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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1936-12-08 i - PLANNING BOARD MEETING December 8, 1936 Present:- Messrs. Borden, Ellis, Ferguson, Nickerson and Kimball. Mr. Lewis of the Engineering Department presented a lay- out of the area on the westerly side of Highland Avenue, drawn by Engineer Cutter and dated July, 1925, showing a street connecting Slocum Road (extended) and Bloomfield Street. He stated that Mr. Black desired this as a Board of Survey Road, that it had been approved by an earlier Planning Board but through some inadvertence had not been passed on by any Black Board of Survey. This is substantiated by Planning Board Develop- records with the addition of a provision for an easement to ment cover drainage . Mr. Black is not pressing and as there was a scheduled hearing with the Board of Survey, action was postponed to the next meeting. The Planning Board adjourned to attend the Board of Survey Hearing at which Mr. Borden presented a draft plan of a proposed Board of Survey street connecting Merriam Street and Hancock Street explaining that this was advisable to complete the layout of this block and was advanced at this time to meet the proposed development of the Merriam Oakland property. He explained that it would be necessary before Street the Regan property or the so-called Railroad lot could be Extension opened up and that the Board felt it should be in advance of such action rather than attempt to make the best of what might be an awkward situation if left to random growth. This plan differs from that of a former board in that it provides for a more equitable taking from the various property owners. The burden of necessity falls on the railroad lot and was opposed,by letter form, by the B. & M. officials on the grounds of loss of property, possible in- crease in danger at the Hancock Street end and apprehension of "betterment" costs . Mrs. Regan was not present. Mr. Merriam offered several alternative plans such as swinging the intersection at Merriam Street further west. He is not, however,opposed to the layout as suggested. Since Mrs. Regan had not been notified of the hearing, it was suggested that the Planning Board obtain her views before final antic i was taken. �\ The Planning Board reconvened and voted to approve the usual contribution of $15.00 to the Federation of Planning Boards. After disposing of routine matters, a general dis- cussion of ways and means toward increasing lot areas and Lot Areas frontages followed. It was agreed that the present limita- tions are not sufficient and that there is a serious threat II to the Town through uncontrolled developments. It is recog- nized that any action along preventative lines will meet with organized resistance and the first steps must be through education and possibly by interesting citizens to petition for changes in several parts of the Town as an initial step. The members of the Board are to discuss this subject outside of the Board in an endeavor to ob- tain the general reactions. The meeting adjourned at 10:05 P. M. Respectfully submitted, Clerk I I SELECTMEN'S MEETING December 8, 1936 At 8 05 P. M . hearing was declared open on the applica- tion of the Planning Board for the approval by the Board of Survey of the layout of a proposed street from $ancock Street to Merriam Street which would be , in reality, an extension of Oakland Street . The notice of the hearing was read by the Chairman. Mr. Neil H. Borden, Chairman of the Planning Board, said that the Planning Board had initiated this movement since Mr. Robert Merriam's Board of Survey hearing as it seemed desir- able that Oakland Street be opened through to Hancock Street . Several difficulties were presented, however, in view of the fact that putting a roadway through at this point cut down the depth of Mrs. Mary Regan 's land and the Boston and Maine Railroad' s land. He said it was a matter of what compromise they could strike to take care of the best interests involved. Mr . Borden stated that Mr. Kimball of the Planning Board had conferred with officials of the railroad and had received a letter which stated that the railroad had several objections to the layout as planned. First there would be a taking of thirty feet of the railroad land and the remaining land would be so narrow that it would have no practical use . The road would be very near the grade crossings at Hancock and Merriam Streets and no doubt betterment assessments would be levied which would be greater than the value of the land. Mr. Kimball said that the first objection was on the danger of the cross- ings and secondly the railroad was seriously concerned with the possibility of betterment assessments. Board of Dr. L'larence Shannon stated that the Planning Board was Survey making this layout in order to prevent the railroad from Hearing developing it any way it wished. Oakland Mr. Borden said that it was merely a protection for the Street future so that the Town could control the land in the matter Extension of laying out the lots. The Chairman asked Mr. Robert Merriam how he felt on the matter. He replied that the Planning Board and the Board of Survey felt that this was the way the street should be laid out and said he would agree to deed to the Town a twenty- five foot strip of land with the understanding that if the layout was eventually abandoned, the land would revert back to him. Mr. Merriam thought that consideration should be given to the fact that there are several alternative routes which might be adopted. He said he understood that this road would be parallel to Mass. Avenue and it was the ultimate plan to continue it from Hancock Street through to Grant Street . He said that there was a large ledge near the foot bridge side of his factory and that it would cost a great deal to blow it out . If the railroad property should develop, it might be possible for the Town to take some of the land the the taking along flat land down to Grant Street might be cheaper than blowing down the ledge near the foot bridge . Mr. T. A . Custance said that as a citizen of the Town he approved of the general idea and he wished to compliment the Planning Board and Mr. Merriam for giving so much con- sideration to the matter. Mr. Borden said that in laying out the street at the Merriam Street end, they took only 20 feet from Mrs. Regan and 30 feet from the railroad but that the railroad was compensated as there was a smaller taking of their land at the other end. Mr. Kimball said that he had discussed the matter with Mrs. Regan and she was not at all satisfied with the layout as planned. The Chairman stated that the matter would be taken under advisement and the hearing was declared closed at 8:30 P. M. The Chairman said that he had suggested to Mr. Kimball that the Planning Board get in touch with Mrs. Regan and dis- cuss the matter with her .