HomeMy WebLinkAbout1966-04-05BOARD OF APPEALS HEARINGS
tApril 5, 1966
A regular meeting of the Board of Appeals was held on Tuesday,
April 5, 1966, in the Selectmen"s Room, Town Office Building. Present
were Chairman Nickerson, regular members Abbott, Hoyt, Sheldon and
Wadsworth, and the secretary, Mrs. Macomber. At 7:30 p.m. the follow-
ing petitions were heard:
Athens Realty Trust - to vary the Lexington Sign By -Law in order
to construct and erect two free-standing signs and.two directional signs
on property at 32-44 Bedford St., Lexington.
Alan G. and Rebecca W. Adams - to vary the,Lexington Zoning By -
Law in order to erect a building at 9-11 Meriam St. which will have a
five foot side yard on the northeasterly side abutting land in an R 1
District, instead of the required twenty foot side yard; and which will
have no rear yard instead of the required ten foot rear yard.
Mary J. Walsh Convalescent and Nursing Homes, Inc. - requested
permission under Sec. 5(a)7.c. of the Zoning By -Law and also to vary
Art. XI, Sec. 1 of the Building By -Law, to build a net 14 bed addition
to the existing Fairlawn Nursing Home at 265 Lowell St. which would be of
second class construction.
' Roberts & Roberts - requested a Finding and Determination that the
proposed construction of an office and/or research building in Minute Man
Research Development, Forbes Road, will constitute a desirable develop-
ment, not detrimental to the area.
John and Rosina Buss. - requested permission to continue operation
of roadside stand at 52 Lowell St.
At the close of the hearings,an executive session was held during
which the following decisions were reached:
Athens Realty Trust - denied
Alan G. and Rebecca W. Adams - granted, with the condition that
the alley between the Adams and the MacNeil buildings be blocked off at
both ends either by walls or gates; and, if it becomes necessary, a
question of "no parking" on the side of Depot Place should be considered.
Roberts & Roberts - granted
Mary J. Walsh Convalescent and Nursing Homes, Inc. - granted
John and Rosina Buss, - denied
All pertinent material with regard to the above petitions is on
file in each individual folder.
The meeting adjourned at 9:45 p.m.
Louise M. Macomber, Clerk
JOHN AND ROSINA BUSA
April 5, 1966
Mr. Nickerson read the notice as it had appeared in the Lexington
Minute -man of March 17 and 24, 1966, after which he asked if anyone
wished to speak in favor. No one wished to speak in favor. When asked
if there were objectors, Mr. Richard A. Meaney, attorney representing
the Monahan family who resides across the street at 51 Lowell St., spoke
as follows:
Meaney: Mr. Nickerson, you have read the notice as published according
to law. It would behoove the Board to take a look at the Permit as
issued on March 31, 1964. I would like to quote from it: ". . . to
continue to sell farm and nursery products raised on land owned by
petitioners from packing room portion of farm buildings situated at 52
Lowell St. . -" I suggest that within the last two years the stand on
the premises of the Busas is not located in the packing room portion of
the farm buildings as presented by Mr. Busa at the hearing held March
1964, but the stand is now located and has been located in the garage
adjacent to the packing room on said premises, therefore I would contend
that for this first reason the Permit be not renewed. Mr. and Mrs. Busa
have.not conducted themselves as to the specific terminology of the
Permit.
Second, here the notice.as published varies in, terminology from
the notice which was published in. 1964. That notice referred to packing
room portion whereas the notice this year doesn't refer to this terminology.
I would question the fact that since the Permit was issued -in 1964
according to the amended Sec. 14 (f) of the Lexington Zoning By -Law for a
two-year period, and since this terminated on March 31, why you are now
sitting on a hearing for a renewal of said Permit. I would contend that
this Permit expired and according to law Mr. and Mrs. Busa must now
approach you people for a new Permit and not a continuation of that issued
March 31, 1964.
Specifically referring to the Permit which was granted, and which
specifically refers to ten items which the Busa's must, in conducting their
business, live up to, I would again like to point the Board's attention
to several of the subsections. No. 3 specifically states that only one
sign shall be used and that on the front of the building (the building
refers to the packing portion), and shall read "Sun Valley Farm." I con-
tend that the sign that now exists, a copy of which is attached to the
affidavit, does not contain the words "Sun Valley Farm" but contains the
words "Sun Valley Farms." This is only a technical difference of one
letter "s" but you will have to agree that the law is very specific. I
also contend, and my clients will contend, that during a portion of the
year, namely the summer months, that various other signs are added refer-
ring to vegetables that are for sale. Subsection 4 as typed on the form
states that "no sign shall be located on Lowell St." Our clients contend
that signs are located on Lowell St. during the summer months referring to
the vegetables for sale.