A true record, Attest: 4 / Y ,� ec ,ive .,Clerk,( Select n C' ".