HomeMy WebLinkAbout1932-06-06FRANK Vg. PERKINS HEARING
June 6, 1932
8:05 - 9:45 P.M.
y hearing was held in the Selectmen's Room of the Tonin Office
Building,, Yond.ay evening, June 6th, in response to the petition of
Frank a. Perkins, Plessrs, Emery, 1111ne, and Scheibe were present.
The secretary was also present.
The Chairman read the petition, notice of hearing which appeared
in a local paper an(. Section 17 of the Zoning By -Law under which the
hearing was held.
'i+hen asked for petition signed by 50% of the land owners, Mr.
Perkins stated that he had no such list and asked for postponement.
1„r. Emery stated that if ldr. Perkins could get such list in to the
Board within a week, the hearing would be held, as no letter was
. sent giving him the district within which he should get the signa-
tures of property owners. `:r. Perkins said he would furnish such
list tivithln the given time.
Mr. O'Connell informed the Board that he represented every-
one present except the petitioner and was ready to voice their
objections, as they were all opposed to the change. He presented
letters from IGIr. Peavy and Yr. Carrigan both opposing the change
and stated that Wr. Joy was sick in bed_.
'i`he Chairman then asked ?,:r. Perkins to name the people he
thought would have signed the petition if asked.
P.r. Perkin's stated that he had fourteen names on the petition
he had presented to the Board -of Appeals and named the following as
being in favor: John
Russell , Te;ile
s and Frederick J
ones, Ronald
Shea. Frank Hadley, Ch rlottP' d.lPy, Justin Shea.. Carlotta
Brander,
Katherine Jacobs, Henry P. & Eleanor Clark, Delphina Cooke, P�Ie.ry
Busconi and himself. There were seven people he did not interview.
I;is reason for wanting his property changed into a business zone
is because -
„ his bus.i.icss has expanded so he wa,:ts to make a bi ,r
g�
place,because he has to leave cars outside now as there isn' t any
room for them inside. he also intends to move his house so it will
front on Oak Street and widen the corner to make more room for
business. He wants to beautify the place. If the buildings were
destroyed by storm or otherwise, he would have no right to rebuild
them so he wants to protect himself. The buildings are just shell
buildings and are very old. One is said to have been there 120
Years ago. The Building Inspector looked the place over and said
it was 'n good shape and that there was a lot of room for repairs.
The place is not large enough for the business he is doing. He
stater',. that if the change is made, it will allow him to build up
a nice spot, improve the very bad. corner and move his house back
so he will live on Oak Street. It is very noisy there both day
and night. He stated that if he had someone to appear for Him
who understood the case, it could be more fully explained. The
Hadley Press is on one corner and is running day and night; the
Caamberlains ar- running what: is known 4s "Seven Lanterns?' and take
In tourists; 'air. Shea owns the old paint shop and deals in second
hand automobiles; 7r4r. Cummings is doing a milk business; Carlotta
Brhnoer is running a hospital; and Katherine Jacobs is keeping a
roomi-ag holzse. Besires the ones mentioned, there are Harrod's
Store, .''ilson's farm and billboards.
The Chairman asked t;r . Perkins to state the grounds on
which the Board of Appeals refused the petition', and he replied
that he cid not know. lie did not understand the answer. I'Then
asked. if he had such letter with him, he stated that he was
supposed to be representee' and all his papers were at that person's
house. He was asked who he had to represent him and he answered
th t it was Mr. Pierre Northrup, but that he would not be present.
Yr. Emery read Section 10 of the Zoning By -Laws and stated
that it ijas to this Mr. Perkins referred to when he said that he
could use the buildings no,,,r but if they were destroyed, he could
ffriot rebuild the -m., except after a Board of Appeals hearing.
Perkins said that when he did hasre hearings, he had a
lot of opposition on a place that is not fit for anything else.
It is not a fit; place to live because the corner is so dangerous.
V.hen asked why he moved thew in the first place, he replied that
he boa7ht the property two years ago July 15th, when there was
business going on there, and thought he would be able to rebuild.
He is figuring on cutting the corner back 16 feet. Fiis land ex-
tends 170 feet up Oak Street. Oak Street is 19 feet wide from
the post to the curb and 30 to 33 fest from wall to wall. The
it tratrelled wad* is 19 feet at the entrance.
The Cha,'rnan asked if any else wished to speak in support
of the petition, and as there was no response, he called for those
,Alho opposed.
?;:r. O'Connell stated that he had copied down the names of
the people mentioned by 11r. Perkins as being in favor of the change
and all of them are conducting some kind of a business so would
naturally join with him in case they might be called upon to see
if they were doing legal business. Mr. Busconi is the owner of
the Coolidge property and is anxious to have the change so that
he may have a filling station. The Sheas are trying to convert
the old paint shop into a tank farm with a side track and. filling
station and have applied without success. The Hadley Press is
on Oak Street. Catherine Jacobs at the Alderman place and Mr.
Chamberlain conduct an inoffensive business. You would not know
they w ---re doing business from the outside appearance. If a change
Is to be made, the whole area should be changed. This is a real
residential section and these people have spent money to beautify
their homes. To change the zoning here and there changes the
character of the whole. locality. You would not know the Cottage
Hospital was there because it has a residential appearance. If
the Perkins property is changed, it would discourage Mr. Healey
and Nr. Bignotti who try to keep their places looking their best.
-3-
W
The people there do not object to Yr. Perkins doing repair work
but ti_ey do not grant a filling station. He also stated that the
Board of Selectmen had voted to insert an article in the Town
'.-;arrant dealing with the Ta;30,�ning of Oak Street, The Town intends
to vTiden it without damaging any personal property. The widening
of that corner is not as much desired as the safety of pedestrians
and persons approaching the hill. The plan showing what the Town
intends to do is it the E'ngineer's Office. A greater part of the
land needed to widen this street will come from the opposite side
of the street. Eie stated that approximately 90% of the people were
opposed to the change, and that those who were in favor mere carry-
ing on businesses of their own and snrould want the change to protect
the�rsel;res. He said he ws.s representing the following people: iressrs.
Cahill, 0uTnr.:3n_;s, Joy, V"arrigan, Bignotti, Healey, Peavey, Dolan,
Cronin and Clare. He stated also that all those he had talked with
were opposed and hopes the Board will take its usual attitude and
refuse the petition.
. Mr. Frank Bignotti stated that he was Jur. Perkin's next door
neighbor Pnd opposed the change very much. Ke said he failed to
see ghat P;_r. Perkins intended to do. He thinks it is a crime to
let a place go the way this one has been allowed to. It is a fire
hazard. lie does not object to him doing business but thinks his
oiew is a filling station later on. The Board of Selectmen granted
hits pe�r,.3ssion to use the building as a garage under the non -con-
forming use of the Zoning Law, and- the purpose was a welding shop
which relates to a blac—mith shop but not an auto repair shop.
Thinks Ir:r. Perkin 's has a perfect right to mate a living but he should
keep the place ehean. Old cars are dumped in the back yard, and he
found. that Lir. Perkins started to spill oil on his lain and stopped
it. The chimney blew off and is lying on the roof. lie said that
he is trying to keep his own place looking clean. He served two
yeai3 o the Planning Board in Somerville and thinks the Town should
be cautious in changing the coning. He thinks that Ivir. Perkins'
givin; the _rarcel of land is a camouflage, and would like to see a
plan of F,xr_.^y what Lr. Perkins Intends to do because he feels
that the c'c.=nve is being ^_pplied for so that he may move his house
back and tat, --r plat in a gasoline station. Yr. Perkins has been
viclatinsy the law at the Bean property- in North Le:-ington. He
stated also that he hoped. the Bot;r3_ would see to it that everybody
Is t8 -'_-ren care of a_�id that their property is not deteriorated.
Th=; Chairman then asked _'Lo-.- new objections.
rr:r. Standbridge, 465 ;,,Ass. Ave., stated that he was not a
pro1)erty ov�mer but a tenant in I�;i s, Cumra.ngs' house and while not
having any personal feeling tovva.rd 14r. Perkins, does not want to
endanger his two children who hal7e to go up that way. He also
thinks that c filling station would make one more hazard..
I,r. Emery asked how many approved the petition and there
des one vote. He also a:elred hove many opposed the petition and
there were ten votes.
L -r. Perkins stated that he would like to say a few things
about his next door neighbor who stated that he kept a jun'T yard.
-4 -
He said he had toile(? iii several cars from, the street and as there
was no room for them. inside, he has to keep them in the back yard
because he is using parts fi.om them. The place is not a fire
hazard because he is inspeci;eil every .-so often by the Fire Depart-
ment. Lie tried an experiment on the chimney and it broke, but it
was to ,en down es soon as the snow and ice cleared off. 3e took
the top off the chimney but it has not been rebuilt except to rut
sp!'L, In concrete slab. lh se buildings h� r) -o- t'zer, "ot• 120
peol)le oppo:iinL the c' u: gP '<-new this before they
-ln. pro; ._tcsii never be used for anything else and.
,s ;;proteclio_L it for the build' ngs . He wEints to beautify
the place by planting shrubs. The expanse of his business is not
gasoiin- but is i- vair•i.ng.
The Cn.airr.:an instructec% Yr. Perkins to supply the Planning
Boar°r.? ithin the geek and not le.ter than a vreelr from date of
1e1:rinr;, a duplicate petition signed by the owners of 50% in value
of t'ne property from 430 t -o 664 avenue inclusive, and Cak
StresA to an", ineluc ing the prop-rty of Yr. Nichols and corresponding
property opposite.
TVlne asked if the peoile present would oppose if permission
were g.iven ,.r. Perkins to alter and repair his building without
charging Lhe Loving.
,Ir. G'Connell stated th,�t if that is the intention of Yr.
Per•kiiis, ii; is not necessary to coire before [,he Planning Board
I
ut ,.hould_ be handled by the Board of Appeals. These buildings
can be kept in repair.
.,jr. zlgnotti asked what restrictions the Town would put on
Yr. Perkins and things he should file a plan showing his proposed
iniorol erents .
PUr. StandbviOlEe stated that he did not; think the people
would oppose the renor,ation of the buildings unless he got in
a r'aich e-,paxtded place.
he Chairman informed irx•. Perkins that if said list of
pr•o1r rtv o%°rn_:rs rva.s not furnished v;ithin the next week, the
petition woulc be autor:atically thrown out and that only after
the above-mentioned list is received can the Planning Board con-
sider the merits of the hearing.
The hearing was declaraC closed at 9:45 P. 14,
Respectfully submitted.,
Clerk
1