HomeMy WebLinkAbout1937-08-06August 60, 1937
' Present:- Messrs. Ellis, Ferguson, Greeley, Kraetzer and Kimball
Several owners of property in the vicinity of Marrett
Road and Spring Street accepted the Boards invitation to dis-
cuss the proposed Board of Survey street.
A plan prepared by the Town Engineer dated August 6, 1937
entitled "Development at Marrett Road and Spring Street" was
explained and comments requested.
A majority registered opposition to extending Outlook
Drive through to Marrett Road explaining that they had located
on dead end streets to avoid the hazards of through traffic
and expressed fear that it would become an approach to the
Reservoir district thus becoming dangerous to the children in
the neighborhood. A letter was received from the Watertown
Co -Operative Bank as owners of lots No. 25 and 70 on Outlook
Drive, expressing approval of the extension and offering to
pay their share of costs. (Note: The bank property does not
abut on the extension.) The owners of the lot on the easterly
corner were approved to the location of the intersection of
the proposed street and Outlook -Drive on the grounds that it
included part of their property. Mrs. Edith Smith was unable Development
to be present and reserved her comments. at Marrett
The representatives of the Home Owners Bank had an Rd, & Spring
erroneous opinion that their lot could be divided into fifty Street
' foot frontages but registered no opposition to the layout
proposed.
Except as above noted, there was general approval of
the plan as submitted.
It was pointed out that a street layout under the Board
of Survey Act was simply the description of a proposed way and
that such a street might not be actually built for a consider-
able time. It simply enables the property owners to lot up their
land on the basis of probable later developments and to work
toward the mutual advantage of all concerned. The Town cannot
lay water or sewer in streets unless they be Board of Survey
or accepted streets and a building permit cannot be given for
a dwelling not fronting on a street unless it has an approach
street established under the Board of Survey Act.
This meeting was dissolved at 8:30 P. M. in favor of a
hearing on a proposed amendment to the Zoning By -Law proposed
by H. Irving Currier. Detail report attached.
At the conclusion of the hearing, the Board reconvened -
and after discussion and vote, the clerk was directed to pre Lowell &
pare a report and favorable recommendation on the amendment Woburn Sts,
provided a formal easement covering building lines at the
four corners, as mutually agreed upon, had been received.
It was voted to hold hearings on the amendments cover-
' ing the new map and the change in description of the C.l Zone By -Laws
at the Carbarn property at 8:00 and 8:10 P. M.,Thursday, Sept.
2, 1937.
The meeting adjourned at 10:15 P.M.
Re ectfully submitted,
Clerk
PLANNING BOARD HEARING
H. Irving Currier
' August 6,1937
A public hearing was held in the Selectmen's Room of the
Town Office Building, Lexingtoh, on Friday, August 6, 1937, at
8:30 P. M. upon petition of H. Irving Currier. Messrs. Kimball,
Kraetzer, Greeley and Ferguson were present. The petition was
to amend the Zoning By -Law and Map by changing the limits of
the existing C.1 District as follows: -
"14. At the junction of Woburn and Lowell Streets
business districts upon each of the corners and extend-
ing for a distance of 200 feet along each street from
the junction points of the side lines of each street
thence back at right angles to each said street until
the exterior lines intersect."
Mr. Kimball was elected Chairman pro -tem and Mr. Ferguson
Clerk pro -tem.
The following persons were present:- Mr. Archibald R.
Giroux, Mr. H. Irving Currier, Mr. Howard Munroe, Mr. Frederick
Spencer and I,1r. and Mrs. Albert E. Olsen.
Mr. Giroux explained that because Mr. Edward C. Stone
' could not attend, he was representing Mr. Currier and that the
request for the change in the zoning is made by a corporation
consisting of Edward C. Stone, Howard Munroe and Irving Currier.
He felt it -,as not necessary to say anything in regard to the
character of these men because they have always lived in Lexington.
He thought it a necessity to protect the Town as a residential
Town and at,the same time take into account that we must have
some knowledge of a balance between large homes, small homes and
business property. There is a growing tendency to build many
small homes. The small home is an economic loss to the Town
in taxes, therefore it is necessary to have business property
to offset the loss of heavy taxes. lie felt that this is a case
where business property could be developed to help in the question
of taxation and the location is far enough away from the center
of Town. As Mr. P+Iunroe owns the greater part of the land on the
four corners, it cannot be remarked that it would injure adjoin-
ing property. Itiir. Giroux stated that Mr. Currier had the plan
showing the proposed layout. At the present time the total
taxable value on the corner being used including land and build-
ings is 8465.00 and the proposed building is to cost $15,000.00
which will add considerably to the taxable value of the property.
He stated that 1,1r. Currier does not intend to take down the
gasoline station at the present time so the Town will not lose
the value of that small building which is assessed at $2000.00.
' Mr. Currier presented the plans of the proposed building
which were the same as shown before.
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Mr. Greeley stated that the function of the Planning
Board was in connection with the land'vather than the plans of
the proposed buildings and asked to see plans of the land.
Mr. Currier stated that the layout of the land was at Mr.
Heffernan+s office. Mr. Greeley felt it would be impossible
for the Board to act without seeing the location of the
buildings on -the land in question. Mr. Currier said he would
get the plan and file it with the Board.
Mr. Kraetzer asked if there was a possibility of the
corporation selling the property in the future and,Elr. Giroux
replied that that is a privilege of any property owner.
Kr. Kimball asked to hear from those who wished to be
recorded in favor of the change.
Mr. Frederick J. Spencer reported that knowing these
men for many years, he would like to see the change made.
Mr. Kimball asked for those who wished to speak in.
opposition.
.Mr. Olsen asked if they intended to continue to have
the swings as they were a great.nuisance. Mr. Giroux replied
that as he understood it, the springs are going to be taken
down. Mr. Currier stated that there will be no playground
equipment.
Mr. Olsen then stated that he had no objection to the
change if they would stop the noise as he had often had to
call the police at 2:00 o'clock on Sunday morning in order
to have the noise stopped.
As there were no others who wished to speak, Mr. Kimball
declared the hearing closed.
Respectfully submitted,
Clerk
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