HomeMy WebLinkAbout1957-08-05PLANNING BOARD MEETING
' August 5, 1957
A regular meeting of the Lexington Planning Board
was held in the Town Engineerts Room, Town Office
Building, on Monday, August 5, 1957 at 7:35 p•m•
Present were Chairman Grindle, Members Burnell, Jaquith
and Soule, and Planning Director Snow. Mr. Stevens was
present from $:30 until 8:45 p.m. and Mr. Howlett from
8:30 until the end of the meeting.
The Board approved the minutes of July 302 1957• MINUTES
Approved also were the following bills presented BILLS
for payment: Bruce E. Howlett, professional services --
$107.50 and transportation --$2.45; week ending Aug. 3,
1957; Spaulding -Moss Co., office supplies -43.20.
The following Form A applications were taken under FORMS A
consideration.
#57-72, submitted Aug. 6, 1957 by H.O.McLaughlin,
agent for Mrs. G. Woodall; plan entitled Plan of
' Land in Lexington=Mass:", dated Aug. 1 1957,
Miller & Nylander, C.E.'s & Surveyors.Lexington.
#57-73, submitted August 5 P 1957 by Alfred P.
Tropeano, atty.jor Alphonse B. West; plan en-
titled "Plan of Land in Lexington -Mass.", dated
July 18, 1957f Miller & Nylander, C.E.'s & Sur-
veyors, Lexington, Mass.
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It was moved, seconded and unanimously
VOTED: that the plans accompanying auplications
#57-72 and #57-73 be signed bearing the
endorsement "Lexington Planning Board
approval under Subdivision Control Law
not required.
At 8:00 p.m. the Board held a public hearing BURNHAM
relative to the application for approval as a sub- FARMS
division property of Moore Realty Trust known -as SEC. 1
"Burnham .Farms, Section One Lexington, Mass.", the
definitive plan being dated May 13, 1957. There were
five citizens present at the hearing. The Chairman
read the hearing notice rich was sent to all abut-
ting'property owners and advertised in the July 25,
1957 issue of the Lexington Minute -man, explained the
procedure in conducting the he— ari g, and called upon
the subdivider to present his plan.
Mr. Mark Moore, Jr. of said trust then gave an '
explanation of his proposed development. Thereupon Mr.
Francis E. Arsenault of 70 East Street asked for
further information concerning the proposed town road,
a portion of which was included in the subdivision. A
general explanation of the proposal was given. Mr.
John G. Belcher of 97 Adams Street then asked what was
to be done with Parcel bounded by his property, the
proposed road and Lot 6 as shown on the definitive plan.
It was explained that this was a triangular parcel of
land left over after subdividing the former Burnham .
property and that it was too small for use as a house
lot.
There being no further questions the Chairman
asked if anyone wished to be recorded -in favor of or
opposed to approval of the plan. 'Four persons wished
to be recorded in favor, none oppposed. The Chairian
declared the hearing closed at 8:15 p.m.
After the hearing the Board considered the
definitive plan with special regard to the subdividerts
proposal to construct at an 8% grade a portion of the
proposed town road having a 70 -foot right-of-way. It
was decided that because this was to be a principal
street that the Board would require the grade to be not ,
more than 6% in accordance with Lexington's subdivision
rules and regulations. In making this decision it was
the concensus of opinion that it was not reasonable to
require the subdivider to provide the extra fill,
approximately 750 cubic yards, which would be required
to change the road to a standard to serve town -wide
needs. It was decided, therefore, to write a letter to
the Selectmen informing them of the Planning Board's
decision and recommending that means be found to pro-
vide for this additional fill.
TAX TITLE The Board next considered the matter of exchang-
LOTS ing tax title lots for the area of Busa land which the
Board had recommended previously for playground pur-
poses, particular reference being made to the Select-
men's letter of April 26, 1957 in regard to offers they
had received for the purchasre of tax title lots. (See
minutes of May 13 and June 3,'1957.) Having obtained
an appraisal of the comparative values of the Busa land
and the lots listed in said letter, the Board author-
ized Mr. Snow to convey this information to the Select-
men and to discuss with them the possibility of acquir-
ing, on an exchange basis, said area of Busa land.
Mr. Snow attended the Selectmen's meeting later
on in the evening and reported to the Planning Board
that the Selectmen had authorized Mr. Maloney to dis-
cuss the matter of acquisition with Mr. Busa, Mr. Maloney
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to convey to both Boards the results of his conference
with Mr. Busa.
Mr. Stevens came to the meeting at $:30 p.m. and
discussed with the Board various administrative matters,
leaving the meeting at 8:45 p.m.
The remainder of the meeting was devoted to a
detailed presentation by Mr. Howlett and a discus-
sion of a major street plan for Lexington as pre-
pared in its preliminary form. The presentation was
made in three sections; the first included traffic in
Lexington, the town center survey, traffic counts at
outlying intersections, Lexington origin -destination
survey, through traffic, traffic accidents in Lexing-
ton 1952-56, and deficiencies in the existing road
system; the second section included future roadway
needs and the impact of new land uses; the third sec-
tion, elements of the master road plan and recommenda-
tions.
It being the last meeting of the Board before Mr.
Howlett left to assume a permanent position in
Pennsylvania, members of the Board expressed their best
wishes to him and their appreciation of the fine work
he had done in the Board's employ.
The meetine adjourned at 11:00 p.m.
Zevi G. Burnell, Jr.
Clerk
MAJOR
STREET
PLAN