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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1920-06-03Minutes of Planning Board Meetings of June 3 and 10, 1920. On June 3 the planning board, the board of survey, the town oounsel and the town engineer, met in joint meeting with similar officers of the town of Arlinston to discuss the question of their mutual interests in the Lexington Great Meadow. The objects to be attained, the mutual in- terests of the towns in the attainment of these objects, the legal and other principles underlying the present situ- ation, were disoussed at length and the joint body request- ed the planning boards representing the two towns, to- gether with the town counsels, to prepare a tentative plan of the proposed takings and a base for an agreement whioh would accomplish the purposes in mind. At the meeting June 10 the planning boards and the town counsel from the two towns met and considered the plan and base of agreement s as a part of this record. At the close of the meeting the Arlington Board agreed to give the matter attention as a board and to consider it with the Arlington authorities whioh have^ cted in the matter and report back to the Lexington Planning Board. The need for prompt action was mutually recognized, mutual interest of the two towns was re -affirmed, and it was agreed that aotion should be taken as promptly as conditions would permit. 1 1 TENTATIVE AGREEMENTS USED AS A BASE nil DISCUSSION AT !'HE JOINT MEETING OP THE ,ARLINGTON AND LEXINGTON PLANNING BOARDS ON JUNE 10, 1920, RE. IJEXITNGTON "GREAT MEADOW". The Town of Lexington Agrees 1. That it will proceed to make a taking for park purposes of the land now belonging to the suburban Land Co., so-called, and of the land oonstituting the "Great Meadow" and will go to the Legislature and endeavor to obtain whatever legislation is necessary for this taking. Such taking of the land of the "Great Meadow", however, is to be made subject to the existing easement of the Town of Arlington to use such land as part of a water system or water storage basin, and subject also to the rights un- der an existing lease given by the Town of Arlington for the re- moval of peat therefrom, but the area to which this water basin privilege shall attaoh shall be that area shown on plan made for the Lexington Planning Board as "the water basin", and the bal. anoe of Arlington's land shown on said plan shall be released from the easement in order that Lexington may lay out at an ap- propriate time a boulevard around the basin. 2. That upon such taking being oonsumated and at the termi- nation of the lease (or its abandonment) of the premises above referred to, Lexington shall take charge of the water basin, so-oalled, of the "Great Meadow" and as the agent of the Town of Arlington cause the same to be flooded and kept flooded for the purpose of seouring to the Town of Arlington the same flow of 2. water for its reservoir and the same rights to such water that they would have if the Meadow were to be flooded by Arlington. • No guarantee, however, to be given by the Town of Lexington as to the quality or quantity of water to be tiros delivered. 3. That no taxes shall be levied by the Town of Lexington apninast the moven. of Ar7,irnpton on the "Great Meadow" nronerty and no charge made against Arlington for custodianship after Lexington shall have become custodian thereof, as above provid 1 1 ed. 4. In the event of Arlington desirring a larger storage capacity in the water basin Lexington agrees to make reasonable excavation, all expense to be paid by Arlington. The Town of ;Arlington Agrees 1. That it will consent to Lexington making the taking for park purposes of all the land included in the "Great Meadow" subjeot to its flowage easement for water purposes, suoh ease- ment, however, to be considered only ae attaohing to the aotual water basin shown on plan made for the Lexington Planning Board 2au.d � and not to thesurrounding basin, the title of which is to vest in Lexington absolutely for park purposes and of oonstrueting a boulevard around the basin at an appropriate time. 2. That it will assist in every appropriate way to obtain the legislation to a000mplish this end and that it will confirm by deed the title of Lexington under its taking of the land which Arlington owns in fee in the "Great meadow" subject to 1 1 water rights and subjeot to the leave in the water basin. as aforesaid, to the land 3. That upon the taking being completed and Lexington aoquir ing title as aforesaid and upon the expiration of the present lease of the premises, it will consider and appoint Lexington as the sole and perpetual custodian of the water basin subject to the agreement of the Town of Lexington, however, that it will cause the same to be perpetually flooded so that the Town of Arlington may have the benefit of a water reserve without, how- ever, Lexington making any guarantee as to the quality and quantity of water so to be delivered. 4. That the Town of Arlington will make no claim against Lexington for land or other damages under the taking by the Town of Lexington, as aforesaid, in any manner whatever. SUPPLEMENTARY QUESTIONS TO BE CONSIDERED 1. The exaot boundary of the water basin and area. It was considered that this would be probably necessary as a basis of the agreement between the two towns. 2. The question of the repairian rights involved in the matter.