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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1934-02-02 PLANYING BOARD MEETING Feburary 2, I934 A meeting of the Planning, Board was held et the Town Office Building, on Friday evening, Feburary 2, I934, the following mem- bers being present Messrs. Duffy, glynn, Scheib , Kimball, and Robinson. OVERNIGHT HOTT^ES AND TEA ROoME The matter of regulation of overnight-houses and tea-rooms was discussed at some length. It appears there is some uncertai- nty in the minds of planning officials generally as to the inter- pretation of zoning laws with respect to these activities, some contending that they are strictly business entrprises and as such are prohibited in all residence districts, others that they should be classed with the "taking of boarders" which in most instances is permitted. Itr.Clynn said he had cohferred with Mr. Hartman relative to the subject , and that the litter is seeking legal opinions on the interpretation of regulations which appear in various zoing by-laws , which may apply to the question. TOWN PLAN At the invitation of the Board, Mr. Trask attended the meeting, and Mr.Duffy outlined to him the need of a comprehens- ive Town Plan which could be used by all the Town Boards and Departments for reference. The project has been discussed with Mr.Anderson and Mr.Lane of the Federal Emergency Administration of Public "corks, they being; of the opinion that tha goverment aid could reasonably be expected in carrying out such projects. Mr Trask agreed that a Town ''lan is highly desirable and he f favors it, but that the Town is faced with the problem of about two hundred families not yet cared for under C.W.A. allotments, moat of these workers being unskilled and thefore not capable of employment in connection with a survey of the nature suggested. Moreover, the method of selecting men for employment under C .W.A. funds is so restrictive that the character of projects which the Selectmen can initiate is greatly limited. It was finally decided that Mr . Duffy would confor with Mr. Cosgrove, Town Engiheer, and together they would estimate the man-power needed, in addition to the regular engineering staff, in order to carry out such a survey. There remained some question as to whether sufficient skilled workers are available locally, and whether, if necessary, engineers from neighboring towns could be drawn upon to work under Lexington C T.A. appropriations. MA.SSACHT1S7TTS AV7 T17 ^ON7N" CHAN= Reviewing the records of the public hearing held Novenber I7 relative to the proposed changing of the areas on Massachusq etts Avenue between Fletcher Avenue and Vine Brook, and between '"inthrop Road and T"allis Court, from business to residential zones , upon motion of Mr.Glynn it was VJT 'D That the Planning Board recommend to the Town that the Zoning By-law and Map be amended so as to changt from a C. I to an R. I District, all the areas now embraced within the C .I 2 District on the 'Northeast side of "'oburn Street an Mass. Ave. extending, from Fletcher Avenue to Vine Brook, and on the south- , west side of Massachusetts Avenue to Wallis Court, and that an Article be prepared for insertion in the Town Warrant providing for such change. PR)POS_i;D AMENDMENT TO SECTION 4 The followin,; proposed amendment to the 2onino By-law was approved by vote of the Board. That Section 4, C. I Districts, Article 6 (e) be amended by addinb, after the word "depots", the words "public stables" , so that the artivle will read: " (e) Retail dealers in ice,bra4n, fuel, lumberand strucuural materials, milk depots, public stables and other commercial non-manufacturing uses not hereinbefore specified. " P.AE;T;E NT T:) SECTION IO fiKO -00NFO AING TTES" The proposed amen ent to Section IO relative to non-conf4 ommin,, uses was discussed, and a tentative draft was siibm4EtteliF which embodied a discontinuance-ofaoccupancy provision. "'R )--')SET AT,NT?ANT TO SECTION I6 "BOARD 1F APPALS" A new draft of Section I6, providinb fog the constitution of the Board of Appeals , was in the hands of Mr. Maddison,Chair- man and was therefore not available for consideration. PROPOSED A1,11NDMPNT TO SECTION a7 "AA=ENls." A final draft of the proposed amendment to Section 17 which the Board adopted Januaay 5, chanr,inb the words "rejected" nd"re,jection" to "acted upon" and "action" , respectively, was approved for insertion in the Town Warrant. The meetin0 adjourned at II 40 D.M. Clerk MEETING OF PLANNING BOARD FEBRUARY 2, 1934 A meeting of the Lexington Planning Board was held at the Town Office Building on Friday evening, February 2, 1934, the following members being present: Messrs. Duffy, Glynn, Scheibe, Kimball, and Robinson. OVERNIGHT HOUSES and TEA ROOMS: The matter of the regulation of overnight-houses and tea-roams was discussed at some length. It wears that there is some uncer- tainty in the minds of planning officials generally as to the interpretation of zoning laws with respect to these activities; some contending that they are strictly business enterprises and as such are prohibited in all residence districts, others that they should be classed with the "taking of boarders" which in most instances is permitted. Mr. Glynn said that he had conferred with Mr. Hartman relative to the sub- ject, and that the latter is seeking legal opinions on the interpretation of regula- tions which appear in various zoning by-laws, which may apply to the question. TOWN PLAN At the invitation of the Board, Mr. Trask attended the meeting, and Mr. Duffy outlined to him the need of a comprehensive Town Plan which could be used by all the Town Boards and Departments for reference. The project had been discussed with Mr. Anderson and Mr. Lane of the Federal Emergency Administration of Public Works, they being of the opinion that government aid could reasonably be expected in the carrying out of sucg projects. Mr. Trask agreed that a Town Plan is highly desirable and he favors it; but that the Town is faced with the problem of about two hundred families not yet oared for ender C.W.A. allotments, most of these workers being unskilled and therefore not capable of employment in connection with a survey of the nature suggested. Moreover, the method of selecting men for employment under C.W.A. funds is so restrictive that the character of projects which the Selectmen can initiate is greatly limited. It was finally decided that Mr. Duffy would con- fer with Mr. Cosgrove, Town Engineer, and together they would estimate the man-power needed, in addition to the regular engineering staff, in order to parry out such a survey. There remained some question as to whether sufficient skilled wprkers are available locally; and whether, if necessary, engineers from neighboring towns could be drawn upon to work under Lexington C.W.A. appropriations. February 2, 1934 (2) MASSACHUSETTS AVENUE Reviewing the records of the public hearing held November17 ZONING CHANGES relative to the proposed changing of the areas on Massaohu- setts Avenue between Fletcher Avenue and Vine Brook, and between Winthrop Road and Wallis Court, from business to residential zones, upon motion of Mr. Glynn it was VOTED: That the Planning Board recommend to the Town that the Zoning By-law and Map be amended so as to change from a C-i to an R-1 District, all the areas now embraced within the C-1 District on the Northeast side of Woburn Street and Massachusetts Ave- nue extending from Fletcher Avenue to Vine Brook, and on the southwest side of Mass- achusetts Avenue from Winthrop Road to Wallis Court; and that an Article be prepared for thsertion in the Town Warrant providing for suoh change. PREPARATION OF ARTICLES Mr. Duffy had talked with Mr. Wrightington relative to FOR TOWN WARRANT the form in which Articles for the Town Warrant should be prepared. He had informed him that each article should be stated as specifically as possible. /IMPOSED AMENDMENT The following proposed amendment to the Zoning By-law TO SECTION 4: STABLES was approved by vote of the Board : That Section 4, C-1 Districts, Article 6 (e) be amended by adding, after the word "depots", the words "public stables", so that the article will read "(e) Retail dealers in ice, grain, fuel, lumber and structural materials, milk depots, public stables, and other commercial non-manufacturing uses not hereinbefore specified." PROPOSED AMENDMENTS The proposed amendment to Section 10 relative to non- TO SECTIONS 10 and 16 conforming uses was discussed, and a tentative draft was submitted which embodied a discontinuance-of-occupancy provision. A new draft of Section 16, providing for the constitution of the Board of Appeals, was in the hands of Mr. Maddison, Chairman and was therefore not available for consider- ation. PROPOSED AMENDMENT A final draft of the proposed amendment to Section 17 which TO SECTION 17 the Board adopted January 6, changing the words "rejected" and "rejection" to "acted upon" and "action", respectively, was approved for February 2, 1934 (3) insertion in the Town Warrant. The meeting adjourned at 11:40. Clerk I