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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1960-09-19PLANNING BOARD MEETING September 19, 1960 A regular meeting of the Lexington Planning Board was held in the Board's office, Town Office Building on Monday, September 19, 1960 at 7:30 p.m. Present were Chairman Burnell, Members Grindle, Mabee, Meyer and Soule, and Planning Director Snow. The planning Board approved the minutes of MINUTES its September 7, 1960 meeting. The Board approved for payment the follow- ing bills which had been presented: Harry li. BILLS Porter, Jr., professional services Sept. 6 through Sept. 16, 1960--175.00; Wallace B. Mitchell Co., drafting suppl3.es--X5.40. Considered next were the following Form A applications for determination of Planning }'oard FORMS A jurisdiction: #60-65, submitted Sept. 12, 1960 by Samuel M. Flaksman, Atty. for Ralph J. Frissore; plan entitled "Plan of Land in Lexington, Mass.", Scale: 1" = 30', dated Aug. 29, 19601 Miller & Nylander, Civil Engineer's 8: Surveyors. #660-66, submitted Sept. 7, 1960 by Clarence S. Walker; plan entitled "Plan of Land in Lexington, Plass.", Scale: 1" = 40', dated April 13, 1060, Miller & Nylander, C.E.'s & Surveyors. #E6o-67, submitted Sept. 16, 1960 by Aleph Roblin, Leonard J. Colwell, agent; plan en- titled "Plan of Land in Lexington, Mass.", Scale: 1" = 401, dated Oct. 22, 10451, Charles A. Kerins, Civil Engineer. !'60-68, submitted Sept. 16, 1960 by George P. Mahoney and Ernest J. DeVincent; plan entitled �ILd. Ct. Plan of Land in Lexington, Mass, being a subdivision of Lot Cl as shown on Ld. Ct. 13923F," Scale : 1" = 40', dated Sept. 16, 1060, Josenh W. Moore, Inc., Peg. Land Surveyors. Unon motions duly made and seconded, it was unanimously 9-19-60 -2- VOTED: that the Lexington Planning Board determines that the -plans accompanying applications ' #60-65, #60-67 and #60-68 do not require approval under the Subdivision Control Law, and that said plans be so endorsed. Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was unanimously VOTED: that the Lexington Planning Board determines that the plan accompanying application #60-66 does not require approval under the Subdivision Control Law, and that said -plan be so endorsed with the additional notation that neither Lot 3A nor Lot B alone has the area or frontage required under the Lexing- ton Zoning By-law. With reference to the Deti.tion of citizens BURNHAM FARMS residing on Alcott Road in the Burnham Farms, Sec - SECS. 2 & 5 tion 2 subdivision, (see minutes of September 73 - 1960 Planning Board meeting), Mr. Snow gave a re- ALCOTT ROAD port of his discussion with the Town Counsel and the Supt, of Public Works of the matter of renaming a portion of Alcott Road located in Section 5 of said subdivision. The Board then discussed the sit- uation in detail with reference to good street -nam- ' ing and numbering practice. At the conclusion of the discussion members of the Board decided unani- mously that the name Alcott Road should not be changed and drafted a letter to this effect to the Supt, of Public Works (see Addendum). From 8:00 to 8:25 n.m. Mr. Norman T. May met COUNTRY -WIDE with the Board with reference to its letter of Sept. OFFICES, INC. 82 1960 to him in regard to the proposal of Countrv- wide Offices, Inc, and the Roberts Brothers to re- ROBERTS zone the latter's land at the southeasterly corner of Foutes 2 and 128 for C 3 district use. (See min- utes of August 22, 1960 Planning Board meeting.) Mr. May asked for an interpretation of the Board's letter asking whether it was meant that the Roberts Brothers and the abutting property owners all sign a petition seeking a rezoning to C 3 use of all the land bounded by the Waltham city line, Rts, 2 and 128, and Snring Street or that Country -wide Offices, Inc. buy residential property to obtain a second means of egress to Spring Street. He said the sec- ond alternative was out of the question for said corporation but that the Roberts Brothers could look into the first matter should the Board make such a , recommendation. Mr. May was informed that the Board would discuss the matter further and notify him of its decision. 9-19-60 ' Considered next were the Quick, Maloney and Condinho to be heard by the Board of petitions Appeals on September 27, 1960. After an explana- tion and a discussion of the material Mr. Snow had assembled in regard to these petitions, it was de- cided by the Planning Board to go on record as being opposed to them. Mr. Soule was asked to present the Planning; Board's views in regard to the petitions. It was suggested that in presenting, these views it be emphasized in the case of the Quick petition that the proposed accessory building, because of its in- sufficient set -back, interfered with the site dis- tance on the curve of Turning Mill Road located at the property numbered 32; in the case of the Maloney petition that so-called Osgood Drive was not a way but a portion of old Osgood lot; and in the case of the Condinho petition that the proposed lotting, and that which might take }dace in the future, could be improved by having a greater death of back yard for the residence numbered 610 Waltham Street. Town Counsel Stevens met with the Board to discuss several matters of general interest and in particular articles for the warrant for the special town meeting to be held on September 26, 1960. Mr. Stevens called to the Board's attention his letter of September 13, 1960 to the Town Clerk in regard to the Battle Green Village, Sec. 2, sub- division. It was noted that the work in said sub- division had been completed to the satisfaction of Mr. Carroll, Supt, of Public Workss and that the Board had received from the subdivider grants of easements and utilities in said subdivision. All matters appearing to be in order it was moved, seconded and unanimously VOTED: to release the performance bond, dated October 8, 1957, filed by Leeland Con- struction Co., Inc. as Principal, and American Surety Co. of New York as Surety, in the sum of fifty-five thousand (055,000) dollars to secure the performance by the subdivider of his agreement in the form of an application for approval of a definitive plan, Form C, dated May 29, 1957s to com- plete the work to be performed by the sub- divider as shown on tr e subdivision plan entitled "Battle Green Village Section Twos ' Lexington, Mass." and dated May 21, 1957. Mr. Snow read and discussed with the Board -3- BOARD OF APPEALS BATTLE GREEN VILLAGE SEC. 2 LEELAMD CON- STRUCTION CO. a-19-60 -4- Mr. Snow said that Mr. Burnell and he had not indicated their reaction to the Crandalls': offer but had stated they would report it to the Board, seek to have an appraisal made of the property it was de- sired to acquire, and get in touch with the Crandalls again. Mr. Snow also said that 'ir, Harry G. Berglund of Lexington,, now appraising land for the National Park Service, had been asked to appraise the portion of the Crandall land it was desired to acquire and that Mr. Berglund had determined its value at $3,000. It was reported that this appraisal was based not only on the existing conditions of the lot and the general value of real estate in the vicinity but also on (1) the estimate that it would cost from 11000 to $1,500 to fill the land for a house site; (2) on the existence of a 50 -foot wide easement for , sewer, drain and public travel through the property; and (3) on the betterment of $560.89 which is to be assessed against Lot "B" for the proposed Middleby Road sewer. a letter, dated September 15, 1960 which he had re- M 1 DISTRICT ' ceived from the Board of Selectmen, stating his recom- - mendation in regard to a proposed elimination of the PINE STREET track bridge over Pine Street in Lexington's M 1 dis- TRACK BRIDGE trict. It was noted that because the pass under the railroad was apparently not used the State Department of Public Works did not believe it was necessary to replace the bridge when a portion of the railroad track was relocated in connection with widening Rte. 128. Mr. Snow pointed out that the bridge was located about 3400 feet southeasterly of Westview Street and that without the bridge there would be only one means of access between portions of the M 1 district. He said that it was his opinion that the bridge should not only be replaced but should be lengthened to provide for future two-way traffic. The Board suggested that Mr. Snow incorporate this view in his reply to the Selectmen's letter. Mr. Burnell gave a report of the conference MIDDLEBY ROAD he and Mr. Snow had held on September 15 with Mr. - and Mrs. Crandall at their home on Middleby Road in CRANDALL regard to acquiring a portion of their land. He PROPERTY FOR stated that a copy of the nlan entitled "Recom- RECREATIONAL mended Acquisition of Land for School, Playground PURPOSES and Recreation Purposes," dated Sen_tember 7, 1960, ' and prepared by the staff had been left with the Crandalls. Mr. Burnell also stated that Mr. Crandall had indicated that he wanted $4,000 for Lot "B" shown on the plan accompanying Form A appli- cation #60-58, said plan having* been endorsed by the Board and returned to the Crandalls. Mr. Snow said that Mr. Burnell and he had not indicated their reaction to the Crandalls': offer but had stated they would report it to the Board, seek to have an appraisal made of the property it was de- sired to acquire, and get in touch with the Crandalls again. Mr. Snow also said that 'ir, Harry G. Berglund of Lexington,, now appraising land for the National Park Service, had been asked to appraise the portion of the Crandall land it was desired to acquire and that Mr. Berglund had determined its value at $3,000. It was reported that this appraisal was based not only on the existing conditions of the lot and the general value of real estate in the vicinity but also on (1) the estimate that it would cost from 11000 to $1,500 to fill the land for a house site; (2) on the existence of a 50 -foot wide easement for , sewer, drain and public travel through the property; and (3) on the betterment of $560.89 which is to be assessed against Lot "B" for the proposed Middleby Road sewer. u 9-19-60 After further discussion of the matters it was consensus that the most the land was worth was $31000. Messrs. Burnell and Snow were asked to arrange another conference with the Crandalls for the purpose of discussing the acquisition further and making them an offer of 533000. The remainder of the meeting was devoted to Mr. Snow's presentation of the major project, first to the Planning Board and later to the Board of Selectmen, he and his two student assistants, Harry W. Porter and Donald E. Richardson, had completed during the summer months. The plan as presented was entitled "Proposed General Development Plan - Cen- tral School and Recreation Area," dated September 15s 1960, and drawn at the scale of 100 feet to an inch. After discussions and approvals of the plan by both Boards, it was decided to have Mr. Snow discuss the plan with Mr. William E. Maloney, representing the Hayden Centre trustees, and seek his approval of the proposed land transfers between the Centre and the Town as shown on said plan. It was decided also to have Mr. Snow present the school and recreation pro- ject at a joint meeting of the Planning Board, School Committee and representatives of the school adminis- tration. Mr. Burnell was asked to arrange for such a meeting on Sentember 27, 1960 if possible. The 'Planning Board meeting adjourned at 11:40 p.m. Irving H. Mabee, Clerk Mr. John J. Carroll Supt. of Public Works Town Office Building Lexington 73, Mass. Dear Mr. Carroll: ADDENDUM September 22, 1960 Re: Burnham Farms, Sec. 5 odd Fealty, Inc. ALCOTT POAD -5- C ENTRA L SCHOOL AND RECREATION AREA PROJECT Mr. Snow reported to the Planning Board at its meeting on September 19, 1960 that he had discussed with the Town Counsel and later with you the situation in re- gard to the possible renaming of that section of Alcott 9-19-60 -6- Road.in the Burnham Farms, Sec. 5 subdivision. It is ' understood that from Mr. Worthen's list of early Lex- ington family names Mr. Snow suggested the name Holmes Road for said section in honor of one of the families who settled in town in 1648 and also in honor of Oliver Wendell Holmes. The Planning Board has given this matter consideration. It is the unanimous opinion of the members of the Board that they are not in favor of changing the name Alcott Road. In the Board's view changing the names of sec- tions of streets each time one crosses another is a policy which would only lead to confusion. In the case of Alcott Road, the Board reaffirms its approval of the name as it is recorded on the Burnham Farms, Section 5 definitive subdivision plan. Yours very truly, LEXINGTON PLAN7TNG BOARD /sl Levi G. Burnell, Chairman cc; Board of Selectmen Todd Realty, Inc. L