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Home My WebLink About1960-11-07PLAN^T.ING BOARD MEETING November 7, 1960 A regular meeting of the Lexington Planning Board was held on Monday, November 7, 1960 at ?:30 n.m. in the Board's office, Town Office Building. 'resent were Chairman Burnell, members Mabee and Soule, and Planning T,irector Snow. Approved by the Board were the minutes of its October 24, 1960 meeting. Also annroved for pavment were the follow- ing bills which had been presented: Minute -man Pub- licstions, advert1s1nrr---3.67; Hatfield's Color Shop, drafting supplies --A1.75. The Board also confirmed the action of Mr. Snow in apnroving the following bills during the previous week: Harry W. Porter, Jr., reimbursement for prints, x'3.50, pro- fessional services Oct. 31, 1060, $12.50; Donald C. Richardson, n.rofessional services Oct. 31, 1960-- a12.50. MINUTES BILLS Mr. Snow nave a report of his conference with "Ar. Donald TT. Sleeper, Jr., attorney for Kinston Homes, Inc. �it which time he discussed studies which he had made in regard to subdividing land formerl,r o, -rued by Higgins and located north- westerly of Hanle Street, said land now being owned by said corporation. `?r. Snow exhibited these studies to the Board and indicated th^t he would complete the studies and after doinc* so would hold a conference again with Tyr. Sleeper. At !� :00 p ,m . the " os rd --eld a public hear- ing relative to the annlication for arproval of a subdivision of land of 'Fugene C. Poberts ITT situa- ted in the northerl-�j part of Lexington and to be known as "Middle Ridge, Section Five, Lexington, Mass." Only two nersons includi.np- Mr. Roberts, the subdivider, attended the hearing. Pyr. Roberts presented the subdivision nro- KINGSTON HOMES, INC. PRELTMINARY_ PLAN MTDDLF RIDGE SEC. 5 ROBFItTS Read to the Board and annroved by it was ' the draft of a letter to Mr.May with reference to COUNTRY - the conference which the Board held on October 24 WIDE OFFICES relative to the nronosal of Country -wide Offices, REZONTNG Tnc, to rezone a portion of the land located at the PROPOSAL southeasterly intersection of Routes 2 and 128. (See addendum.) Mr. Snow nave a report of his conference with "Ar. Donald TT. Sleeper, Jr., attorney for Kinston Homes, Inc. �it which time he discussed studies which he had made in regard to subdividing land formerl,r o, -rued by Higgins and located north- westerly of Hanle Street, said land now being owned by said corporation. `?r. Snow exhibited these studies to the Board and indicated th^t he would complete the studies and after doinc* so would hold a conference again with Tyr. Sleeper. At !� :00 p ,m . the " os rd --eld a public hear- ing relative to the annlication for arproval of a subdivision of land of 'Fugene C. Poberts ITT situa- ted in the northerl-�j part of Lexington and to be known as "Middle Ridge, Section Five, Lexington, Mass." Only two nersons includi.np- Mr. Roberts, the subdivider, attended the hearing. Pyr. Roberts presented the subdivision nro- KINGSTON HOMES, INC. PRELTMINARY_ PLAN MTDDLF RIDGE SEC. 5 ROBFItTS 11-7-h0 posal which consisted of three lots fronting on an unnamed dead-end street extending; from Demar Road easterly for about 353 feet. Mr. Roberts inquired if the Board had decided lm on a name for said street. ?t was indicated that. the Board had not and would welcome suggestions from Mr. Roberts. Mr. Richard H. Braun of Demar Road spoke for himself and his neighbor, Mr. Thomas K. Dyer, asking that snecial care be made in grading the proposed road and saving as manor trees as possible i n the process. Mr. Roberts said that he was very much in sympathy with this point of view and intended to make a special effort to retain as many trees as possible for screen plantings. The Board indicated to Mr. Roberts that he had not filed with the Board of Health an application for approval of said subdivision and suggested that he take care of the matter as soon as possible so that the Plan- ning t -'pard mippit act upon his subdivision plan within the nrescri.bed period of time. "'here being no further questions or matters to discuss in regard to the elan and application the hear- ing was adjourned at 8:18 pm. ' From 8:20 to 9:00 p.m. Town Counsel Stevens met with the Board. He called the Board's attention to a con,- of his letter dated November 7, 1960 to the Board of Selectmen in which it was stated that pursuant to the authority= granted in tine vote adopted under Article 3 of the warrant for the snecial town meeting he18 on September 261 1960, title had been acquired by the Town to the former Kingston Homes, Tnc. land of annroximately, nine acres situated on and off Hathaway Road in Lexing- ton. Mr. Stevens pointed out that in order to clear un a small matter concernin- the title of Kingston Homes, Tne. the Selectmen made a taking of the property by eminent domain and then obtained from said corporation a confirmatory deed and a release of damages from the taking. The instrument deeding land and releasing damages was dated October 28, 1960 and recorded in the Middlesex South District Registry of Deeds on November 3, 1960 as instrument No. 9. Mr. Stevens also called the Board's attention to a cony of his letter of November 7 to ^'_r. Carroll, Sunt. of Public Works, indicating that the Commonwealth had recorded the orCer of taking and relocation of Route 128 in Lexinrton, the order being, dated August 30, 1960 and recorded as instrument No. 203 of '`Tovember 3, 1960. The Plan accom anying the order was recorded at the same time as plan Yo. 1673 of 1960. 11-7-60 The Board next discussed with Mr. Stevens the situation to date in regard to the pronosed acquisition from Messrs. Herzog and Benkley of land on "hinnle Hill. Messrs. Burnell and Mabee nave a report of their meeting with Mr. Benkley on the afternoon of Tdovember 6 and Mr. Snow of his meeting with Mr. Herzog on October 30. After dis- cussing the general situation with reference to the nronosed acquisition of the Herzog and Benkley land, the Board drafted a letter to Mr. Benkley (see adden- dum). Mr. Snow was asked to nrepare for the Board a renort'with reference to the acquisition of the Her- zoc, 1^nd. Mr. Stevens gave a report of his conference with the attorney for Messrs. McCormack and Brun stating that.they had now received an appraisal of that nortion of their land which the town voted to acquire under Article 4 of the warrant for the spec- ial town meeting held on September 26, 1960. In view of the differences of the values placed upon said land by 14r. Reenstierna, the appraiser who worked for the Planning Board, and by the appraiser for Messrs. "cCormack and Brun, Mr. Stevens was authorized to discuss the matter first with Mr. Reenstierna. If after his discussion with Mr. Reenstierna it was Mr. Stevens' judgment to do so he was authorized also to hold a conference between himself and the attorney for Messrs. McCormack and ?run and the anpraisers involved in an effort to ar- rive at a settlement in regard to the matter. The Board adjourned its meeting at 0,:00 n.m. and at the request of the Selectmen met with that Board from 9:05 to 9:35 p.m, to discuss the layout of Worthen Road concerning which there was to be a public hearing on November 10, and the general de- velopment plan for the central school and recrea- tional nroject to be presented by Mr. Snow at the Town Meetinr, Members Association informational meeting to be held on the same date. /✓lv6t, Irving H. Mabee, Clerk Pi -3_ HERZOG AND BENKLEY LAND FOR RECREATION McCORMACK LAND FOR RECREATION T.M.M.A. WORTHEN TIOAD 11-7-6o ADDB"?DUM Mr. Norman T. 14av 1776 Massachusetts Avenue Lexington 73, 7assachusetts Dear Mr. Mas,,*: 7 November 1960 I After the conference which you and Messrs. Kenny, Lovell, Roberts and Tregalis held with the Board on October 24.9 the planning Board gave further consideration to the nronosal of rezoning the land of the Roberts Brothers and Mr. Benjamin A. Greene for C 3 use. This is to advise you that after careful consideration of this proposal the Board was not in favor of it and is still of the opinion that the best was' the entire tract of land can b e - developed. properly is as a unit. Sincerely yours, LEXINGTON PLANNING BOAPD Levi G. Burnell, Chairman November 8, 1960 Mr. Fred G. Benkle-7*, Jr. 35 '^lhipnle Road Lexington 73, p• -'ass. Dear Mr. Benklev: The plan -ng Board discussed at its meeting last night your request that you retain permanentl7 the major nortion of your land outside Lot 187. After its consideration it was found the Board was of the same opinion as that before the annual town meeting In March, namely, that the town needs on a permanent basis all the land on Whipple Hill which you now own outside of Lot 187. `ours very truly, L='N'STON PLAY1,TING BOARD Is/ Levi G. Burnell, Chairman L