HomeMy WebLinkAbout1921-12-29METING OP`PI,A.NNING BOARD
There were present Messrs. Greeley, Tilton and Wadsworth.
Rep -breed by Dr. Tilton that the Planning Board t up the
matter of the proper administration of the Town Triangle about
which there has been considerable discussion. No action was
taken on the matter since it was felt that this matter might
work itself out if a new form of government were accepted
the citizens.
The Chairman reported that he thought we had done as
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 08000 or 49000 in the work.
He further reported that the Boston & MaineRailroad have
planned to sell land in front of the station onMassachusetts
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 Seoretary 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 time that no large amount of, money were put into
a new station.
The Chairman spoke of the recommendation of
Forestry Department with reference
town lands and suggested that this was a matter that the Board
might consider.
The Chairman also reported that signatures were being
obtained by W. S. Hill and himself to the agreement being
circulated of the owners of property on 1 saachueetts Avenue
with reference to the twenty-foot set-back. He said this was
really an administrative job and the Board ought not be oalled
on to do it.
It was VOTED that this Board recommend that the Selectmen
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proceed to work out ae4st tion near the common.
It was the sense of the meeting that the annual'-report
the Planning Board should incorporate the plan of the Board
the development of udasaaohusetts Avenue below the common showing,
the limit for business purposes on the Avenue and suggestions
as to town hall looation.
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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 wol'thy
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 approach to 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. Park. 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 Muzzey 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 Railroad Station in one continuous group. In this case,
the wooden store building on the opposite side of Massachusetts
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 Muzzey 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.
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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 unexpected source 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 Railroadts policy in regard to the disposition of
the Railroad Park on Massachusetts Avenue.
(2) BUILDING LINES
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, Woburn 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. 0ur 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
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local
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local grade school building. Transportation cost would be saved.
Local needs could be met more perfectly. The cost of the site
would be incomparably less, than even a cramped piece of ground
in the centre of the Town.
With 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.
At 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.
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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. 1'then it is finished, the planning board's most important
work will be a general study of development, based on this survey.
Meanwhile, the Board looks for intelligent support of its
recommendations, as outlined in this report.
Respectfully submitted,