HomeMy WebLinkAbout1940-12-02PLANNING BOARD MEETING
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December 2, 1940
A meeting of the Planning Board was held on Monday
evening, December 2, at 7;30 P. M. in the Town Offices.
Messrs. Greeley, Kimball, Ferguson, Nickerson, and Worthen
were present. The minutes of the previous meeting were
approved as received.
Reporting on the parking plan in the center,
Mr. Greeley stated that he had met with the Board of
Survey, and that the general opinion was that the land
under consideration was the correct place. Discussion
Parking
cantered on method of purchase or taking by the Town
Plan
and, at the Boardts request, Mr. Greeley submitted a
blueprint copy to them of this Board's report, for their
study.
Reporting on the parking survey, Mr. Kimball pre-
sented the parking census chart, approximately two-thirds
inked, showing clearly the findings on both sides of
Parking
Massachusetts Avenue in the Center. This graph, when
Survey
completed, should be of invaluable assistance.
Reporting on the Budget plan, Mr. Greeley stated
' that he had conferred with Mr. ft. Stanley Parker, who
looked over this Board's tabulations (Rudd), and recom-
mended that the report be separated into Capital and
Operating (Expense). It was agreed that this involved
a considerable amount of uninterrupted study by a quali-
Budget
fied examiner, and accordingly Mr. Fred Newhall was
Plan
called in for consultation. It was Voted, that for this
work by Mr. Newhall, the rate of pay should be determined
between himself and Mr. Nickerson, and that any clerical
or typing work involved should be paid for directly by
this Board.
Mr, Edward W. Taylor appeared before the Board, at
our request, to discuss fire -house sites in relation to
future needs in a budget plan. Chief Taylor reviewed Fire
briefly the last committee report (Brown) on this subject, Houses
in which the most desirable location for an East Lexington
sub -station is the old Adams School lot. This was one of
three sites considered, and Mr. Taylor pointed out that
the land is owned by the town, it is larger in area than
the present site, and has a particular advantage in
being flat. An acre of land is considered desirable for
a sub -station. For the central station site, the "Barnes
property" is considered the best of three. Bedford Street
being eliminated on account of existing street layout.
This location might well include a taking of land to
Fletcher Avenue. Mr. Taylor spoke of the large develop-
ments in E. Lexington and of the great growth of North
Lexington, but considered it would be a long time before
the Town needed any new stations. He pointed out in
locating fire -houses, the importance of considering
the financial center of gravity, as well as the city
street plan. He also stressed the dangers of cen-
tralization of apparatus, and cited the April 19th cele-
bration practice of temporary distribution of appara-
tus about the town. Three or four minutes should be
considered the maximum running time to any fire, and
stations located a mile apart in a congested city.
On this basis, Lexington (when about -three times its
present population) might look forward to five stations,
which should be adequate if suitably located. An ap-
proximation of five future fire districts was plotted
on a map, to be filed for reference.
Approval for payment of bills in connection with
the Parking Survey and Master Plan was given. The fol-
lowing bills were paid:
Bills Graph paper and materials $1.79
Inking of Parkin Census Chart 8.62
(174 hrs. @ .50/hour
Hand lettering 1.50
The next meeting will be held Monday, December 16th.
Upon motion of Mr. Ferguson, the meeting was ad-
hourned at 9:34 P. M.
Respectfully submitted,
Clerk
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