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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1931-11-02 PLANNING BOARD MEETING NOVEMBER 2, 1931 A meeting of the Planning Board was held in the Confer- ence Room of the Town Office Building at 8:20 P. M. Messrs. Emery, Scheibe, Milne, Glynn, Duffy and Cutler were present. The Town Engineer and secretary were also present. The Catherine F. Herbert hearing which was held the same evening previous to this meeting was discussed. No new Catherine F. arguments or reasons were brought up to change the attitude Herbert of the Board already three times expressed and it was moved Hearing and voted that previous actions of the Board be ratified. It was decided not to write Mrs . Herbert at this time. The Town Engineer informed the Board that he had turn- ed over the necessary information to Mr. Raymond regarding Metcalf & Vine Brook below Hayes Lane,and has not seen him since . He Eddy' s Assi•. is to prepare the work so that the Town Engineers can take it istance up after the first of the year. Mr. Cosgrove informed the Board that he attended a hearing last Monday, October 26th, which was called at the Arlmont Golf Club to procure information as to the location lir of a proposed highway from Alewife Brook Boulevard to Concord Avenue in Lexington. There were approximately thirty people present, mostly residents of Marsh Street, Belmont. Mr. Pillsbury, Project Engineer of the State, and his assistant who did most of the field work were present . He stated that there were no definite plans but that studies were being made to determine the best route . This is to be an important highway because it takes traffic from Mass. Avenue in Arlington and Lexington and also Marrett hoad in Lexington. They spoke of a proposed way that would turn off Spring Street, near Lake Street, come into Marsh Street, across Winter Street and join with Concord Avenue, Belmont, near the Willows, This was greatly opposed by the residents of Marsh Street as it would ruin this new colonial development and also a private school for boys which has an attendance of 185. These people Proposed bought the property there to be in a quiet neighborhood. Roadway Belmont and Arlington Planning Boards favored the first from route known as the Spring Street Route which enters Lexington Alewife near Bowman Street, follows this street to Watertovxi Street; Brook crosses Watertown Street, and follows on nearly a straight Boulevard line across private land to a point on Concord Avenue at the to Concord line of the Miskell and Minute Man Golf Club properties and Ave . , Lex. from there using Concord Avenue to Concord. Mr. Ryder's proposed road was to go through the valley below the Belmont Golf Club generally parallel with Marsh Street. 2. lif It does not made any difference to Lexington which road is put through. The Marsh Street route is the best as far as engineering goes. It was suggested that the Board join with the Arlington people and save Marsh Street when the Spring Street route could be used just as well . At the hearing, Mr. Pillsbury asked if there was anyone representing the Lexington Planning Board. Mr. Cosgrove informed him that the Lexington Planning Board favored the Spring Street route since it was being treated as a through highway to Concord and not a local project; that the Board did not want it to stop at Bowman Street . It was decided to wait until we received further informa- tion before we are called upon to give action. A letter was read from S. R. Wrightington in which he ex» pressed his opinion as to the extent to which the Town, in develop- ing the project of Vine Brook Drainage, may make takings by eminent domain for highway and drainage purposes while postpon- ing actual construction. The project should be presented to the Town as a whole and the town's interest would be safeguarded by a layout, so that it would still be there when the town sees fit to construct. If the lower end were constructed, the balance is left as a guide for those who are going to carry it out later. It was suggested that the lower end below Mass. Avenue be done one year and the next year it could be carried through to the south and south west. The only land it would damage is Mr. Burnham's. The brook would be three feet lower and his land is five or six feet above it now, and this might make it impossible for farming. The Drainage Act, Chapter 263, Acts of 1926, under which the Town is given authority to make takings for the purpose of surface or ground drainage to improve brooks, etc . was read and discussed. If roads and drains are mixed up, you will enter into two different things . If a road is planned, lay it out as a road, and if a drain is planned, lay it out as a drain. You cannot make a layout for drainage purposes but you can for streets. It was stated that there was no need for a road below the Trotting Park or the intersection of Utica Street although there is plenty of opportunity for a layout of streets below that point. Vine Brook It was also suggested that at some future date a road Project shoull come up from Maple Street through the nursery to Woburn Street between Vine and Utica Streets and continue northwest across Vihe Brook in back of Granny Hill to Adams Street along the line of the sewer. It was decided that it would be impossible to proceed any further until we had received plans of the layout It was suggested that we lay ou` lines- with what seems to be a reasonable and proper margin along both sides of the brook, then la ; out a street along both sides, take 3. what is necessary for drainage and then take for a street if it is wanted. It would be wrong to take for drainage and not make any allowance for a street along there . If a double-barreled highway is constructed, it would be necessary to build twice as much roadway to serve the same number of houses. If a road is put along the brook, the houses will front on the brook, but if the road is not there, the houses will back oxo it . The Town Engineer presented a plan of Griswold's develop- ment on Winter Street to the Board. This matter was brought up some time ago, and it was decided that the Board would not approve it unless it was changed. At the time , the Board wanted to make a change and 1"r . Griswold refused; he said he could correct the grading and the Board stated that they would approve it if he did so. The people are now asking for water up there and were told that they would have to get together with the Griswolds to get the Board of Survey to approve it. The Planning Board was asked if they approved what had been laid out, and the Chair- man stated that they did not approve any part of it, and did Griswold's not recommend the acceptance of it without further study. If Development the water is put in, thele will never be any chance to change it. It was suggested that a better line, grade and approach to connect with Grove Street could be worked out because there is so much undeveloped land there. The meeting was adjourned at 10:30 P M. Respectfully submitted, C- Clerk I