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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 )1/ 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. '_=El�lYli 1 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. -2 - 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 1 -3- local 3- 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. -3 - 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,