HomeMy WebLinkAbout1953-12-28PLANNING BOARD MEETING
Monday, Dec.28, 1953
Present: Adams, Grindle, Irwin, Ripley, Potter.
Meeting opened at 7:45 o'clock. Letter read from Mr. Newgent con-
firming the fact that tentative approval only was asked for.
Hearing - Black
Public hearing held at 8 o'clock relative to the petition of
Mincla M. Black to modify and amend plan and eliminate as a way that part
of Slocum road extending westerly beyond Minola road as shown on plan
dated Feb. 20, 1922. Mr. Walter Black present for petitioner. He wishes
to add this land to present lots and redivide making larger lots. Pr.
William Martin, Mr. William Murray and Mr. Charles Scribner present. Mr.
Martin and Mr. Murray wished to be recorded as opposing if extra expense
would be incurred for ptreets and drainage, otherwise no objection. Mr.
Grindle moved, Mr. Ripley seconded that the plan be amended so as to re-
move the stub as petitioned. So voted.
Hearing - Silva
' Public hearing held at 8:30 o'clock on petition of Joseph Silva
for subdivision of Sunny Knoll Terrace.extending off Sunny Knoll avenue in
a northerly direction about 400 feet as shown on plan dated Nov. 9, 1953.
Mr, Joseph Silva and son appeared as petitioners with Mr. Martel also
present. No opposition and Mr. Potter moved, Mr. Irwin seconded that the
plan be submitted to the Board of Health. So voted.
Meeting adjourned at 9 o'clock.
Thomas S. Grindle, Clerk
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To the Honorable Board of Selectmen,
Town Office Building,
Lexington, I -lass.
Gentlemen: -
follows:
December 31, 1953
The statistical record for the Planning Board for 1953 is as
Regular and Special Meetings
50
Conferences ti-rith
Developers
71
If
Citizens
19
" "
Other Boards
9
Public Hearings
- Zoning
11
" If
Subdivisions
17
Conference with
Consultants
5
A co:7parison of the above data vTiith that in the 1952 Annual Re-
port indicates that the Planning Board spent an even busier this year than
last. There were almost 501% more meetings and 100° more conferences with
developers and the number of public hearings on the subdivisions increased
from 12 to 17. The number of subdivisions approved increased from 9 to 16.
It is evident from this data that the towhIs growth continued throughout
1953 at an even more accellerated rate of growth.
During this year the Planning Board took action on two matters
of major public policy. At the latter end of 1952 the Board discussed at
considerable length'a large increase in the area of Lexington zoned for
light manufacturing. The Board felt that the area selected.for this in-
crease., which was adjacent to the Bedford Airport, was not suitable for any
type of residential use, and that the encouragement of a limited amount of
light industry would give Lexington a better over-all economy than it had
had heretofore. Articles proposing these 1.1-1 zones increases were inserted
in the warrant for the annual town meeting and the necessary public hear-
ings were held. It was evident from the large attendance at these hear-
ings and from the comments from those present that the town was strongly
opposed to any such plan. Hearings were also held at the same time as the
11-1 zones on various extensions of business areas throughout the town, and
these met the same determined opposition. At the annual town meeting the
M-1 additions were withdrawn by the Planning Board on a technical point of
the law, but all the business additions were defeated by overwhelming votes.
It was evident to the Board that the town was opposed to any form of urban-
ization.
Throughout the spring there were many proposals for new subdi-
visions., in many cases in the outlying areas of the town. It became evi-
dent that the development of Lexington was proceeding at a much faster
pace than expected and in the form, many times, oflargeunits. The Board
discussed at great length the effect this would have on Lexington, es-
pecially in the loss of the rural atmosphere. It was also apparent that
some of these large developments were in areas inadequately served by town
roads and sewer mains. Solutions were discussed and finally the majority
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of the Planning Board favored placing before a special town meeting the
creation of a second residential zone, largely on the outskirts of the town
in which lot frontage would be increased to 150 ft. and the area to 110,000
sq. ft. The required hearings were held at which there was strenuous
opposition to the plan as well as ardent support. On November 30th at a
special town meeting the original proposal missed the necessary two-thirds
vote required by a narrow margin, but on an amendment proposed by the
Planning Board reducing the area to 30,000 sq. ft. instead of 110,000 the
proposed zoning amendment carried by a comfortable margin. However the
required number of signatures were secured by a group of citizens placing
the whole plan on a town -wide referendum which was held on December 28th
and was approved by a better than 3-1 margin.
Throughout the year's work it has become obvious to the Planning
Board that the problems of subdivision control as well as future planning
was apt to become so heavy and technical that expert consultant help as
well as some permanent staff was necessary. The passage of a state law,
revising the state zoning statutes, which went into effect on Oct. 1st
further increased the duties of the Planning Board. In view of this the
Planning B-)ard voted to propose at the annual town meeting in March the
appointment of the required advisors and a staff worker.
The Planning Board was pleased to see the completion in 1953 of
the municipal parking lot located off Edison :day - a program which it had
long studied and urged upon the town. Further study of parking problems
will be continued, it is hoped, by the proposed expert consultants.
The Board again wishes to thank William M. Burns, Superintendent
of Public Works and Town Engineer, and Town Counsel -Harold E. Stevens for
their continued valuable assistance and cooperation.
Chairman
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