Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout1965-08-03BOARD OF APPEALS HEARINGS ' August 3, 1965 A regular meeting of the Lexington Board of Appeals was held in the Selectmen's Room, Town Office Building, on Tuesday, August 3, 1965. Present were Chairman Nickerson, members Abbott, Hoyt and Ripley, and associate member Dawes. At 7:30 p.m. the following hearings were declared open: Harv_ez W. New en�t - to vary the Lexington Zoning By-law in order todivide two lots at #56 and #58 Reed St. into three lots, two of which will not have the required area or frontage. Shell Oil Co. and Lillian M. Lo - for permission (1) under the Lexington—Zoning-By- w o erect operate a retail automobile service station on a parcel of land situated at the southeasterly corner of Lincoln St. and Marrett Rd. in a C 1 district, and numbered 286 and 266 Lincoln St., the service station building now existing on a portion of the parcel to be demolished and the new service station building and structures to be located substantially as shown on plot plan submitted; and (2) under the Lexington Sign By-law to erect and maintain in con- nection with said service station one standing sign. Evangelical Covenant Church - for permission to erect a free- standing wood sign for temporary use, 67" x 390 on property located at 50 Allen St. at intersection of Allen St. and Clematis Lane. Matic Valley Mental Health Association, Inc. - for permission to provide temporary oeffice space at t rear o 12Muzzey St. while plans for permanent quarters are being pursued, by locating there a "McCarthy Mobile Office." This would be 35' x 81, 9-1/2' high, wheels removed and mounted on cinder blocks, with no plumbing or water connections. Electricity and gas would be provided by teraporary connections from the building with approval of the Building Inspector. Dudley H. Chute - to vary the Lexington Zoning By-law in order to construe a single family dwelling at lots 41, 42 Charles St. with a set- back of 20 ft. instead of the required 30 ft. Alice P. Ramsdell - to vary the Lexington Znning By-law in order to erect a porch a tion to house at 28 Ewell Ave. which would have a side yard of 8.2 ft. instead of the required 10 ft. Albert H. Amiro - to vary the Lexington Zoning By-law in order to build an addition on Ehe back of existing house at 905A Massachusetts Ave. which would have a side yard of 7 ft. instead of the required 7-1/2 ft. Joseph F. Hill Jr. - for permission to erect a free-standing sign with dimensions of 51211 by 3'6" to be located at 176-178 Lowell St., site ' of "Hancock House" nursing home. At the close of the hearings an Executive Session was held during Shell Oil Company August 3, 1965 Mr. Nickerson: Mr. Stevens, representing the Shell Oil Co., has pre- sented us with a so-called proposed "modernized building" plan showing the area in question at the corner -of Marrett Rd. and Lincoln St. with the entire complex of service station and accessory buildings, and Shell sign 6' x 61 reasonably close to the. line of the property. I understand you have discussed the driveway, curbing, etc. with the Town Engineer and all are approved by him. Also removal of existing house and new asphalt yard which is pretty much along the outside peri- meter. The sign will be identical with the one on Bedford St. and Worthen Rd., 6' x 6' on 20-1/21 pole, fixed light within it, Shell on both sides, plastic with fluorescent lights inside and non -flashing, non -rotating and has been checked with the by-laws. The State Highway Dept. has gone over the plans and is agreeable to the entrance as presented. This sign would be in the same location as the existing sign. Nickerson: Hours not later than 11:00 p.m. 7 days a week? Stevens: We would prefer the hours to be left to what the station opera- tor can afford and the people in the area can support. Would not oper- ate 24 hours but if he wants to close at 10:00 he could. Nickerson: Do you feel you have been restricted unfavorably when we re- strict the Shell Oil Co. to these hours under our conditions? We would ' not intend to impose any non-profit conditions, we would be acting only in the interest of the town. Mr. Stevens referred to the District Manager and asked if he had anything Mr. Stevens: I am representing Mrs. Lowry, owner of the property, as well as the'Shell.Oil Co. The latter leases.it. The plan sufficiently identifies the property where there has been for many years a gas station. Back in the early 30's Mr. Lowry operated the station for many years. He -died in 1959. His son was in the navy but got out and ran it but died very suddenly this year. Now his grandson is trying to carry on until Shell tames over. They would operate under a lease. It certainly needs modernization and they will tear it down and start over. It is zoned for business including the adjoining lot on which, until the last few weeks, there was a residence. That residence was moved up Lincoln St. The adjoining lot, which she owns, will be combined into one area on which will be located the new filling station. It is not the only business area, land immediately in back has an automobile agency, builder, etc. The plot plan shows the location of the struc- tures and I have a rendering of the building that the company proposes to erect. It is the regular type of building that Shell has been using and finding well received. The only difference is this little patio would not be included. There is no request for a sign on the chimney. It makes a very workable, good looking and acceptable structure for an excellent filling station. The sign will be identical with the one on Bedford St. and Worthen Rd., 6' x 6' on 20-1/21 pole, fixed light within it, Shell on both sides, plastic with fluorescent lights inside and non -flashing, non -rotating and has been checked with the by-laws. The State Highway Dept. has gone over the plans and is agreeable to the entrance as presented. This sign would be in the same location as the existing sign. Nickerson: Hours not later than 11:00 p.m. 7 days a week? Stevens: We would prefer the hours to be left to what the station opera- tor can afford and the people in the area can support. Would not oper- ate 24 hours but if he wants to close at 10:00 he could. Nickerson: Do you feel you have been restricted unfavorably when we re- strict the Shell Oil Co. to these hours under our conditions? We would ' not intend to impose any non-profit conditions, we would be acting only in the interest of the town. Mr. Stevens referred to the District Manager and asked if he had anything Nickerson: When you opened you were so happy to acquire the whole house - you must have increased a great deal in the last year. I know you tried at least two locations. Bloom: We have an application in for some surplus land at the V.A. hos- pital in Bedford and we feel the trustees at Winning Farm might make some land available. " Nickerson: You have made the statement you have an extension for two years but at the end of that time the lease will expire. Do you wish to make this for a period of two years and define it as two years from the time your two-year lease started? Bloom: If the Board would see fit to do so I would prefer to make it with- out stipulation. However, I am sure it will serve the purpose either way. Nickerson: My reason for asking is to get you to emphasize the temporary phase of this insofar as the trailer is concerned. We have not granted a trailer location even when a contractor would use it for an office. If ' you care to define it, it would not hurt your cause. Bloom: Two years to begin August 1. Mystic Valley Mental Health Association ' August 3, 1965 Mr. Nickerson: You have submitted a plot plan of present quarters and shown in back of that the proposed location of this trailer which would line up with the left hand side of the house and be 5 ft. back of the house, 35 x 10. It would have a side yard on the other side of 15 ft. You have shown a picture of the McCarthy Mobile Office, of metal con- struction and with one room on the inside. My understanding is that you wish to make three offices of it. These would be to provide you with additional quarters for this temporary use until you can relocate. Mr. Alfred E. Bloom, representing Mystic Valley: In the event the back- ground is not known, the Mystic Valley Mental Health Association serves five towns - Arlington, Winchester, Bedford, Woburn, and Lexington, and is the the treatment of mentally disturbed children. The professional services of the members of the clinic are paid for by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and quarters are paid for by the Association, and these come from tax funds from the towns mentioned. The Lexington portion of the tax revenue comes from the Board of Health. The young people are referred here by school departments, health boards, and private individ- uals. Your Board was furnished recently with a resume of the activity of the children's clinic. The only other thing that would be pertinent is that the Association hopes to build a facility for its children's clinic within the next two years. It is currently looking at two sites somewhere within these five communities'. We will not be able to remain ' for more than awo years as our lease is for two years and it will not bee renewed by the owner. We are already using some space in the kitchen and other areas for mimeographing and other office work and unless we cut down on the number of people seen we will need some additional space. Nickerson: When you opened you were so happy to acquire the whole house - you must have increased a great deal in the last year. I know you tried at least two locations. Bloom: We have an application in for some surplus land at the V.A. hos- pital in Bedford and we feel the trustees at Winning Farm might make some land available. " Nickerson: You have made the statement you have an extension for two years but at the end of that time the lease will expire. Do you wish to make this for a period of two years and define it as two years from the time your two-year lease started? Bloom: If the Board would see fit to do so I would prefer to make it with- out stipulation. However, I am sure it will serve the purpose either way. Nickerson: My reason for asking is to get you to emphasize the temporary phase of this insofar as the trailer is concerned. We have not granted a trailer location even when a contractor would use it for an office. If ' you care to define it, it would not hurt your cause. Bloom: Two years to begin August 1.