HomeMy WebLinkAbout1960-11-07 PLAN^TING BOARD MEETING
November 7, 1960
A regular meeting of the Lexington Planning
Poard was held on Monday, November 7, 1060 at 7 30
n.m. in the Poardts office, Town Office Building.
present sent w Pre Chairman Burnell, members Mabee and
Soule, and Planning Tirector Snow.
Approved by the Board were the minutes of MINUTES
its October 24, 1960 meeting.
Also annroved for payment were the follow-
ing bills which had been presented: Minute-man Pub- BILLS
lications, advertising--P3. 67 ; Hatfieldts Color
Shon, drafting supplies--$1.75 The Bonrd also
confirmed the action of Mr. Snow in approving the
following bills during the nrevious week : Harry W.
Porter, Jr , reimbursement for prints, ' 3. 50, pro-
fessional services Oct . /1, 1060, $12.50 ; Donald
C Richardson, professional services Oct . 31, 1960--
a12 50.
' 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, REZONTHG
Inc . to rezone a portion of the land located at the PROPOSAL
southeasterly intersection of Routes 2 and 128. (See
addendum )
Mr. Snow cave a "enort of his conference
with "Tr. Donald N. Sleeper, Jr. , attorney for KINGSTON
Kingston Homes, Inc. at which time he discussed HOMES, INC .
studies which he had made in regard to subdividing PRELIMINARY
land formerl,r oTeed by Higgins and located north- PLAN
westerly of Hanle Street, said land now being owned
by said cornoretion T_Tr. Snow exhibited these
studies to the Board and indicated -Mint he would
complete the studies and after doing so would hold
a conference again with 'fir Sleeper
At 'x :00 n.m . the Poard --eld a public hear-
ing relative to the annlication for anproval of a MTDDLF RIDGE
subdivision of land of Eugene C . Roberts ITT situa- SEC . 5
ted in the northerly nart of Lexington and to be -
known as "Middle Ridge, Section Five, Lexington) ROBERTS
Mess ." Only two *persons including Mr Roberts, the
subdivider, attended the hearing
Hr . Roberts presented the subdivision pro-
11-7-60
nosal which consisted of three lots fronting on an
unnamed dead-end street extending from Pemar Road
easterly for about 353 feet Mr. Poterts inquired if
the Board had decided vnon a name for said street . Tt
was indicated that the Board had not and would welcome
suggestions from Mr. Poberts .
Mr. Richard H. Braun of Demar Road spoke for
himself and his neighbor, Mr . Thomas K. Ever, asking
that snecial care be made in grading the proposed road
and saving as maw, trees as possible i n the nrocess .
Mr. Roberts said that he was very much in sympathy
with this noint of view and intended to make a special
effort to retain as many trees as nossible for screen
plantings .
The Board indicated to Mr . Roberts that he had
not filed with the Board of Health an application for
annroval of said subdivision and suggested that he take
care of the matter as soon as possible so that the Plan-
ning loard might act unon his subdivision plan within
the prescribed neriod of time
'here beinr no fu-ther questions or matters to
discuss in regard to the nlan and application the hear-
ing was adjourned nt 8 18 p .m.
From 8 :20 to 9 00 n.m . Town Counsel Stevens met
with the Board. He called the Board ' s attention to a
conY of his letter dated November 7, 1060 to the Board
of Selectmen in which it was stated that nursuant to
the authority granted in the vote adonted under Article
3 of the warrant for the special town meeting held on
September 26, 1960, title had been acquired by the Town
to the former Kingston Homes, Tnc . land of anoroximately
nine acres situated on and off Hathaway Road in Lexing-
ton . Mr. Stevens nointed out that in order to clear un
a small matter concerning the title of Kingston Homes,
Tnc . the Selectmen made a taking of the nroperty 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 releastng
damages was dated October 28, 1960 and recorded in the
Middlesex South District Registry of Deeds on November
3, 1060 as instrument No. 9.
Mr Stevens also called the Board ' s attention
to a cony of his letter of Novemter 7 to ^1,-. Carroll,
Supt . of Public Works, indicating that the Commonwealth
had recorded the orc'er of taking and relocation of
Route 128 in Lexington , the order being dated August
30, 1960 and recorded as instrument No. 203 of 'rovember
3, 1060 The Plan accomnanving the order was recorded
at the same time as nlan 1673 of 1060
11-7-60 -3-
The Board next discussed with Mr. Stevens
the situation to date in regard to the proposed HERZOG AND
acquisition from Messrs . uerzog and Benkley of BENKLEY
land on T•'hipnle Hill Messrs . Burnell and Mabee LAND FOR
gave a renort of their meeting with Mr. Benkley on RECREATION
the afternoon of MoTrember 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-
zog 1^nd.
Mr. Stevens gave a renort of his conference
with the attorney for Messrs . McCormack and Brun McCORMACK
statim* that they had now received an appraisal of LAND FOR
that portion of their land which the town voted to RECREATION
acquire under Article )+ of the warrant for the spec-
ial town meeting held on September 26, 1060. In
view of the differences of the values placed upon
said land by Mr. Reenstierna, the appraiser who
worked for the Planning Board, and by the appraiser
for Messrs . i.cCormack and Brun, Mr. Stevens was
authorized to discuss the matter first with Mr.
Teenstierna If after his discussion with Mr.
Peenstierna 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
P'-un and the anpraisers involved in an effort to ar-
rive at a settlement in regard to the matter.
The Board adjourned its meeting at o 00 n.m
and at the request of the Selectmen met with that T M.M.A
Board from A 05 to 9 35 n.m. to discuss the layout
of 14orthen Road concerning which there was to be a WORTHEN TOAD
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 Meeting Members Association informational
meeting to be held on the same date
/1/O /e
Irving H. Mabee, Clerk
11-7-60 -L-
ADDENDUM
7 November 1960
Mr. Norman T. May
1776 Massachusetts Avenue
Lexington 73, Nassachtsetts
Dear Mr May :
After the conference which you and Messrs . Kenny,
Lovell, Roberts and Tregalis held with the Board
on October 24, 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 pronosal the Board
was not in favor of it and is still of the opinion
that the best way the entire tract of land can b e-
developed. pronerly is as a unit.
Sincerely yours,
LEXINGTON PLANNING BOAPD
/s/ Levi G Burnell, Chairman
November 8, 1960
Mr. Fred G. Benkleir, Jr
3 `1binnle Road
Lexington 73, "ass
Dear Mr Benkley:
The Flan^;ng Board discussed at its meeting last
night your request that you retain permanently the
major nortion of your land outside Lot 187. After
its consideration it was found the Board was of the
same oninion 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,
LEXINGTON PLATN,TIP?G BOAPD
/s/ Levi G. Burnell, Chairman
I