HomeMy WebLinkAbout1938-01-10 1938
PLANNING BOARD
Lester F. Ellis 1941
Clem H. Ferguson 1941
Donald E. Nickerson 1940
Eugene G. Kraetzer 1940
Vim. Roger Greeley 1939
Edward U. Kimball 1939
PLANNING BOARD MEETING
January 10, 1938
Present:- Full Board except Mr. Ellis.
The question of continuing action on Chapter 211 and of
introducing an article on lot areas at the March Town Meeting
was discussed and it was a majority opinion that the ToWn was
looking to the Planning Board for a change in area size, that Chapter
favorable action might be jeopardized if the Board sponsored 211
both actions and that Chapter 211 should be left for a later
town meeting. The Board of Selectmen are to be notified to
this effect.
The by-law under consideration by Milton, which provides
for 40,000, 20,000 and 7,500 foot areas, laid out at specified
locations and a provision for modifying previously recorded
lots, was discussed as applying to our problem and it was
generally conceded that basic conditions were dissimilar, that
the legal justification under present enabling acts for multi-
area provision is still questionable and that time and money
is not available for the necessarily comprehensive study of
our open spaces to warrant a similar approach in Lexington.
Mr. Greeley presented as a basis for discussion, a
proposal for lots with a minimum of 25,000 square feet in un-
developed districts and a provision for smaller lots if facing
on built up accepted streets.
Discussion of this proposal developed the following:-
1. That a 15,000 square foot provision was probably the
maximum size that there could be any hope for favor-
able action and that it would be the part of wisdom
to recommend 10,000 square feet as a minimum in the
more thickly settled sections.
2. That a fixed frontage is undesirable and that a pro-
vision,such as a width of not less than 100 feet, Areas &
offers the most satisfactory limits. Frontages
Note: In this connection, Mr. Greeley will contact
Professor Adams of M. I. T. in an effort to obtain
a series of examples to show application of this
principle to various shaped lots, with dwelling
locations.
3. That from the Town's exonomic standpoint, it is ad-
visable to increase building along accepted streets,
with water and sewer services rather than spread
into unaccepted and undeveloped sections.
4. That while any provisions should be flexible, they
should be sufficiently specific to permit applica-
tions to existing conditions without reference to
Board of Appeals for interpretation and permissions
without defeating the purposes of the by-law.
5. That in actual practice, generally larger lots will
result through an established minimum size, with the
distance between streets controlled through layouts
accepted by the Board.
Meeting adjourned at 10:25 P. M. until January 19th at
7:45 p. M. Respectfully submitted,
Clerk