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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1960-05-31 PLANNING BOAPD FPETTNG May 31, 1960 A regular meeting of the Lexington Plan- ning Board was held in the Board ' s office, Town Office Building, on Tuesday, May 31, 1960 at 7 :30 p.m. Present were Chairman Burnell, Members Grindle and Soule, and Planning Director Snow Mr Mabee was present also from 8 35 p.m until the end of the meeting Considered first was the draft of a letter to the Board of Appeals with reference to the BOARD OF Hamilton petition The letter was approved by the APPEALS Board and signed by the Chairman. (See addendum. ) Mr . Soule was asked to represent the Planning Board HAMILTON at the Board of Anneals hearing in regard to Hamil- ton petition and to present the Planning Board ' s views and letter. The Board approved the following bills which had been presented for payment: Wallace B. BILLS Mitchell Co. , white prints--12.04; Samuel P. Snow, May car allowance--25.00. Considered also by the Board were the following Form A applications for determination FORMS A of Planning Board jurisdiction : 460-36 (See minutes of previous i6C-37 planning Board meeting ) #60-39, submitted May 26, 1960 by George J. Bai1eT*, by Mark Moore, Jr. ; elan en- titled "Plan of Land in Lexington, Mass.", Scale. 1" = 40 ' , dated April 27, 1960, Miller && Nylander, C .7. ' s R& Surveyors 60-40, submitted for Town of Lexington by P L. Higgins, Engineer, plan entitled "Ian of Land in Lexington, Mass . ", scale 1" = I0 ' , dated May 19, 1960, Miller & Nylander, C 7 ' s & Surveyors . Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was unanimously VOTRO that the Lexington Planning Board deter- mines that the plans accompanying Form A applications #60-36, #60-37, #60-39 and #60-4O do not require approval under the -31-60 -2- Subdivision Control Law, and that said be so endorsed. plans Mr. Donald Jenkins Jr. met with the Board BOARD OF for a few minutes to request the Board' s informal APPEALS opinion as to whether or not it would oppose the granting of a petition, in which he was an interested BLACK AND party and which Mr. 'falter M. Black was planning to JENKTNS seek, for a variance to resubdivide certain lots of land bounded by Highland Avenue and Minola Road as shown on a print of a plan entitled "Plan of Land in Lexington, Mass. ", dated May 25, 1960, and drawn at the scale 1" = 20' by Joseph W. Moore, Inc Mr. Jenkins left a print of said plan with the Board. It was decided to take no action in regard to Mr Jenkins ' request until all members of the Board were present to consider the matter At 8:00 p .m. the Board held a hearing rela- OAK HILL tive to the application of ',fvnwood Associates for ESTATES approval of a definitive subdivision plan entitled SEC 3 "Oak Hill Estates Section Three Lexington, Mass ", dated April 4, 1Q60. Present were Mr . and Mrs. W' NWrOD Douglas J. 'dacome and Mr. James E. Spellman of 9 ASS(CIATES and 19 Cooke Road, respectively. The Chairman read the notice of the hearing as it had been sent to all property owners deemed to be affected and as It had been published in the Mav 12, 1960 issue of the Lexington Minute-man . He then explained the procedure in conducting the hearing and called upon the petitioners to present the proposal Mr Wacome said that as President of Wynwood Associates, Inc . he w^s representing the petitioner and explained the details of the plan. He pointed out that the subdivision consisted of 22 lots front- ing on an extension of Douglas road in a southerly direction for a distance of about 1684 feet and on an extension of Fulton Road in an easterly direction to connect with Douglas Road. Mr. Spellman stated that he believed he had a valid objection to the nlan, pointing out that the grade of the pronosed road would be above his lot and would cause runoff from the road to drain on to said lot . He said he believed the Beacon Oil Company pine- line running the nroposed location of Douglas Road should be lowered so that the road grade could be changed It was stated that Mr. Carroll, Sunt. of Public Works had approved the road grade Mr. Snow was asked to discuss the matter with the Superin- tendent . It was suggested that Mr. Spellman do so too -U1-6o -3- There being no further questions the Chairman asked for an expression of opinion in regard to annroving the plan. Mr. and Mrs. Wacome indicated that they were in favor of the plan ' s approval, Mr. Spellman indicating that he was not Thereupon the plan was taken under consideration and the hearing declared closed at 8 30 p.m. Much later in the evening Messrs. 'lilliam R. MacDonald and Harry Goldstein of 3 and 7 Cooke Road, EMERSON respectively, came to the meeting to attend the GARDENS hearing, previously having attended by mistake hear- ings by the Board of Appeals They inquired if the MAPLE ST small pond about where lots 25 and 26 were located A 1 DISTRICT on the plan was to be filled . It was stated that this was a matter of direct concern to the Board of Health. It was suggested that they direct their inquiry to the Board of Health. Mr. Snow was asked to discuss the matter with Mr. Lurvey, Executive Health Officer. At 8 35 Mr Harry Berglund met with the Board<— to present and discuss a print of a revised but un- dated site plan of the Maple Street garden apartment district to be known as rmerson Gardens. The plan was taken under consideration, Mr. Snow being asked to make a study of it and to recommend action in re- gard to it to the Board. Read to the Board and discussed by it was a letter, dated May 2! , 1060, from Mrs . Margaret Rees BUTCKMAN DRIVE of 14 Bird Hill Road to the Board of Selectmen re- questing that some action be taken n regard to another outlet to the residential section having Fern Street as the only means of access. It was decided to inform the Selectmen that the Planning Board still recommended that the Town acquire from Mr. Pasquale Luongo lots numbered 11 and 12 and fronting on Moreland Avenue for the purpose of ex- tending Buckman Drive to Moreland Avenue and thereby providing said residential section a second means of access ( See minutes of June 20, August 10 and Octo- ber 13, 1959 Planning Board meetings ) In regard to this matter Mr. Snow reported that last August he had discussed with Mr. Luongo the Board 's recommendation that the Town acquire either the whole of said lots or those portions of the lots in which the Town had a water pipe easement . Mr. Snow stated that Mr . Luongo did not wish at the time to sell any part or all of these two lots for the reason that he would have an inadequate area on which to grow truck garden crops and without land of his own would not be able to continue to overate his roadside stand -b- on Pleasant Street. Mr . Snow said, however, that Mr. Luongo was willing to enter into an arrangement wherein he would exchange at least the portion of his land within the water easement for an equal value of tax title pronerty on which he could grow truck garden crons provided said nronerty was in one niece, was on a street in which there was a town water pipe, and was In the v4cinity of Mr . Luongo ' s residence. Mr. Snow reported that he had not been able to locate any tax title nroperty which met these requirements Called to the Board' s attention was the Town LORTNG FILL Counsel' s letter of May 26, 1960 to the planning FSTATES Director enclosing a conformed copy of a grant of SEC. 2 utilities in the Loring Hill Estates, Sec . 2 sub- - division. The required work in said subdivision CORRIGAN having been completed satisfactorily and all mat- ters appearing to be in order, upon motion duly made and seconded, it was unanimously JOTjD to release the performance bond, dated March 3, 1°58, filed by Ernest J. Corrigan , as Principal, and Continental Casualty Co. , as Surety, in the sum of Forts*-five Thousand and 00/100 dollars--N45,000.00) --to secure the performance by the subdivider of his agree- ment in the form of an application for approval of a definitive nlan, Form C, dated Jan. 21k, 1958, to complete the work to be performed by the subdivider as shown on the subdivision nlan entitled ''Loring Hill Estates Section Two Lex- ington-Mass . ", dated Dec . 17, 1950, revised April 11, 1958. iith reference to the Board' s request of the MIDDLE previous meeting that steps be taken to complete the RTDGE required work in the second section of the Middle SEC 2 Pidge development, Mr. Snow called the Board's atten- - tion to his letter of May 25 to the Town Counsel and TECHBUILT the latter ' s letter of May 26, 1Q60 to Techbuilt, Inc demanding that said corporation proceed immediately to complete the items of work set forth in the Town Counsel ' s letter and to pursue said work continuously and have it all completed to the satisfaction of the Superintendent of Public Works not later than August 1, 1960. Next read to the Board and discussed by it was ZONING a letter, dated May 31, 1060, from the Board of ENFORCT7/77T Selectmen stating that it was the latter 's intention of discussing with the Building Inspector the matter of zoning enforcement and statinr also that any com- ments from the Blanning Board in regard to the problem 5-31-60 - would be welcomed . From notes dictated by the II Board, Mr Snow was asked to draft for its con- sideration at its next meeting a reply to the Selectmen ' s letter The Board likewise considered the notice of a hearing to be held by the Historic Districts Com- HISTORIC mission on June 1, 1060. It was decided to take DISTRICTS no action on the application to be heard COMMISSION Mr. Snow read to the Board a letter from Yr. Richard H. Lovell, representing Country-wide REZONING Offices, Inc , a New York firm which wished to PROPOSAL locate a building i.n Lexington at the intersection of Routes 2 and 128. (See minutes of January 25, COUNTRY- 1060 planning Board meeting. ) 'f,th reference to Mr. WIDE Lovell ' s request to discuss the matter with the OFFICES Board, it was decided to schedule an appointment with him on June 13. A letter of May 23, 1460 from Mr. McQuillan, Chairman of the Board of Health, was read to the HOSPITAL Planning Board A draft of a reply to said letter NEEDS STUDY was approved by the Board and signed by the chair- COMMITTEE man. (See addendum ) The Board next reviewed its list of work Projects. T'1ith reference to the pronosal of the REZONING ,3axners and Seth (see minutes of February 20, PROPOSAL 1460 °lanning Board meeting) , the Board approved - a draft of a letter addressed to them stating that SETH AND tre matter wouldbe given consideration during the MAXNER summer (See addendum. ) Concerning the Esco Builders land which it was desired to acquire as an addition to the former HAWTHORNE '4i11ard property and for the location of Emerson ACRES LAND Road, it was decided that more satisfactory results FOR PUBLIC in acquiring the property might be obtained if the RECREATION Town Counsel negotiated directly with Mr. Donald N. - Sleeper, Jr. , attorney representing; Fsco Builders, ESCO BUILDERS Inc. Mr Snow was asked to discuss the matter with Mr. Stevens and to request that he undertake such negotiations as might be necessary to acquire the land at the most favorable price which can be ob- tained for the Town Taken under consideration next was the Board of Appeals May 16, 1060 letter with its LrXINGTON attached petition signed by Arthur G. Manaselian INN A 1 and accompanying site and building plans, dated DISTRICT Anril 12, 1460, in regard to erecting a shower SITE PLAN and locker buildi.n: and constructing a parking -)-31-60 -6- area on the Lexington Inn site located in the Marrett Road garden apartment and hotel district. Mr. Snow was asked to discuss the petition with the Town Counsel and to prepare for Board' s considera- tion at its next meeting recommendations in regard to the site plan which had been filed. Mr. Snow next reported on the need, in his OFFICE AIR opinion, of providing some means of dehumidifying CONDITION- the Planning Board office during the summer months ING in order to make working conditions more comfort- able and narticularly to eliminate the problems of drawings absorbing moisture and changing dimen- sions from day to day. He stated that he had dis- cussed the problem with Mr. Mabee and had asked him to investigate dehumidifier rental and purchase costs. Mr. Mabee said that a dehumidifer could be purchased for $9K or rented for $IO for four months the rental charge being credited toward a purchase price under this method of P11Q. He said he would have a representative of one of the dealers in this kind of equipment visit the Planning Board office, advise on installation, and make an estimation of costs Mr. Snow said he would welcome advice not knowing whether a dehumidifer or air conditioner was needed to solve the humidity problem in the office. The meeting adjourned at 11.15 p.m. Irving H. Mabee, Clerk ADDENDUM 31 Mav 1960 Board of Appeals Town Office Building Re Richard D. Hamilton Lexington 73, Mass L C . #1711 5A ''etition to sub- divide Gentlemen: The Lexington Planning Board has considered the petition of Richard D Hamilton to subdivide the parcel of land referred to above into five lots and wishes to be placed on record as being opposed to 5-31-6o -7- the granting of said petition.. It is the Board ' s opinion that a sutdivision of the land involved into two lots, one of which would front on Ash Street, would avoid the necessity of seeking a variance, would prevent the overcrowding of land, would con- serve the value of land and buildings in the vicinity of said parcel, and would preserve and increase the amenities of the area in general whereas the subdivi- sion as proposed would be detrimental to the neighbor- hood Tt is recommended, therefore, that the petition be denied. Sincerely yours, LEXTvGTO°T PLANNING BOARD /s/ Levi G. Burnell, Cheirman June 1, 1060 Board of Health "own Office Building Lexington 73, Mass Gentlemen In reply to your letter of May d3, 1060 the Planning Board has made no study regarding a location for a hospital in Lexington and knows of no location having been selected for a hospital by any other agency. Tn the report of the Hospital Needs Study Committee, a cony of which is attached, it will be noted that it was not "recommended that a location be set aside for a building place for a hospital in the future, " but that in the last paragraph of the renort the committee sug- gested "that a committee be appointed to work with the "lanning Board in recommending a site for a hospital to be used when the population of the town is of sufficient size to warrant having its own bosnital." It appears to the Board that if it is desired that a new committee be appointed, the matter should be placed on the warrant for the next town meeting. Sincerely yours, LEXINGTON PLANNTNG BOAPD /s / Levi G. Burnell, Chairman 5-U-S0 May 31, 1960 Mr . and Mrs. Reuben P. Seth Mr. and Mrs. James O. Maxner 16 Audubon Road Lexington 73, 7ass . Ladies and Gentlemen . Reference is made to your letter of April 14, 1960. The Planning Board regrets that because of its heavy schedule it was unable during the past few months to give attention to the proposal which you presented at the Board /s meeting held on February 29, 1960. How- ever, the matter has been placed on the Board' s schedule of projects and will be given consideration this summer when a detail study of the area in the vicinity of your Worthen Road property is made. Since,-elv yours, LEXINGTON PLANNING BOARD /s/ Levi G. Burnell, Chairman In dunlicate