HomeMy WebLinkAbout1952-12-29 1
PLANNING BOARD MEETING
1 Monday, December 29, 1952
Present: Adams, Hathaway, Irwin, Johnson, Potter, Ripley.
Meeting opened at 7:45 o'clock.
Baskin
Mr. John Baskin appeared with petition signed by abuttors for increase
in business zone on property at corner of Concord avenue and Waltham Street
now occupied by Abbott Spray. This article will be inserted in the warrant
and public hearing held in the near future.
Bills
Rills presented as follows: Rita McNamara, typing agreement, $4.00.
Louise M. Baker, secretarial service Dec. 8, 15, 29, $15.00. Spaulding Moss,
bringing population map to date, $01.63. Whitman & Howard, engineering ser-
vice on proposed highway planning, $800 (figure quoted). Unanimously voted
the bills be paid.
Chamber of Commerce
Harold Michelson, Leon Bateman, Frank Ready, and John Baskin appeared
as committee from Chamber of Commerce to discuss further the parking situa-
tion. It was announced that Minot,Williams & hangs will donate land for a
street but will not for parking lot only. The committee presented another
plan on opposite side of Massachusetts avenue between Waltham and Muzzey
Streets in back of the stores, land for which could be leased but not pur-
chased, and for which the parking meter fund could be used. It was the gener-
al feeling of the Planning Board and the Committee that it would be well to
present both items at one time to the Town Meeting, and that a Committee be
appointed, preferably by the Board of Selectmen, to go ahead and get all the
pertinent data necessary for presenting to the Town Meeting. The Board would
also like to see the original drawing of the plan for area between Waltham
and Muzzey streets as presented several years ago, and would also like
definite information from Mr. William Lyon as to his plans for building in
that location.
Carrig
Mr. James A. Carrig and Mr. Joyce appeared for preliminary approval on
plans for Section IV, Minute Man Highlands, located at Concord avenue and
Pleasant Street. Plans taken under advisement.
Meeting adjourned at 10:45 o'clock.
D. D. Hathaway,
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Clerk
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Annual Report of the Planning Board
December 31, 1952
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen
Lexington, Massachusetts
Gentlemen:
The statistical record for 1952 is as follows:
Regular and special meetings . . . 31.
Conferences with developers 38
Conferences re: change of zone 12
Public hearings on zoning 5
Public hearings on subdivisions 12
Conferences with other Planning Boards . . 1
Conferences with citizens u
Conference with other Boards 1
As the statistics listed above indicate, the Planning Board has had
another extremely busy year. It is obvious that the extraordinary growth of
the Town is continuing and is forcing, not only on the Planning Board but
on all other Town Boards and facilities, many vexatious and basic problems.
In addition to the heavy growth resulting from families moving from city to
suburban areas, two additional factors are greatly aggravating Lexington's
problems. The development of the United States Air Force laboratories at
Hanscom Field and the development and extension of this field itself have
presented many unforeseen factors. The laying out, completion, and heavy
use of the new circumferential highway (Route 128) have also changed the
plans for the growth and development of North Lexington.
The functions of the presented constituted Lexington Planning Board
can be divided into two major parts: the first is the primary purpose of
planning for future growth of Lexington; the second is the exercise of the
functions of the former Board of Survey in supervising and approving sub-
divisions.
The Planning Board has been somewhat hampered in its planning func-
tion
by the heavy demands placed upon it for the supervision of the many
subdivision projects now either under way or under consideration. However,
in the early part of 1952 the Planning Board recognizing that Lexington is
heading towards a large population, studied plans for laying out new intra-
town traffic arteries It felt that location for these new roads should bw
studied now and if possible the necessary land be secured, even the con-
struction might be well in the future. Its purpose was to secure this land
while it was relatively inexpensive and before homes and other buildings
could be built upon what would probably be the most desirable routes. Funds
for this purpose were asked for at the annual town meeting in March 1952 and
were approved by vote of the town meeting members. The Board devoted con-
siderable study to the matter and in the fall hired the engineering firm of
Whitman & Howard to do a preliminary survey and to prepare layouts.
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Another problem of planning was presented to the town when the de-
velopment and construction of the United States Air Force laboratory, part
of which is actually in Lexington on Wood street, caused the town to be
placed in a critical defense housing area. This can result in the building
of large housing developments which may well place a heavy,burden on the town
as well as disrupt the present zoning regulations and plans. Several joint
conferences on the matter were held with the Planning Boards of Lincoln,'
Bedford, and Concord to try to work out a joint solution in the face of a
common problem. In addition representatives of these joint conferences
conferred with Federal Housing authorities in Boston. The result of this
work was doubtful in that Federal plans could never seem to be accurately
determined. However, up to the end of the year none of the Federal Defense
Housing projects had been started in Lexington. However this problem will
still demand careful attention.
Another problem presented to the town was the expansion of the Air-
port itself with the proposed extension of the east-west runway coming into
Lexington and heading towards the heavily populated Manor section of the
town. In conjunction with the Board of Selectmen and other town authorities
the Planning Board strenuously fought the project feeling it would be most
detrimental to that section of Lexington. Conferences were held with the
State Planning Board and representatives of the Planning Boards of Bedford,
Concord, and Lincoln to try to work out alternative proposals for runway ex-
tensions which would be less harmful to all four of the surrounding towns.
Up to the end of the year Federal authorities in Washington promised no re-
lief but the proposed extensions were not yet under way.
In view of the plans of the Federal government for the Air Force
laboratory and the expansion of the Airport, the Planning Board devoted con-
siderable study to the future use of the land in that area. Some of the land
immediately adjacent to the Airport is already in an M-1 (light manufacturing)
zone. The extension of this zone and the creation of others westerly of
Route 128 and within a mile radius of the Airport is being given careful con-
sideration. The Planning Board recognizes that the Airport and attendant
facilities have seriously reduced the value of adjacent lands for desirable
residential development. It could well be that the use of this land fqr
light manufacturing purposes is the best remaining use and would in adtion
provide a most profitable source of tax revenue for the towh.
From the number of applications and inquiries from various citizens
and property owners for the rezoning of certain residential areas into C-1 or
C-2 (business zones) it is becoming apparent that with the extensive growth of
Lexington the pressure has increased for more business establishments. The
proposals for rezoning which went as far as two formal hearings were, in
most cases, violently opposed by abuttors as well as other citizens of the
town. In both cases the Planning Board voted not to recommend either change
to town meeting. However, it is obvious that there must be additional
business land and during the year the Board studied carefully possible ex-
tensions which it will probably recommend to the 1953 annual town meeting.
It is a problem the citizens themselves must seriously ponder, for heavy
growth means there must be adequate locations for the necessary stores and
service centers.
As a corrollary to the needs for more and better business facilities,
studies were made for public parking areas in Lexington Center. Considerable
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111discussion was held on the so-called "Edison Way" project and it is expected
that a solution will be presented jointly by the Planning Board and the Se-
lectmen to 1953 town meeting. It is felt that it is incumbent upon the town
to provide sufficient public parking as long as public street parking in the
business area is limited and regulated by parking meters.
As the statistics at the head of this report indicate, subdivision
problems have consumed the major part of the Board's time. During the year
there were nine subdivisions actually under way in Lexingtok. The total
cost of the necessary roads, water mains, drains, and other requirements
amounted to $293,000.00. These facilities are all paid for by the devel-
oper and are done under bonded agreements with the town for proper completion
and for compliance to town specifications. The Board has recommended to the
Board of Selectmen that upon completion of these new roads they immediately
be accepted by the Town. Listed below is the data for the actual subdivi-
sions of varying sizes which have been before the Board for tentative approval
or for discussion. It is evident that the heavy growth of Lexington will
continue for several years.
In keeping with the policy of previous years the population map has
been kept up to date semi-annually.
The Board owes many thanks to William M. Burns, Superintendent of
Public Works and Town Engineer; and Harold E. Stevens, Town Counsel, for
their continued expert assistance and their interested cooperation.
1. No. subdivisions 9
2. Miles of streets)
3. Miles of drains Value 3.5
4. Miles of water 3
5. No. lots 360
6. Value of bonds $293,000.00
Chairman
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