HomeMy WebLinkAbout1943-12-27PLANNING BOARD MEETING
December 27, 1943
A joint meeting of the Planning Board and Directors
of the Chakber-of Commerce was held on December 27th at
8 P. M. in the Town Offices. Those present for the Planning
Board were Messers. Greeley, Worthen, and Richards. The
Chamber of Commerce was represented by Messers. Custance,
Bateman, Johnson, Cleveland, Couette, Marshall and
Berliner.
Mr Couette, presented Mr. Nelson Bump, Transportation Bedford
Manager of American Airlines, and discussion followed Airport
relative to the Bedford Airport; in particular:
What should Lexington expect of th'e airport in the
future?
How will its growth effect Lexington?
How can we co-operate, plan, or control?
Mr. Bump's remarks follow in brief:
Bedford field is a State airport; we have no control
over it except the services it uses, highways, housing, etc.
' Originally a "pleasure" airport, it has grown to huge
proportions,under the Army during the war. It may develop
one of two ways: either for commercial (freight) purposes
or pleasure and private uses. The possibility of its
becoming primarily a passenger terminal would appear to lie
far in the future.
If Bedford becomes an air freight (express) terminal,
East Boston would still remain as the primary field for
both freight and passenger operations, but congestion in
the air and on the ground, plus other limitations may make
It impossible for East Boston to handle it all. There is a
choice to be made between Bedford, Beverly, or Canton.
Perhaps 5 to 8 years before choice happens, assuming Bedford
is the choice for major development on account of long
runways permitting use of heaviest planes. Of above listed
towns, Bedford is the best location from aeronautical
viewpoint; factors such as terrain, lack of fog, etc.*A
possible good assembly point for cities to the north,
hauling in over the road and shipping goods out by air.
Sheds would be necessary, Rail terminals might develop, not
nede�ssarily in our favor. Some manufacturers are today
looking for air sidings instead of rail sidings on which
to build factories. Also idea of one central warehouse
(shipping in all directions by air) instead of regional
' warehouses maintained expensively all over the country.
Planning Board Meeting 2.
All this may involve zoning, outside the property,
adjacent to sides of runways. At the ends of runways allow I 50-1 gliding ratio; 1. e., 50 feet horizontally;;* for every
foot of vertical rise.
Bedford probably will not increase materially In
area over what it will cover at the end of the,war. Definite
irert by operators.. t6 limit sizes. 10,000 foot runways will
be used for heaviest planes (taking into account also
propulsion advancements). Municipalities can not be ex-
pected to expand them indefinitely to meet the desires of
manufacturers who demand bigger strips for bigger loads.
.The Planning Board's Master Map was consulted:
Possibility of future state highway taking off from the
future circumferential Route 128. Gen. Hale, of the Public
Works Department may have information. In regard to present
utilities: water and sewer services are hooked up to Wood
St. mains. Also filter beds run out in Lexington land.
Sanitary conditions or menaces must be borne in mind: pigs,
mosquitoes, Tophet Swamp etc. Field has its own electric
service, and fire department. Police protection?
Consulting the map brings to mind the possibility of
a future extended runway carrying over into the Tophet
Swamp area of Lexington, which is sparsely populated.
Housing: This question was discussed at some length.
'
Requirements are not easy to predict. If Bedford became a
large freight terminal there might be as many as 1000
employees. If it went to manufacturing there might be any
number. It is estimated that in the next 5 years the
expansion in air transport will be anywhere from 2* to 10,
times the pre-war figure. Striking a mean for these estimates,
we might expect roughly 200 to 300 employees at Bedford.:
As potential home owners, their incomes run somewhat as
follows: Employees $1800 to $3500 a year. First Officers and
Captains from 15000 to $10,000 a year. These employees can be
encouraged to live nearby, i.e., in towns within easy commuting
distance.
The Board was referred to the Army Engineers, in the
basement of the Registry at E. Cambridge, for imformation
on land in Lexington adjacent to the airport.
Mr. Bump felt that garage and servicing facilities will
grow up at Bedford. Such operators (as Wiggins), who maintain
sales and servicing, instruction and taxi facilities (comparable
to the motor sales business) are already being crowded out of
the big commercial airports, and are moving to the suburban
areas.
Planning Board Meeting_ 3.
At the war's end, the companies will begin to build up
their depleted fleets of transport planes, now largely
engaged in army transport and ferry service.
In order to keep the Bedford port operating as a freight
terminal it would be necessary to carry an enormous tonnage
per month, due to economic factors governing plane flights,
far in excess of present commercial operations. This is
distinctly a future projection.
Both the Planning Board and Chamber of Commerce Directors
agreed that it is highly desirable for Lexington to take the
initiative, accepting the airfield as a development which is
going to work for or against us, and to meet jointly and work
together with the Selectmen and Planning Boards of Bedford,
Lincoln, and Concord.
The Planning Board presented sketches and a preliminary Parking
clay model of the proposed parking and shopping area bounded and
by Massachusetts Avenue, Waltham Street, and Muzzey Street, Shopping
showing new street, shops, and parking for 100 cars. Area
Discussion with the Chamber of Commerce resolved itself
into several main topics. question as to whether the land
should be taken by the town by eminent domain or purchase;
compromise necessary. Should entire property be taken, some
later to be sold for building purposes, or only that portion
to be used for the proposed street and parking area. One.
' suggested procedure would be for tow takings; one for highway
purposes, and one for parking purposes.
There was no majority agreement as to the advisability
of the proposed street extension from Muzzey through.+:to
Clarke Street. This envolves land remaining for possible
R-3 (limited apartment) zones, proximity to grammar school
-and library, widening of existing streets, traffic flow,
and congestion at intersection.of Clarke Street, and the
Avenue.
Lengthy discussion followed on store depts., property
values, tax returns, private versus municipal parking under-
takings, and the future importance of Waltham Street after
the new Route 128 is completed.
There was some disagreement as to whether the area
should be developed primarily as a parking area, which was
the original intent of the project, or whether the shopping
facilities should also included, on the supposition that the
town boards could exert a measure of influence on private
builders toward something desirable to the town.
It was agreed to developths final model
shop's on the side streets, and the remainder
given over to parking. Superimposed on this
removable panel showing the central shopping
resulting parking.
with the small
of the a rea
would be a
arcade and the
Planning Board Meeting 4.
Mr. Worthen reported to the Board that he had met
with Mr. Dreselly and gone over the model and data on the
area. Mr. Dreselly had agreed to make the final model for
the sum of $100 which was approved. Only the main area
will be developed, but the area between Mu zzey and Clarke
Streets is to be included, with present buildings indicated
In plan only, nad the Chamber of Comerce desires the street
extension to Clarke Street also to be indicated. All to
1"• 401. Time required, from two to three weeks. Mr. Dreselly
feels it desirable to meet with the Board several times as the
model develops. Finds for this project are to be appropriated
from the 1943 budget, and a bill is on hand, Town Accountant
duly informed, to be held in escrow for future payment when
the services are completed.
Annual The Board voted to request an appropriation of $250
Budget for the year 1944, the sum to be broken down as last year,
and Mr. Worthen agreed to have the budget sheets prepared
as required by the Town Accountant.
The meeting was adjoined at 11:30 P. M.
espectqul y s t d,
dw n B. Worthen Jr.
Clerk Pro -Temp. '
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