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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1961-02-20i 1 PLANNING BOARD MEETING February 20, 1961 A regular meeting of the Lexington Planning Board was held on Monday, February 20, 1961s at 7:50 p.m. in the Board's office, Town Office Build- ing. Present were Vice Chairman Grindle, Members Mabee, Meyer and Soule, and Planning Director Snow. The Board approved the minutes of its January 302 1961 Planning Board meeting. MINUTES Approved for payment were the following bills which had been presented: Fred Stone, Inc., white BILLS prints --65.82; Graphic Reproductions, Inc., white prints --47.50; Wallace B. Mitchell Co., drafting supplies --,4.05. Considered next were the following Form A applications for determination of Planning Board jurisdiction: #61-4, submitted February 15, 1961 by Her- bert G. McConchie; plan entitled "Plan of Land in Lexington, Mass.", Scale : 1t! = 201, dated Feb. 1, 1961, Miller & Nylander, C.E.'s & Surveyors. #61-5, submitted February 17, 1961 by Ben- jamin M. Forbes; plan entitled "Plan of Land in Lexington, Mass.', Scale: 1" = 3012 dated Dec. 142 19601 Miller & Nylander, C.E.'s & Surveyors. It was decided to refer the plans accom- panying said applications to the Town Counsel for an opinion. From 8:00 until 9:00 p.m. Mr. Harry G. Berglund, Messrs. Vincent 0. Ippolito, Philip Longo and their attorney, Mr. Edward T. Martin, Mr. Gail W. Smith and his attorney, Mr. Harold B. Dondis, met with the Board. Mr. Martin discussed the status of land acquisition in the Maple Street garden apartment district and the nronosed subdivision shown on the definitive plan entitled "Emerson Gardens Section One Lexinpto.n, Mass.", dated Sept. 12, 1960, said plan not having been formally sub- mitted to the T'lanning Board for approval. Mr. M,.rtin said that with the exception of a parcel of the Chapman land now under option said garden FORMS A EMERSON GARDENS SEC. 1 IPPOLITO- LONGO 2-z0-61 !PZ apartment district was in one ownership. He said ' that as soon as the Chapman parcel was acquired all the land would be transferred to a proposed Emerson Gardens Realty Corporation. In the case of the land shown on the subdi- vision plan, Mr. Martin stated that the group he represented owned the major portion of said land but had not reached an agreement with Mr. Smith, repre- senting Lex -Wood Poultry Farms, Inc., owner of the remaining portion. In order to have a basis for fur- ther negotiation Mr. Martin asked the Board, first, if it would approve a definitive plan which showed Emerson Road extending about ?70 feet in length from Mable Street and having no other means of access; second, what it would require in the way of construc- tion of Bryant Road from its present terminus to Emerson Road as shown on the Emerson Gardens defini- tive plan. The Board took these questions under ad- visement. Later in the meeting the Board discussed this case and decided that it would not approve a definitive plan showing Emerson Road extending beyond 500 feet unless the plan showed a second means -of access in the form of a private way built to the specifications re- ' quired in the subdivision rules and regulations. In the case of the Emerson Gardens, Section One definitive plan, the Board decided that it would require the con- struction of Bryant Road including the necessary cul- vert under said road as shown in the form of an ease- ment on said plan. It w^s pointed out that it would be necessary to add a third sheet to said definitive plan, this sheet being a plan and :)rofile of Bryant Road. Mr. Snow was asked to prepare for the Board's approval a letter to Mr. Martin, a copy of which was to be sent to Mr. Dondis, setting forth the Board's decision in regard to these matters. The attention of the Board was called to the VINE BROOK endorsement on February 16, 1961 by a majority of the MEADOWS members of the Board of the Vine Brook Meadows, Sec - SEC. 2 tion Two definitive subdivision plan and also the - signing of a "Statement of Conditions of Planning VINE BROOK Board Approval" for filing in the Land Court. Mr. FEALTY Snow stated that he had given the endorsed plan and TTJST instrument to the Town Counsel to be held by said Counsel until he received from the subdivider, Vine Brook Realty Trust, a grant to the Town of the ease- ments as shown on said plan. Mr.Snow mD orted that the Town Counsel had telephoned him on February 17 informing him that the plan and instrument in connec- 1 1 1 2-20-61 -1- tion with said subdivision had been registered and recorded on the afternoon of said date. Read to the Board was Mr. John Christoforo's REZONTNG letter of February 8, 1961 in regard to rezoning an PROPOSAL additional local business use a portion of the land - of Countryside, Inc. It then approved the draft of COUNTRYSIDE a reply to Mr. Christoforo's inquiry. (See adden- INC. dum . ) Mr. Snow gave a report of the work he had completed in regard to the building and site plans WALTHAM ST. for the proposed Waltham Street Garden Apartments GARDEN development. He then presented for the Board's APARTMENTS consideration the draft of a letter to the Board of DISTRICT Appeals, said letter being in the form of a final - report and recommendations in regard to the applica- VINE BROOK tion and set of plans submitted to the Board of REALTY TRUST Appeals. (See addendum.) With reference to the Planning Board's min- utes of February 6, 1.961, Mr.Snow called to the EMERSON ROAD - Board's attention his letter of February 17 to the ELDRED STREET Town Counsel in regard to the preparation of an - option instrument for easements to provide for the SOULE future location of Emerson Road across Eldred Street and land of Richard H. Soule. (See addendum.) The notices of petitions to be heard by the Board of Appeals on March 14., 1961 were considered. BOARD OF It was decided to take no action on the petitions APPEALS to be heard with the exception of that of C.H.McGee. In regard to said petition notes were dictated, Mr. Snow being asked to compose these into a letter for the Planning Board's consideration. Considered next by the Board was the applica- tion of Adam Grigor for tentative approval of a pre- liminary subdivision plan. Mr. Snow gave a report of his recommendations and those of the Superintend- ent of Public Works in regard to said plan. There- upon, upon motion duly made and seconded, it was unanimously VOTED: that the preliminary subdivision plan en- titled "Plan of Proposed Lotting In Lexing- ton, Mass.", dated Jan. 5, 1961, which was submitted to the Board by Adam Grigor on January 30, 19612 accompanied by an applica- tion for tentative approval of preliminary plan, Form B, dated January 30, 19612 be and hereby is tentative approved with the follow- ing modifications : 1. That the permanent GRIGOR PRELIMINARY SUBDIVISION PLAN 2-20-61 turnaround at the end of Roosevelt Road be be relocated northerly Mabee, , 110 feet in diameter and as shown on the copy of the plan on file in the office of the Planning ?oard (a copy of which plan will be forwarded to the appli- cant) ; 2. that a drain must be provided to drain the permanent turnaround, which drain will connect with the catch basins at the end of Roosevelt Road and will extend to the existing drain located northwesterly of the property. Connection of the drain in the turnaround into a State drain line located in adjacent State highway property will be acceptable if the required permis- sion is obtained from the State Department of Public Works. After a general discussion of other matters currently before the Board, it adjourned its meeting at 10:30 p.m. Irving H. Mabee, , Clerk ,. „ ADDFKDUM Mr. John Christoforo Hale and Dorr 60 State Street Boston 9, Massachusetts Dear Mr. Christoforo: 20 February 1961 In reply to your letter of Februar7 8, 1961 this is to advise you that the warrant for the Annual Town Meeting has been printed and is being distributed this week to Lexington's registered voters. Please be advised also that it is the policy of the Lexington Planning Board not to hold a public hearing on its own initiative unless the zoning proposal is one affecting the zoning by-law as a whole or is of town -wide interest. It is suggested, therefore, that if Countryside, Inc. wishes to have a hearing held on an amendment to the by-law as proposed, the corporation file with the Town Clerk a petition in proper form signed by not less than 100 registered voters of the Town. 2-20-61 ' In regard to the specific rezoning proposal itself, the Planning Board is deeply concerned about the lack of adequate vehicular parking, serious traffic and other problems in local business districts not only located at the intersection of Woburn and Lowell Streets but in other areas of the town as well. During the past summer and fall the Planning Board has been re-examining the situation in regard to business districts in general. At the conclusion of this study there was drafted a general policy statement which the Planning Board adopted formally at its meeting on December 5, 1960. This statement is set forth below for your information. 1. That the Board will not recommend any additional zoning of land to encourage any project which in its opinion does not fulfill the intent and purposes of the Zoning By-law. 2. That in the Boards opinion the purpose of a local or neighborhood business district is to provide goods and services with emphasis on daily necessities for the convenience of the surrounding residential area. 3. That the Board will not recommend any further rezoning for general or local business use until such time as ' the vacant land and partially vacant buildings and buildings used for non -business purposes within exist- ing business districts are utilized for business pur- poses. 4. That the Board will not recommend the expansion or creation of any business district located at street intersections. 5. That the Board will not recommend the expansion or creation of local or general business districts until these are incorporated in the Zoning By-law adequate controls. -5- Should you wish to do so, the Board will be glad to dis- cuss your problem and this policy statement with you and representatives of Countryside, Inc. It is suggested, however, that this be done sometime after the town meeting in March when the Board will not be so pressed with im- mediate problems in connection with said meeting. Very truly yours, LEXINGTON PLANNING BOARD /s/ Thomas S. Grindle ' Vice Chairman 2-20-61 -6- 21 February 1961 Board of Appeals Town Office Building Re: Vine Brook Realty Trust Lexington 73, Mass. Waltham Street garden apartment development Gentlemen: Reference is made to your February 2, 1961 letter and its accompanying application and set of plans from the Vine Brook Realtv Trust with respect to the proposed garden apartment development on Waltham Street. In reply to said letter the Planning Board herewith submits its final report and recommendations in accordance with Sec. 5.(g)5. of the Zoning By-law. Since the submission of the above set of plans to the Planning Board it has discussed these plans with the Town Counsel and had some of the plans referred to the Building Inspector and the Superintendent of Public Works. The plans were then discussed with the architect who has added supplementary data to Drawing 1, prepared an additional plan entitled "Building Location Plan" and marked "Drawing 2", given all other sheets in the set a number and all sheets the same date. The architect then furnished the Planning Board two sets of revised plans. One -set has been kept by the Planning Board and the other set is transmitted with this letter. The old set of , plans accompanying your letter of February 6 to the Planning Board was returned to the architect. The Planning Board recommends that the Board of Appeals take favorable action on this revised set of plans, dated Feb. 20, 1961 and consisting of Drawing 1, 2, A-1,. A-2, A-3• A -4s B-1, B-21 B-32 B-4, B-51 D-11 D-2, D-3� E-1, E-2 and F-3. Sincerely yours, LEXINGTON PLANNING BOARD Isl Thomas S. Grindle Vice Chairman February 171 1961 Mr. Harold F. Stevens 84 State Street Boston 9, Mass. Re: Street Option for Emerson Road Dear Harold: Reference is made to Mr. May's letter to me dated January 31, 1961, a copy of said letter having been sent to you. 2-20-61 -7- Mr. Soule of the Planning Board mentioned to me again last night the matter of granting to the Town the easements for public travel and other purposes for which a way is in- tended in the parcel of land between lots 393 and 394, and the easements in lots 3871 393 and 3982 all as shown on the plan entitled "Subdivision of Land Court Case No. 9475 Land in Lexington, Mass., prepared by Miller & Nylan der, and dated July 11, 1960. I understand you have a copy of this print, the original of which has not been recorded. Perhaps you will recall that the Planning Board discussed this matter with you at its meeting on February 6 indicat- ing that it wished to obtain an option for $1 to acquire for $1500 said easements, and other considerations, these being those set forth in the second paragraph of Mr. May's letter noted above. It was the intent of the Planning Board to place an article in the warrant for the Annual Town Meeting to acquire these easements for the future location of 7;Ynerson Road as a substitute for the parcels of land originally intended to be acquired on Woburn Street for the future location of another section of the same road. Through some misunderstanding or lack of communication this was not done. So that these easements can be obtained through town action at the next special town meeting, please communicate with Mr. May at your earliest convenience and arrange for the preparation and execution of an option in- strument. Mr. Soule is very anxious to dispose of his prop- erty as soon as possible but before doing so wishes to in- sure first the acquisition of the named easements by the Town. cc: Norman T. May Richard H. Soule J Sincerely, Isl Samuel P. Snow Planning Director