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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1959-06-01 PLANNING BOARD MEETING June 1, 1959 A regular meeting of the Lexington Planning Board was held in the Planning Board Office, Town Office Building, on Monday, June 1, 1959 at 7:45 p.m. Present were Chairman Abbott, Members Burnell, Grindle, Mabee, and Planning Director Snow. The Board approved the minutes of its May MINUTES 11, 18, 1959 meetings. Approved also was the following bill which has been presented for payment : Mrs. Marion Bliss, BILL drafting services May 26 and 27, 1959-422.00. Considered and approved by the Board was the draft of a letter addressed to Mr. Paul J. McCORMACK McCormack in regard to his proposal to petition the PROPOSAL FOR Board of Appeals for a variance to locate a pro- PROFESSIONAL fessional office building on the property numbered OFFICE 789 Massachusetts Ave. , Lexington. (See addendum BUILDING and minutes of May 18, 1959 meeting. ) Considered also and approved by the Board was the draft of a letter to the Board of Select- LAND FOR men attached to which was Mr. Snow 's memorandum RECREATION setting forth his recommendations that the Town - acquire for recreational purposes Lot 11, Holton HOLTON ROAD Road, in the Patriots Forest area. (See addendum. ) From 8:00 to 8:30 p.m. Mr. Irwin met with the Board to discuss the possibility of acquiring LAND FOR for town recreational purposes some of the former RECREATION Wilkins property on Grove Street. Mr. Irwin stated that he had discussed with Mr. Snow the study plans IRWIN for proposed lotting fronting on Grove Street and that said plan met with his approval if he could come to some agreement with the Board in regard to the purchase of the rear land. He said that he had an agreement with Mrs. Wilkins to purchase for $20,000 her 19.3 acres of land less two house lots fronting on Grove Street, the first being lot Cl comprising 20,030 sq.ft. and the second being a rroposed house lot around the Wilkins residence, such lot comprising 30,000 sq.ft. Mr. Irwin further stated that he thought he could sell the five re- maining lots fronting on Grove Street for approxi- mately $3500 each, and would like to sell the re- maining rear land to the town for $1200 an acre. 6-1-59 The Board indicated to Mr. Irwin that they would look into the matter further and as soon as convenient again discuss with him a purchase price. At 8:30 p.m. the Recreation Committee and its RECREATION Director, Mr. Samborski, met with the Board to discuss AREA - the possible use of the former Willard property. With COMMITTEE reference to the Recreation Committee 's desire to MEETING - develop said property, constructing picnic tables and WILLARDS cooking fireplaces thereon, it was pointed out that WOODS the property was bought with the idea of not developing it for the most part but preserving it as natural woods and planting additional trees around the forest margins. The Committee expressed the wish to locate tables and fireplaces and parking facilities in the former orchard area situated at the northerly corner of the property. The Board recommended that (1) this area not be developed without a plan, (2) the temporary road constructed ad- jacent to the northwesterly boundary of the Mackay property not be extended beyond the stone wall surround- ing the orchard, (3) a temporary parking area be constructed northeast of said wall, and (1k) tables and fireplaces in the orchard area be located only on a temporary basis until said plan is prepared and approved. Commenting further on possible use of the Willard property, the Board stated that rather than having the orchard area damaged by fire and misuse, it would prefer to see tables and fireplaces located on other recreation sites, such as the Whipple Hill, where less damage could be caused. A general discussion was then held in regard to these sites and others which the Planning Board proposed to recommend that the Town ac- quire for recreational purposes. Arrangements were made for several members of the Board to show these sites to the Recreation Committee. Thereupon, it and its Director left the meeting at 10:20 p.m. The Board's attention was called to the per- MIDDLE formance bond secured by negotiable securities, said RIDGE bond having been executed on June 1, 1959 by Eugene SEC. 3 C. Roberts III and Brier A. Roberts, and each certifi- - cate of securities having attached thereto an assign- ROBERTS ment separate from the certificate. All other matters appearing to be in order, upon motion duly made and seconded, it was unanimously VOTED : that the definitive subdivision plan entitled "Middle Ridge Section Three Lexington, Mass .", dated February 11, 1959, which was submitted to the Board by Eugene C. Roberts III on March 30, 1959, accompanied by an application for approval of d efinitive plan Form C, dated 6-1-59 -2- March 27, 1959, be and hereby is approved subject to the condition that no building or structure shall be built or placed upon Lots #1E0 and 42 without prior consent of the Lexington Board of Health. Considered next by the Board was the Battle Green Village Section 3 definitive subdivision plan . BATTLE With reference to the proposed access for a future GREEN road to the Pine Meadows Country Club land, it was VILLAGE decided that the unmarked parcel between lots 40 SEC . 3 and 41 as shown on said plan was inadequate and not properly located. Mr. Snow showed the Board a sketch plan at 200 scale indicating how the Pine Meadows area might be developed with reference to a means of access from said land to Oxbow Road. A more detailed plan drawn at 40 scale showing how this connection would be made was discussed and approved by the Board. Thereupon, upon motion duly made and seconded it was VOTED: that the definitive subdivision plan en- titled 'Battle Green Village Section Three Lexington-Mass. ", dated January 19, 1959, which was submitted to the Board by Leeland Construction Co. , Inc. on March 2, 1959, accompanied by an application for approval of definitive plan, Form C, dated March 2, 1959, be and hereby is modified as follows: 1, Oxbow Road is extended as shown on plan prepared by the Planning Board entitled Modification of Subdivision Plan En- titled 'Battle Green Village Section Threat", dated June 1, 1959; 2. An easement 50 feet wide is added be- tween Lots 41 and 42 and substituted for unmarked parcel 40 feet wide between Lots 40 and 41; and as so modified, said definitive sub- division plan be and hereby is approved. The Board reviewed the preliminary plan of the Pond Realty Trust for a subdivision entitled POND "Country Club Manor Section One Lexington, Mass. ", REALTY dated May 22, 1°59,with particular reference to TRUST the study plans for a possible location of Worthen Road from its existing location between Massachu- setts Avenue and Bedford Street to Route 128 . No decision was reached in regard to the said prelimi- nary plans which the Planning Board decided it needed to study further. The meeting adjourned at 11:00 m: Richard . Soule, Clerk 6-1-59 ADDENDUM June 1, 1959 Mr. Paul J. McCormack 1779 Massachusetts Avenue Lexington 73s Mess. Dear Mr. McCormack: Reference is made to your letter of May 16, 1959 in regard to your proposal to petition the Lexington Board of Appeals for a variance to erect an office building at the property numbered 789 Massachusetts Avenue. The Board has discussed with the Town Counsel Chapter 40A, Sec . 15 of the General Laws with particular regard to your proposal. After this discussion it is the be- lief of the Planning Board that a variance for the pur- pose eet forth above cannot beranted legally. g g y• Sincerely yours, LEXINGTON PLANNING BOARD /s/ Charles T. Abbott,Chxmo. ' June 1, 1959 Board of Selectmen Town Office Building Re: Lot 11, Holton Road Lexington 73, Mass. Lexington Construction Co., Inc. Gentlemen: Attached herewith please find a copy of Mr. Snow' s memo- randum, dated May 27, 1959, to the Planning Board with reference to his recommendation that the Town acquire for recreational purposes Lot 11 in the Patriots Forest resi- dential area. The Board approves of Mr. Snow's recom- mentation and requests that you take the necessary steps to acquire this lot of land. Sincerely yours, LEXINGTON PLANNING BOARD /s/ Charles T. Abbott, Chrmm. P.S. The Planning Board also has under consideration for 6-1-5q -3- recreation purposes another small site on Bates Road. At a later date the Board will make a recommendation in regard to said site with the thought in mind that t JnitDn and Bates Road areas may together serve the residential area in the vicinity of Wood Street. C .T.A.