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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1960-07-11PLANNTNG BOARD MEETING July 11, 1960 A regular meeting of the Lexington Planning Board was held on Monday, July 11, 1960 at 7:30 p.m. in the Board's offices Town Office Building. Present were Vice Chairman Gri.ndle, members Mabee and Soule, and Planning Director Snow. The Board apnroved the minutes of its meet- MInTTES Ings of May 31, June 6 and 13, 1960. unproved for pa-rment were the following bills which had been presented: From Options Account: BILLS T.H.Reenstierna, anpraisal-McCormack-- 00.00; from General Expenses: Boston Envelope Co., envelopes -- 1, [.37; Graphic Reproductions, white prints --X17,40: H.A.Shepard & Co.sU.S.r,S, maps--�'S,71; T,ouise M. Baker, extra secretarial service --910.86; Spaulding - Moss Co., drafting; supplies --$6.10; Charles', draft- ing supplies --n4.14; Minute -man Publications, adver- tising -43.67; Frederick J. Peterson, p hotographs-- `17.70; Harry W. Porter, Jr., professional services, June 27 thru July 8--"'140; Donald C. Richardson, pro- fessional services, June 27 thru July 8--,�,140.00- Considered next was the application of Wyn- wood Associates, Inc, for approval of the Oak Hill OAK HILL Estates, Sec. 3 definitive subdivision plan. Read ESTATES to the Board was tre Town Counsel's letter of July SEC. 3 6, 1960 to the Planning Director enclosing_ a con- formed con- of a covenant between W7nwood Associates WNWOOD and the Town in reference to said plan. Tt was noted ASSOCTATES that the covenant had been signed by the Cambridge Savings Bank as mortgagee for the purpose of subor- dinating the mortgage to the covenant and that the original of the covenant was beinP., held by the Town Counsel so that it might be recorded with the plan after the latter had been endorsed. All matters annearing +o be in order, upon motion being duly made and seconded, it was unani- mo»sly VOTED: that tre de£iritive subdivision plan entitled "Oak Hill ^states Section Three Lexington, Mass.'", dated April LE, 1960s which was sub- mitted to the Board by 1r77rnwood Associates, Inc, on r?ay 6, 1960, accompanied by an appli- cation for arproval of definitive plan, Form C, dated April 112 1960, be and hereby is approved subject to the condition that no buildinp or structure sha,l be built or placed upon lots 25 and 36 without nrior consent of 7-11-60 -2- the Texi.n,-ton Board of Fealtr. Considered also by the Board was the apnli- BF'RNFAM cation of Todd Realty, Inc. for anproval of the FARMS Burnham Farms, Sec. 5 definitive subdivision plan. SFC. 5 Mr.Snow reported that the Town Counsel had investi- gated the matter of obtaining for the Town a slope TODD REALTY easement as stipulated in a letter, dated Mav 31, INI'. 1960, from t?le Sunt, of public 'forks and had been assured by the attorney for George J. Bailey that the easement could be obtained in proner form. Upon this assurance, all other matters appear - in ,,^ to be in order, and upon motion dulti* made and seconded, it was unanimously VOTED: that the definitive subdivision plan entitled "Burnham Farms Section Five Lexington, Mass.t', dated April 27, 1960s which was submitted to the Board by Todd Realty, Inc. on June 1, 1960, accompanied by an application for approval of definitive plan, Form C, dated May 259 1960, be and hereby is approved subject to the con- dition that no building or structure shall be built or r laced on lots 71, 88, 891 90, 91, 92, 93 and 9li without prior consent of the Lexing- ton Board of F?ealth. Likewise taken under consideration were the FORMS A following Form A applications for determination of Planning Board jurisdiction: #60-502 submitted July 11, 1960 by George W. Saul; plan entitled "A Compiled clan of Land in Lexington, Mass.", Scale 1't = 401, dated June 301 1960, Miller Rr Alylan der, C . T_+'.. ' s & Surveyors. y60-51, submitted July 81, 19601 by 14ichael J. McCormack; plan entitled "ACompiled Plan of Land in Lexin^ton, Mass."., Scale: 1" = ISO t, dated July 8, 1960, Miller & Vvlander, C.E.'s Ri Surveyors, Mr. Snow was asked to refer the plan accom- pawTing application #60-50 to the Town Counsel f or a ruling, there being; no evidence submitted to indicate that Milliken Road shown on said plan was a public way . Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was unanimously 1 1 7-11-60 ' VOTED: that the Lexington Planning Board determines that the plan accompanying Form A apnl_ication 460-51 does not require approval under the subdivision Control Law, and that said plan be so endorsed. From 8:00 to 8:! 5 p.m. Messrs. Charles Kenny, Richard H. Lovell, Norman T. Mays and architect Charles H. Cole met with the Board to continue a dis- cussion in regard to the possible rezoning of a por- tion of the Roberts Brothers land in Lexington at the Intersection of Routes 2 and 128. (See minutes of June 131 1960 Planning; Board meeting.) Mr. Mav stated that there had been prepared a plan which he believed removed all but one question which the Board had raised previously. He then exhibited said plan, dated Tune 23, 1960, and asked Mr. Cole to discuss it. Mr. Cole pointed out the n_ronosals shown on three corresponding lots on said plan. He stated that he was responsible for those marked "13" and "C" the one marked "A" being the responsibility of the architect for Country -wide Offices, Tne. He then ex- nlained the proposed systems for automobile circula- tion and for septic tanks and disposal fields for all lots. It was noted that 533 car spaces plus an area for 100 future spaces had been rrovided for on Lot As 206 spaces on Lot B, and 209 on Lot C, office build- ings shown on the nlan have space for 850, 200 and 200 persons respectively. Mr. May then discussed the one nroblem which he said had not been solved, namely, that of a dead end street longer than that allowed under Lexington's Sub- division Rules and Regulations. He said that no second means of access seemed to be available to the Roberts Brothers land. He concluded by stating that attempts to obtain an access through the adjacent land owned by Clevite Cornoration in Waltham had failed. At the conclusion of the conference the site elan and sunnlementary data were left with the Board for further consideration. Mr. Snow reported on the Board's request that. he write drafts of letters in regard to certain peti- tions to be heard by the Board of Appeals on July 19s 1960. He stated that the Cunningham petition had been withdrawn. He then discussed the Pizzo petition and recommended th.^t instead of writing a letter in regard ' to the same the Board renort orally to the Board of Appeals its opposition in regard to said petition. The Board then considered drafts of letters in regard -3- CrUNTRYWIDE OFFICES REZONING PROPOSAL ROBERTS BROS. BOARD OF APPEALS 7-11-60 Mr. Snow gave a report of progress and showed VINE BROOK the Board studies which he had made of Mr. Mana- REALTY TRUST selian's preliminary site plan, revised June 22, 1960s of the Waltham Street Garden Apartment dis- 'dALTHAM ST. trict. The Board requested that Mr. Snow continue A 1 DISTRICT to work with ?Rr. Manaselian to complete the final phase of the plan so that the Board would be in a position to approve said plan when it was finally presented. to the Robert Hall and Bentley petitions. These FREEMAN ' drafts were approved by the Board. (See addendum.) of acquiring for park purposes the Mr. Soule was asked to represent the Board at the Freeman lot hearings to be held in regard to said Robert Hall, RECREAT207TAL Bentley and Rizzo petitions. and Massachusetts Avenue intersection. The Board's attention was called to a letter MC CORMACK- dated June 28, 1960, from the Board of Selectmen BRUN LAND FOR stating that it was in agreement that the acqui_si- RECRFATIONAL tion of the McCormack Brun land adjacent to the PURPOSES Harrington School was desirable and that the Plan- ning Board's proposal of $12,000 in payment for said parcel seemed to the Selectmen to be fair. prevent residences from being built on The Board then considered the draft of a letter to the land in Mr. McCormack stating that it was now -prepared to recommend to the Town the pavment of X12,000 for space around Hastings Park. The Board the eight -acre portion of land owned by Messrs. took no action McCormack and Brun which the Board was recommending that the Town acquire for public recreational land. The Board approved said letter which was signed by the Vice -Chairman. (See Addendum.) , Mr. Snow gave a report of progress and showed VINE BROOK the Board studies which he had made of Mr. Mana- REALTY TRUST selian's preliminary site plan, revised June 22, 1960s of the Waltham Street Garden Apartment dis- 'dALTHAM ST. trict. The Board requested that Mr. Snow continue A 1 DISTRICT to work with ?Rr. Manaselian to complete the final phase of the plan so that the Board would be in a position to approve said plan when it was finally presented. The Board then held a meneral discussion of its current work projects and adjourned its meet- ing at 10:00 p.m. Irving H. Mabee, Clerk fl Mr. Snow discussed next with the Board the FREEMAN possibility of acquiring for park purposes the LOT FOR Freeman lot at the northwesterly corner of the RECREAT207TAL Worthen Road and Massachusetts Avenue intersection. PURPOSES He said that he understood the lot was available for 'purchase at a price of $5000. Mr. Snow said that in his opinion this land should be acquired together with that owned. by Burnham Kelly and Francis Cooke In order to prevent residences from being built on the land in the future and in order to provide a larger open space around Hastings Park. The Board took no action in regard to Mr. Snow's proposal. The Board then held a meneral discussion of its current work projects and adjourned its meet- ing at 10:00 p.m. Irving H. Mabee, Clerk fl L 11 1 7-11-60 Board of Appeals Town of Lexington Massachusetts entlemen: ADDFNDUM July 18, 1060 Re: Barbara M. Bentley Directional signs The Planning Board has reviewed the petition and its accompanying letter from Barbara M. Bentley in regard to erecting a series of four signs and directional arrows to the Bedford Gardens residential develonment in Bedford Mass. Set forth below is the Planning Board's position in regard to said petition. The Board recognizes that the route to the development In a neighboring town may be confusing to prospective buyers of residences but believes if the petitioner is advertising as extensively as indicated in her letter that nart of the advertisement might contain a simple map or diagram to direct interested parties to the development. This suc*gestion is made because it is the opinion of the Board that even trough temporary signs are to be used for a short time only, they are too larree and too numerous and of such a nature that they are out of character with the environmental standards Lex1n7ton is trying to maintain. In addi- tion they are intended to serve the advertising Inter- ests of another community. Since there are bordering on Lexington seven other communities where similar situ- ations might arise, it is the opinion of the Board that a granting of the Bentlev petition might set a precedent for anala,c;ous petitions. The Board recommends, there- fore, that the netition be denied. Sincerely yours, =N TION PLANNING BO "1 'D %s,/ Thomas S. Grindle, 'Tice Chairman Board of Appeals Town of L,xin7ton July 19, 1060 Massachusetts Re: Robert Hall Clothes, Inc. Petition to erect sign Gentlemen: Reference is made to yot;r June 23, 1960 notice in re- gard to the netition of Robert Hall Clothes, Inc. to erect a standing sign on the nremises on the north- westerly corner of Concord Avenue and Waltham Street. 7-11-60 The Planning Board has received said notice and sets forth below its nosition in regard to the corporation's petition. It is this Board's view that a "Local business district's In which it is nroposed to erect said sign is intended to serve the immediate neighborhood by providing uses and services which are local in character. The Board does not believe a structure in the form of a free-stand- ing advertising sign 43 feet high and 13'-8" wide at its greatest dimensions is of this character or is needed to inform the local residents of the nature of the pro- posed commercial use. A sign affixed to a building and erected under Art. III, Sec. 2 A. 1. a, b and c of the sign by-law ought to be more than adequate to serve the neighborhood. Such a sign would be more dignified and would be more in keeping with the environmental stand- ards Lexington is endeavoring to maintain. It is the unanimous opinion of the Planning Board members that the Board go on record as being opposed to the grant- ing of the Robert Hall Clothes petition. The Board be- lieves th^.t the sign proposed in no way serves the Inter- ests and convenience of the residents of the immediate neighborhood and recommends denying the netition. Sincerely yours, LEXINGTON PLANTITNG BOApD /s/ Thomas S. Grindle, Vice Chairman 4= July 11, 1960 Mr. Paul J. McCormack 1779 MassachusettssAvenue Lexington 731 Mass. Lear Mr. T,icCormack: In further reply to your letter of April 27, 1960 and the Planning Board's reply of June 6, the Board has now received reports from appraisers In regard to a re-exam- ination of that eivht-acre portion of land owned by you and Mr. Brun which the Recreation Committee and the Planning Board have recommended be acquired for public recreational purposes. The location of said portion is substantially as shown on the attached sketch. On the basis of these appraisals the Board is now pre- pared to recommend to the Town the payment of 112,000 for said nortion. If you find this price acceptable, the -6- 1 1 r� 7-11- 0 -7- Board is prepared to negotiate such matters as the price of the option,-oerlod of the option, and the date of de- livery of the deed. The Planning Board will then ask the Town Counsel to prepare and submit an option instrument. Very truly yours, LEXINGTON PLANNUNG BOARD /s/ Thomas S. Grindle, Vice Chairman _'r,c . cc: with enclosure to Harold E. Stevens 1 C'�