HomeMy WebLinkAbout1939-12-181
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PLANNING BOARD MEETING
DECEMBER 181, 1939.
A meeting of the Planning Board was held in the Town
Office Building, on Monday, December 18th, at 7:30 P. M.
Messrs. Greeley, Ferguson, Worthen and Nickerson were
present.
It was voted that the clerk be instructed to apply
for the Planning Board appropriation for 1940 on the same
basis as for 1939 in the sum of $250.00 made up as follows:
Clerical Expenses $25.00
Postage & Supplies 10.00
Advertising 25.00
Photostats, etc. 15.00
Drafting and Research 75.00
Professional Services 25.00
Engineering & Maps 50.00
Sundry Items- 25.00
$250.00
It was voted that the sum of $15. be authorized to
pay for our membership in the Mass. Federation of Planning
Boards.
Budget
Dues
It was voted that the sum of $70. be authorized to Air survey
be spent for seven air survey maps which the engineering maps
department desires to purchase.
Mr. Worthen was unanimously elected Clerk of the Clerk
Board for 1940.
PIM.
The next meeting will be Monday. Jan. 8, at 7:30
The meeting adjourned at 8:30 P. M.
Respectfully submitted,
Clerk.
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ANNUAL REPORT OF THE PLANNING BOARD FOR 1939
Planning for physical developments such as streets,
playgrounds, subdivisions, water, sewer and drainage systems,
involves a study of income and expense, present and future.
A town, like any corporation, must cut its garment to fit
the cloth, and must plan financial balance and growth to keep
pace with physical development. The Board studied early in
the year the Town's income from its taxation of homes.
There are about 2500 residences. The Town spends not
less than $11,000,000. for services for the occupants of these
houses, or about $400. per family. There are 135 families
that pay in to the Town in taxes and assessments $400, or
more each. There are over 2200 families which pay less. Most
of the families that have come into Town and built in recent
years pay less than half this $400. To all these the Town is
extending a cordial welcome, and should continue to do so as
long as it can meet the bill. It can collect $200. in taxes,
but must spend 0400. to supply services for each such family.
It must find the $200. somewhere else as long as it can. The
Board is studying this problem with the hope that it may help
the citizens to work toward a solution of the main problem
of making income and outgo balance in years to come.
One way to increase income would be to invite one
$1000. tax payer into Town for every three $200. tax payers.
That would just balance things up at $400. apiece.
There is another way, namely to decrease the added cost
of services to the newcomers. This can be done if streets,
sewer4 water and lights already installed and constructed can
be used for.new homes, instead of building more and more new
services. The. Board is making a list of properties now
available for purchase and development, and located on streets
where no construction is needed to make services available to
new houses. To encourage homes in these locations will have
a decidedly favorable effect on the tax rate. There is no
other single plan that will do more to balance our budget
comfortably.
The Board proposed to the Town Meeting a change in zon-
ing regulations to permit the construction of limited apart-
ments in special zones for that purpose. This was voted by
the Town, and subject to approval of the Attorney General
such zones may now be established upon petition, hearing, and
favorable vote of the Town in each case.
The removal of loam has been a disturbing problem for
' some time. While the present Board has shared only indirectly
in the recent efforts of the Town to enforce its regulations.,
it hereby records its great satisfaction that the Town's
position has been upheld by the higher court. '
The parking conditions in the centre business dis-
trict have been the subject of renewed study and planning
by the Board, vjhich employed expert assistance in this field
during the summer. In the late fall the Chamber of Commerce
became interested and appointed a Committee with which the
Board is in touch.
The Board has advised the Metropolitan Planning
Engineers that the Town does not wish the Lowell Turnpike
connection to the Paul Revere Highway to pass through the
junction of Massachusetts Avenue and Pleasant Street, but
prefers a location father to the South near Oak Street,
with a traffic circle, or at the Arlington line with grad®
separation. The Engineers have agreed to consult the Town
before making any decision on this or on the Route 128
location.
The Board made a study of speed control and its effect
on automobile accidents, especially as evidenced in Rhode
Island. It submitted this report to the Selectmen.
The Board has held sixteen formal meetings, including
joing meetings with the Selectmen and one public hearing.
s/ William Roger Greeley
S/ E. B. Worthen, Jr.
8/ Lester F. Ellis
s/ Clem H. Ferguson
s/ Edward W. Kimall
s/ Donald E. Nickerson
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