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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1921 Planning Board Minutes 1921 PLANNING BOARD J. Odin Tilton Christopher S. Ryan William R. Greeley Henry L. Wadsworth William H. Ballard Frederic R. Galloupe PLANNING BOARD MEETING January 14, 1921 ,Messrs . Greeley and '"iadsworth present . At this meeting it was stated that the matter of specify- ing a plan for future road construction in Lexington would be taken up. fir. Blodgett , the former chairman of the 1''inance Committee , appeared before the Board and stated as his idea that the Planning Board should take an active part in seeing that definite plans for road construction be carried out from year to year and that this Board urge each year the necessity of a definite appropriation being made for specified road work instead of allowing the appropriation to be made generally. After report from the Town Engineer as to the road mileage in the town and the number of miles of each kind of construction, and the further discussion of the general subject of road building, the meeting adjourned. DEFINITIONS FOR STREET NAMES ALLEY. A narrow service street . Any short street thirty feet or less in width. AVENUE Originally meant access to a house or building. private drive- way. More recently applied to a broad public street . BOULEVARD . A broad avenue decoratively laid out, especially with park space in the center. CIRCLE. Circular junction of highways or circular endof a single highway. COURT. Rectangular pocket off a highway. CRESCENT. Sime-circular pocket or short street . EMBANKMENT. A built up bank or terrace on the edge of a body of water. ESPLANADE. A flat wide area - any clear level space especially for public walks or drives . LANE Narrow open byway or passageway of any length. MALL %fide level shaded walk. PARK Applied to public reservations only but not to highways . PATH A public foot-way. PLACE Similar to "Court" . bray also be applied to junction of a number of highways. QUADRANGLE An open square surrounded by buildings . ROAD A highway connecting one settlement , neighborhood, village , town or municipality with another, generally bearing the name of the locality. Highway from place to place . ROW A short street or passage . SQUARE Rectangular junction of highways. STREET Originally a paved way. A highway forty feet wide or more which is or has been part of a subdivision of land for building pur- poses . A main highway of a settled portion of a town or city may be so named . A highway in a settled place . TERRACE A court or short street occupying with its adjacent lots a small plateau. TURNPIKE Originally turnstiel or turnpike , that is a toll road, a road connecting distant points and passing through several communities . ?"WALK Similar to "Path" . wAY A highway less than forty feet wide and not exceeding one-quarter mile in length. See "Lane ." . ;s?IND:- A narrow lane . MEETING OF THE PLANNING BOARD March 24) 1921. Present: Messrs, Greeley, Galloupe and Wadsworth. Mr. Galloupe had not been sworn in so it was decided to take no final votes and not to organize for the year. VOTED: To have a monthly meeting first Thursday of each month. The question of establishing a set-back for Waltham St. , was discussed, but no action was taken. The Somes system of assessment was discussed and suggestion made that such a plan sould be worked out to secure equalization in Lexington. It was agreed that a definite plan sould be worked up by this board and suggestions given the assessors. Suggested that the planning board should study the question of whether land on Waltham Street should not be bought be prepare for further school house development. ADJOURNED _L PLANNING BOARD April 7, 1921. The board had a joint meeting with the spectial town eemmis.e4m1,042 on roads and the Board of Selectmen. Present: Messrs. Greeley, Gallcupe, and Wadsworth of the planning Board Subject under discussion Construction of town ways. Joseph A. Thomeselloo road contractor, was present and .-t lny=5.� for this construction work. ADJOURNED T MhETING OF THE PLANNING BOARD . gay 1, 1021. Vere present Messrs. Greeley, Ballard and 1;adsworth. duly Mr. Ballard had beenAsworn as a member cf the board by the Town Clerk. Vowed: That our chairman, hr. Greeley, be instructed to interview the Town Engineer and with him sucg'est a plan for established building lines on Bedford, 'ialtham and MuzseTT Streets and to -resort the plan and any suggestions at the next meeting. of the Board. Voted: That Mr. Ballard be instructed to interview Er. Foster Sherburne and find out fror him if possible-, when the plan on the Lexington Station can be carried forwarded. Voted: That Ten Dollars be donated to the Massachusetts Federation of Planning Boards and that the board notify the Town Treasurer of this vote. Meeting adjourned. MEETING OF THE PLANNING BOARD June 2, 1921. Were present Messrs Greeley, Ballard and Wadsworth. The chairman who had consulted with the Town Engineer submitted for the consideration of the Board a plan for establishing building lines on Bedford St. , Waltham St. , Muzzey St. , Mass. Ave. , and Woburn St. The Board VOTED to recommend to the Selectmen the adoption of the plan as outlined and authorized the chairman to commu-icate his plan to the Board of Selectmen and to file a copy of the latter with the clerk to be made a part of the minutes of this meeting. The matter of the town securing sites for school houses in outlying districts while there is an opportunity of purchasing such sites at a low figure was taken up and discussed. Upon suggestion by Mr. Ballard it was voted to authorize the chairman to communicate with the school committee for the purpose of considering with them, the future school needs of the town. It was VOTED to direct the Town Treasurer to pay from the appropriation of the Planning Board the sum of #50.00 to the firm of Kilham & Hopkins for work done in drafting plans for the remodelling of the B & M Station. The chairman submitted for the consideration of the meeting a list of definitions fordifferent types of town ways and suggested that in naming streets it would secure more uniformity if these uniform definitions could be employed. it was VOTED to authorize the Secretary to send a copy of these definitions to the Board of Selectmen with the suggestion that the Planning Board favors the use of such list in the naming of future town streets. A copy of the list of definitions is attached to the records of this meeting. MEETING ADJOURNED MEETING OF PLANNING BOARD - NOVEL ER 9 , 1921 There were present Messrs . Ballard , Greeley and Wadsworth. • The matter of the repair of the railroad station was dis- cussed , also the matter of the possible sale by the railroad of the land in front of the station on Eassachusetts Avenue . All the members of the Board expressed the opinion that this plot ought to be protected in behalf of the best interests of the town. The Chairman appointed Er . Ballard to act with the representative of the Selectmen to see Mr. Eustis of the Rail- road and call to his attention the vote of the town on March 17 , 1919 ! copy of which is hereto appended ,\ that the town would accept a deed to the lot under the conditions specified in the vote , and also to call to his attention that other citizens in the town were willing to buy other railroad land which the Road was seeking to dispose of at a price which would cover the cost of reconstructing the station . Replying to the letter from the Selectmen calling attention • to the petition of Mr . Ferguson for permission to extend Forest Street to Massachusetts Avenue across land at present owned by the Hancock Congregational Church, the Planning Board unanimously passed the following vote which was duly presented to the meeting: VOTED: That the Planning Board do not approve of the plan to extend Forest Street to Massachusetts Avenue across land of the Hancock Congregational Church. Bat in connection with said vote , it was the sen .e of the members present that the matter of extending Forest street should be given further consideration and a further recommendation made at a later date . The Chairman reported that the agreement which had been drawn up by which the abutters on ilassachusetts Avenue from Iu"uzzey to Cedar Street agreed to have a twenty foot set-back against their respective properti es was being circulated but that he personally had not time to attend to the matter and that consequently the matter was not carried forward as rapidly as it might . The opinion was expressed by the members of the board that in creating the set-backs on the different streets that the consent of all the owners should be obtained if possible end thus save the town the expense which would be incurred if building lines were established by law. � a Q • METING OF PLANNING BOARD - DECEIMER 29 , 1921 otelp. There were present Messrs . Greeley, Tilton and V;adsworth. Reported by Dr . Tilton that the Planning Board teerk up the matter of the proper administration of the Town Triangle about which there has been considerable discussion. No action was taken on the chatter since it was felt that this matter might work itself out if a new form of government were accepted by the citizens . The Chairman reported that he thought we had done as well as could be expected in getting the Boston & Maine Railroad Station repaired in view of the fact that the railroad has little money to spend and that the Railroad have contracted to spend X8000 or 49000 in the work. He further reported that the Boston & LaineRailroad have planned to sell land in front of the station on Massachusetts Avenue and he had received information from the Selectmen that the Railroad owned the plot absolutely and could sell it if they wished . It was suggested by the Board that the Secretary look into the matter of ownership of the plot and see if any conditions were in the deeds by which the Road originally acquired title . It was suggested by the Secretary that inasmuch as the €rade crossing proposition had to be worked out before the station proposition could be finally settled that perhaps it was just as well at this tine that no large amount of money were put into a new station. The Chairman spoke of the recommendation of the State Forestry Department with reference to the re-forestation of town lands and suggested that this was a matter that the Board might consider . The Chairman also reported that signatures were being obtained by J . S . Hill and himself to the agreement being circulated of the owners of property on Massachusetts Avenue with reference to the twenty-foot set-back. He said this was really an administrative job and the Board ought not be called on to do it . It was VOTED that this Board recommend that the Selectmen proceed to work out /*Astation near the common. It was the sense of the meeting that the annual report of the Planning Board should incorporate the plan of the Board for the development of Massachusetts Avenue below the common showing the limit for business purposes on the Avenue and suggestions as to town hall location. 0 PLANNING BOARD REPORT FOR 1921 The Board has pursued three main lines of study this year. (1)TOWN CENTRE. One of the most important considerations connected with Town Planning in Lexington at the present moment is to develop and maintain in the centre of our village a proper and worthy setting for the Common. The Common is a priceless possession held in trust for the whole nation as the birthplace of American Liberty . The citizens owning property bordering on the Common have one and all voluntarily placed upon their properties re- strictions that will for 100 years preserve the present character of the immediate surroundings . The next step, that of maintaining the approaches to the Common,must be made by the Town as a whole . The Common is annually visited by countless thousands. The avenues leading to it are none too wide . It is possible to preserve not only the present legal width, but also the present width between buildings , by establishing building lines , as provided in Chapter 82, Section 37 of the General Laws, and as recommended later in this report. The main approach to the Common is Massachusetts Avenue where it passes through the centre of the village . Several elements enter into the working out of a suitable civic centre and approachto the Common at this point . The Board has worked out a plan, under which the commer- cial development on the avenue will extend through the present business district northward as far as Muzzey Street and the Railroad Fark. Beyond Muzzey Street we hope that any future buildings will be set back according to the policy outlined below under Building Lines . If as part of this scheme , the Town decides to place its new Town Hall on property between the Avenue and Raymond Street, from Euzey Street to the Library lot , it would definitely estab- lish this locality as the civic centre of the Town, with Town hall, Public Library, Common, Buckman Tavern, Fire Engine House and ailroad Station in one continuous group. In this case , the wooden store building on the opposite side of biassachusetts Avenue should not, when it is destroyed, be replaced by another similar structure , but the land so released should be developed in connection with the Railroad Park and the Buckman Tavern property, to afford a worth approach to the Common. In this event, Muzzey Street should be widened and extended across the Park land to Waltham Street at the foot of _Loring Hill. This would form a more direct and convenient as well as much more attractive approach to the Town from the west . By providing for set-backs on I+ uzzey Street, a broad avenue can be secured for the future , giving adequate approach to the centre from the west . This avenue would join Massachusetts Avenue opposite the Railroad Park, and along the line of the possible future site of the Town Hall or other public building. -2- The Railroad Station and Park, therefore , occupy a very important position on the right of the avenue, approaching the Common. The repair of the Station and the preservation of the Park are matters that have constantly engaged the attention of the Board. When the station was damaged by fire , a new station was contemplated, and plans were presented by the Board. Opposition developed from an unexpectedsource and prevented the acceptance of these plans . After prolonged effort and repeated conferences, the Board worked out a scheme for restoring and adding to the present station, which met with general favor, and is now being carried into execution by the architect of the Railroad. The Board is unable , at this time, to report finally con- cerning the Railroad's policy in regard to the disposition of the Railroad Park on Wassachusetts Avenue . (2) BUILDING LIMES The Board has recommended to the Selectmen the establish- ment of building lines on all the main thoroughfares. Anyone familiar with the street system knows how narrow are certain portions of Waltham Street, Vloburn Street, Bedford Street and Massachusetts Avenue . The Town is not in a position financially to widen these streets, but it can provide for future widening without present expenses by establishing set-backs, or building lines . these lines should be fixed with the consent and co-operation of the abutters whom they benefit . If an abutter on one of these streets owns a house which sets back 50 feet from the street, it is to his advantage to accept a rule that will prevent his neighbor from building closer to the street line than himself. If another abutter has a house within 10 feet of the street, the 20 ft . set-back does not harm him in that it does not affect existing buildings, and it benefits him as it limits his neighbor from building up to the line . Convinced of the advantage of such lines, your Board on June wrote the Selectmen asking them to take the matter up with the Town. We believe that no other single item of Town Planning is more important than the above , and that it should be put through promptly. (3) PLAYGROUNDS AND SCHOOLHOUSE SITES The third item in our program has been the consideration of future playground and schoolhouse sites. Our schoolhouses are all on or near the main street of the Town. They are all crowded . A large number of pupils are transported from distant parts of the Town to attend these schools . In the near future they must be enlarged or new ones provided , or both. We believe that where an isolated district of the Town has so many children that it becomes a matter of great expense and an inconvenience to transport them to a schoolhouse near the centre of the Town, there is every reason to consider a -3- local grade school building. Transportation cost would be saved. Local needs could be met more perfectly. .j'he cost of the site would be incomparably less, than even a cramped piece of ground in the centre of the Town. ':kith the latter point especially in mind, we have visited sites in one of the largest districts, have taken members of the School Committee to these sites, and now respectfully report that land for a building with ample playgrounds can today be obtained at a low acreage cost, but that soon such land will be encumbered with buildings and will then cost the Town many thousands of dollars per acre . No schoolhouse would be built upon such land at once but we believe the need of suitable play space for baseball, etc . in the various outlying districts is alone of enough consequence to make immediate action by the Town advisable . We believe that the people of these districts have a right to the benefits above proposed and we hope that the Town as a whole will adopt such a policy without further delay. The Board was instrumental, earlier in the year, in pro- moting the scientific study of the Good Road Movement , and was represented on the Committee that planned the road-work last spring. tit the suggestion of the Field and Garden Club, the Plann- ing Board took up the question of the need for a Convenience Station in the center of the Town and has submitted to the Park Board a plan and recommendation for such a station in the neighbor- hood of the Common. The need of this feature has been emphasized again and again, and would seem to require no further debate . The Park Board has welcomed the cooperation of the Planning Board, and should be supported in this enterprise by the citizens . In regard to the land developments, the Board has kept in constant touch with the Massachusetts Federation of Planning Boards and the State authorities, and finds no adequate means of control of such development, except through purchase of the land by citizens who will develop it properly. This has been done successfully in Belmont, Norwood, and other communities, and the Board has cooperated with efforts to do the same thing in Lexington during the past year. The Board has been represented on the Committee for a revised form of Town Government, part of whose recommendations has been accepted by the Town. Law enforcement in Lexington has at times been very low. The Building Laws are now being enforced in an able manner, with the exception of that portion relating to billboards . A law is of little value unless backed up by puclic opinion. Public opinion throughout the State is running high against billboards . If the law that we already have is not good, we should revise it. Unenforced law is destructive of government . -3- The comprehensive survey of the Town is progressing, under the charge of the Town Engineer. Very little progress can be made by the Engineer in his own work, however, so long as he is called upon to perform manifold outside duties for other depart- ments . vghen it is finished, the Planning L)oardts most important work will be a general study of development, based on this survey. Iieanwhile , the Board looks for intelligent support of its recommendations , as outlined in this report . Respectfully submitted,