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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1955-11-21 PLANNING BOARD MEETING November 21, 1955 A regular meeting of the Planning Board was held in the Town Engineer' s Room, Town Office Building, on Monday, November 21, 1955 at 7:35 P.M. Chairman Adams, Messrs. Grindle, Hathaway, Irwin and Jaquith were pres- ent as were also Mr. Snow, Planning Director and the secretary. Mr. Abbott was present until 7:50 and Mr. Stevens, Town Counsel, from 8:50 to 9:15 P.M. The Chairman and Mr. Jaquith withdrew. Then Mr. Abbott moved, Mr. Grindle seconded the motion and it was unanimously voted that Mr. Irwin be temporary chairman. Mr. Irwin read the Board of Appeals notices for hearings to be held on December 6. The Board took no BOARD OF action on any but the Michelson petition. A letter APPEALS was composed to send to the Board of Appeals opposing HEARINGS this petition and is attached as part of the minutes. Mr. Abbott left the meeting at 7:56. Messrs. Adams and Jaquith returned to the meeting at 8:00 P.M. at which time a public hearing was held on DIANNE the application of Dianne Estates, Inc. for approval of ESTATES a definitive subdivision extending Liberty Avenue. As Mr. Gerard P. Friel was out of town and unable to be present, Mr. Nylander represented him. There were nine other people present among whom were Mr. C. Herbert PUBLIC Masse, 14 Quincy Avenue; Mr. Charles B. Moore, 7 Quincy HEARING Avenue; Mr. and Mrs. Francis Shannon, 8 Quincy Avenue; LIBERTY AVE. Mr. and Mrs. Seymour H. Cohen, 9 Quincy Avenue and Mr. EXTENSION Greenow, 60 Ledgelawn Avenue. The Chairman explained the purpose and procedure of a public hearing. He then added that if the defini- tive plan is -approved, the Board would recommend at the next town -meeting that the Town vote to change the name of Quincy to Liberty Avenue. Questions were raised in regard to keeping present street numbers and names even though the street paving was continuous, to constructing turnarounds at the ends of Liberty and Quincy Avenues so the way wouldn't be- come a through street, to regulating traffic so Quincy II Avenue would have flow one way and Ledgelawn Avenue the opposite, and to what conditions might constitute suf- ficient objections to prevent the plan from being ap- proved. In reply it was stated that street numbers should be reassigned to avoid confusion -- especially for fire and police departments, that a change in plans calling for a permanent turn-around cannot be required in the case of Quincy Avenue which is already laid out, that changes in traffic regulations can only be authorized by the Board of Selectmen, and that the decision to ap- prove or disapprove the subdivision plan rested on whether or not the plan was of general benefit to the town, safe and contained any objectionable details not now foreseen. The hearing closed at 8:30 P.M. and those attending the hearing left at this time. At 8:31 P.M. the public tearing was declared open PUBLIC on the application for approval of a definitive sub- HEARING division plan prepared for Watson Realty Trust. Mr. WATSON Watson, Mr. Edward Goodfellow of Boston, Mr. Ivar Carlson, REALTY TRUST 175 Grove Street and Mr. Earl Comeau of 188 Grove Street appeared at the hearing. The Chairman explained the purpose and procedure of a public hearing, introducing Mr. Watson and asking him to discuss his plan. Mr. Watson then mentioned GOULD RD. & the type of house he intended to build and the way he DEW ST. planned to preserve as much beauty of the land as pos- sible. Discussed also was the extension of Gould Road and Dew Street to adjacent tracts of land and particu- larly the problems of drainage and sewerage. It was pointed out that since no-sewer was available in the area, each house in the proposed subdivision would be required to have a septic tank and disposal field and that the Planning Board would not approve the subdivi- sion until it had heard from the Board of Health as to the suitability of each lot for building purposes. When asked if anyone was in favor of the subdivi- sion, Mr. Goodfellow replied that he was if .Dew Street went to his property line and there was no drainage across his land. Mr. Carlson stated that he was op- posed to the subdivision because of the drhinage prob- lem and felt that further study concerning water and drainage from septic tanks should be made. Mr. Comeau said he had no opposition to the subdivision. The hearing closed at 8:50 P.M. at which time those attending the hearing left the meeting. Mr. Stevens arrived at 8.50 and, after discussing matters in regard to proposed historic districts legis- lation, left the meeting at 9:15. BILLS The Chairman read the following bills presented for payment: Sapulding-Moss Co. , office supplies, $10.60; John L. McAdams, stationery, $25.60; Anne H. Milliken, secretarial services, $11.25. Mr. Jaquith moved, Mr. Hathaway seconded the motion and it was unanimously voted that the bills be approved as read. Mr. Grindle moved, Mr. Irwin seconded the motion MINUTES and it was unanimously voted that the minutes of Oc- tober 17, 1955 be approved. Mr. John Baskin and Mr. Nylander came to the meet- ing at 9:20 to present a preliminary study for and seek an informal opinion of a proposed subdivision of the former Ryder property from Fair Oaks and Outlook Drives to high school and playground lands. In discussing the plan it was thought that the FAIR OAKS main road might be called Scott Hill or Scott's Hill SUBDIVISION Road. It was noted that the entire project was to be PRELIMINARY sewered and that, according to the plan, the North BASKIN PLAN Branch of the Vine Brook trunk sewer crossed the Baskin land instead of being entirely located within an ease- ment taken a number of years ago. Mr. Baskin stated that there would be no difficulty in obtaining from . him an easement for the trunk sewer. He asked for an early opinion on the overall scheme since it took 17 weeks for water pipe..dalivery and he wished to begin on his project as soon as possible in the Spring. Messrs. Baskin and Nylander left the meeting at 9:55. The Board next took under consideration Form A FORMS A applications for determination of Planning Board juris- diction: #55-88, submitted on November 18, 1955 by Alfred P. Tropeano, attorney for Margaret McCullough; tracing en- titled "Plan of Land in Lexington, Mass. ," Scale 1" = 30' , dated Nov. 1, 1955, Miller & Nylander, C. E. 's & Surveyors, Lexington, Mass. #55-89, submitted on November 21, 1955 by John F. Cahill; tracing entitled "Plan of Land in Lexington, Mass., " Scale: 140 feet to an inch, dated Oct. 15, 1955, Joseph Selwyn, Civil Engineer, 14Linden St. , Belmont, Mass. Mr. Jaquith moved, Mr. Irwin seconded the motion and it was unanimously VOTED: That the tracings accompanying applications #55-88 and #55-89 be signed bearing the endorsement "Lexington Planning Board approval not required under subdivision control law". 0 Mr. Snow requested authorization to purchase •a OFFICE 5- drawer plan :1.1e with base, the file being the FURNITURE same as those purchased by the Building Department. Mr. Brincklow of the Peabody Office Furniture Co. had 5 iven the following quotations: 44"' x 33 3/4" x 17" -drawer file - $1.04.80; base for the same - $14.00. Mr. Irwin moved, Mr. Hathaway seconded the motion and it was unanimously vote-d to authorize Mr. Snow to order the plan file and base at the prices quoted. The Chairman read a notice received by the Board WAIRHAm in regard to a hearing concerning a proposed Waltham ZONING zoning change off Smith Street and abutting the Lex- CHANGE ington town line, the hearing to be held on Nov. 28, 1955. The Board decided to take no action in regard to the petition to be heard. At 10:05 the Board gave its attention to further HISTORIC study of proposed historic districts legislation for DISTRICTS Lexington. It was decided that the next meeting of LEGISLATION the Board be closed and be held in the Planning Board office in the Barnes Building for the purpose of de- voting the entire meeting to drafting such legislation. The meeting adjourned at 10:55 P.M. 67d, Alan G. Adams Chairman