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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1959-05-04PLANNING BOARD MEETING May 4, 1959 A regular meetincy of the Lexington Planning Board was held in the office of said Board, Town Office Building, on May 4, 1959 at 7:40 p.m. Present were Chairman Abbott, Members Burnell, Grindle, Mabee, and Soule, and Planning Director Snow. Town Counsel Stevens was present from 9:50 until 11:15 p.m. Approved by the Board were the minutes of MINUTES its April 13, and 21, 1959 meetings. Also approved by the Board were the follow- ing bills which had been presented for payment: BILLS Daley Office Supply Co., 1 M colated sets --$9.59; Marion M. Bliss, drafting April 281 29, 1959-- 20.00; Cormac Photocopy Corp., 250 sets Blue star-- 4`929.65. Taken under consideration nextwerethe fol- lowing Form A applications for determination of FORMS A 'Planning Board jurisdiction: #59-32, submitted April 281 1959 by Esco Builders, Inc.; plan entitled "Plan of Land in Lexinr7ton, Mass.", Scale: 1" = 40' dated April 22, 1959s MacCarthy Eng. Service, Inc. #59-33, submitted April 28, 1959 by Esco Builders, Inc.; plan entitled "Plan of Land in Lexim- ton and Woburn, Mass.".. Scale: 1" = 401, dated April 22, 1959, MacCarthy En- gineerine Service, Inc. #59-34, submitted April 30, 1959 by Thomas F. Donnelly, Attorney of Newton -Waltham Bank & Trust Co.; plan entitled "A Subdivision of Land Court Case No. 27302 Land in Lexington, Mass.", dated April 11, 19591, Miller & N771ander, C.E.'s & Surveyors. #59-35, submitted May Zr, 1959 by Thomas F. Walsh; plan entitled "Plan of Lard in Lex- ington, Mass.", Scale: 1 inch - 40 feet, dated April 10, 1959, Miller & Nylander, C.E.'s & Surveyors. ' Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was unanimously VOTED: that the Lexington Planning Board determines that the plans accompanying Forms A #59-32s , #59-33.9 #59-34 and #59-35 do not require approval under the Subdivision Control Law and that said plans be so endorsed. Mr. Snow read to the Board the draft of a JOHNSON letter dated May 5, 1959 to Mr. Johnson in regard PROPOSAL to the problem of additional parking at the A & P store, Bedford Street. (See minutes of April 271 1958 Planning Board meeting.) The Board approved the draft of said letter which was signed by the Chairman. (See addendum.) Considered also by the Board were the BOARD OF notices of petitions to be heard by the Board of APPEALS Appeals on May 121 1959. Before taking final action on said petitions Mr. Snow was requested to obtain further information for the Board's next meeting in regard to the Berman and Tropeano peti- tions. With reference to the special plannin WT LKINS session which the Board held on April 30, 19 9, Mr. LAND FOR Grindle gave a report of his conference with Mr. RECREATIONAL Donald K. Irwin in regard to acquiring a portion of ' PURPOSES the former Wilkins land on Grove Street for recrea- tion purposes. Mr. Grindle stated that he had TR'ArTN arranged to have Mr. Trwin meet with Mr. Snow with the idea of subdividing land fronting on Grove Street in such a manner that'access to the rear land would be located in the position recommended by Mr. Snow in connection with the development of said land for recreation purposes. At 8:35 p.m. the Planning Board met with the GREAT Selectmen to discuss what action might be taken to MEADOWS further the possibilitTr of Lexington acquiring from Arlington the so-called Great Meadows. (For a. record of the meeting see the Selectmen's minutes.) Messrs. Stevens, Mabee and Maloney reviewed the current status of the situation as they understood Lt. With the use of a study plan of the Great Meadows, Mr. Snow then explained his general recom- mendations for the development of the area includ- ing the location of the proposed Emerson Road and the acquisition of additional small parcels abutting the land now owned by the Town of Arlington. At the conclusion of the conference it was decided that the Planning Board would prepare a detailed study plan and memorandum of the Great Meadows setting forth recommendations for the use and development of the Great Meadows, said plan and memorandum to be used 5-4-59 ' by the Selectmen in carrying on further negotiations with the Arli_ngtonSelectmen. At 9:15 p.m. the Planning Board returned to its own meeting at which time Mr. Roger Marshall of the Marshall Cafeteria Corp. and Food Shoppe met with the Board to discuss the nature of the firm's business and to obtain an informal opinion in regard to a possible future extension of the local business district at Waltham Street and Marrett Road. Mr. Marshall stated that his firm has an opportunity to purchase lots 76 and 77 on Grapevine Avenue and wished to have said lots re- zoned so that the Marshall firm could expand its fac'lities onto said lots. He said that it was proposed to use Lot 77 for parking and the exist- ing house thereon for an office, moving said house to Lot 76. He stated further, however, that if the Board were not in favor of such a proposal then the Marshall firm would. not consider the matter further. It was pointed out that a baked goods shop was considered a local business but that the manu- facturing of baked goods at the scale now under- taken and proposed was light industrial in nature. Yr. Marshall was informed that it was contrary to the policy of the Board to extend light industry in a local business district. It was stated, how- ever, that the Board would consider the matter fur- ther and write him a letter setting forth its opinion in regard to his proposal. "thereupon Mr. Marshall left the meeting at 9:30 p.m. Mr. Stevens then met with the Board. Dis- cussed with him was the preliminary subdivision plan of the Higgins land fronting on the north- westerly side of Maple Street, Esco Builders, Inc. having an option to purchase said land and having had said plan prepared for the Planning Board1s consideration. The matter of easements, access to Maple Street, and the general over-all layout of the area were discussed. Particular consider- ation was given to the proposed layout which in the opinion of the Board was not related to the exist- ing topography. The Board was advised that it could disapprove said plan if, in its opinion,,the road layout as set forth did not take into consid- eration the existing topography, would necessitate excessive cutting and filling of the land, and would not lend itself to the proper development of the area. REZONING PROPOSAL MARSHALL HIGGINS- ESC O BUILDERS PRELIMINARY SUBDIVISION PLAN -4 - LAND FOR Considered next was the proposal to acquire a certain parcel of land formerly owned by Tech- RECREATIONAL ' built, Inc., namely the area in the vicinity of PURPOSES the "paint mine" and "Mountain Road", said land - WAYMINT now being owned by the Wa77nint Realty Trust. Mr. Snow REALTY reviewed the situation wherein it was under - dtood that Techbuilt, Inc. had agreed to grant TRUST the said parcel of land to Lexington for recrea- tional nurposes, and that as a result of this agreement he had prepared and discussed with Mr. Yeager, former General Manager and Vice President to Techbuilt, the acquisition of said property as shown on a plan prepared for the Lexington Plan- ning Board and entitled "Compiled Plan of Land in Lexington, Massa", dated April 32 1957. `(See minutes of July 23, 1956 Planning Board meeting.) He pointed out that about this time when he was discussing with Mr. Yeager the obtaining of an option, said corporation had financial difficul- ties and the option was not obtained. It was also pointed out that within the last several months Waymint Realty Trust had acquired the land with the idea in mind of developing it as a residential subdivision, A print of said compiled plan was given to Mr. Stevens with the request that he discuss with the attorney for the Trust possibil- ities of the town acquiring the 1 and for recrea- tional purposes. TOItTR The Board also discussed with Mr. Stevens its recommendation ESTATES that the remaining Tower Es - tate land which had not been LAND FOR sold on the south- westerly side of Follen Hill be acquired for play - RECREATIOA?AL ground, recreation, and other rublie purposes. It was pointed out that the PURPOSES of approximate 46 acres involved about half of it was comparatively low and wet but co_ild be drained and that a small amount of it was good land ordinarily worth approximately $1,000 per acre if it were not land- locked. Upon .recommendation of an appraiser it was thought that $3004350 an'acre was a true and fair market value of'the land. The Board decided, therefore, to ask Mr. Stevens to approach the trustees of said Tower Estate to see if the land could be acquired by the town for a sum of $15,000. Reviewed with Mr. Stevens was the situation SUN VALLEY in regard to the obtainin of easements across SEC. 8 lots 150-151 in Section 8 of Sun Valley, said ROAD easement being for all purposes for which it is EASE111ENT necessary to construct an extension of Appletree Lane to Tyler Road. It was decided that on the ' following afternoon the Board would take a view of 1 5-4-59 the proposed location of said road with refer- ence to the houses existing on said lots 150-151. With reference to the Board's previous discussion of the possible acquisition of land for a major recreational urea adjacent to the Harrington School, the Board discussed with Mr. Stevens the legal status of an existing building, part of which was situated on the McCormack -Brun land and hart on the property numbered 344 Lowell Street. Mr. Stevens advised the Board that the part of the building situated on the McCormack - Brun land would be considered to be owned by Mc- Cormack -Brun. After discussion of other matters currently before the Board, the meeting adjourned at 11:15 .m. f chard H. Soule, Clerk Addendum May 5,1959 Mr.Frederic. K. Johnson 11 Muzzey St. Lexin7ton 73, Mass. Dear Mr. Johnson: -3- Mr. rrindle has called the Board's attention to the fact that it had not replied to your December 51 1958 letter to the Board in regard to consider- ing further the problem of adding additional parking facilities at the A & P store by utilizing some or all of the residential property numbered 25 Bedford Street. The Board regrets this oversight and trusts that the following statement will correct any mis- understandIng in regard to the matter. At it's meeting; on April 27, 1959 the Board re- viewed the minutes of its previous meetings at which the above problem was considered. As you will per- haps recall when you met with the Board on November 10, 1958.+ it was the Planning Boards opinion that the rezoning of the residential lot would mean a change in the complexion of Bedford Street toward the Green and, because it would, the town would not vote for the rezoning of said lot for the parking MC CORMACK BRUN LAND FOR REC REAT IO NAL PURPOSES r-� 5o for business purposes. An alternate proposal was also considered, that instead of rezoning any additional land for general business purposes on the southeasterly side of the present A & P store it might be possible to lay out a road adjacent to the store lot and extending from Bedford Street to the ra=lroad right of way. It was noted, however, that befo^e this could be done, the Selectmen would have to determine the rublic conven- ience and necessity requiring the laying out of such a road. In making such a determination the Selectmen would have to find some legitimate need which would be served in laying out the road and determine what benefit such a road would be to the public. The Board recalls that you felt that the construction of such a road would contribute very little to the solu- tion of the existing problems in regard to adequate store space and parking. 0 Reviewing the entire situation, It was decided again that the Board had not changed its view on the matter as set forth in the Boards report on the amendment to the zoning by-law proposed by Article 6 of the warrant for the special town meeting on September 15, 1958. Sincerely ' yours, L7XINTTrN PLANNING BOARD Isl Charles T. Abbott, Chairman