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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1959-02-251 PLANI�TING BOARD HEARING February 251 1959 The Lexington Planning Board held a public hear- ing on Wednesday, February 25, 19591 at 7:45 p.m. in Estabrook Halls Cary Memorial Buildings relative to a petition signed by not less than 100 of Lexington's regis- tered voters requesting an amendment to the Lexington Zoning B7 -law so as to change from a single family resi- dential district to a garden apartment and hotel district about 11 acres of land situated on the southeasterly side of Maple Street and located between Munroe Brook and the Great Meadows land of the town of Arlington. Present were Chairman Grindle, Members Abbotts Burnell and Soule, Planning Director Snow and Mrs. Bakers the Planning Board's secretary. Approximately 50 persons attended the hearing. The Chairman read the notice of the hearing as it had been sent to all those deemed to be affected and as it had been published in the February 51 1959 issue of the Lexington Minute -man. He then explained the pro- cedure in conducting t e hearing and called upon the proponents to discuss their proposal. Mr. Edward T. Martin, attorneys of 13 Sherburne Road, stated that he represented the proponents. He then introduced Messrs. Vincent Ippolito, Philip Longo and Paul Tocci, members of the corporation which planned to develop the proposed apartment district, and Mr. Charles H. Cole II, architect, of Lexing ton. Mr. Martin said it was his purpose to show the need for and the benefits Lexington would derive from such a project. He then said that Mr. Cole had prepared the preliminary plans for the project and called on him to discuss said plans. Mr. Cole described the project as one which would have buildings similar to the Gardencrest Apartments on Ly- man Street, Waltham, Pointing to preliminary plans on dis- play, he said that it was proposed to construct five dif- ferent types of buildings, fifteen in all, the buildings to be of Colonial design, and of red brick with white wooden trim. He noted that the preliminary plans called for 110 units, 8 one -bedroom apartments, 94 two-bedroom apartments, and 8 three-bedroom apartments, the tentative rents being 5110-115, $125-1302 and $145-150 per month, respectively. He also noted that the buildings would cover about 12 per- cent of the land and that 115 parking spaces for cars would be -provided on the site. He estimated the cost of the buildings would be about x.1,3002000 and would have an assessed value of $6501000. Mr. Martin then asked Mr. Grant B. Cole, realtor, Hearing -2-25-59 -2- 1 of 97 Blake Road to discuss the need for the proposed apartments from the standpoint of his Lexington busi- ness experience. Mr. Cole stated. that during 1958 his firm had received 257 requests for apartments but had been able to fill only 19 of these. He said that many of the requests came from out-of-state residents who wished to rent for a year in order to familiarize them- selves with the Lexington residential situation before establishing permanent residences. Mr. Cole said that there were also requests for apartments from school teachers and from elderly persons who wished to remain In Lexington among the friends they had m, de over the years. He stated he believed that for the good of the town some means of revenue must be found from the right kinds of projects, that in his opinion this was one of those projects, and one which should meet approval. Mr. Martin said that from past experience as a School Committee member he knew that 60 percent of the teachers in Lexington's schools lived outside of town for the reason that they could find no place they could afford to live in Lexington. He also said that whether or not a teacher could live in town was sometimes a de- termining factor as to whether or not a position in Lexingtonts schools was accepted. Mr. Martin stated that he believed the availability of apartments such as those being discussed would help relieve the present situation. He pointed out that in his opinion many people made the mistake of thinking teachers could not afford such apartments. He stated that he believed they could. when two or three teachers shared an apart- ment together. Commenting on the warrant for the town meeting scheduled for March, Mr. Martin said that outside of articles on reports all, except one, called for an appro- priation of money, that one being an article with refer- ence to the proposed zoning article being discussed. Mr. Martin stated that in this case, instead of spending money, there was a chance of the Town obtaining revenue in the form of taxes. He said that in his opinion this was an important point especially considering the fact that taxes were constantly increasing. In conclusion, Por. Martin stated that the proponents believed the pro- posed garden apartment district was a good one and that the acceptance of the -proposal as presented would bring benefits to Lexington Mr. William G. Nowlin of 29 Maple Street wished to know the location of sewer and water facilities and if costs of drainage would be borne by the Town. It was pointed out that there was a water pipe of adequate size in Maple Street, that a trunk sewer was located about 250 feet from the proposed project, and that the developer Hearing 2-25-59 -3- ' would have to nay for any drains necessary to service the project. Mrs. Stillman P. Williams of 9 Sheridan Street and Mr. Nowlin both asked about Fmerson Road being a dead-end street as shown on t"�e architect's site plan. It was pointed out that it was proposed to extend said road connecting to it one other future street and Bartlett Avenue. In answer to an inquiry from Mr. Leslie H. York of 24 Hancock Street, it was pointed out that the location of Fmerson Road as shown on the architect's site plan was obtained from the Planning Board's study plan of the area. Mr. Weiant Wathen-Dunn of 44 Maple Street asked Mr. Grant Cole if he knew how many children there were in the families which had requested apartment rental information from him. Mr.Cole said he did not know but believed there were very few for the reason that most inquiries came from elderly people. He also said that it was his experience that families with children wanted 3- or 4 -bedroom residences. Mr. Nowlin asked if there were any reason other than private why the Waltham Street garden apartment dis- trict had not been developed. He was told that the ' Selectmen and Planning Board were working on road plans for the district. Mr.Martin commented that the inquiry brought up an important point, that while the Town Meet- ing might vote in favor of the .rezoning nronosal of the nrononents he represented, definite control of the pro- ject rested in the two agencies of the Town, the Planning Board and the Board of Appeals. Mr. Lauri A. Lindell of 471 Waltham Street asked what kind of heating system the proposed apartmentswould have, stating that he was particularly interested in the smoke problem. The architect said it was planned to have hot water heat supplied by individual heating units, each unit to be located in small central boiler rooms and to service four apartments. Mrs. Wathen-Dunn said that the site plan looked as if it were designed for a flat area. She asked what plans there were to save the trees located on the present knoll located within the proposed district. In reply the archi- tect said that it was proposed to follow the proposed site plan as far as possible but that admittedly the plan showed as many buildings as could be placed thereon. He said that it would be the policy to save whatever larger ' trees there existed by taking advantage of various levels in locating the buildings, something which could not be shown at the nrescnt stage of planning because of lack of data. Hearing 2-25-59 -L- There being no further questions or comments, the , chairman asked those attending; the hearing to indicate by a show of hands if they were in favor of or opposed to approving the proposal as presented.. Of those per- sons wishing to do so, 21 were in favor of the proposal, 6 opposed. The hearing was declared closed at 8:40 p.m. Thereupon the secretary was excused, the Planning Board adjourning to the Town Office Building to hold its regu- lar meeting of the week. R chard H. Soule Clerk 1 D PLANNING BOARD MEETING February 25, 1959 A regular meeting of the Lexington Plan- ning Board was held in the Planning Board's office, Town Office Building, on Wednesday, Feb- ruary 25, 1959 at 9:Oo p.m. Present were Chair- man Gri_ndle, Members Abbott, Burnell and Soule, and Planning Director Snow. The Board annroved the minutes of its Feb- ruary 16,and February 19, 1959 meetings. The Board approved also the following bills which had been presented for payment: Graphic Reproductions, Inc., white prints ---t4.20; Amer. Soc. of Planning Officials, planning ad- visory reports --$15.00. Considered next by the Board were the following Form A applications for determination of Planning Board jurisdiction: #59-131 submitted on February 20, 1959 ' by Charles F. Small; plan entitled "A Compiled Plan of Land in Lexington and Woburn -Mass.", Scale: 1" = 60', dated April 11, 1°58, Miller and Nylander, C.E.'s & Surveyors, Lexington, Mass. #59-144 submitted February 24, 1959 by Paul Bowser; plan entitled "Plan of Land Lexington, Mass.", owned by Paul Bowser, Scale: 100' to 1", dated Feb. 11, 1959, Robert H. Dunning, Surv. It was decided to withhold action on appli- cation #59-13 until the plan accompanying said application could be referred to the Town Counsel at the next Planning Board meeting. Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was unanimously VOTED: that the plan accompanying Form A appli- cation #59-14 does not require approval under the Subdivision Control Law, and that said plan be so endorsed. ' Read to the Board and discussed by it was a letter dated February 92 1959s from Clifford W. MINUTES BILLS FORMS A 2-25-59 -2- Birch of 34 Grove Street stating that the Town T.M.M.A. Meeting Members Association wished to conduct on ' TOUR Sunday afternoon, March 8, 19591 a tour of sites or locations of urojects to ut ich reference would be made in the warrant for the March Town meeting. In regard to Mr. Birch's requests as set forth in his letter, Mr. Abbott was asked to accompany the tour as the representative of both the Planning Board and the School Sites Committee. Mr. Snow was requested to prepare for Mr. Abbott's use maps and data in regard to the proposed articles in the warrant in which the two agencies were particular- ly interested. The Board's attention was also called to COLONIAL the uncompleted application of the Colonial De - ACRES velopment Corp. for approval of a definitive sub - SEC. 4 division plan entitled "Colonial Acres Section Four Lexington Mass.", dated February b, 1959. COLONIAL Mr. Snow was authorized to schedule a public hear - DEVELOPMENT Ing on said application for March 171 1959 and CORP. make other necessary arrangements for the hearing should the application be filed in time to place an advertisement in the local newspaper. Considered next was a proposal of Mr. Robert E.'Bessette of the Arlex Realty Trust for subdividing the former Silk and Vine Valley Realty Corporation land bounded by Vine Brook and lots fronting on Burnham Road and last Street. Mr. The Board considered next the notices of BOARD OF petitions to be heard by the Board of Appeals on APPEALS March 31 1959. It was decided to take no action _ on the petitions to be heard with the exception GULF of those of Walter E. Swanbon and the Gulf Oil SWANBON Corporation. The two petitions named were dis- cussed in detail, and notes prepared for letters to be addressed to the Board of Appeals. From said notes Mr. Snow was asked to draft letters for the Planning Board's consideration at its next meeting. Mr. Snow called the Board's attention to BURNHAM the fact that Todd Realty, Inc. had duly sub - FARMS mitted on February 17, 1959 an a pplication for SEC. 4 approval of a definitive subdivision plan en- titled "Burnham Farms Section Four Lexington, TODD Mass."',_dated January 31, 1959. It was decided REALTY to hold a hearing on said application on Tues- day, March 17, 1959 at 8:00 p.m., Mr. Snow being asked to prepare the necessary arrangements for advertising the hearing and mailing notices in regard to the same. The Board's attention was also called to COLONIAL the uncompleted application of the Colonial De - ACRES velopment Corp. for approval of a definitive sub - SEC. 4 division plan entitled "Colonial Acres Section Four Lexington Mass.", dated February b, 1959. COLONIAL Mr. Snow was authorized to schedule a public hear - DEVELOPMENT Ing on said application for March 171 1959 and CORP. make other necessary arrangements for the hearing should the application be filed in time to place an advertisement in the local newspaper. Considered next was a proposal of Mr. Robert E.'Bessette of the Arlex Realty Trust for subdividing the former Silk and Vine Valley Realty Corporation land bounded by Vine Brook and lots fronting on Burnham Road and last Street. Mr. z-25-59 -J- 1 Snow reported that Mr. Bessette and Mr. Joyce ' had visited the Planning Board office and dis- ARLEX cussed said proposal with him requesting that he REALTY obtain from the Board its informal opinion in re- TRUST gard to proposed subdivision. It was decided that it would not be in the best interests of the BESSETTE Town to approve a subdivision which would involve such a dangerous intersection where Grant and East Streets would cross. It was suggested that the subdivision be laid out in the form of a dead-end street entering the Arlex Realty Trust land from Burnham Road through the parcel of land between lots 16 and 17 in the Burnham Farms, Section One subdivision. Mr. Snow was asked to convey the Board's opinion to Mr.Bessette. There was then held a general discussion of current matters before the Board. After said discussion the meeting was adjourned, the time being 10:45 p.m. ichard H. Soule Clerk 1