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PLANNING BOARD MEETING.
Se. t. l2 .
A meeting of the Planning Board was held in Cary Hall
II on Sept. 28th at 7;45 o'clock, there being present Messrs.
IInery, L. a. Brown and W. D. Brown, together with the follow-
ing citizens who had responded to the Secretary's invitation:
Mr. R. P. Clapp Mr. Hallie C. Blake
MIr. Cornelius O'Leary Mr. Neil McIntosh Jr.
Mr. Alfred Pierce Mr. J. Henry Duffy
Mr. T. H. O'Connor Hr. F. H. Moulton
Mr. G. H. Gibson
The reading of the Minutes of the last meeting being dis-
pensed with, Mr. Emery explained what our neighboring towns have
been doing in the way of establishing building lines through
the cooperation of abutters; the initial attempt at -this sort
of thing in our own town so nearly an accomplished fact as to
demonstrate its possibi�ty; the great and imperative need of
endeavoring to safeguard at once, not a single street at a time,
but a large number of streets ; as well as reading a tentative
draft of a proposed fcrm to, which the abutters should subscribe.
IIExpressions of opinion were then asked for.
Mr. O'Connor approved the scheme but thought while it would be
very easy to obtain signatures from individuals,
say in his own neighborhood, it would be difficult
in the case of farmers, He was willing to canvas
his street.
Mr. O'Leary after further explanation on the part of the
Chairman expressed his willingness both to sign
such a proposed paper himself and to obtain the
signatures of his neighbors.
Mr. Pierce thought it a most excellent idea— the sooner we
get at it the better-. felt he could obtain all the
signatures along Mass. Ave. to Bryant's Corner
without any difficulty. Later raised the question
if the proposed set-backs might not work a hardship
by preventing a man's selling his land for the ,
erection of a store on thestreet line.
40 Mr. Neil Macintosh while he considered the proposal an ex-
cellent one and expressed his willingness to sign
any such papers, thought they should include some
I
regulations as to venders' stands.
He also felt that the owner of a corner lot
would suffer a material hardship by a 20 ft. set-
back on two sides, and if some easement were not
given him on the side street that he would not be
inclined to sign.
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The Secretary read some notes of a oonversation with Mr.
Hartman wherein the statement was made that land set off as
gested becomes available for street widening purposes at any
time without expense to the town.
Mr. Clapp stated that either Mr. Hartman was misunderstood
or was in error, as by voluntary signing the proposed restrictions
10 the owner merely agreed not to build in advance of a certain
line and he in no wise surrendered any rights that might be his
in case it was later desired to widen the street and the land
was wanted by the town for this purpose.
Neither could he agree with lir. Macintosh's contention as
to the desirability of reducing set-backs on corner lots.
Mr. Duffy explained the operation of the building line
movement in Winchester as told him by Mr. Hinds, Town Engineer.
As to the number of signatures obtained before bringing the
matter to the town, while no definite percentage was set forth,
it was usually felt that at least $05 should be secured.
An interesting experience was told of a main street on which
some years ago 70% of the owners signed up for a building line .
This not having been deemed sufficient, the matter was dropped.
Now a new owner is planning the erection of a block on the street
line. It will cost the town a large sum to prevent it. This
owner is said to have remarked that he is next going to try this
scheme in Lexington.
Further discussion followed and it being clearly evident
that all ,present were in sympathy with the inauguration of the
movement, they were told that as soon as the necessary details
could be more thoroughly worked out they and others would be
asked to serve as a volunteer force to assist the members of
the Planning Board in securing signatures.
Mr. Duffy agreed to have studies made of the proper set-
backs on the streets already suggested, particularly Bedford,
Hancock and Clarke Streets, before the next meeting of the Board
on Friday, October 5th, until which time the meeting was adjourned .
Willard D. Brown,
Secretary.
Planning Board Meeting.
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