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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1958-08-18 PLANNING BOARD MEETING I August 18, 1958 A regular meeting of the Lexington Planning Board was held in the Planning Board Office, Town Office Building, on Monday, August 18, 1958 at 7:30 p.m. Present were Chairman Grindle, Members Abbott, Burnell, Jaquith and Soule, Messrs. Boyle and Snow of the planning staff, and the secretary. The Board approved the following bills which had been presented for payment: Spaulding-Moss Co., BILLS drafting materials-42.80 and $1.50; Philip and Lawrence Burt, stenographic services--$85.50; Allen Stationery Co., office chairs--$36.60; Terrence J. Boyle, professional services, August 11 through August 15--$100.00; Graphic Reproductions, Inc. , white prints-41.30 and $1.30; Frederick A. Peterson & Son, installation of map boards and building of bookcases--$25.78; Lexington Planning Board, petty cash--$15 .00. The Board approved also the action taken by the Planning Director in signing a schedule for pay- ment of Terrence J. Boyle's $100.00 bill for profes- sional services from August 4 through August 8, 1958. Taken under consideration next were the fol- lowing Form A applications for determination of Plan- FORMS A ping Board jurisdiction: #58-56, submitted on August 8, 1958 by John Carroll for the Town of Lexington; plan en- titled "Plan of Drain Easement on Northerly Parts of Lots 1 & 2 Winter Street Lexington Mass. ", Scale: 1" = 40', dated July 21, 1958, Richard J. Gayer, Town Engineer. #58-57, submitted on August 8, 1958 by John J. Carroll for the Town of Lexington ; plan entitled "Plan of Sewer Easement from Marrett Road through private lands to Kendall Road Lexington Mass.", Scale: 1" = 40 ' , dated April 14., 1958, Richard J. Gayer, Town Eng- ineer. Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was unanimously VOTED: that the Board determines that the plans accompanying Form A applications #58-56 and #58-57 do not require approval under the Sub- 6-18-58 division Control Law and that said plans be so endorsed. The Board's attention was called to a peti- R 1 to A 1 tion for a public hearing relative to the Vine REZOINING Brook Realty Trust proposal to amend the zoning PROPOSAL by-law by adding a new paragraph to Sec. 14 (g) A 1, Garden apartments and hotel districts, said peti- VINE BROOK tion having been filed on August 15, 1958 and having REALTY been certified by the Town Clerk as having been TRUST signed by 111 of Lexington' s registered voters. At 7:55 p.m. Mr. Alfred P. Tropeano met with the Board to discuss said petition and to file a proposed article for the warrant for a special town meeting scheduled for September 15, 1958. Both said petition and article described the parcel of the Vine Brook Realty Trust land for which rezoning was being sought. With reference to a previous discussion of the Trust 's proposal (see minutes of June 23, 1958 Plan- ning Board meeting) , Mr. Tropeano stated that at the present time all building within the proposed district would be strictly for residential apartments. He said that no hotel or motel was involved although the trust might consider the erection of a hotel at a later date. He also said that land had been reserved by the Trust for the future widening of Waltham Street and the continuation of Worthen Road. In regard to the latter point, Mr. Snow noted that the description for the proposed district men- tioned the proposed location of Worthen Road. He said that he had located said road only on a study basis, said study having to be presented to the Planning Board and Selectmen for consideration and acceptance. He pointed out that bearings and distances for said road could only be established after a detailed survey was made and plans prepared by engineers. Mr. Snow sug- gested that any mention of Worthen Road be deleted from the description of the proposed district and its boundaries be given further consideration. There appeared to be a general agreement that the boundaries of said district needed more study. September 9, 1958 at 8:00 p.m. was tentatively set for a public hearing to be held on the petition. Thereupon, Mr. Tropeano left the meeting at 8:15 p .m. The Board then estimated the cost of advertising the hearing, mailing notices, and secretarial services deciding that the Trust should be charged $35.00 for its application fee. Mr. Snow was asked to co notify Mr. Tropeano. With reference to the Town Counsel's August 8, 8-18-58 .2w r U 1958 letter to the Planning Director, the Board gave further consideration to Mr. Frederic K. Johnson's JOHNSON rezoning petition. (See minutes of Planning Board's REZONING June 30, 1958 meeting. ) Mr. Snow reported that Mr. PETITION Johnson had paid the application fee which had been determined by the Board. September L{., 1958 at 8:30 p.m. was set tentatively for a public hearing on said petition. 8:00 p.m. on the same date was re- served for the hearing on the proposed professional office amendment to the Zoning By-law. Mr. Snow reported that he had discussed with the Town Counsel various matters in regard to the SUNNYKNOLL Board's approval of Raymond F. Boudreau's subdivi- sion plan entitled "Sunnyknoll Lexington, Mass." BOUDREAU Mr. Snow said that as a result of this discussion he had prepared the plan for endorsement and an accom- panying letter of transmittal for the Board's consid- eration. The Board endorsed said plan with the notation thereon, "Parcel A does not comply with the minimum requirements of the Lexington Zoning By- law." In view of the fact that the Town Counsel was on vacation, it was decided that in this case only the subdivider be permitted to record in the Registry of Deeds the definitive plan endorsed by the Board. The Board then approved said letter which was signed by the Chairman. (See addendum. ) At 8:50 p.m. Chairman Donald E. Nickerson of the Board of Appeals met with the Planning Board to R 1 to C 2 discuss an anticipated request from Mr. Anthony R. REZONING Cataldo for a variance to use the Lexington railroad PROPOSAL station for banking purposes. Mr. Nickerson said that it was the Board of Appeals' opinion that a CATALDO change in zone should be sought rather than said variance from the Board of Appeals. Members of the Planning Board stated that before making any deci- sion in regard to the matter, more information was needed particularly in regard to how much land was involved. Mr. Nickerson agreed to obtain this in- formation. There was then discussed with Mr. Nickerson the problem of special office buildings in a single PROPOSED family residential district, particularly the pro- ZONING posal that professional offices should be limited to AMENDMENT use by a person residing in the dwelling and that - buildings shouldnot be converted wholly to office PROFES- use. Mr. Nickerson concurred in the opinion that SIONAL an amendment to the zoning by-law setting forth the Ok'FICES above considerations should be proposed. Thereupon, he left the meeting at 9:10 p.m. 8-18-58 With reference to Mr. Snow's June 30, 1958 PROPOSED memorandum setting forth his recommendations for a NORTH ST. - proposed North Street-Vine Brook recreation area, VINE BROOK the Planning Board held a special field meeting on RECREATION August 5, 1958 to view the site. The Board discussed AREA said memorandum in detail, particularly the possible acquisition from the guardian of the Reginald W. Ellis estate lots 3 through 8. Mr. Jaquith reported that Lot 8 was under agreement to be sold to Mark Moore, Jr. but that if arrangements could be made, said guardian would be willing to sell said lot to the Town for the same price. It was decided that Lot 8 should be acquired along with the others named if it could be purchased for a reasonable amount. Mr. Jaquith was authorized to obtain an option on this basis. Considered next was Moore Realty Trust 's BURNHAM application for approval of the Burnham Farms-Sec- FARMS tion Two definitive subdivision plan submitted on SEC. 2 July 14, 1958. It was reported that a change had to be made in the restrictive agreement executed by MOORE Mr. Moore on August 11, 1958 (see minutes of June 23, REALTY 1958 Planning Board meeting), and that Mr. Stevens TRUST was taking care of the matter. All other matters appearing to be in order, upon motion duly made and seconded, it was unanimously VOTED: That the definitive subdivision plan entitled "Burnham Farms Section Two Lexington-Mass.", dated April 1, 1958 which was submitted to the Board by Moore Realty Trust on July 14, 1958, accompanied by an application for approval of definitive plan, Form C, dated May 28, 1958, be and hereby is approved subject to the pro- visions of a restrictive agreement to be executed by the trustee of said trust and the mortgagee of the lands involved in said sub- division prior to the endorsement of said plan by the Planning Board. The Board also considered Moore Realty Trust's BURNHAM application_ for tentative approval of the Burnham FARMS Farms Section Three preliminary subdivision plan. SEC. 3 Mr. Snow pointed out that an area through. lot 40 on said plan should be included in the proposed Vine MOORE Brook-North Street Recreation Area. He was asked to REALTY study said subdivision plan with the view of making TRUST recommendations in regard to the same. Mr. Jaquith reported on the conference he and Mr. Grindle had with Mr. Kendrick in regard to an • 8-18-58 -3- agreement whereby an option could be obtained from Mr. Kendrick for the purchase of a portion of hie EMERSONland for the extension of Emerson Road fromthe ROAD Burnham Farms development to East Street. Mr. STREW Jaquith stated that Mr. Kendrick indicated his will- OPTION ingness for Lexington to acquire said portion de- sired between September 1 and October 30, 1960, that he wished to continue to farm the land involved for two more years, and that he did not wish to reserve the right afterwards to draw water from Vine Brook. Mr. Jaquith said that Mr. Kendrick was interested in possible street and water betterment assessments, these being estimated from a minimum of $1350 to a maximum of $1725. Discussing the matter further the Board be- lieved it would be preferable to purchase the land on a straight price basis rather than trying to re- duce the cost of land by eliminating betterment assessments. It was thought that on this basis no question could arise as to when Emerson Road was to be constructed from Burnham Farms to East Street. $3500 was considered to be a fair purchase price. Mr. Jaquith was asked to discuss the matter further with the Town Counsel and authorized to obtain an option from Mr. Kendrick. With reference to Pond Realty Trust 's pro- posal to develop the former Magnuson land (see POND minutes of June 23, 1958 Planning Board meeting) , REALTY there was discussed a study Mr. Boyle made under Mr. TRUST Snow 's direction, said study being entitled "Pro- posed Location Worthen Road Mass.Ave. to Route 128", dated Aug. 5, 1958. Mr. Snow pointed out that while changes in the proposal would probable need to be made at a later date, the location of the extension of Worthen Read from Hill Street to the Pine Meadows golf course was sufficiently well determined to make a detailed study of this section of the road in re- lation to lands of the Pond Realty Trust, Ernest E. MacPhee and the Lexington Golf Club. The plan show- ing this relationship was discussed and approved by the Board, said plan being entitled "Proposed Resi- dential Subdivision from Garfield St. to Vaille Ave.", dated Aug. 10, 1958. Mr. Snow was authorized to give and to discuss with representatives of Pond Realty Trust part of a print of said plan as it related to said Trust 's land. Considered next by the Board was the Lexing- ton Development Co. ' s application for tentative approval of the Lowell Estates preliminary subdivi- sion plan. (See minutes of July 21, 1958 meeting. ) _ 8-18-58 Said plan and Planning Board studies in connection LOWELL thereof were reviewed by the Board. Thereupon, upon ESTATES motion duly made and seconded, it was unanimously LEXINGTON VOTED: that the preliminary plan entitled "Lowell DEVELOP- Estates Lexington, Mass.", dated April 15, MENT CO. 1957, which was submitted to the Board by the Lexington Development Co. on July 21, 1958, be and hereby is disapproved for the reason that said plan does not make adequate provi- sion for the development of the adjacent lands in accordance with the study plan entitled "Sug- gested Subdivision of DeVries and Adjacent Lands in Lexington, Massachusetts," dated June 30, 1958, prepared by Samuel P. Snow, Planning Director, and adopted by the Board on June 30, 1958. The meeting was adjourned at 10:35 p.m. - k hard H. Soule, Clerk Addendum August 18, 1958 Mr. Raymond F. Boudreau, 79 Lowell Street, Lexington 73, Mass. Re: Sunnyknoll Dear Mr. Boudreau: Attached herewith please find a set of original tracings of your definitive subdivision plan entitled "Sunnyknoll Lexington , Mass. ", said plan being dated June 9, 1958, approved by the Planning Board on July 21, 1958, and en- dorsed by said Board on August 18, 1958. It is understood that Mr.Stevens, Town Counsel of Lexing- ton, has discussed with your attorney, Mr. Hoffman, matters in regard to the granting of the necessary easements in this subdivision and a deed to the town of lot 70. Understand- ing that said matters will be taken care of when Mr. Stevens returns from his vacation next week, the Planning Board has endorsed the plan before obtaining said grant and deed. Instead of having the Town Counsel record for the Board your definitive plan, as set forth in paragraph 7 of your 8-18-58 -4- application for approval of said plan, the Board is allowing you to record the plan yourself Please see that both sheets of the plan are recorded and notify both Nh. Stevens and the Planning Board office of the date of recording and the plan number assigned by the Registry. Upon receipt of this in- formation the Planning Board will file the duplicate copies of said plan in the Town Engineer' s office and notify the Building Inspector that it will be in order to issue building permits for lots 1 through 4. Very truly yours, LEXINGTON PLANNING BOARD /s/ Thomas S. Grindle, Chairman