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Home My WebLink About1935-12-271 �J Planning Board Meeting December 27, 1935 - 7:30 P.M. Present: Messrs Duffy, Ellis and Robinson. Mr, Robert Merriam appeared and again discussed the matter of changing the zone embracing the land on Oakland Street on which his factory is located so as to permit the alteration of the factory for apartment occupancy. Mr. Merriam reiterated and amplified his previous state- ments that all things considered the only feasible programme for him to pursue was to remodel the factory so as to provide for 15 apartments in substantial harmony with the plans and sketches prepared by architect Willard Brown and shown the. Board. It was Mr. Merriam*s opinion that the final plans contemplated a pleasing and otherwise satisfactory arrangement, and one which would not impair the status of, nor otherwise detract from the neighborhood. Such a programme he avers would be infinitely better than to face the possible prospect of a continuance of the present structure with factory, warehouse, or business occupancies, under rentals which would probably be insufficient to maintain the property along the satisfactory lines to which the towns- people and neighborhood have been accustomed; or as a possible alternative, the destruction of the factory, leaving a large and unsig'_ltly cellar hole under it could be more profitably utilized. Mr. Merriam states that he had considered in conference with his architect and builder the alternative informal sug- gestion that single houses be constructed in lieu of an apart- ment thus utilizing this land in line with the balance of this single family district and to meet a demand which the Board believes exists to a greater degree than the call for apart- ments. Such a scheme is not feasible according to the owner since it would entail sacrificing the large and well con- structed garsa as well as the salvage in the factory building estimated at 10,000, both of which could be availed of in .the apartment proposition, the demand for which he is satisfied exists. There would be considerable expense as to grading involving filling up the cellar holes, etc. in the case of single family residences. He is also of the opinion that in the long run the greatest profit will be derived from the apartment occupancy. The question of changing the building laws or seeking relief from the Board of Appeals so as to arrange the fire walls, petitions, etc. along lawful lines was discussed briefly and Messrs Ellis and Robinson called attention to a provision which they believed existed in the building laws calling for Merriam Factory Site ' outside windows in had apparently been tectfs attention. - u - the toilets. This latter Mr. Merriam indicated overlooked but would be called to the archi- Inasmuch as Mr. Merriam feels that he ought not to incur further expense as to securing detailed plans on which proper bids can be secured nor proceed with the building law aspects of the situation until the Planning Board has reconsidered its present position as reflected in the vote taken at the last meeting, of which Mr. Merriam was informed verbally by the Chairman, he requests that the Board inform him finally as to whether a petition to accomplish what he has in mind would be favored by the Board. The Chairman agreed to take up the matter at the next full meeting of the Board. The question of lot frontages was discussed briefly and no action taken The Chairman reported that he had talked with Mr. Beal, City Engineer, and Clerk of the Waltham Planning Board who stated that a plan and profile had been prepared showing the route of the Circumferential road in Waltham. The location at the Lexington line conforms to that approved by our Board. The 'Waltham plan will be presented to their Planning Board for approval shortly and will be forwarded with a letter to the State Planning Board. It is suggested that copies of the information sent the State be exchanged between the two boards. Meeting adjourned at 10:30 to Friday Jan, 3, 1936 at 7:30 P.M. Chkh an. lot Front- age Cireum- fer- ential High- way f' 1 1 1935 ANIMAL RrPORT During the past year the Planning Board has held twenty- one regular meetings, three joint meetings, has taken two field trips, and,has conducted three public hearings. It has considered six specific amendments to the Zoning By -Law and has given its opinion on several proposed streets and plot layouts. Roadside planting and further development of our Park areas have been under consideration and as in the previous year much time has been devoted to the areas adjoining the Concord Turnpike and other proposed major highways. At the Annual Town Meeting in Iarch the Planning 'joard re - ported against one amendment which was indefinitely postponed. At the July Town 14leeting the board reported against one amendment which was passed; the Board also presented an amendment to prevent wholesale top soil stripping, which was indefinitely postponed, but following a joint meeting with the Board of selectmen and Board of Appeals, the subject was re -opened and will again be presented to the Town for action. The Board has interested itself in several Legislative Acts relating to planning, notably that establishing a State Planning Board, a revision of the Planning Board Enabling Act, the Bill Board Act and the act seeking to protect the Concord Turnpike. Our Chairman, Mr. Buffy, as Chairman of the Regional Planning Board was actively concerned with the Concord Turnpike Act, which passed both Houses only to ve vetoed by the Governor. The Board, however, hopes to present a plan which will be acceptable to 50 the Town, to accomplish the desired ends of making this important ' highway safe and of protecting its natural beauty in order to en- courage residential building in that section of the town. An automobile parking census, (counts being made by FRA men), embracing the center of the town was directed and summarized by the Board. The results indicated that conditions are not generally serious, although there is no doubt that considerable more space would become available for public use if a number of our trades people would refrain from using this area as an all -day garage. A report in full is filed with Board of Selectmen. Serious consideration has been given to that part of our By -Law pertaining to area regulations. INhether the present require- ments for a seventy-five foot frontage and seven thousand five hundred square feet area are sufficient for a town with the charac- teristics of Lexington is open to discussion and will receive further study by the Board.. Lembers of the Lexington i'lanning Board have met with the Circumferential Highnray Regional Committee, representatives of the State Department of Public Yorks and the Waltham Planning Board to consider the layout of the proposed Circumferential Highway (some- times referred to as the new noute 128), as well as its protection from unnecessary intrusion by connercial enterprises. Definite recommendations have been prepared and will be forwarded to the State Planning Board covering that part passing through Lexington. As a consequence of moving from Lexington, the Board lost the services of L'r. Foland B. Greeley and his resignation was a dis- tinct loss to the Board. Trained for city planning and employed by the flew 'England Regional Planning Committee, he contributed much of t -3- value to the Board, beyond that of serving as clerk for a year and a half. At a joint meeting of the Board of Selectmen and the Planning Board held November 26, 1935, 1.1r. Neil Borden was appointed to fill the vacancy caused by iv:r. Greeleyts resignation. Mr. Borden is a Professor of Yarketing at the Harvard School of Business Administra- tion and brings a keen appreciation of town requirements to the Board. The Planning Board recognizes and acknowledges the assist - ante and cooperation received from the Engineering Departent to- gether with that of the other mown Departments. J. Henry Duffy (Signed) Edward V1. Kimball (Signed) Neil H. Borden (Signed) Sheldon A. hobinson (Signed) John A. Sellars ( Oi gne d ) Lester F. Ellis (Signed) 1