HomeMy WebLinkAbout1959-05-25I
PLANNING BOARD MEETING
May 25j 1959
A regular meeting of the Lexington Planning
Board was held in the Planning Board Office, Town
Office Building, on Mon day, May 25, 1959 at 7:30
p.m. Present were Vice Chairman Grindle, Members
Mabee and Soule, and Planning Director Snow. Town
Counsel Stevens was also present from 8:40 to 9:30
p.m.
The Board arproved the minutes of its March MINUTES
2, 1959 meeting.
Approved also were the following bills which
had been presented for payment: Minute -man Publica- BILLS
tions, advertising --$x,90; Samuel P. Snow, car
mileage for May, 1959--$20.00.
Considered next by the Board were the follow-
ing Form A applications for determination of Plan- FORMS A
ning Board jurisdiction:
' #59-39 (See minutes of May 18, 1959)
#59-41, submitted May 22, 1959 by Lex -Wood
Poultry Farms, Inc., Gail W. Smith; plan
entitled "Plan of Land in Lexington, Mass.",
Scale: l" = 50', dated May 19, 1959, Miller
& Nylander, C.E.'s & Surveyors.
#59-42, submitted May 25, 1959 by Bob
Higgins for Town of Lexington; plan entitled
"Plan of Parcel A Marrett Rd. Lexington,
Mass.", Scale: 1" = 40', dated May 1 , 1959P
John J. Carroll.Town Engineer.
#59-43s submitted May 25, 1959 by Bob Higgins
for Town of Lexington; plan entitled "Plan
of Lots Middleby Rd., Lexington, Mass.',
scale: 1" = 40', dated May 201 1059, John J.
Carroll Town Engineer.
Upon motion duly made and seconded it was
unanimously
VOTED: that the Lexington Planning Board determines
that plans accompanying Form A aplications
' #59-39, #59-41, #59-42* and #59-&3 do not
require approval under the Subdivision Con-
trol Law and that said plans be so endorsed.
5-25-59
The Board reviewed Mr. David R. C ooper's
STUDENT application for temporary staff employment. Mr.
EMPLOYMENT Snow reported that after having interviewed Mr.
Cooper and seeing examples of his work that he '
recommended his employment full time during the
summer months and part time, a maximum of two days
a week, during the fall months at the rate of $2.50
per hour. Mr. Snow indicated that he would have
Mr. Cooper assist him in the preparation of a pre-
liminary report on the long range plan for Lexing-
ton or assign him such other work as would give Mr.
Snow more time for the preparation of portions of
said report. After further discussion of the
matter, upon motion duly made and seconded, it was
unanimously
VOTED: to employ Mr. Cooper as a student assistant
to Mr. Snow in his planning work at the rate
of $2.50 per hour on a five-day a week basis
during the summer months and two days a week
during the fall months of 1959.
Mr. Stevens came to the meeting and dis-
MIDDLE cussed with the Board progress in the preparation
RIDGE of a draft of a bond which Mr. Roberts wished to
SEC. 3 submit as a performance guarantee for the work to
be done in the Middle Ridge Section Three sub-
ROBERTS division, said bond to be secured by negotiable
securities which had previously been approved by '
the Board as an acceptable deposit. The Board's
From 8:00 to 8:20 p.m. Mr. Shaw of the firm
BESSETTE
'
of Fred A. Joyce, Surveyor, and Mr. Bessette met
PROPOSED
with the Board to discuss the latter's revised
PRFLIMINARY
proposal for subdividing land fronting on Burnham
SUBDIVISION
Road and adjacent to Vine Brook (see May 11, 1959
PLAN
Planning Board minutes). It was noted that the
location of the 176 contour had been drawn on the
print of Mr. Bessette's revised scheme, it appear-
ing that said contour did not interfere with the
use of the proposed lot 3 for building purposes.
Mr. Snow discussed three studies which he had made
modifying Mr. Bessette's proposed revised scheme.
On each of said studies Mr. Snow had reduced the length
of the proposed dead-end street while still main-
taining the necessary frontage and area for six
building lots. It was agreed by all concerned that
the third study showing the shortest length of the
road and the larger radii in its alignment would be
acceptable. Mr. Shaw took this study for the pur-
pose of preparing a preliminary plan for submission
to the Board.
The Board reviewed Mr. David R. C ooper's
STUDENT application for temporary staff employment. Mr.
EMPLOYMENT Snow reported that after having interviewed Mr.
Cooper and seeing examples of his work that he '
recommended his employment full time during the
summer months and part time, a maximum of two days
a week, during the fall months at the rate of $2.50
per hour. Mr. Snow indicated that he would have
Mr. Cooper assist him in the preparation of a pre-
liminary report on the long range plan for Lexing-
ton or assign him such other work as would give Mr.
Snow more time for the preparation of portions of
said report. After further discussion of the
matter, upon motion duly made and seconded, it was
unanimously
VOTED: to employ Mr. Cooper as a student assistant
to Mr. Snow in his planning work at the rate
of $2.50 per hour on a five-day a week basis
during the summer months and two days a week
during the fall months of 1959.
Mr. Stevens came to the meeting and dis-
MIDDLE cussed with the Board progress in the preparation
RIDGE of a draft of a bond which Mr. Roberts wished to
SEC. 3 submit as a performance guarantee for the work to
be done in the Middle Ridge Section Three sub-
ROBERTS division, said bond to be secured by negotiable
securities which had previously been approved by '
the Board as an acceptable deposit. The Board's
5-25-59 .2 -
attention was called to Mr. Robertst May 25, 1959
letter requesting extension of the period in which
the Planning Board must act relative to the said
definitive subdivision plan. Thereupon, upon
motion duly made and seconded, it was unanimously
VOTED: that pursuant to the written request of
Eugene G. Roberts III the time of approval
of the definitive subdivision plan entitled
"Middle Ridge Section Threes Lexingtons
Mass." and dated February Its 1959, be and
hereby is extended to and including June is
1959.
Taken under consideration next was a pre-
liminary subdivision plan of land on Maple Streets MAPLE ST.
said land being owned by Edward H. and Martha S. SUBDIVISION
Higgins of Arlington, and said plan having been PLAN
filed by Mr. Emilio Spagnuola of Esco Builders, -
Inc. After a detailed review of the plans upon HIGGINS
motion duly made and seconded it was unanimously
VOTED: that the preliminary subdivision plan en-
titled "Preliminary Subdivision of Land
' Lexington Mass. Plan by MacCarthy Eng.
Ser. Natick, Mass.", dated April 6, 1959,
which was submitted to the Board on May 25s
1959 be and hereby is disapproved for the
reasons that the road layout as set forth
does not take into consideration the exist-
ing topography, would necessitate excessive
cutting and filling of the lands and would
not lend itself to the proper development
of the area.
The Board's attention was called to Mr.
McCormackts May 212 1959 letter in reply to the McCORMACB-
Board's letter of May 19, 1959. The Board read BRUN LAND
and discussed said letter but decided to with- FOR
hold action in regard to same until the Town RECREATIONAL
Counsel had a report from the Supt. of Public PURPOSES
Works in regard to Mr. McCormack's claim that
the Town was casting surface water from Lowell
Street onto the McCormack -Brun land.
Mr. Stevens and Mr. Snow discussed with
the Board problems in connection with the df- LORING HILL
ferences between the Loring Hill Estates See. 2 ESTATES
definitive subdivision plan as approved by the SEC. 2
Board and the Land Court plan #27302D showing
the extension of Baskin Road the full length of L.C. PLAN
Lot 29 on said plan. It was reported that the NO. 27302D
5-25-59
Land Court had requested Mr. Nylander to change
his plan entitled "A Subdivision of Land Court
Case No. 27302 Land in Lexington -Mass.", dated
April lls 1959s but that Mr. Nylander did not
consider it proper to make said change without
written authorization from the Planning Board.
Mr. Stevens stated that he had reviewed the sit-
uation with the Land Court engineer wherein the
Land Court had extended Baskin Road on the
assumption that the incomplete side line of said
road as shown on the approved lotting plan was
Intended to be drawn beyond the intersection of
Loring Road. In order to avoid the cost and
large amount of detail necessary to change the
Land Court plans it was considered advisable to
amend Mr. Nylander's plan with the understand-
ing that the subdivider would construct the ex-
tension of Baskin Road b eginning at the end of
said road as shown on plan and profile of Baskin
Road as approved by the Planning Board. There
upons upon motion duly made and seconded, it was
unanimously
VOTED: that the Lexington Planning Board
authorizes Wilbur C. Nylander to extend
Baskin Road on the plan entitled "A Sub-
division of Land Court Case No. 27302 Land
,
in Lexington, Masa.", dated April lls 19596
the full length of Lot 29 in the manner
shown on Land Court Plan #27302D.
Mr. Snow was asked to notify Mr. Nylander of the
Board's action in regard to modifying his plan.
Mr. Stevens then left the meeting.
Mr.Snow reported that he had discussed
WILKINS LAND
with Mr. Irwin various problems in connection
FOR RECREA_
with the latter's proposal to subdivide the
TIONAL
former Wilkins property on Grove Street. (See
PURPOSES
May 4: 1959 Planning 'Joard minutes.) Mr. Snow
-
then showed the Board his plan based on said
IRWIN
discussions the plan showing lots fronting on
Grove Street with reference to locating within
the Boston Edison Co. easement a road to the
proposed recreation area between Grove Street
and Turning Mill Road. The Board approved Mr.
Snow's scheme and decided to use the plan as a
basis for a discussion with Mr. Irwin in regard
to acquiring the remainder of the Wilkins property
for a recreational area.
Mr. Snow also reported that at the request
of the Selectmen he was assisting them in re-
�-25-59
' viewing tax title property for possible sale.
In making such a review he stated that he had
noticed that the town owned lots on Rindge
Avenue adjacent to the Arlington Reservoir
property which he had included in his recom-
mended Park and Recreation plan for Lexington.
He then showed the Board a sketch plan and draft
of accompanying letter to the Selectmen recom-
mending that the Board not sell town -owned lots
on Rindge Ave. The Board approved said letter.
(See addendum.)
The meeting adjourned at 11:00 p.m.
-3-
PROPOSED
LAND FOR
RECREATIONAL
PURPOSES
RINDGE AVE.
I hard H. Soule —
Clerk
ADDENDUM
'Board of Selectmen May 2$, 1959
Town Office Building
Lexington 73s Mass. Re: Tax Title Lots 207-210sincl.
Bl , 17 Rindge Avenue.
Gentlemen:
It is understood that you have an offer of 6100 for
lots 207s 208 and 209 fronting on Rindge Avenue. The
Planning Board requests that you do not sell these
lots nor those numbered 210, 216 and 217 also fronting
on Rindge Avenue. As will be noted on the attached
plan, parts of these lots are located under a small
pond adjacent to the Town of Arlington reservoir. A
view of these lots on the ground indicates that some
of the pondhas been filled in.
The Board believes that the lots numbered above should
be retained for the purposes of gaining access to the
reservoir land with the idea in mind that the Town of
Lexington may be able to obtain rights to Llse the land
between the rear property lines of said lots and the
shore line of the reservoir itself for development as
a recreational area.
Sincerely yours,
LEXINGTON PLANNING BOARD
/s/ Thomas S. Grindle, V.Chairman