HomeMy WebLinkAbout1938-04-15 117
BOARD OF APPEALS MEETING
APRIL 15th, 1938
A meeting of the Board of Appeals was held in the Select-
men' s Room, Town Office Building, at 8:00 P. M. Chairman
Maddison, Messrs. Glynn, Ferguson, Kimball and Robbins were
present. The Secretary was also present.
At 8:00 P. M. hearing was declared open on the application
of the Girl Scouts of Lexington for permission to maintain a
Girl Scout House on the premises located at 2 Lincoln Street
owned by Margaret E. O 'Brien. The notice of the hearing was
read by the Clerk, Mr. Robbins. About sixty persons were
present at the hearing.
Mrs. Norman I. Downs, Commissioner of the Lexington Girl
Scouts, spoke in favor of the granting of the petition. She
said that it had been the dream of the leaders of the Girl
Scouts for years to have some headquarters. Mrs. Downs read
from the Girl Scout Blue Book, the ideals and aims of a Scout.
Mrs. Downs said that the house at 2 Lincoln Street had been
offered to the Girl Scouts and because it adjoined the play-
ground, the location wad ideal. The Scouts could have a
nature library, a miniature bird sanctuary, an arts and crafts
room, a room in which astronomical charts could be kept, etc.
Mrs. Downs said that Concord and Hingham had scout headquarters
in residential neighborhoods and these headquarters had proved
to be an asset to the neighborhood rather than a detriment .
The Chairman asked Mrs . Downs to explain in detail what
the house would be used for. She said that it would be used
as headquarters for the council meetings and troop meetings.
Some of the younger girls will have their activities inside the
house. Occasionally there may be picnic groups.
Ir. Kimball asked if there would be any evening uses and
Mrs. Downs said that the Girl Scout leaders did not encourage
evening parties as the girls were too young for that. However,
occasionally they might have a tea or something like that take
place in the evening but at any rate, it would not be late.
Mr. Glynn asked if the hours the children would use the
house would be after school, and she replied in the affirmative.
Mr. Glynn asked where the present headquarters were and Mrs.
Downs said that they did not have any.
Mr. Willard C. Hill of 2160 Mass. Avenue spoke in favor
of the granting of the petition. He said that he hoped the
Board would see fit to grant the permit , speaking not as a
near-by neighbor, although he lives in the general vicinity.
He said he could not but feel that the interest of the Town
almost required that the Board do this for the people. He
said he knew he was speaking for a great many mothers and
fathers. He said that Lexington was destined to have in the
near future, a place for the youth of the Town that would be
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unescelled anywhere in the United States for a town of its
size, and that the town officials ought not to do anything
to obstruct the plans of the donor. He said that the question
was whether or not this would in any way be a nuisance to the
neighborhood. He said he could speak from experience. He
said that the Hancock Church had allowed the Girl Scouts the use
of the parish house and no objection has ever been made by the
neighbors and none of the parish people feel that harm has come
to the church because of the use. Last Fall, after having had
this experience with the Girl Scouts, the Boy Scouts wanted
to use the church. Mr. Hill was on the committee to investigate
the advisability of allowing them to use the church and the
committee recommended that the Boy Scouts be given this priv-
ilege. For these reasons he could not see that it was a
question of whether or not anyone was going to be harmed as
he did not believe that they could be harmed. Mr. Hill said
that in his opinion, doing things for young people was what
we are here for. He said that he hoped the Board would be
able to grant the petition.
Mr. Walter Rowse of 17 Winthrop Road was the next speaker.
He said he was happy to attend this meeting; as he wished to go
on record on behalf of the Home for Aged People which is in the
vicinity of the locus in question, voicing the opinion of the
directors that they welcome this home for the Girl Scouts. He
said that the going and coming of the scouts holding their events,
etc. , would interest the residents of the Home. He said that
a great deal of thought had been given to the matter and the
Directors could not find a single reason for opposing the
granting of the petition. They thought there was a great deal
to be happy about Hethought that the donor should be en-
couraged and felt that if this petition was not granted, he
might be offended. Mr. Rowse thought that the donor was in
a position to bring a great deal of advantages to the Town.
He said that he was willing to accept anything that would be
of benefit to younger groups and organizations. He thought the
Townspeople should be willing to accept any slight inconveniences
to bring the greatest good to the largest number. He said he
hoped that the Board would grant the petition.
Mr. Hollis Webster of 1960 Mass. Avenue said he wished
to second what had been said by the other two speakers. He
wanted to emphasize the fact that the Girl Scouts was an
organization that everybody was very proud of. The Girl Scouts
develop character and educate children. He said that the
fact that the Girl Scouts were so proud to be part of the Town
had some bearing on the matter. He said that some of the
acts of the Girl Scouts were noisy and that no doubt drum and
bugle practice would be carried on in the headquarters. How-
ever, he thought that this would be nothing likt the noise
of the playground in the immediate rear where ball games were
carried on, etc. There would be no noise from the Girl Scouts
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like that. He hoped that the Board would grant the petition
and make it possible to accept this generous gift from the donor.
Mrs . Hollis Webster of 1960 Mass. Avenue told the group
that she was a past commander of several years ' experience.
She stated that for years they had fought for this opportunity
and had felt the need of it. They had had troops meeting in
houses, churches, barns and everywhere. Gifts have been
received that the scouts have not had an opportunity to use
because they did not have the place to keep and use them.
The scouts have been handicapped in the past because they did
not have headquarters. Mrs. Webster said that she was a very
near neighbor and she thought that anybody that had the welfare
of this group and the town at heart could not say "no" to a
gift such as this that had been offered to the Girl Scouts .
She hoped that the property could be accepted.
The Chairman said that the Board had received a petition
signed by approximately 355 persons, forty of whom were in the
vicinity of the house at 2 Lincoln Street. There were also
letters from Mrs. George G. Ballard, Mr. Elwyn G. Preston,
Manfred L. Warren, and Frederic L. Fischer hoping that the
petition would be granted. The Board also received a letter
from Mr. Albion W. Shaw who previously was opposed to the
granting of the petition but stating that he wished to withdraw
his objection.
Mr. Willard C. Hill suggested that the persons present
wishing to be recorded in favor of the granting of the petition
be counted. Thirty-four wished to be recorded in favor.
Mr. William P. Hagerty presented a letter which the
Chairman read objecting strenuously to the granting of the
petition. Mr. Hagerty is the nearest neighbor, his house being
at 6 Lincoln Street.
The Chairman read a letter which had been received from
Mr. & Mrs. Royal W. Gilson of 19 Parker Street objecting to
the granting of the petition.
Mr. Hugh J. Shaw of 18 Tremont Street, Boston, Attorney,
stated that he appeared for Mr. Hagerty.. He said that Mrs.
Hagerty was much interested in this petition as she was the
nearest neighbor. He also had been requested to speak for
Mrs. Medora R. Crosby, owner of the property at the corner of
Parker, Street and Mass. Avenue. Mr. Shaw read Section 9 of
the Zoning Laws containing things for which the Zoning Laws
could be changed. He said that Mr. Hagerty had been a citizen
in Lexington for ten years. He owned a home in another locality
which he still owned but he needed a larger house and purchased
thq property at 6 Lincoln Street. He had a park in front of
him and a park in back of him and in order to protect his home,
he purchased a lot containing 10,000 feet beside his house. Mr.
Hagerty purchased this home with the hope that he could have a
quiet one and attain a quiet home life. Mr. Shaw said he did
not think that any of the people that signed the petition would
like to have this thing in their lap. He said he had talked
with some of the Girl Scouts in town and found that they prac-
ticed on drums and bugles so that they might parade on the 19th
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of April. Probably fifty girls started and they were eliminated
as they failed to qualify and the number was ultimately reduced
to thirty-five. The Drum and Bugle Corps is a feature in the
19th of April parade. He thought that if the Board re-zoned
this, it would not prevent the use of bugles, drums, etc.
The Chairman informed Mr. Shaw that it was not a question
of re-zoning.
Mr. Shaw said that this property was to be made a meeting
place. He had been informed that certain partitions were
removed without the Building Inspector knowing anything about
it. The greatest argument in its favor is that someone is
donating the piece of property. He did not think that any-
body present would like to have such a home beside his house.
He asked how many Girl Scouts there were and Mrs. Downs said
that there were three hundred scouts and one hundred brownies.
Mr. Shaw asked if it was not possible that they all might be
at the house at one time. Mrs. Downs said that there might be
some occasion when they would have as many in the house as it
would hold. Mr. Shaw said that Mrs. Crosby had her property
rented and there was a possibility that the tenants might
move out. He thought that the girl scout headquarters would
not encourage building in this vicinity. He thought that the
donor could give the gift in another place where it would not
be as objectionable. He wanted to go on record as being
opposed to the granting of the petition.
Mrs. Downs said that no partitions were removed and that
there would be no drum and bugle practice as the house was
not adequate for it.
Mr. M. S. Manley of 20 Parker Street said that he owned
three houses on Parker Street at 15, 16, and 20. He said that
they now have a nice quiet neighborhood and that the ball
games at the park did not bother him. He thought that the
activities of the Girl Scouts would bother them. He did not
think that this use would improve his property, and on the
contrary, thought it would depreciate it. He hoped that the
Girl Scouts would get a home in some other place as he did not
think that this would be a good place for one. He said that he
did not see how the Home for Aged People could tolerate the
noise. He understood that the scouts would have camp fires,
drum and bugle practice, etc. He hoped that the permit would
not be granted.
Miss Helan A. McCaffrey of 33 Parker Street said that she
was much in accord with anything connected with the Girl Scouts
or playground movements. She said that several years ago her
sister purchased a lot beside her property and wanted to build
a house on it but was not allowed to do so because of the
Zoning Laws . The lot is still vacant and is trespassed all
the time and she felt that they had suffered much because of
the trespassing. Some time ago the Supt. of Parks said that
if the lot had been large enough the Town would no doubt build
a clubhouse on it and she said that she told him that they cer-
tainly would not want to look out on a clubhouse. She said
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that both she and her sister wanted to go on record as being
opposed to the granting of the petition. At the present time
they are very much annoyed by the noise from the playground.
Mr. F. B. Hunneman of 7 Parker Street said that he lived
close to the property in question. He felt that it was a
delicate thing to oppose the question as he knew the work of
the Gii1 and Boy Scouts. He said, however, that he was opposed
to any variation of the present Zoning Laws . This district was
established as a two-family zone and on application of the
neighbors, it was changed to an R.1 District. He said that he
had been a resident of his present home for twenty-five years and
this was the first thing he had ever objected to. He said his
objection was not against letting the Girl Scouts in there, but
was against a variation of the Zoning Laws. He said that his
notice said that this was on the application of Margaret O 'Brien
and that previous speakers had spoken of the donor as "he".
Mr. Hunneman wanted to know what that meant.
The Chairman said that Margaret E. O 'Brien was not the pe-
titioner, that the Girl Scouts of Lexington were the petitioners.
Mr. Lawrence G. Mitchell of 11 Parker Street was the next
speaker. He said that he was not against the young people or
the Girl Scouts, but that he did object to any variation of the
zoning laws in this district . He thought that the letting down
of the bars would at this time only result in letting the Boy
Scouts in later.. He felt that the petition should not be granted.
Mr. Victor E. Saltsgaver of 10 Parker Street stated that
he agreed with the others in protesting against letting down
the bars of the Zoning Laws . He thought that once the bars
were down, it would be very easy to have them let down in the
future.
Mr. Glynn stated that the previous speakers had said that
they purchased the property knowing that the playground was
there. He said the playground served a cross-section of the
children of the town. He asked why it was that these people
had the belief that supervised activities of a body like the
Girl Scouts would be more objectionable than the activities,
for instance, of children at the playground.
Mr. Mitchell said that he did not mean to infer that the
Girl Scouts would be so objectionable. The objection was to a
variation of the Zoning Laws . He said that he knew the use of
the house would be somewhat restricted. He said that if the
Girl Scouts were going to have headquarters, he would not object
to bugle and drum practice. He said that if the Board was going
to grant the petition and restrict the activities, it would not
do much good.
Mr. Hagerty stated that he came to this home three years
ago and when he bought the property, he knew the playground was
thereo. Lots of people might object to the playground, but
he did not. He said that he had three sons, age 16, 12, and 9.
One boy had been through the Boy Scouts and one was now in the
Boy Scouts. Mr. Hagerty said that he had a daughter who passed
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away, but that if she were alive today she would be a Girl
Scout. When he purchased his house, the Crone house was there
but not as a clubhouse. Mr. Hagerty said that he did not
want a clubhouse next to him. He said he paid 0598. to the
Town last year for taxes and that he had always paid his
taxes promptly. Iie said the Girl Scouts would no doubt have
cake sales, etc. , and this would change the status of the
neighborhood. He said there was a possibility that they might
even serve meals. He thought the Girl Scouts should have
headquarters, but he objected to any depreciation of his
property. He talked to some of his neighborhs who would not go
on record as being opposed or in favor of the granting of the
petition. One man said he did not blame Mr. Hagerty but he
didn't want to say anything as he did not want to offend the
man who was giving the property.
Mrs. Elsie M. Glancey of 32 Parker Street stated that she
did not approve of the variation of the Zoning Law.
Mr. Robert H. Holt pointed out that there were certain
things that were allowable in R.l zones and he said that
clubs and meeting places were provided for in these zones .
He said he did not understand that the power of the Board was to
modify an R.1 section or that the act of this Board would be
a modification of the R.l zone. He understood that this
Board had power to determine where in these sections these
things could be maintained. This petition is under the pro-
visions for carrying out the purposes to which an R.1 zone
may be applied. Its particular purposes may be restricted
as to their location by permits to be granted by this Board.
He repeated that this was not a modification but merely carry-
ing out the purpose of the Zoning Law. He said that as to
the Board's acting on this, it was a matter of discretion
entirely. He said that his sympathy was with the Girl Scouts
and he could understand the feeling of the people opposing
the drums and bugles but he did not understand that these
activities were intended to be carried on here. He understood
that these activities were carried on in the gymnasium in
the High School. He did not understand that it was contemplated
to carry on these activities at 2 Lincoln Street. Mr. Holt
said that one of the troops of Girl Scouts had met in his
house every week for three years and he had never heard of
the neighbors objecting. He said that he hoped the petition
would be granted.
The Chairman asked those persons wishing to be recorded
in opposition to stand and there were eleven.
No other persons wishing to be heard, the hearing was
declared closed at 8:55 P. M.
At 9:00 p. M. hearing was declared open on the application
of H. Angus Conners for permission to operate a trout pool
and stream to be used by fly casters and anglers, on the property
located in the rear of 1265 Mass. Ave. , Lexington.
The notice of the hearing was read by the Clerk.
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Mr. Connors, Sheldon Robinson, Charles Cambridge and Robert
L. Ryder were present at the hearing.
Mr. Conners said that about twenty years ago a house was
erected which had been used as a tea room. An artificial pool
was made to go with this house and was used as a trout pond
by the State for growing fish and Mr. Frost of Lexington was in
charge of it. It has been closed for some time and Mr. Conners
discovered that the water was adapted for the growth and storage
of fish, and being interested in fly-casting, he hired the pro-
perty and engaged Charles Cambridge to supervise and run the
trout pool. The idea was to stock the pond with fish and open
the house to any that came there . He wanted to charge a nominal
fee for the trout taken by fly casting and have a little outdoor
life and still get enough out of it to give one young man in
the town employment. Mr. Conners said that he had a son about
the Cambridge boy' s age who was working, but Cambridge was not,,
and the latter' s lack of employment really brought about this
petition. The locus is probably 1000 feet from Mass. Avenue and
the only houses in sight are the ones on Percy Road. He said
they were going ahead and open up and had even published a
notice of the pool in the papers but had to hold up on account
of this hearing. Mr. Conners said that he hoped the Board
would grant permission to see if this sort of thing could be
carried on. There would be no noise at all. He said that the
men interested in fly casting were not the riff-raff. Mr.
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Conners said he realized that this was a business and he had
been lax in not noticing that this was an infraction of the
Zoning Laws. Nothing would be offered for sale . A man would
have to catch a trout and then it would be weighed and he would
be charged for it, that was all. The Chairman asked if that
really e Ily was not a business, and Mr. Conners replied in the affirm-
ative. Mr. Glynn asked how Conners intended to run the pool,
as a club or as a commerical business. Conners said he would
run it on a commercial basis as it would take too long to
organize a club. He said a club would have to have a yearly
membership fee and would have to be chartered by the State. Mr.
Glynn asked if it would be impossible to do that. Mr. Conners
said that it would not, but probably would be difficult to get
enough interested parties in the neighborhood to charter the club.
He said he was engaged in another line of business and was unable
to give any attention to this.
The Chairman asked if fishing was allowed on Sundays. Mr.
Conners said that the State Law prohibited it, but the law was
never enforced and people did fish on Sundays.
The Chairman said that he did not quite see how the Board
of Appeals could grant the petition, but that a permit could be
granted to a club in a residential district. He said the Board
of Appeals would have to satisfy itself that this would be a
club. Mr. Conners said that he could not make any statement to
the effect that it was a club. He said there would be quite a
little expense connected with this as it would be necessary to
guard the trout pool at nigit. He said that recently 80 half-
ound trout were taken out in one night. Mr. Conners said that
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he did not believe anyone would object to the carrying on of
this business. It would have to be run twelve months of the
year. The fish are in there now. Mr. Conners asked if he
could be allowed to try to get something out of the pool that
he had put in there and said that he would like to have the
Board consider a permit, if only on a temporary basis. Mr.
Glynn asked if he intended to have any signs. Mr. Conners said
that they had prepared a silver fish to be placed at the entrance
to the Breck property. He also would like to put up little
fish signs merely as direction signs.
Mr. Glynn asked if he was going to raise his fish and he
replied that it would be well to put some fingerlings in the
pool and let them grow until they were large enough to catch.
None of the fish will be raised for sale , that is, there will
be no sale unless the fish were caught by fly casting.
The Chairman asked if it would be of any assistance to Mr.
Conners if the Board could find a way to grant the permit if
it was granted for a term of one year, and he said that it would
be.
Mr. Sheldon Robinson, the manager of the Burbrec Nurseries,
said he represented Joseph Breck & Son. He said that they
favored the granting of the petition. In their opinion, the
number and class of men who might be attracted to this sport
would not be objectionable to their business. He said the
pond was so far separated from their own buildings that it
would not interfere with their business. Mr. Kimball asked if
parking would pother them and Mr. Robinson said that it would
not as the cars would be parked in the other end.
Mr. R. L. Ryder said he was one of the nearest neighbors.
He said that he was not opposed to any kind of sorting activity,
and he would be glad to see this thing tried out. He did not
believe it would interfere with anything unless Mr. Conners
let his trout into Ryder+ s brook.
The hearing was declared closed at 9 :20 P. M.
At 9:20 P. M. adjourned hearing was declared open on the
petition of the Jenney Manufacturing Co. for permission to
construct and maintain a lubritorium at the corner of Waltham
Street and Marrett Road.
Mr. Melvin N. Page appeared for the company and presented
plans of the proposed lubritorium. Mr. Greeley of the Planning
Board was also present .
Mr. Page said that they planned to raise the roof of the
present building about two feet . He said the plate height of
the present building will be the same and they are merely
changing the pitch of the roof so that it will be two feet
above the height of the present structure . The Building In-
spector said that the addition would have to be brick. Mr.
Page said that they wanted to keep the appearance the same
if possible. They had the same type of building in various
places and have had much favorable criticism. He left plans
of the propsed addition.
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No one else appeared in favor or in opposition and the
hearing was declared closed at 9 :27 P. M.
At 9 :30 P. M. , hearing was declared open on the application
of the Colonial Garage, Inc. to permit the storage and sale of
gasoline at 1686 Mass. Avenue.
Mr. & Mrs. George Morse, Mr. Nils Nilson, Eugene Viano and
Roger Greeley were present at the hearing. The notice of the
hearing was read by the Clerk.
Mr Viano said that they wished to relocate their facilities
for the storage and sale of gasoline. At the present time they
have a permit for the sale of gasoline at 1668 Mass. Avenue,
providing for 4,000 gallon storage, and he said that this was
inadequate today. They need additional storage space. This
proposed new location is on the present property and part of
the old Valentine property. The corner of the Valentine
property would be used for drive in purposes . He felt that
they would have to make a change in the near future and they wanted
to be prepared to go ahead. If the Vine Brook Drainage project
went ahead, they would have to make a change but they needed
additional space anyway. Mr. Viano said that they were practi-
cally compelled to purchase gasoline in 3000 gallon lots and
they wanted to have plenty of room so that these large trucks
could turn around.
The Chairman asked if the tanks would be on the old Valen-
tine property and Viano replied in the affirmative and said that
the pumps would be located on the so-called Leavitt lot . They
have proposed plans to include a lubritorium sometime in the
future. At the present time they have three islands with three
dual pumps.. Mr. Viano said that the Board could be assured that
they did not intend to use the Valentine property for a filling
station. They merely wanted to place their tanks on that property.
Mr. Viano said that he might or might not move his present equipment.
Mr. Glynn asked how he thought the drainage problem would
affect him. Mr. Viano said he did not know, but the Committee
has made a recommendation as to what they feel the requirements
for land takings are and if those recommendations are followed,
it will take the land on the eastern side of the building to
the brook completely.
No one appeared in favor or in opposition and the hearing
was declared closed at 10 :45 P. M.
The petition of the Colonial Garage was considered, and it
was the opinion of the Members of the Board that so long as the
number of pumps was not increased there would be no objection
to granting the permit, with certain conditons, and upon motion
of Mr. Kimball, seconded by Mr. Glynn, it was voted to grant
the following permit to the Colonial Garage, Inc. for the storage
and sale of gasoline at 1686 Mass. Avenue, as follows :
126 CZ
BOARD OF APPEALS PERMIT
The Board of Appeals, acting under General Laws, Chapter
40, Section 27, having received a written petition addressed to
it by the Colonial Garage, Inc. , a copy of which is hereto
annexed, held a public hearing thereon of which notice was
mailed to the petitioner and to the owners of all property
deemed by the Board to be affected thereby as they appear on
the most recent local tax list and also advertised in the
Lexington Minute-Man, a newspaper published in Lexington,
which hearing was held in the Selectmen's Room, in the Town
Office Building on the 15th day of April, 1938.
All of the members of the Board of Appeals were present at
the hearing. A certificate of notice is hereto annexed. At
this hearing evidence was offered on behalf of the petitioner
tending to show: That the ownership of the Valentine property
was now the same as the ownership of the Colonial Garage, and
that they desired to place two new 2,900 gallon tanks in the
Mass. Ave. corner of the Valentine property near the old garage
lot, and install two dual pumps between Mass . Ave and the
present entrance to the lubritorium, all as shown on blue print
of plan dated February 24, 1938, marked "Proposed Yard Layout,
Colonial Garage. "
At the close of the hearing the Board in private session
on April 15, 1938 gave consideration to the subject of the
petition and voted unanimously in favor of the following findings:
1. That in its judgment the public convenience and welfare
will be substantially served by the making of the exception
requested.
2. That the exception requested will not tend to impair
the status of the neighborhood.
3. That the exception requested will be in harmony with
the general purposes and intent of the regulations in the Lex-
ington Zoning By-law.
4. That owing to conditions especially affecting the
said parcel but not affecting generally the Zoning district
in which it is located, a literal enforcement of the provisions
of the Lexington Zoning By-law as to the locus in question would
involve substantial hardship to the petitioner and that desirable
relief may oe granted without substantially derogating from the
intent or purpose of such Lexington Zoning By-law.
Pursuant to the said findings, the Board hereby unanimously
decides that the application of the said Lexington Zoning Bylaw
is hereby varied so far as may be necessary to permit the Col-
onial Garage, Inc. to install two new 2,000 gallon tanks and the
two dual pumps as shown on the blue print above referred to,
subject to the following conditions :
1. That two of the dual pumps now in use shall be removed
at the time of installation of pumps at the new location;
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2. That any re-arrangement of driveways or approaches should
not result in making the total street line length of the drive-
way approaches or the combined properties any greater than now
exists;
3. That the work for which this permit is granted shall be
completed within six months.
The Board hereby makes a detailed record of all its pro-
ceedings relative to such petition and hereby sets forth that
the reasons for its decision are its findings hereinbefore
set forth and the testimony presented at the said hearing, in-
cluding that herein summarized, and directs that this record
immediately following this decision shall be filed in the office
of the Town Clerk of Lexington and shall be open to public
inspection and that notice of this decision shall be mailed forth-
with to each party in interest.
BOARD OF APPEALS OF LEXINGTON
(Appointed under G.L.Ch.4O, Sec.27)
A. N. Maddison
Edward W. Kimball
C. Edward Glynn
Charles E. Ferguson
Howard W Robbins
I, Howard W. Robbins , Clerk of the Board of Appeals of
Lexington, appointed under General Laws , Chapter 40, Section
27, hereby certify that I sent by postage certificate of
mailing on the 1st day of April, 1938, to Beatrice F. Morse,
J. Joseph and Annie T. Hurley, Margaret M. Gallagher, Florence
L. Nickerson, Phyllis M. Jenney, Anne F. Rudd, Emma T. Pring,
Blanch T. Nilson, Helen F. Lombard, Benjamin F. and Mildred P.
Groot, Clement H. and Mildred P. Ferguson, Harold S. and
Mabel D. Johnson, Robert L. Ryder, James J. and Lucy D. Walsh,
Herman B. and Margaret R. McKay, Charles W. Ryder, Anstiss S.
Hunt, et als, Harry M. Aldrich, Emma J. Clow, Martha C. Bennett,
Bridget Leary, Susan A. Spencer, Sarah E. Comley, et al, Emily
Franks, Freda R. Bunker, Beatrice B. and Wendall H. Burgess,
Catherine T. MacDonald, William M. and Alice S. Crawford, Norbert
M. English et al, Boston Edison Company, Robert L. Innis and
• Dougal McLennan, Daniel J. O 'Connell, Everett J. and Virginia
Leavitt, The First Baptist Church of Lexington, Edgar Thivierge,
Bertha M. Baker, Eugene J. , Ernest E. and Lawrence F. Viano,
Daniel Daniels, Waltham National Bank, Meyer Rubin and Harry
G. Seligman, Lucy D. and Bertha M. Hutchinson, Alice T. McCarthy,
Universalist publishing House of Boston, Frederick D. Cook
and Colonial Garage, Inc. , and also advertised in the Lexington
Minute-Man on March 31st, 1938, a notice of which the following
is a true copy.
128
looml
Howard W. Robbins,
f,lerk, Board of Appeals.
March 31, 1938
Lexington Board of Zoning Appeals
Town Office Building
Lexington, Mass.
Gentlemen:
The undersigned hereby petition the Lexington Board of
Appeals, appointed under General Laws , Chapter 40, Section 27,
to vary the application of section 6 (c) of the Lexington
Zoning By-Law with respect to the premises at No. 1686 Mass.
Ave. owned by Colonial Garage, Inc . of Lexington by permitting
the following: The sale and storage of gasoline.
Colonial Garage, Inc.
Eugene J. Viano, Treas. (Signature)
Lexington, Mass. (Address)
BOARD OF APPEALS NOTICE
March 31, 1938.
Lexington, Mass.
The Board of Appeals will hold a hearing on the matter of
varying the application of the Zoning Law by permitting on the
premises owned by the Colonial Garage, Inc . , and located at
1686 Massachusetts Avenue, Lexington, the sale and storage of
gasoline, under the Lexington Zoning Law or in accordance with
Chapter 40, Section 27A of the General Laws and amendments.
The hearing will be held at the Selectments Room, Town
Office Building, on April 15, 1938, at 9 :00 P. M.
Arthur. N. Maddison,
Chairman, Board of Appeals.
The petition of Mr. Conners was next discussed, and inas-
much as the proposed use would be some distance from Massachusetts
Avenue, and the principal abutter, Mr. Ryder, did not object,
upon motion of Mr. Kimball, seconded by Mr. Ferguson, it was
voted to grant the following permit to H. Angus Conners for
permission to maintain a trout pool and stream to be used by
fly casters and anglers, as follows:
129
BOARD OF APPEALS PERMIT
Thea
Bo rd of Appeals, acting under General Laws, Chapter 40,
Sec. 27, having received a written petition addressed to it by
H. Angus Conners, a copy of which is hereto annexed, held a public
hearing thereon of which notice was mailed to the petitioner and
to the owners of all property deemed by the Board to be affected
thereby as they appear on the most recent local tax list end also
advertised in the Lexington Minute Man, a newspaper published
in Lexington, which hearing was held in the Selectmen' s Room, in
the Town Office Building on the 15th day of April, 1938.
All of the members of the Board of Appeals were present
at the hearing. A certificate of notice is hereto annexed. At
this hearing evidence was offered on behalf of the petitioner
tending to show:
That he had made an arrangement with the Burbrec Nurseries,
Inc. , whereby he could stock the brook running through the
premises of Joseph Breck & Sons, located in the rear of 1265
Mass. Avenue, and desired to use the pond and brook for fly
casting for trout, charging a fee depending on the fish caught
and also desired to use the building formerly used as a tea room
in connection with the fishing privileges .
No one appeared in opposition.
At the close of the hearing the Board in private session on
April 15, 1938 gave consideration to the subject of the petition
and voted unanimously in favor of the following findings :
1. That in its judgment the public convenience and welfare
will be substantially served by the making of the exception re-
quested.
2. That the exception requested will not tend to impair
the status of the neighborhood.
3. That the exception requested will be in harmony with the
general purposes and intent of the regulations in the Lexington
Zoning By-law.
4. That owing to conditions especially affecting the said
parcel but not affecting generally the Zoning district in which
it is located, a literal enforcement of the provisions of the
Lexington Zoning By-law as to the locus in question would involve
substantial hardship to the petitioner and that desirable relief
may be granted without substantially derogating from the intent
or purpose of such Lexington Zoning By-law.
Pursuant to the said findings, the Board hereby unanimously
decides that the application of the said Lexington Zoning Bylaw
is hereby varied so far as may be necessary to permit
w 1
130
H. Angus Conners to operate a trout pool and stream to be used
by fly casters and anglers as above described on the following
conditions :
1. This permit to run for one year from the date hereof;
2. That proper precautions shall be taken by him so that tres-
passing on land of abutting owners shall not occur.
3. That no signs which can be seen from Mass. Avenue shall be
placed on the premises, except a sign in the form of a fish
not more than four feet long at the Mass. Ave. entrance.
4. That the activities in connection with the above permit shall
be carried on in such manner as not to be objectionable .
The Board hereby makes a detailed record of all its pro-
ceedings relative to such petition and hereby sets forth that
the reasons for its decision are its findings hereinbefore set
forth and the testimony presented at the said hearing, including
that herein summarized, and directs that this record immediately
following this decision shall be filed in the office of the Town
Clerk of Lexington and shall be open to public inspection and
that notice of this decision shall be mailed forthwith to each
party in interest.
BOARD OF APPEALS OF LEXINGTON
(Appointed under G. L. Ch. 40, Sec. 27)
A. N. Maddison
C. Edward Glynn
Edward W. Kimball
Charles E. Ferguson
Howard W. Robbins
I, Howard Robbins, Clerk of the Board of Appeals of
Lexington, appointed under General Laws, Chapter 40, Section
27, hereby certify that I sent by postage certificate of
mailing on the 31st day of March, 1938 to New England Trust
Company, Boston and Lowell R. R. Corp. , Charles W. and Robert
L. Ryder, Trs. , Lexington Trust Company, Howard M. Munore, Ruth
S. Lyons, Edgar A. Welti, Minnie M. Ryder, Joseph Breck & Sons,
Burbrec Nurseries, Inc. , H. Angus Conners, and also advertised
in the Lexington Minute-Man on March 31st, 1938, a notice of
which the following is a true copy.
Howard W. Robbins
Clerk, Board of Appeals.
1
131
IIMarch 29, 1938
Lexington Board of Zoning Appeals
Town Office Building
Lexington, Mass.
Gentlemen:
The undersigned hereby petition the Lexington Board of
Appeals, appointed under General Laws, Chapter 40, Section 27,
to vary the application of Section 9 (g) of the Lexington Zoning
By-law with respect to the premises at No. 1265 (rear Mass. Ave. ,
owned by Burbrec Nurseries, lessors, Joseph Breck & Sons, owners,
of Lexington by permitting the following: Operation of a Trout
Pool and Stream to be used by fly-casters and anglers. A nominal
charge will be made for all trout taken; nothing will be offered
for sale other than the fish caught. Use of premises on Sundays
is contemplated.
H. Angus Conners (Signature)
2 Bloomfield St. (Address)
BURBREC NURSERIES, Inc.
II
By - Sheldon A. Robinson
Manager.
NOTICE
Lexington, Mass.
March 30, 1938.
The Board of Appeals will hold a hearing on the matter of
varying the application of the Zoning Law by permitting on the
premises owned by Joseph Breck & Sons and located at the rear
of 1265 Mass. Avenue, Lexington, the operation of a Trout Pool
and Stream to be used by fly-casters and anglers, under the
Lexington Zoning Law or in accordance with Chapter 40, Section
27A of the General Laws and amendments.
The hearing will be held on April 15th., 1938, at 8:15 P. M.
in the Selectmen's Room, Town Office Building, Lexington.
Arthur N. Maddison,
Chairman, Board of Appeals
The petition of Jenney Mfg. Co. was then discussed, and inas-
much as the proposed addition to the gasolene station would do away
with the present unsightly lubricating lift, upon motion of Mr.
II
Glynn, seconded by Mr. Ferguson, it was voted to grant the follow-
ing permit to the Jenney Manufacturing Co. for permission to main-
tain a lubritorium at the corner of Waltham Street and karrett
Road, as follows :
133
BOARD OF APPEALS PERMIT
The Board of Appeals, acting under General Laws , Chapter
40, Section 27, having received a written petition addressed to
it by the Jenney Manufacturing Company, a copy of which is
hereto annexed, held a public hearing thereon of which notice
was mailed to the petitioner and to the owners of all property
deemed by the Board to be affected thereby as they appear on the
most recent local tax list and also advertised in the Lexington
Minute-Man, a newspaper published in Lexington, which hearing
was held in the Selectments Room, in the Town Office Building,
on the 25th day of March, 1938.
One Associate member and four members of the Board of Appeals
were present at the hearing. A certificate of notice is hereto
annexed. The hearing was adjourned to April 15, 1938 to permit
the petitioner to present plans. At the adjourned hearing
evidence was offered on behalf of the petitioner tending to show:
That they now had a lubritorium in connection with their
gasoline station at 319 Marrett Road at the corner of Waltham
Street; that they desired to have an enclosed lubritorium and
presented plans showing an addition to the present gasoline
station with certain alterations in the old building to conform
to the addition.
No one appeared in opposition.
At the close of the hearing the Board in private session on
April 15, 1938 gave consideration to the subject of the petition
and voted unanimously in favor of the following findings:
1. That in its judgment the public convenience and welfare
will be substantially served by the making of the exception
requested.
2. That the exception requested will not tend to impair
the status of the neighborhood.
3. That the exception requested will be in harmony with
the general purposes and intent of the regulations in the Lex-
ington Zoning By-law.
4. That owing to conditions especially affecting the said
parcel but not affecting generally the Zoning district in which
it is located, a literal enforcement of the provisions of the
Lexington Zoning By-law as to the locus in question would involve
substantial hardship to the petitioner and that desirable relief
may be granted without substantially derogating from the intent
or purpose of such Lexington Zoning By-Law.
Pursuant to the said findings, the Board hereby unanimously
decides that the application of the said Lexington Zoning By-law
is hereby varied so far as may be necessary to permit the Jenney
Manufacturing Company to construct and maintain an addition
to its present gasoline station at 319 Marrett Road at the corner
134
of Waltham Street, such addition to front 15 feet facing
Waltham Street and 25 feet 6 inches deep, as shown on plan
of the Jenney Manufacturing Company entitled "Jenney
Mfg. Co. , Corner Waltham & Middle St. , Lexington, Mass. ", said
addition to be used for the purpose of a lubritorium, on the
following conditions :
1. That the work shall be completed within six months of the
date of this permit;
2. That no additional signs shall be placed on the premises;
3. That the premises shall be maintained in good condition
at all times, and no storage of any nature shall be permitted
outside the building;
4. That the building, when constructed, will be substantially
according to the plan above referred to dated April 13, 1938,
subject to any changes which may be required by the Building
Inspector.
The Board hereby makes a detailed record of all its pro-
ceedings relative to such petition and hereby sets forth that
the reasons for its decision are its findings hereinbefore
set forth and the testimony presented at the said hearing,
including that herein summarized, and directs that this record
immediately following this decision shall be filed in the
office of the Town Clerk of Lexington and shall be open to
public Inspection and that notice of this decision shall be
mailed forthwith to each party in interest.
BOARD OF APPEALS OF LEXINGTON
(Appointed under G.L.Ch.40, Sec.27)
A. N. Maddison
C. Edward Glynn
Edward W. Kimball
Charles E. Ferguson
Howard W. Robbins
I, Edward W. Kimball, Clerk Pro-tem of the Board of
Appeals of Lexington, appointed under General Laws, Chapter 40,
Section 27, hereby certify that I sent by postage certificate
of mailing on the 2nd day of March, 1938, to Mabelle D. Beers,
Helen G. McCormack, Mary F. Buckley, Ames Munroe, Irvin T.
Gould, Mildred T. Gould, William D. MacDonald, George G.
Whiting, Fritz Wihtol, Thomas G. thiting, William H. Smith,
Alice L. Tebbetts, Marshall L. Tebbetts, Jenney Mfg. Co. ,
Lulu M. Blake, Lex. CO-op. Bank, Annie Lampron, Margaret S.
Mackenzie, et als, A. F. Baker & Co. , Camile J. & Anna Tremblay,
Gaetano & Berta Francescelli, George W. & Helen M. Ewing,
Jennett L. Bennett, George A. Givan, Anna M. Gott, Mary Marshall,
135
Sidney B. & Margaret W. Heywood, Jennie M. Partridge, Thomas &
' Matilda Davison, Catherine F. Stevens, Margaret M. Lynch,
William F. & Jennie A. Downe, Elizabeth T. Keefe, William
O 'Connor, Evelyn B Soar, Howard I. & Nellie J. Saunders,
Sarah Gaddis, Charlotte L. & Helen G. Murphy, Josephine Nunan,
Waverley Co-op. Bank, standard Oil Co. of New York, Inc. ,
Elizabeth C Phelps, Edward F. Rogers, Henry Saarm, Timothy
L. Keefe, Ralph E. DeLoid, Neil McIntosh, Tr. , Tage F'ey,
Lois M. Burling, Sarah Greaves, Medford Trust Co. , Betty E.
Yruler, Grace L. Hinckley, Edgar W. & Marion B. IIoughton, John
F. & Elizabeth F. Downey, Ralph E. & Florence V. Cox, E. J.
Weldon & Hazel B. Morrison, Warren S. Grant, Aubrey & Sadie
N. Caldwell, Ransom F. & Eva I. Williams, Patrick Malloy,
Jeannette B. Fountain, Watertown Co-op. Bank, Marguerite E.
Comman, Charles J. & Margaret F. Martin, Clarence E. & Cath-
erine M. McElman, Lawrence A. & Eleanor Husted, Irving A. &
Ethel W. Rich, Irene S. Murphy, Frances V. Healey, Margaret M.
Neal, Hilda M. Arvidson, and the Jenney Manufacturing Company,
and also advertised in the Lexington Minute-Man on March 3rd,
1938, a notice of which the following is a true copy.
Edward W. Kimball
Clerk Pro-tem, Board of Appeals .
March 2nd, 1938.
Lexington Board of Zoning Appeals
Town Office Building
Lexington, Mass.
Gentlemen:
The undersigned hereby petition the Lexington Board of
Appeals appointed under General Laws, Chapter 40, Section 27,
to vary the application of section 9A of the Lexington Zoning
By-law with respect to the premises at No. 319 Marrett Road,
owned by the Jenney Mfg. Co. of 12 India St. , Boston, by
permitting the following: Construction and maintenance of a
one car lubritorium.
Jenney Mfg. Co, Signature
12 India Street Address
Boston, Mass.
NOTICE
Lexington, Mass . March 2, 1938
The Board of Appeals will hold a hearing on the matter of
varying the application of the Zoning Law by permitting on the
IIpremises owned by the Jenney Mfg. Co. , and located at 319 Marrett
Road ( cor. of Waltham St . ) ,Lexington, the construction and maintenance
of a lubritorium, under the Lexington Zoning Law or in accordance
with Chapter 40, Section 27A of the General Laws and amendments.
136
71
The hearing will be held on March 25th, 1938, at 8:15 P. M. ,
in the Selectmen' s Room, 'mown Office Building, Lexington, Mass.
Arthur NJ Maddison,
Chairman, Board of Appeals.
The petition of the Girl Scouts of Lexington was discussed,
and the various objections offered by neighbors was considered.
The Board felt that with the playgrounds and swimming pool so near,
with the consequent noise from football, baseball, and other act-
ivit1es, t hat; with prro ie ge itionerstdesi e otoo� 'nuebEh§rusted
sor onir
of the property, another hearing can be held.
Upon motion of Mr. Glynn, seconded by Mr. Kimball, it was
voted to grant the following permit to the Girl Scouts of
Lexington for permission to maintain a Girl Scout House at
2 Lincoln Street, as follows :
BOARD OF APPEALS PERMIT
The Board of Appeals, acting under General Laws, Chapter 40,
Sec . 27, having received a written petition addressed to it by
the Girl Scouts of Lexington, a copy of which is hereto annexed,
held a public hearing thereon of which notice was mailed to the
petitioner and to the owners of all property deemed by the Board
to be affected thereby as they appear on the most recent local
tax list and also advertised in the Lexington Minute-Man, a
newspaper published in Lexington, which hearing was held in the
Selectmen's Room, in the Town Office Building, on the 15th day
of April, 1938.
All members of the Board of Appeals were present at the
hearing. A certificate of notice is hereto annexed. At this
hearing evidence was offered on behalf of the petitioner tending
to show:
That the Girl Scouts of Lexington had been offered the use
of the property at 2 Lincoln Street, Lexington, for the main-
tenance of a Girl Scout House; that they did not have any head-
quarters at the present time and many educational things had
been offered them which they had no place to keep and conse-
quently were distributed among the various people interested in
the Girl Scout movement; that it was not their intention to
use bugles and drums on the property.
Various interested parties spoke in favor of the granting
of the permit. Petitions and letters signed by 555 people were
presented to the Board, about forty of them living in the
vicinity of the property. At the request of the persons pres-
ent, 34 were counted in favor of the granting of the petition,
and 11 were opposed. Several of those opposed felt that it
would be detrimental to their property and would depreciate the
value of same and that it would be noisy and expressed the fear
that this would be a change in the Zoning Law.
137
IIAt the close of the hearing the Board in private session on
April 15, 1938 gave consideration to the subject of the petition
and voted unanimously in favor of the following findings :
1. That in its judgment the public convenience and welfare
will be substantially served by the making of the exception
requested.
2. That the exception requested will not tend to impair
the status of the neighborhood.
3. That the exception requested will be in harmony with
the general purposes and intent of the regulations in the Lex-
ington Zoning By-law.
4. That owing to conditions especially affecting the said
parcel but not affecting generally the Zoning district in which
it is located, a literal enforcement of the provisions of the
Lexington Zoning By-law as to the locus in question would in-
volve substantial hardship to the petitioner and that desirable
relief may be granted without substantially derogating from the
intent or purpose of such Lexington Zoning By-law.
Pursuant to the said findings, the Board hereby unanimously
I
decides that the application of the said Lexington Zoning By-Law
is hereby varied so far as may be necessary to permit the Girl
Scouts of Lexington to occupy the premises at 2 Lincoln Street,
Lexington, for the maintenance of a Girl Scout House subject to
the following conditions :
1. This permit shall expire one year from the date hereof;
2. That no drum, bugle or other band instruments shall be played
on the premises.
3. That all activities of the occupants of the premises shall
be under careful supervision at all times and no trespassing shall
be permitted on adjoining properties; and that activities carried
on shall not be such as are generally considered objectionable
in a residential neighborhood;
4. No signs shall be permitted on the outside of the premises
so that they may be seen from the street or surrounding property.
The Board hereby makes a detailed record of all its proceedings
relative to such petition and hereby sets forth that the reasons
for its decision are its findings hereinbefore set forth and the
testimony presented at the said hearing, including that herein
summarized, and directs that this record immediately following
this decision shall be filed in the office of the Town Clerk of
Lexington and shall be open to public inspection and that notice
of this decision shall be mailed forthwith to each party in in-
terest.
1
138
rrJ
BOARD OF APPEALS OF LEXINGTON
(Appointed under G. L. Ch. 40, Sec. 27)
A. N. Maddison
Edward W. Kimball
C. Edward Glynn
Charles E. Ferguson
Howard W. Robbins
I, Howard W. Robbins, Clerk of the Board of Appeals of
Lexington, appointed under General Laws, Chapter 40, Section
27 hereby certify that I sent by postage certificate of
mailing on the 31st day of March, 1938, to Abigail W. and
Albion W. Shaw, Arthur W. and Mildred G. Freeman, Frederick
and Louise G. Hunneman, Lizzie A. Burr, Victor R. and Katherine
T. Saltsgaver, Lawrence G. Mitchell, John S. Spaulding, Alice
J. Manley, heirs of, Mary F. Manley, Royal W. and Ruth C. Gilson,
Georgie A. Washburn, Lexington Cc-operative Bank, Eva K. Bram-
hall, Louisa G. T. Bean, Elizabeth Schulman, Tr. , Elsie M.
Glancy, Helen A. McCaffrey, Marion W. Jackson, Alice P. Hagerty,
Charles W. and Robert L. Ryder, Trs. , William H. Hannam,
Blanche E. Rudd, William H. and May B. Ballard, William R.
Greeley, Harry W and Edna F. Litchfield, Hollis and Helen N.
M Webster, Maria Amaru, Rose M. Tucker, Rev. W J. McCarthy,
Laura H. Litchfield, Augustine N. Foster, Minnie S. Seaver,
Arlene 0. Lane, Everett M. Mulliken, William S. Scamman,
Medora R. Crosby, Converse and Audrey B. Hill, Catherine A.
Kimball, Robert P. Trask, Frederic L. Fischer, Arthur E.
Haley, Louis G. and Fanny Cochrane, Amos L. Taylor, Tr. , Nellie
J. Pierce, Mary S. Valentine, John G. and Josephine W. Hall,
Ina A. Downs, and also advertised in the Lexington Minute-Man,
on March 31st, 1938, a notice of which the following is a true
copy.
Howard W. Robbins
Clerk, Board of Appeals.
March 29, 1938
Lexington Board of Zoning Appeals
Town Office Building
Lexington, Mass.
Gentlemen:
The undersigned hereby petition the Lexington Board of
Appeals, appointed under General Laws, Chapter 40, Section 27,
to vary the application of section 9(a) of the Lexington Zoning
By-Law with respect to the premises at No. 2 Lincoln Street ,
139
II
r n b ermittin the followin :
WanieincerrpAr "S�o ftousg.p g g
Girl Scouts of Lexington
By - Ina A. Downs (Signature)
( g )
11 Edgewood Road (Address)
I; OTICE
Lexington, Mass .
March 30, 1938.
The Board of Appeals will hold a hearing on the matter of
varying the application of the Zoning Law by permitting on the
premises owned by Margaret E. O 'Brien and located at 2 Lincoln
Street, Lexington, the maintenance of a Girl Scout House, under
the Lexington Zoning Law or in accordance with. Chapter 40,
Section 27A of the General Laws, and amendments.
The hearing will be held on April 15th, 1938, at 8 :00 P. M.
in the Selectmen's Room, Town Office Building, Lexington.
Arthur N. Maddison
Chairman, Board of Appeals .
The records of the meeting held March 25th were declared
approved.
A true record, Attest :
Adjourned 11 35 P.M. ,
7 C1erkU