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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1936-07-07PLANNING BOAFD MEETING ' July 7, 1936 Present:- dessrs. Borden, Ellis, Ferguson, Nickerson, Sellars and Kimball. Policies to be followed in connection with the treatment of the areas adjoining the Concord Turnpike and methods of Concord bringing the subject before the Town were discussed and it Turnpike was decided that each member should present a definite proposal for consideration at the next meeting. Adjournment was taken at 8:45 P. M. to meet with the Board of Selectmen and representatives from the Board of Trade to discuss the location of the proposed new Post Office. Re- New port attached. The attached letters were prepared and forwarded Post after agreements had been received by telephone from the Board Office of Selectmen and Mr. F. W. Taft. Following the above meeting, the Planning Board attended the hearing on Nr. Robert L. Ryder's request to discontinue a portion of a Board of Survey road intersecting Vine Brook R. L. Road. At the -conclusion of the hearing, the Planning Board Ryder met with the Board of Survey and reported in accordance with the minutes of the meeting dated July 2, 1936. The meeting adjourned until July 14, 1936. Respectfully submitted, Clerk n EXTRACT FROM RECORDS OF SELECTMEN'S MEETING July 7, 1936 At 8:30 P. M. the PlanningBoard the Directors_ of the Board of Trade, and Fletcher W. Taft appeared before the Board to discuss the site for the proposed new post office. Mr. Kimball of the Planning Board said that there were three sites being considered, I. e. the Harrington property, the Valentine property, and the Denham property on Muzzey Street. The Plann- ing Board had gone on record as favoring the Harrington prop- erty as being the best of the three. Mr. Taft said that the bids were to be opened next Monday at 9:00 A. M. The Chairman asked if the Board of Trade had gone on record as approving any particular site, and F. K. Johnson said that it had not. Mr. Taft said that the real reason for this meeting was to see if some decision could be reached, and to see if the Selectmen would go on record as favoring any particular site. The bids have been asked on certain specifications. The lot, if a corner one, must have 125 feet frontage and be 180 feet deep.. However, the lot might vary provided the square footage was approximately the same. There was no limit as to where the building might be placed. After the bids are opened next Monday they will be turned over to a Mr. Hunt, who is the site agent. He will be out here on Tuesday to look over the sites and confer with the various owners. It is possible to submit a post bid any ' time until such time as the Treasury Department finally pur- chases the land. At the present time the following sites are being offered: the Harrington property, Valentine property, O'Connell property at the corner of Woburn Street, Earle prop- erty on Muzzey Street, and the Denham property on Muzzey Street. Yr. Taft said that $75,000. had been allotted for the purchase of the land, the construction of the building, and the equip- ment, which will not exceed $2500. Mr. Clark asked why there was such a short time in which to act, and Mr. Taft replied that he thought it was a political gesture. Mr. Clark asked who owned the present post office. Mr. Taft replied that it was owned by a private individual, and was leased to the post office. Mr. Borden remarked that Lexington had made no special drive for a new post office, and if the postal authorities deem it advisable to have a new one, then the present one must be unsatisfactory. Mr. Taft said that he had talked with someone in authority at the post office, and he was told that Lexington had one of the worst post offices in the postal district. Mr. George Smith stated that it was the opinion of the Board of Trade that a new post office was advisable. Mr. Borden stated that he felt that the Planning Board and the Board of Selectmen should take a stand in the matter. Mr. Ross wondered how much bearing it would have if the two ' Boards did prefer a particular site. He said that it did not have much bearing in Arlington. Mr. Taft said that it did in Concord. Post Office Site -2 - Mr. Borden listed the advantages of the Harrington prop- erty as follows: It has adequate parking facilities; it is close enough to the business district to be easily accessible; ' and it would be ideal from the Planning Board's idea of civic development inasmuch as it is beside the Town Offices. Dir. Giroux asked if the Board of Trade felt that by locating the post office at this end of the Town it would definitely hurt business in the center, as against being more centrally located. Mr. Johnson said that he would say that the Harrington property was very centrally located, and that anyone of the places mentioned would be equally satisfactory. Pur. Giroux asked if there was any possibility of the Central Block being considered, and Mr. Taft replied that it was too expensive. Mr. Potter asked what proportion of the $75,000. should be spent for land, and Dir. Taft said between $10,000. and .$15,000. Mir. Taft said that if the Selectmen felt that it was in order to join with.the Planning Board in its decision, he felt that the Board of Trade would be willing to agree. Mr. Johnson said that there was a question in his mind as to whether the directors should go on record, as representing the whole Board of Trade, as favoring one particular location. He thought that it would be better to go on record as approv- ing three or four sites that might be considered by the govern- ment. The Chairman said that he thought the Board of Trade should have some recommendation to make, as if the Selectmen and Planning Board go on record as favoring some particular site without the approval of the Board of Trade, that someone would be out of order. He said that the beauty of the Town was not only to be considered, but the business interests of the townspeople, as well. Mr. Kimball suggested that a letter be written to Con- gresswoman Rogers and to Senator Walsh approving the Harrington property, and if the Selectmen were pleased to endorse this choice, that could be incorporated in the letter, and if the Board of Trade was pleased to endorse this choice, that also could be incorporated in the letter. Mr. Johnson said that the Board of Trade would approve the Harrington property, the Valentine property, or the two pieces of property on Muzzey Street. The Planning Board and the Directors of the Board of Trade then retired. Mr. Potter moved that the Selectmen endorse the Planning Board's choice of the Harrington property as the site for the proposed new post office. Mr. Clark seconded the motion and it was so voted. 1