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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1955-03-17 PLANNING BOARD MEETING Thursday, March 17, 1955 Present: Adams - Abbott, Grindle, Hathaway, Irwin, Jaquith . Snow Meeting opened at 7:00 o'clock. Discussion re: Board of Appeals hearings on O'Connor and Esso. It was felt that a policy should be established since-action on some applications for service stations has been taken and not on others. HEARING - PARKING ARRAS A public hearing was held at 8:00 o'clock in Cary Memorial Ball in regard to the request for an a .r3, 1 to the Zoning By-law inserted by the Planning Board in the warrant for the annual town meeting in March to see if the Town will add under Paragraph 7 of Section 5 (a) R-1 dis- tricts the following new paragraph: "Open.air parking areas for use only in connection with one armors of the otis r permitted uses in the dis- trict." Approximately 70 citizens were present. Mr. Adams explained the meaning of the request and the general procedure for hearings. There was quite a bit of discussion as to why this was considered necessary and just what difference it would make in procedure. It was carefully explained that the matter of a parking area would still casae under the Board of Appeals, but that this would make it a permitted use rather than a variance and therefore make it somewhat easier for the Board of Appeals to make a decision. When asked what brought the Planning Board to this decisionthe answer was that it was first brought to the attention of the Planning Board by the request of the $first Congregational Society and that upon looking around it was found that there were maw similar situations where parking areas are obviously needed in connection with churches, schools, halls, etc. The question was asked if this would affect restaurants or eating places, and the answer was "no" for they were in C.1 districts while this pro• posal affected R-1 districts only. Those taking part in the discussion were: Mr. Morrison, Bedford St.; Ni. Earl Outhet, Tvan St.; Mr. John Devine, 31 Slocum Rd.; W. John Blackwell, 7 Bennington Rd.; Mr. and Mrs. Van Norden, 447 Waltham Brown,St.; Miss Helen Ryan, Bedford St.; Mrs. Sanborn 37 Maple St.; Mr. Siam►ons; Mr. Brown; Mr. Worthen, Winthrop Rd.; Mr,Meehan. Those wishing to be recorded in favor were Mr. Simmons and Mrs. Fitzgerald. Those amt were Miss Ryan, Mrs. Van Norden and Mr. Van Norden. The Hearing closed at 9:00 o'clock. PLLNNdINO BOARD I (March 17 Cont'd) HEARING - M-1 - REISS A public hearing was held in Gary Memorial Hall at 9:00 o'clock in regard to Article 58 on the Town Warrant for annual Town Meeting in March to see if the Town will vote to amend the Zoning By-Law so as to change certain land from an R-1 District to an K-1 Light Manufacturing District, an area off Bedford St. adjoining the present M•1 zone between Westview St. and Hinchey Road. Approximately 80 persons were present. Mr. Reiss of Belmont presented plans far Reins Associates of Newton showing a proposed plant which would be used for the manufacture of a laminated plastic for use on table tops. The Associates need another small piece of property zoned far M.1 use to adjoin a portion already so zoned and for which the coapany has a purchase agreement. A large part of that M-1 area is swamp land and cannot be used for build- ing purposes. Some of the questions asked were: Q. 'What type of machinery would be used? A. Hydraulic presses which close slowly. 'Q. Would you be willing to lave the zoning by-laws changed so that a first-class building could be required? A. Yee. We want a first-class building anyhow. Q. Are there any odors ennnected with the manufacture of these plastica? A. No. Where there are odors, proper precautions have probably not been taken. Mr. Adams explained that the By-law states there shall be no odots, obnoxious fumes, noise, etc. He also explained that the Planning Board felt that the town needed some light manufacturing for tax pur- poses but had not intended bringing anything specific to the attention of the Town until more study had been given to the matter. However, Mr. Reiss wanted to build a plant and the Board felt this request was im- portant enough that be be given a chance to be heard. Q. How many people do you employ? A. Two shifts of 65-70 each shift. Q. How much area would it cover? A. Approximately 100,000 sq. ft. Q. What are the wages? A. Start at $1,15 an hour unskilled labor and go on from there. Q. Male or female? A. Male except for office corkers. Q. How about traffic - will this not increase the traffic hazard, particularly for small school children? A. There will be workers coming to work in their cars. There will be some trucks but not continual trucking. The bulk of shipping will go out by rail. Q. What time are the shifts? A. 7:00 - 4:00 and b:00 - 12:00. Q. Where is the access to be? A. Westview St. Q. How much will the plant cost to build? A. Somewhere between $600,000 - $800,000. Q. Is this product explosive? A. No. Nothing explosive goesinto it. Q. Are you on assigned risk or Imployers' Liability? A. We are with the Manufacturers Mutual on Fre- i ferred risk, which only tabes those above average safety. Q. What is general plan of finance? A. Haven't decided yet, it might be a package deal. Q. What about lunch facilities? A. The general practice has been to carry lunches but we might try to get saaaeone to comein and servo lunch. T Some of those taking part in the discussion were: Mr. Donovan, Mr. Outhst, Mr. Devine, Mrs. Van Noa�den, Miss Ryan, Mr. Meehan, .Mrs. Brown. On a show of hands there were 11 in favor, 24 against. Hearing closed at 10:00 o'clock. McConchie Leeland Construction Co. submitted March 17 Form C, application for approval of definitive subdivision plan entitled "Section II, Robinson Hill." Plan dated March 2, 1955, Miller & Nylander, C.B.ts. On motion of Mr. Jaquith, seconded by Ir. Irwin it was VOTED: Date for hearing on above application be set for Monday, April 11, 1955 at 8:00 p.m. in the Town Engineer's office. Form A No. 55-22, submitted on March 16, 1955 by DeTries Con. structionn co."Plan of a portion of Sun Valley, Section III, in Lexington liassachusetts". Scale 1" - 40', dated March 11, 1955, Kenneth Be Oates, C.E., Watertown, Mass. Moved by Mr. Qrindle, seconded by Mr. Abbott and VOTED: above plan be signed bearing the endorsement '"Laiington Planning Board approval not required under subdivision control law." Form A, No. 55-23, submitted on March 17, 1955 by Charles H. Mb= "Plan of Land in Lexington, Mass.," scale 1" - 140t, Feb. 19, Mb= & Nylander, C.E.'a and 34 ,. . .04 ..2, Lexington, .Mass. Moved by Mr. Hathaway, seconded by Mr. Orindle and VOTED: above plan be signed bearing the endorsement "Lexington Planning Board approval not required under the_subdivision control law." Also endorsed were Subdivision plans of Sun Valley, Section IV, previously approved February 25, 1955, plan dated January 21, 1955, submitted by DeVries Construction Co.; and subdivision plan of Antonio Buse, previously approved Februarys 23, 1955, plan dated January 6, 1955. Meeting adjourned at 11:40 o'clock. Charles T. Abbott, Clerk I lmb