HomeMy WebLinkAbout1947-04-28PLANNING BOARD FETING
'April 280 19Q7
Present: 116rthen, Nickerson, Ferguson, Richards and Houdlette
Antonio Busa
Mr.Busa, of Lowell Street, appeared before the Board at 8 p.m.
for an informal hearing regarding his farm land and permission to erect a
dwelling. Land comprises 16.5 acres, bounded on the west by a short 16 -
foot aide right of way ("Old Road") off Rawson Avenue, by Lowell Street
on the east (where he retains only a 50 -foot frontage access) and
bounded by lands of others to north and south. Shown on plan of Everett
N. Brooks, scale 1" . 1001, dated April 2, 1947.
Mr.Busa wishes to erect a dwelling on the right of way, as an
adjunct to his farm buildings, and a permit for same had previously been
refused. No subdivision is contemplated immediately. The Board explained
its position, the Zoning By-law and Subdivision Regulations, recommending
to Mr.Busa that he request a Board of Appeals hearing if he so desires,
or a Board of Survey hearing based on a proposed 40 -foot road over the
right of wag from Rawson Avenue sufficient for the required frontage.
Luke Msv
' Mr.May, of Lexington Nurseries, appeared before the Board at 8s3O,
with two veterans, employees of the Nursery. land court plan is dated
January 8, 1945, scale 1" ■ 10010 by E.M.Brooks.
Four employees wish to erect dwellings on a portion of the nursery
land (which would be given them by Mr.May), said land having a 70 -foot
frontage on Woburn Street, with an existing right of way. Building permits
cannot be issued. It was suggested by the Board that Yx.May's engineer
lay out a Board of Survey street from Woburn Street, terminating in a circle,
of sufficient length to permit four fuse lots with approved frontages on
this road. also, that inasmuch as the men intended to do much of the work
themselves, using the nursery shop facilities, they might overcome consid-
erable of the expense trying to be avoided by undertaking the construction
of the road themselves, at least in part.
The Board reviewed a letter from Mr.Conant, in which he again re-
asserts his position regarding development of his land on Lincoln Street in
the vicinity of the Town dump. Mr.Conant requests the Selectmen and
Planning Board "to suspend the zoning laws or street regulations" suffi-
ciently to permit him to use the existing driveway as the subdivision street.
The Chairman was instructed to mite Yr.Conant.
Ridge Construction Comnanv (See Minutes -April 7, 1947)
Proposed development on both sides of the Concord Turnpike adjoin-
ing the Arlington line was re -submitted by Mr.Brooks, the engineer, follow-
ing a meeting with the Board of Survey, which Board did not approve
of the 20 -foot service roads shown parallel to the Turnpike. Revised
plan is dated April 11+, 1947, scale 1" a 501. ,
The Board examined this plan and raised several points. The
house lots now have direct frontage on the Turnpike, presumably their
back yards, or, if permission is granted by the State, the owners could
construct driveways to the Turnpike instead of to the new interior roads.
(Concord Turnpike is not a limited -access highway.) On the northerly
side of the Turnpike: question as to whether road could be approved
shown through land belonging to other parties; termination of road
questioned; entrance point of road (near Watertown Street) not satisfactory
as it occurs at the accelerated lane leading from the Turnpike to Watertown
Street. On the southerly side of the Turnpikes no turn around has been
provided at the end of Golden Avenue, where it adjoins property of this
Bunt Country Club. For these lots, water service presumably would be
furnished by Arlington and charged to Lexington.
The Chairman was instructed to communicate with PAr.Brooks
covering the above questions or criticisms. It was also suggested that
the Planning Board mi ht well confer with the Selectmen (and with other
towns on the Turnpikel in an effort to adopt a uniform policy in regant
to subdivisions on the Turnpike.
Rapid Transit
The Board's recommendations have been requested by the Beard of
Selectmen relative to the report (1947) of the Legislative Commission '
on Rapid Transit. Inasmuch as the new proposed route (Cambridge subway
extended from Harvard Square under Massachusetts Avenue to Porter Square,
thence on the surface over the Fitchburg Division, to a terminal between
Concord Turnpike and Alewife Brook Parkway; thence over the Boston &
Maine tracks to Arlington Heights and Lexington) avoids the circuitous
route and transfers perviously proposed, follows in general a'route sug-
gested by the Planning Board, and does not leave Lexington stranded be-
cause of no rapid transit or train service, it was voted to report favor-
ably to the Selectmen.
Off -Street Parking
In reply to this Board's request, the State Planning Board
submitted a list of zoning consultants available for assistance in study-
ing the parking problem in Lexington, with special reference to amending
the zoning by-law to require off-street parking.
The Board felt that the services offered may be more in the line
of basic planning or ming in a rather broad sense, and that our problem,
as we comprehend it, appears to be largely a legal one. The Chairman was
instructed to consult first with the Town Counsel.
The meeting adjourned at 10:45 p.m.
Respectfal1 �su_bmitted, ,
�LUlIT
B.B.WPorthen, J .
Clerk, pro -tem