Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout1958-12-29I PLANNING BOARD MEETING December 29, 1958 A regular meeting of the Lexington Planning Board was held in the Planning Board Office, Town Office Building, on Monday, December 291 1958 at 7:55 p.m. Present were Chairman Grindle, Members Burnell, and Jaquith, and Planning Director Snow. Town Counsel Stevens was also present from 8:40 MINTJTES BILLS BOARD OF APPEALS APPRO- PRIATED FUNDS DIANNE ESTATES INC. LIBERTY AVE. until 9:00 p.m. The Board approved the Minutes of its August 4 and December 22, 1958 meetings. The Board also approved the following bills which had been presented for payment: H.B.McArdle, diary --$6.80; Samuel P. Snow, car allowance for December -425.00. Considered next by the Board were the notices of petitions to be heard by the Board of Appeals on December 301 1958. It was decided to take no action on the petitions to be heard on said date. ' Discussed next and approved by the Board was drafted a letter dated December 30, 1958 to the Town Accountant in regard to carrying over to 1959 un- expended 1958 Planning Board funds open on the fol- lowing accounts: town maps, options for street and recreation lands, and general expenses. (See addendum.) At 8:40 p.m. Mr. Stevens came to the meet- ing and discussed with the Board the status of the required work to be com�leted in the so-called "Liberty Ave. Extension subdivision of Dianne Estates, Inc. (See Minutes of June 5 and July 29, 1958 meetings.) He reported that said corporation wished to substitute an agreement secured by a certified check to complete the remainder of the required work in said subdivision and to substitute this agreement for the $2500 bond which had been previously filed at the time of approval of the sub- division plan previously approved by the Board. Mr. Stevens recommended that the Planning Board accept the agreement and the accompanying certified check and release said $2500 bond. Thereupon, upon motion ' duly made and seconded, it was unanimously VOTED: to accept the agreement executed by Dianne . Estates, Inc., dated December 19, 1958, MINTJTES BILLS BOARD OF APPEALS APPRO- PRIATED FUNDS DIANNE ESTATES INC. LIBERTY AVE. 12-29-58 secured by a deposit of $600.00 in refer- ence to the completion of the work of the subdivider shown on a definitive subdivision plan entitled "Plan of Lots in Lexingtons Mass., owned by Dianne Estates, Inc., 34 Revere St.s Lexington"s dated Oct. 19s 1955s and to release the bond furnished by the Sub- dividers as Principalsand American Employers' Insurance Companys as Surety, dated December 5s 1955, in the penal sum of $2500.00. C 1 1 Mr. Stevens reported that on December 23, ZONING 1958s the Attorney General had approved the zoning BY-LAW by-law amendment in regard to professional offices AMENDMENT in single family residence districts, said amend- ment having been adopted under Article 7,of the Warrant for.the special town meeting h eld September 15, 1958: (See minutes of September 4s 1958 Plan- ning Board hearing.) There was held a general discussion of cur- rent problems before the Boards after which Mr. Stevens left the meeting. At 9:00 p.m. Mrs. Christine H. Meyers Mr, TOWN James E. Lavalle, and Mr. Irving H Mabee of the MEETING Town Meeting Members Association met with the Board MEMBERS to discuss the possibility of said association being ASSOCIATION responsible for a public meeting at which the Plan- ning Board would discuss its powers and duties and the work which had been accomplished in the prepara- tion of a long range development plan for Lexington. The Board agreed to participate in such a meetings it being scheduled tentatively for Feb, 4, 1959 at 8:00 p.m. in the Maria Hastings School. Possible subject matter and general arrangements for said meeting were discussed. It was agreed that asso- ciation publicity in regard to the meeting would not be released until discussed with the Planning Board. Thereupon representatives left'the meeting at 10:00.p m. The Board discussed the matter further and adjourned its meeting at 10:30 p.m. Thomas S. Grindle, Chairman C 1 1 C 1 12-29-58 Addendum Mr. Edward A. Palmer Town Accountant Lexington ?3, Mass. Dear Mr.Palmer: -2- December 301 1958 It is requested that you carry over to 1959. unexpended 1958 Planning Board funds on the following accounts: Town Maps, authorized under Article 38 by the Adjourned. Town Meeting held on March 28, 1955; Options for Streets and Recreation Lands, authorized under Article 28 by the Adjourned Town Meeting held on March 26, 1956, and subsequent town meetings; and General Expenses, authorized under Item 13 Article 4 by the Annual Town Meeting held on March 10, 1958. With reference to the first item, there has been delays in completing this work. Representatives Engineering firm which has been preparing the map Ing wit h the Board early in January to bring this close. " unexpected of the are meet - work toa Under the second item, the Board has several matters under negotiation and will need funds for options prior to the Annual Town Meeting in March. In regard to the third item, it is requested that you carry over any unexpended funds from the General Expenses account for the purpose of paying, in part, for reprinting amend- ments to the Zoning by-law. An allowance of 450 for print- ing was made in the Planning Boards 1958 budget for print- ing, $73 of which has already been -spent. As soon as the Attorney General gives his approval of an amendment passed at the September 15, 1958 Special Town Meeting, the Board will authorize such reprinting of the Zoning by-law to bring it up-to-date. Very truly yours, LEXINGTON PLANNING BOARD /s/ Thomas S. Grindle, Chairman 1 1 ANNUAL REPORT December 31, 1958 To the Citizens of Lexington: The Planning Board herewith submits its report. for 1958. While brief, this report reflects the activities and accomplishments of the board during the past year. It is the intention to issue during the coming year a preliminary report of the Board's long-range development plan. Since this report is being prepared under the direction of the planning director, any report by him at this time would be largely duplicated in the later report on the long - ran a plan. For this reason Mr. Snow's report for 1956 is being omitted. The following information obtained from the Planning Board records for the year give some indi- cation of the Board's activities. Regular meetings 47 Special meetings 17 Conferences with developers 16 Joint meetings 9 Public hearings 12 Definitive subdivision plan applications acted upon 12 Determinations of Planning Board jurisdiction 79 Board of Appeals cases acted upon 8 Except for bimonthly meetings during the summer months, the Planning Board has continued to meet regularly Monday evenings. Large portions of 17 of the planning board meetings (not including public hearings and special conferences) were devoted to the Regional Shopping Center and Special Commercial Districts proposals. The study of sketches and preliminary plans submitted for our opinions regarding their suit- ability as definitive subdivision layouts has been time-consuming. The Planning Board has devoted much considera- tion to zoning matters during the year. Eight dif- ferent proposals to amend the Lexington Zoning by ' laws were presented for the special town meetings held May 12, 1958 and Sept -151 1958. Public hear- ings on each of these proposals were held. Written ZONING Annual recommendations were filed at the meetings on seven of the proposals, one proposal having been withdrawn. The following amendments were approved: 1. Adoption of new regulations covering area, frontage, yard, parking, loading, and driveway regu- lations for M 1 Light Manufacturing Districts. 2. The addition of office buildings as a per- mitted use in C 3 Special Commercial Districts. 3. Rezoning approximately 165 acres of land abutting Route 2 and the Route 2 and 128 interchange from an R"1 District to a C 3 Special Commercial Dis- trict. The purpose of this rezoning was to permit the area rezoned to be used for research laboratories and office buildings. Also as a part of this pro- posal was the adoption of regulations for the develop- ment of C 3 districts. 4, Amendment of the provisions under which the Board of Appeals can grant special permission for use of dwellings for professional offices by limiting such use to a professional person residing in the dwelling and as incidental to such residence. 5. Rezoning land on which the center railroad station is situated from an R 1 district to a C 2 General Business District. 6. Rezoning approximately 11 acres of land from an R 1 district to an A 1 Garden Type Apartment and Hotel district. This land is located on the south- easterly side of Waltham Street and diagonally opposite the high school. The following amendment was not approved: Rezoning approximately 73 acres of land at junc- tion of Route 2 and Spring Street from an R 1 district to a C 4 Regional Shopping Center district together with the regulations for development of C 4 districts. The following proposal was withdrawn: To rezone land located on Bedford Street from an R 1 district to a C 2 district, this land adjoining the C 2 district presently occupied by the Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Co. retail store and extending southeasterly on Bedford Street approximately 82.5 feet. 1 1 1 Annual Report ' Progress was made during the sition of land for recreation and poses. At the annual town meeting 1958 the Town voted: year in the acqui- other public pur- held in March, 1. To purchase approximately 58 acres of land, the so-called "Willar ds Woods", situated on the westerly side of North Street. This land was ac- quired for playground, recreational, and other public purposes. 2. To accept from DeVries Construction Company, Inc. a grant of land in East Lexington, situated southeasterly of the Sun Valley development and northeasterly of Lowell and Summer Streets Though not yet acquired, it is the Board's understanding that this section of land is being given to the Town for playground, recreational, and other public pur- poses. WZ At the special town meeting in May, 195e the Town voted also to purchase approximately 28J acres of land situated on the southwesterly side of Middleby Road. The purpose of this acquisition was to secure this land for street, school, playground, recreational ' and other public purposes. Options for additional areas are being negotiated as details are developed of the Director's recommenda- tions for a comprehensive system of public open spaces for recreation. Preliminary plans for this system were reviewed this past year by officials of the State Department of Natural Resources. Commenting in a memorandum to the Chief of Recreation, Division of Forests and Parks, of said department, the consultant to the division wrote: "I am most agreeably surprised by the scope and nature of this proposed park system program, as out- lined to me by the Planning Board's Director, within the size of a town like Lexington. I know of no such town that has even conceived in such intelligent and far sighted terms of what I would call a combination conservation and recreation program - not only for the benefit of today's population but especially for the generations to come." After receiving verbal assurance from a State official that the widening of the travelled way along ' Route 128 would take place within the existing right of way, the planning staff prepared detailed plans for the development of the W.John Baskin playground. It appears now that there will be definitely a widening RECREATION .�.nnua 1 of Route 128 along both sides of the right of wag ' between the interchanges as well as at the inter- changes themselves. Until the boundaries of the circumferential highway are establisheds it is recommended that no further plans be made or con- struction contemplated of the Baskin playground. The Planning Director has continued to assist SCHOOL the School Sites Committee in making recommendations SITES for sites, in obtaining options for the sames and in preparing preliminary site plans for future schools. A detailed study of one proposed elementary school site has been made including preliminary sketches for a school and a scale model of the proposal. Mr. Charles T. Abbotts a member of the Boards has been a member of the School Sites Committee since its origin. This arrangement enables the Board to co- ordinate the planning function of the various agen- cies involved. Last summer the revised town map beidg prepared TOWN under the direction of the Planning Board was com- MAP pleted by the,engineering firm engaged to do this work. The map drawn at a scale of 400 feet to an Inch was given to the Town Engineer for his keeping and maintenance. It is understood that there is now ' being added to the map the latest subdivision streets and that as soon as this work is completed the map will replace the one now existing. In recognition of the lack of attention given MINUTE MAN to sites connected with our struggle for national NATIONAL freedoms a subject commented upon increasingly by HISTORIC citizens of our country as well as from frequent PARK visitors from Foreign lands, the Boston National PROJECT Historic Sites Commission was created by the 84th Congress under Public Law 75s approved June 15s 1955s "for the purpose of investigating the feasibility of establishing a coordinated program in which the Fed- eral Government may cooperate with local and State governments and historical and patriotic societies for the preservation and appreciation by the public of the most important of the Colonial and Revolution- ary properties in Boston and the general vicinity' thereofwhich form outstanding examples of America's historical heritage." It is understood that one phase of the Commission's work has been completed, this being set forth in -a special interim report to be submitted in Januarys 1959 to the Congress of the United States recommending the creation of a national ' historical park along the route in Lexingtons Lincoln and Concords Massachusettss where the Minute Men and the British opened the War of the Revolution on April 19,1775. It Is understood also that with submission 1 1 Annual Report .3 - of the report there will be introduced into the Con- gress a bill authorizing the establishment of the park under the appropriate name MSnute Man National His- torical Park. The park proposed along the Lexington -Concord Battle Road, also known as the Battle Road of t1m Revolution, would be made up of two principal units. The larger, of 557 acres, would form a continuous stretch of slightly more than four miles of road and roadside properties from Fiske Hill beside Route 128 in Lexington to Mariam's Corner in Concord. The smaller unit, at the celebrated North Bridge in Con- cord, would embrace 155 acres inside maximum bound- aries on both sides of the Concord River from Monument Street to Liberty Street and Lowell Road. With the knowledge and approval of the Planning Board the Planning Director has been intimately asso- ciated with this project first mentioned officially in the 1957 Annual Report of the Board of Selectmen. He has kept the two Boards informed of the progress being made on the project because of its relationship and the proposal itself will be set forth in the pre- viously mentioned preliminary report of said long- range development plan. Due to the demands of other duties It has been impossible to devote as much study to the proposed development plan as we had hoped. However progress is being made. In our studies we have followed the practice begun last year of employing a part-time graduate student to assist our planning director. We believe it is important for the citizens to know that in order to do a thorough job it will be neces- sary to provide the planning board with sufficient professional assistance. In the growth of the town the most desirable land has already been selected for use. The result Is that future developments must spread over less desirable land or areas that are inaccessible to any public way. These areas in most instances are owned by separate individuals. In order to give protec- tion to all owners and to insure to the town the best use of this land our planning director has made studies of these sections and produced layouts to provide this protection. This work is time-consuming for our director, but we believe it is of immense value to the future welfare of the town. WORK ON LONG RANGE DEVELOPMENT PLAN FUTURE SUBDIVISION ONTROLS Annual The past year has been a very busy one for the ' Planning Board. We wish to express our appreciation to all who have assisted us during the year. We appreciate the cooperation.of other town departments. We have attempted to carry out our responsibili- CONCLUSION ties in a friendly and impartial manner to all. It is the opinion of the Planning Board that Mr. Snow, our Planning Director, through his training and ex- perience xperience has much to contribute in his field. His untiring efforts and professional knowledge have helped us greatly. The Board also wishes to thank Town Counsel Harold Stevens for his continued valuable counsel and assistance. Thomas S.Grindl$, Chairman Charles T. Abbott Lev�rnell, Jr. 1