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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1959-03-30 PLANNING BOARD MEETING March 30, 1959 A regular meeting of the Lexington Planning Board was held in the Planning Board Office, Town Office Building, on Monday, March 30, 1959 at 7:40 p.m. Present were Chairman Abbott, Messrs. Burnell, Mabee and Soule, and Planning Director Snow. Town Counsel Stevens was present from 9:30 until 10:00 p.m. The Board approved the following bills which had been presented for payment : Marion M. Bliss, BILLS drafting services, March 17, 18, 24, 25, 1959--$56.00; Louise M. Baker, extra secretarial service-45.00 Taken under consideration next were the fol- lowing Form A applications for determination of FORMS A Planning Board jurisdiction : #59-23, submitted March 30, 1959 by Fred- erick W. Shaw, Jr. , by Charles R. McCauley, Jr. , Atty. ; plan entitled "Plan of TAnd in Lexington, Mass . ", scale: 1" = 20' , dated Mar. 12, 1959, Miller & Nylander, C .E. ' s & Surveyors #59-24, submitted March 30, 1959 by William P. Brenchick; plan entitled "Plan of Land in Lexington, Mass . ", scale: 1" = 40 ' , dated March 26, 1954, Miller & Nylander, C.E. 's & Surveyors . Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was unanimously VOTED: That the Lexington Planning Board deter- mines that the plans accompanying Form A applications #59-23 and #59-24 do not re- quire approval under the Subdivision Control Law and that said plans be so endorsed. Considered next were the notices of peti- tions to be heard by the Bbard of Appeals on April 7 , BOARD 1959. It was decided to take no action in regard to OF said petitions with the exception of that of Lexing- APPEALS ton Park Trust for permission to erect a 20 ' x 46' metal sign at the northeasterly corner of the inter- section of Routes 2 and 128. The Board discussed said retition and decided to go on record as being opposed to the granting of the same. Dictated were notes with whtch Mr Snow was requested to prepare for the Board' s consideration the draft of a letter 3-30-59 setting forth the Board's position in regard to said petition. PROFES- Read to the Board was Mr. Paul McCormack' s SIONAL March 25, 1959 letter in regard to an appointment for OFFICE a conference to discuss a professional office building BUILDING he wished to erect at 789 Massachusetts Avenue. The Board drafted a reply to said letter as noted in the MC CORMACK addendum. The Board considered a memorandum from the PROPOSED Cambridge Planning Board in regard to proposed legis- LEGISLATION lation, Senate Bill #236, which would require that all educational institutions of higher learning be subject S.#236 to zoning ordinances and by-laws of cities and towns in which said institutions were located It was decided to refer said memorandum and proposed legislation to Town Counsel seeking his advice in regard to the advis- ability of the Planning Board taking a position with reference to said legislation. Application for approval of definitive plan MIDDLE RIDGE entitled "Middle Ridge, Section Three" was submitted SEC. 3 by Eugene C. Roberts III A public hearing relative to said application was scheduled for April 27, 1959 ROBERTS at 8-30 p.m. The Chairman reported thit the Selectmen wished PROPOSED the Planning Board to recommend a name for the proposed 11 ROAD road to be constructed by the Federal government be- WOOD TO tween Wood and Bedford Streets. After referring to the BEDFORD Lexington town map of 1853 and the lists of suggested STREETS street names which had been given to the Board by Mr. Edwin B. Worthen in 1933, the Planning Board decided to HARTWELL recommend that said proposed road be named "Hartwell AVENUE Avenue", and to notify the Selectmen of said recom- mendation. (See addendum ) At 9.30 p m. Mr. Stevens came to the meeting The Board discussed with him the status of discussions GREAT between the towns of Arlington and Lexington wherein MEADOWS the latter might acquire Great Meadows. Mr Stevens stated that the proceedure in acquiring said land would be first to obtain from Arlington an agreement wherein Lexington might obtain the right, title and interest in said Meadows, and the purchase price for the same might be set He said then it would be necessary, with the approval of Arlington , to introduce a bill into the Legislation to take the Great Meadows by eminent domain in order to obtain a clear title to said tract of land. Mr. Stevens said he would talk to Selectman Buckley of Arlington in regard to the matter. Approved by the Board was the draft of a letter 3-30- 9 -4- to Mr. Edwin B. Worthen, Jr. in reply to his letter EMERSON of March 19, 1959 with reference to the naming of ROAD - Emerson Road. (See addendum. ) WORTHEN The meeting adjourned at 10:00 p.m. Ri. - :rd H Soule, Clerk ADDENDUM April 1, 1959 Mr Paul J. McCormack, 1779 Massachusetts Avenue Lexington 73, Mass Dear Mr. McCormack: In reply to your letter of March 25, 1959, the Board has only two periods left for appointments in April, these being from 10:00 to 10.30 p.m. on the 13th and from 8:00 to 8:30 n.m. on the 27th. Please inform the Board which time would be most convenient for you. With specific reference to your proposal to construct a professional office building on property numbered 789 Massachusetts Avenue, the Planning Board calls your atten- tion to the fact that said property is located in a resi- dential district Under the present zoning by-law pro- fessional office buildings are not allowed in residential districts . It is suggested, therefore, that if you wish to construct such a building in what is now a residential area, you consider petitioning the Town to see if it wishes to vote to rezone the property numbered 789 Massa- chusetts Avenue from residential to commercial use. Sincerely yours, LEXINGTOTT PLANNING BOARD /s/ Charles T. Abbott, Chairman April 1, 1959 ' William E. Maloney Board of Selectmen Town Office Building Lexington 73, Mass. Dear Mr. Maloney As requested, the Planning Board has given consideration to the naming of the proposed road to be constructed by the Federal Government from Wood to Bedford Streets. The Board recommends that said proposed road be named "Hartwell Avenue" in honor of one of the old Lexington families which in the 1850' s resided on Wood Street in what was until recently the Williams residence, said residence being located at the northerly corner of the intersection of the proposed road and Wood Street Sincerely yours, LEXINGTON PLANNING BOARD /s/ Charles T. Abbott, Chairman ' April 1, 1959 Mr . Edwin B. Worthen,Jr. 35 Dexter Road Lexington 73, Mass . Dear Mr. Worthen: Thank you for your letter of March 1Q, 1959 . The Planning Board has taken under consideration your proposal for another name for Emerson Road. The Board had received a copy of your February 21, 1959 letter to the Selectmen but understood that it received it only as a matter of record. It was not understood that the Planning Board was asked to take any action in regard to your proposal. Confirming my conversation with you on March lL}_, the name "Emerson Road" did not come about by the "happenstance" of a developer's choice, but was selected after due consid- eration by the Planning Board. It was chosen for the reason that Emerson Road when completed will cross Massa- chusetts Avenue in the vicinity of Follen Church. It is the Board ' s understanding that Raonh Waldo Emerson did not just lecture in Robbins Hall, (now East Lexington Branch Library) , but served as pastor of the Follen Church for two -years. It is believed, t- erefore, that Emerson Road is an appropriate name for said street 3-30-59 -3- In regard to the lists mentioned in your March 19 letter, the Planning Board has copies in its files and constantly uses them in selecting names for streets which it proposes to be laid out, either by the Town or as private ways by subdividers under the subdivision control law. A great many of these names have already been utilized, as in the case of Emerson, this name appearing as "Emerson Avenue" on one of said lists of "Suggested Names for Streets." Remaining names on the lists will continue to be referred to as new development takes place. The Board regrets that it is not in agreement with you on the question of the appropriateness of Emerson Road as the name for the road so designated. The Board appreciates your in- terest in the matter, however, and hopes you will continue to make suggestions in regard to its work. Your suggestions will be welcomed at all times and will be given careful con- sideration. Sincerely yours, Lexington Planning Board /s/ Charles T. Abbott, Chairman