HomeMy WebLinkAbout1958-04-21PLANNING BOARD MEETING
' April 21, 1958
A regular meeting of the Lexington Planning
Board was held on Monday, April 21, 1958 at 7:40
p.m. in the Town Engineers Room, Town Office
Building. Present were Chairman Grindle, Members
Abbott, Burnell, Jaquith and Soule, and Planning
Director Snow.
The Board approved the following bills which BILLS
had been presented for payment: Minute -man Publi-
cations, Inc., advertising -proposed zoning by-law
amendment- 474.72; Middleby Realty Trust, option
for purchase of land --$1,000.
Mr. Snow reported that negotiations have been OPTION
completed for obtaining an option from Mr. Diomede -
Famosi of Westford, Trustee of Middleby Realty LAND FOR
Trust, to purchase for recreation and other pub- RECREATION
lic purposes, land situated southeasterly of
Middleby Road, and bounded by said way, lots
fronting on said way, and lots fronting on Lincoln
Street, Marrett Road and Outlook Drive, and land
of the Town (old reservoir property). Mr. Snow
said that the purchase price agreed upon was
$22,000, 11,000 to be paid on Ma 1, 1958 in ex-
change for a signed option, and 121,000 to be paid
on or before June 15, 1958 in exchange for a clear
title and deed. He explained the unusual circum-
stances which necessitated paying such a large
amount of money for this particular option (see
minutes of April 161 1 958) and stated that he
thought everything possible should be done to ex-
pedite the acquisition of,this property.
Mr. Snow also reported that he had discussed
the obtainin'7of an option with Mr. Greeley, Chair-
man of the School Sites Committee, and Mrs. Marek,
Chairman of the School Committee, that both were in
favor of the acquisition, and th:_t the School Sites
Committee had previously included a portion of the
land involved in its recommendations for an ele-
mentary school site.
The Board considered next the notices of peti- BOARD OF
tions to be heard by the Board of Appeals on April APPEALS
29, 1958. It was decided to take no action on the
,, petitions to be heard.
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DEVRIES
Considered next by the Board was the applica-
tion for tentative approval of a preliminary sub-
WINCHESTER
'
division plan entitled "Sun Valley II", said appli-
DEVELOPMENT
cation having been submitted on April 21, 1958 by
CORP.
George J. DeVries, Winchester Development Corp.
Bedford Airport access road between Wood and Bedford
The Board noted that the corporation had obtained
SUN
title to the Cahill and former Kelly properties
VALLEY II
and that the plan was similar to one the Board had
1958 reply. (See addendum). The Board compared
previously acted upon. (See March 11, 1957 minutes.)
Mr. Snow was asked to make a study of the plan with
regard to its relation to surrounding properties and
25, 1957 letter to Mr. Whitcomb, Location and Survey
the proposed location of Elverson Roads submitting
his recommendations to the Board for its considera-
tion. It was decided that the name of the subdivision
February 27, 1957 reply. (See addendum.) In view
was not acceptable and that Mr. DeVries be asked to
choose another, said name being too confusing with
titles such as "Sun Valley, See. 2" and "Sun Valley
the proposed road would not be of limited access
II, Sec. 21" etc.
VINE BROOK Read to the Board was Mr. Alfred P. Tropeano's
REALTY April 16, 1958 letter in regard to the relocation
TRUST of the southeasterly side line of Waltham Street in
connection with the Vine Brook Realty Trust proposal
for subdividing its land fronting on said street.
(See addendum). In regard to said letter Mr. Snow
was asked to give a copy to Mr. Gayer, Supt, of
Public Works, confer with him in regard to plans for '
the re -location, and to report what information he
obtained.
CAPITAL At 8:30 P.m. Mrs. Fitzgerald and Messrs. Mabee
EXPENDITURES and Royle of the Capital Expenditures Committee met
COMMITTEE with the Board to discuss capital expenditures in-
volved in the construction of the proposed regional
shopping center. The committee members left the
meeting at 8:50 p.m.
PROPOSED
Considered next by the Board was Mr. Gazer's
ROAD
March 4o 1958 letter to the State Department of Pub -
WOOD TO
lic Works in regard to the design of the proposed
BEDFORD
Bedford Airport access road between Wood and Bedford
STREET
Streets, and Chief Engineer McCarthy's April 11,
1958 reply. (See addendum). The Board compared
these letters with the Planning Director's February
25, 1957 letter to Mr. Whitcomb, Location and Survey
Engineer of said department, and Chief Engineer Gray's
February 27, 1957 reply. (See addendum.) In view
of the fact that April 11, 1958 letter stated that
the proposed road would not be of limited access
status as previously stated in the February 27, 1957
letter, the Board decided to discuss with the Select-
men the problems which would be created by the change
of status of the road.
The remainder of the meeting was devoted to RE -ZONING
the drafting of a revision of the Board's previous PROPOSAL
proposal to amend Section 8 of the Zoning By-law FOR M 1
(See minutes of the Board's November 8, 1 956 public DISTRICT
hearing). The Board met with the Selectmen from
10:15 to 10:25 p.m. to discuss said revision with
them.
The planning Board meeting was adjourned at
10:25 p.m.
R" rd H. oule
Clerk
,.
ADDENDUM
Alfred P. Tropeano
:Attorney and Counsellor at Law 114 Waltham Street
Lexington 73, Massachusetts
April 163 1958
Lexington Planning Board
Town Office Building
Lexington, Massachusetts
In re: Vine Brook Realty Trust
Gentlemen:
Under date of February 27, 1958, you wrote and stated
that you approved certain lots and also that you were refer-
ring the plan to the Engineering Department with a request
that it recommend a location for the proposed extension of
Worthen Road. You also requested that they discuss with the
County Engineers the relocation of the Southeastern side
line of Waltham Street.
Will you please let me know what progress the Engineers
have made as I personally feel that your Board should have
sought this information more than one year ago when Vine Brook
Realty submitted its first study plan.
However, more than six weeks have elapsed since your letter
of February 27, and I would appreciate immediate action as the
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Trust is most desirous of proceeding as speedily as
possible.
Very truly yours,
Is/ Alfred P. Tropeano
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Department of Public Works
100 Nashua St.,Boston 14, Mass.
Lexington -Bedford Airport Access Roads April 11, 1958
Mr. Richard J. Gayer
Supt, of Public Works
Lexington, Massachusetts
Dear Sir:
I wish to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated March
4P 1958 in which you asked several questions and made sore
comments concerning the design and construction of the
Bedford Airport Access Roads.
Relative to questions 1, 2, & 3 and advice requested in
your recent letter dated April 4, 19581 please be informed
that this particular project will be processed under Chap-
ter 718 of the Acts of 1956. The Commonwealth will ac-
quire the right of way as a State highway and when the
work has been completed, the layout will revert to the
Town of Lexington for maintenance. It will not be a
limited access layout; therefore, access can be controlled
by the Town after transfer of ownership.
In answer to comment #4, it has been decided that
Westview Street will be closed at the railroad crossing.
The 16" water main installation mentioned under comment
#5 and outlined by plan in your letter of April 4, 1958
will be included in our contract, according to your request,
with the understanding that the Town of Lexington will re-
imburse the Commonwealth for the increased cost of this
betterment based on contract bid prices.
Abandoned sections of pavement will be removed and the
areas loamed and seeded per your comment #6.
Water and sewer alterations necessitated by the reconstruc-
tion of Bedford Street will be included in the contract in
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6E
' answer to your comment #7.
If I may be of further assistance to you in this matter,
please advise.
Very truly yours,
/s/ E. J. McCarthy
Chief Engineer
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Department of Public Works
100 Nashua Street, Boston 14
February 27 1957
Mr. Samuel P.Snow, Planning Director
Lexington, Mass.
Dear Mr. Snow:
I am In receipt of your letter of February 25 to Mr.
Whitcomb, our Surveys and Locations Engineer, regarding
the proposed highway connecting Wood and Bedford Streets
in the town of Lexington.
I regret our misunderstanding of your two previous
eltters, and trust this letter will answer your questions.
The road, as proposed, would connect 'wood Street at a
point near the Williams rroperty to Bedford Street at a
point 7,ere Hinchey Road now enters Bedford Street. The
road would be constructed to a width of 24 ft. with two
10 ft. paved shoulders for a total of 44 ft. of pavement.
The layout would be a controlled access layout providing
for entrances from South Street just west of the Bedford
Branch of the Railroad, and from :Test View Road and
Hinchey Street at some point between the Railroad and
Bedford -Street.
At Bedford Street some provision would be made for a safe
haven for northbound traffic turning left on to the pro-
posed road as described above at some point west of the
railroad. This would eliminate the present railroad grade
crossin? of West View Road. However, this grade crossing
would be replaced at the corssing of the new road and the
railroad.
The Department feels in following the policy of controlled
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access, as outlined above, that such a policy provides
for the industrial development of the abutting land,
and at the same time maintains the safety of the high-
way in limiting the points of access to those described.
The field surveys for this project have been completed,
but the plotting of the plans and further studies have
been discontinued pending the allocation of funds by
the Defense Department for the construction of the
highway.
I am sending under separate cover an aerial photograph
showing in heavy blue crayon the approximate center
line location.
Very truly yours,
/s/ H. G. Gray
Chief Engineer
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