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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1955-12-19' PLANNING BOARD MEETING December 19, 1955 A regular meeting of the Planning Board was held in the Town Engineer's Room, Town Office Building, on Monday, December 19, 1955 at 7:30 P.M. Chairman Adams, Messrs, Abbott, Hathaway, Irwin and Jaquith were pres- ent as were Mr, Snow, Planning Director,.and the sec- retary. Mr. Stevens, Town Counsel, was present from 9:Z0 P.M. to 10:40 Pao Application #55-94, submitted on December 13, 1955 by Samuel and Mrs. Jennie Burgoyne; plan entitled "A FORMS A Compiled Plan of Land in Lexington, Mass.," Scale 1" = 1001, dated Dec. It 1955, Miller and Nylander, C, Eels & Surveyors, Lexington, Mass. Four members of the Board signed the above plan on December 13, 1955, since the Burgoynes were selling their property on the following day and moving out of town, The Board took under consideration the following applications for determination of planning board ju- risdiction: #55-95, submitted on December 19, 1955 by Harold E, Stevens for the Town of Lexington; plan entitled "Plan Showing Proposed Addition to Franklin School Lot in Lexington, Mass.," Scale 1 in, = 40 ft., dated Nov. 29, 1955, William M, Burns, Town Engineer, Mr, Jaquith moved, Mr. Abbott seconded the motion and it was unanimously VOTED: that the plan accompanying application #55-95 be signed bearing the endorsement *Lexington Planning Board approval not required under subdivision control law", #55-96, submitted on December 19, 1955 by Leeland G. McConchie for Leeland Construction Co:, Inc,; plan entitled *Plan of Land in Lexington, Mass.," Scale 1" 40t, dated 'Dec. 159 19552 Miller and Nylander, C, Eels & .Surveyors, Lexington, Mass. ' Mr. Hathaway moved, Mr. Irwin seconded the motion and it was unanimously VOTED; that the plan accompanying application #55-96 be signed bearing the endorsement "Lexington Planning Board approval not required under subdivision control law"* The Chairman read the following bills subinittdd- BILLS for payment: Foto -Beam, Inc., for white prints - 12.00;. Anne H. Milliken, for secretarial services - 7.50. Mr. Abbott moved, Mr. Irwin seconded the motion and it was unanimously voted that the bills be approved as read. LIBERTY AVE. The Board next took under consideration the sub - EXTENSION division involving the extension of Liberty Avenue. DIANNE Mr. Hathaway moved, Mr. Irwin seconded the motion and ESTATES, INC. it was unanimously VOTED: that the definitive subdivision plan en- titled "Plan of Lots in Lexington Maas., Owned by Dianne Estates, Inc. - 3� Revere St. Lexington," dated Oct. 19, 1955, which was submitted to the Board on November 7, 1955, accompanied by an application for approval of definitive plan, Form C. dated October 28, 19559 be and hereby is ap- proved. Taken under consideration also was the proposed GOULD ROAD & subdivision of Watson Realty Trust. Regarding this DEW STREET subdivision, there was received from the Board of SUBDIVISION Health a letter, dated December 11}, 1955, which stated WATSON REALTY that the Board was in doubt as to the suitability of TRUST Lot #19 for building purposes. The Planning Board felt that the name Dew Street for one of the proposed ways in the subdivision was too similar to an existing town way, Drew Avenue, Therefore, the Board.proposed that Dew Street be changed to Dewey Road. It was determined that the h5 -day period within which the Board is required to act upon the subdivi- sion plan would expire Dec. 22, 1955 and that the sub- divider had not filed with'the Board a $29,000 bond .for the estimated cost of constructing the road and installing the water mains to Town specifications. This being so,.it was moved by Mr. Jaquith, seconded by Mr. Hathaway and unanimously VOTED: that the definitive subdivision plan'en- titled "Subdivision Plan of Land Court Case No. 5982E in Lexington, Mass.'!, dated August 9,.1955, submitted.to the 1 1 1 1 C Board of November 7, 1955, accompanied by an application for approval of definitive plan, Form C. dated November 7, 1955, be disapproved with the reason that the ap- plicant has not submitted a bond in ac- cordance with the Lexington subdivision rules and regulations. At 8:00 Messrs. Mark Moore, Jr. and Fred Joyce 3�ryoy e "i Yo Ml appeared before the Board with a plan of a proposed subdivision of.the former Burgoyne property on North Hancock Street, Mr. Corrigan is the present owner of the property and had filed with the Board an applica- tion for preliminary approval of a subdivision plan, Form B. This was not accepted for the plan accompany- ing the application did not show the abutting property owners, topography at five-foot contour intervals and profile of proposed street indicating existing and pro- posed grades along the contour lines. At the meeting the latter information was submitted on a separate sheet by Mr. Joyce. The proposed street had grades of plus 12% and minus 11% whereas the sub- division regulations specify that only a maximum grade of 10% is acceptable. The Board felt that these grades were too steep especially at the North Hancock Street intersection. Messrs. Moore and Joyce left the meeting at 8:15. Their subdivision plans were left for the Board to study. • The Board then took under consideration the Form B application of Mr. Baskin Por approval of his pre- liminary subdivision plan. It was reported that the town sewer passing through the Baskin property was not within an easement previously granted by Mr. Ryder and that in part consideration for granting a new easement, Mr. Baskin felt that the Town should sell hlm sufficient land for an additional house lot between Lots 39 and 40 in the proposed subdivision. Mr. Snow stated that he felt there should be a 40 -foot easement in this loca- tion for future access to Middleby Road since the main road within the subdivision was to be so long and in the form of a loop and have its principle means of ac- cess from Waltham Street, Mr. Stevens arrived at 9:20. In continuing consideration of the preliminary plan Mr. Snow exhibited a sketch indicating how he thought better access to the subdivision could be ob- tained by relocating Outlook Drive and continuing it into the subdivision, how Fair Oaks Drive could be re - BA SKI N FAIR OAKS SUBDIVISION located to enter Outlook Drive at nearly right angles ' and how the present confusion could be eliminated as to where Outlook and Fair Oaks Drives now join each other. Before acting upon the application, the Board agreed that a letter should be written to the Super- intendent of Public Works informing him that the town sewer is not within the Townts easement but is located on Baskint's land. Thereupon Mr. Hathaway moved, Mr. Irwin seconded the motion and it was unanimously VOTED: That tentative approval be given of the lan, dated Nov. 21, 195.x, and entitled 'Plan Showing Proposed Subdivision of in Lexington, Mass., Owned y W. To�Baaskin, ! 5 Adams Street, Lexington, Mass." subjeet to (a) a change in location of Outlook Drive aryl (b) the provision of a )}0 -foot easement between Lots 39 and �O from "A" Street to Town land. ROBINSON HILL A certificate of satisfactory performance, dated SECS. 1 & 2 December 12., 1955# was received .from the Superintendent of P,4blie Works in regard to the Robinson Hill subdivi- sions, Sections One and Two. A copy of the certificate was given to Mr. Stevens for his files. Mr. Stevens brought with him conditional approval SUN VALLEY contracts executed by the DeVries Construction Co:, SECS. 11 & 12 Inc. and the Wildey Savings Bank.in connection with the Sun Valley subdivision plans, Sections 11 and 12, He stated that the Land Court now requires that a statement of condition be certified to them by the Planning Board and that it is necessary to file- this statement with the plan. The Board signed such a statement which Mr. Stevens had prepared for the purpose. It also endorsed the definitive subdivision plans for Sun Valley, Sections 11 and 12. The Board next discussed the situation in regard to the Daley tract which the Board was considering as a proposed addition to the Town's recreational facili- ties. Mr. Stevens reported that Mrs. Daley had had an agreement to sell this land early this Fall to Antonio Busa, that papers were to be passed, that the title was found to have defects and that there had been two suc- cessive extensions in writing of a purchase and sale agreement. Mr. Stevens further stated that there is ; nothing definite the Planning Board can offer Mrs. Tuley 1 1 1 for the land except an option, that the Board must DALEY LAND wait for a favorable vote of a town meeting to pur FOR chase the land, that Mrs. Daley feels that she must RECREATION pass papers now, ind that if the Board desires to ob- tain the land, it should deal with Mr. Busa. It was thought that if the land were to be taken by eminent domain that Mr. buss would have to pay capital gains taxes if he had knowledge of the Town's desire to obtain the land. It was decided to find out if Mr. Busa had passed papers on the land and to notify him of the Board's intent to recommend purchase of the land. The Chairman read a letter to him from Mrs. Ross concerning the release of her certified check upon completion of required work on the Constitution Road subdivision. Mr. Stevens stated that he had mailed to Mrs. Rossts attorney the papers for the conveyance of utilities and easements to the Town, that the at- torney had requested the inclusion of additional pro- visions in the instrument and that the papers had not been returned to Mr. Stevens. Mr. Adams was to convey this information to Mrs. Ross and the fact that the deck held as security could not be released until the utilities and easements were conveyed to the Town. Mr. Stevens left the meeting at 10:40 P.M. Mr. Snow reported on his meeting the previous week with a representative of the Josiah Willard Hayden Recreation Centre, Inc. stating that the trustees were seeking suggestions for a site for the Centre and that they desired something quite centrally located and adjacent to town recreational facilities. It was his understanding that the Centre was first to construct a boys' club with indoor swimming facilities and that at a later date these facilities, while kept separate, were to be expanded into a youth center. Mr. Snow said that he would keep the Board informed of the trusteest plans for the Centre as these were made known to him. The meeting adjourned at 11:10 P.M. ROSS SUBDIVISION CONSTITUTION ROAD 77 a4c Charles T. Abbott Clerk Report of the Planning Board December 31, 1955 To the Honorable Board of Selectmen Lexington 73, Massachusetts. Gentlemen: - Under this state's enabling legislation adopted by the Town, Lexington's Planning Board has two major functions. The first consists of making careful studies, preparing plans of the resources, possibilities and needs of the town and upon completion of any study submitting to the Select- men a report thereon with the Planning Board's recommenda- tions. This involves the preparation of a Study Plan for the Town. The Board has adopted an outline for such a broad scale planning program and has begun the preparation of a study plan. During the past year emphasis has been placed on gather- ing the basic data with which to plan. Completed is a prop- erty map of the town, an existing land use survey, a park and recreation survey, and detailed population spot maps based on an analysis of the 1955 state census. Using sepa- rate funds authorized for the purpose, the Board has brought up to date existing town maps and has had prepared additonal detailed block plans. Unused funds are being carried over into 1956 to continue this work. The Board is now assembling traffic data pertinent to Lexington and restudying street plans and their relation to future land use of the Tow . The Board feels that it vd 11 then be ready to make specific recommendations for land use integrating, first of all, a program for public recreation and school sites with the planning of residential, business and light industrial or limited commercial districts. The second major function of thee�Board is that of the administration of the subdivision control law. Thirteen definitive subdivisions comprising a total of 165 lots were processed and approved this year as against 8 plans with a total of 117 lots in 1954. In determinations of Planning Board jurisdiction, there were 97 applications accepted in 1955 as contrasted with 79 the previous year. This repre- sents a 111 increase of lots in the first category and a ' 23% increase in the second. These figures do not include ' the recision of approval of 2 subdivisions totaling 23 lots nor do they include many preliminary subdivisions plans for which informal opinions or tentative approvals were requested of the Board. The foregoing planning and administrative aDrk has been accomplished with only about a 5% increase in the number of meetings and the total time needed in them to transact business. The Board has been able to do this because of a decrease in the number of conferences taking place at regular meetings -- 29 less conferences with de- velopers, 11 less with citizens, 10 less with consultants and 7 less in regard to changes in zoning. By setting up an office where such meetings may take place and the busi- ness of the Board may be transacted during regular office hours, most of this executive work of the Board can now be handled by its director. Here also are kept all the Board's records and equipment necessary to carry on its expanding ;, planning activities. The public is cordially invited to in- spect these facilities on the second floor of the Barnes Building. In conjunction with these activities, the Board has just had reprinted by the offset process the latest revision ' of the Lexington Zoning By -Law. By using a new arrangement and a loose-leaf form, single pages may now be reprinted and substituted as amendments are added, up-to-date copies being assembled and bound as needed. The Board has pur- chased punching and binding equipment for this purpose and Is co-operating with various boards in reprinting in simi- lar manner and form other Town by-laws and regulations. As part of its program of increasing community ser- vices -and public relations the Planning Board is likewise making available to other gown boards and agencies its latest planning data and maps as soon as these are assem- bled or completed. In addition the Board has introduced a series of memoranda concerning its studies and the de- velopment of the town, the memoranda being distributed to all town meeting members as well as to Town boards and agencies. This program has been further expanded by having the Board's director meet with classes in the schools and with various community organizations to discuss various aspects of town planning activities. Consideration is being given to organizing a small committee of representative citizens and groups who are both interested and have had experience C in town affairs to meet with the Board tions and criticisms of its long range All such activities are in keeping with that planning is done with the citizens and not for the*. to offer sugges- development program. the Board's feeling of the community The board expresses its appreciation to all who have aided and supported its work. Especially does it thank again the Town Engineer and Superintendent of Public forks, Mr. Burns, and the Town Counsel, Mr. Stevens, for their invaluable assistance and contribution to the Board's accom- plishments. C M L LEXINGTON PLANNING BOARD Alan G. Adams, Chairman Charles T. Abbott nil . �,-' • Donald D,H haway k�,� 'IrJ, Doha K. Irwin Wilbur M. Jaqui