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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1961-09-05PLANNING BOARD MEETING September 51 1961 A regular meeting of the Lexington Planning Board was held in the office of the Board, Town Office Building, on Tuesdays September 51 19612 at 7:35 p.m. Present were Chairman Soule, members Bryson, Grindle, Mabee and Meyers and Planning Director Snow. The Board approved the minutes of its August 21s 1961 meeting. Approved also by the Board was the payment of the following bills: Century Paper Co.s Inc., drafting supplies --$4.85; Minute -man Publications, Inc., advertising -.$4.90; Graphic Reproductions, Inc., white prints -6.17; Samuel P. Snow, car allow- ance for Augusts 1961--$20.00; H. B. McArdle, office supplies --13.20. **See page 9. Notices for hearings to be held by the Histor- ic Districts Commission on September 7, 1961 were considered. It was decided to take no action in re- gard to the applications to be heard. Considered also were notices of petitions to be heard by the Board of Appeals on September 5 and 19, 1961. It was decided to take no action in re- gard to said petitions. A letter of September 5, 1961 to the Plan- ning Board from Mr. Adam Grigor was reads said letter requesting that there be extended to and in- cluding September 11, 1961 the time within which the Board must take final action on his application for approval of the Marrett Gardens, Sec. 2 defini- tive subdivision plan in order to give him addition- al time to complete bonding arrangements with the Town Counsel. Upon motion duly made, and seconded, it was unanimously VOTED: that pursuant to the written request of the applicant the time of approval of the defini- tive subdivision plan entitled Marrett Gardens, Section Two Lexingtons Mass."s dated May 12, 1961, be and hereby is extended to and including September 11s 1961. ' At 8:05 p.m. the Board held a public hearing relative to the application for arproval of a sub - BILLS HISTORIC DISTRICT COMMISSION BOARD OF APPEALS MARRETT GARDENS SM. 2 GRIGOR -5-61 division of the property of Emerson Gardens Realty EMERSON Corporation to be known as "Emerson Gardens Section ' GARDENS One Lexington, Mass.", situated southeasterly of SEC. 1 Maple Street and bounded in part by said street, land now or formerly of the Town of Arlington, Lex - EMERSON ington Development Company, Lex -wood Poultry Farms, GARNERS Inc., and Paul R. and Gertrude Welch. Six persons REALTY attended the hearing including Mr. Edward T. Martin, CORP. attorney for said corporation. The Chairman opened the hearing by reading a notice of the same as it had been sent to all abut- ting property owners and as it had been published in the August 17, 1961 issue of the Lexington Minute- man. He then explained the procedure to be followed in conducting the hearing and called upon Mr. Martin to present the plan. Mr. Martin said that for the sake of brevity he would only point out the main elements of the plan, then answer any questions members of the Plan- ning Board might have.. He noted that the plan con- sisted of a section of Emerson Road which was con- nected to -the Lowell Estates subdivision with a short section of Bryant Road as previously requested by the Planning Board. (See minutes of February 27, 1961 ' Planning Board meeting.) He also noted that there was an A 1 district on the westerly side of 1herson Road and 9 lots on the easterly side of said road between Maple Street and Bryant Road. Mr. Meyer inquired about Bryant Road,'side lines being shown on the plan as dash lines. It was pointed out that said side lines should be shown as solid continuous lines and would be corrected. There being no further questions or comments, the chairman asked those attending the hearing for an indication of whether or not they were in favor of approval of the plan. Five indicated they were in favor of the plan being approved; no one indicated opposition to approval. Thereupon, the chairman de- clared the hearing closed at 8;10 p.m, stating that the plan would be taken under advisement. Mr. Snow called attention to a letter of LOWELL August 14, 1961 to the Planning Board from Mr.Carroll, ESTATES Supt. of.Public Yorks, setting forth evidence of satisfactory performance of a portion of the work WESTCHESTER to be completed in the Lowell Estates subdivision. ESTATES, (See addendum.) Mr. Snow reported that after fol- , INC. lowing the procedure outlines by the Town Counsel he had prepared for the Board's consideration votes for At 8:30 p.m. the Board held a public hear- ing relative to the application of The Whiter & THE GROVE, The Greener Trust for aonroval of a definitive SEC. 1 subdivision plan entitled "The Grove Section One Lexington, Mass.", said subdivision to be located METTER & on the former McDevitt farm situated between Bur- GREENER lington Street, Grove Street, and the northern TRUST circumferential nignway (Route 128). Approxi- mately 36 persons attended the hearing. After discussing the procedure to be fol- lowed in conducting the hearings the chairman read the notice of the hearing as it had been mailed to each abutting property owner as shown ' on the subdivision plan and as the notice had been published in the August 17, 1961 issue of the Lexington Minute -man. He then called upon 9-5-61 -3- releasing certified checks held as security for com- pletion of certain work in a subdivision. All matters appearing to be in order, upon motior being duly made and seconded, it was unanimously VOTED: to return to Westchester Estates Inc. its check for 13250.00 that secured the perform- ance by said corporation of its agreement with the Town, dated July 25, 1 960, to com- plete the installation and construction of the ways and services to serve lots numbered 1, 2s 5s 6s 15, 34. 43s 441 45, 46, 46s 48s 4.9, 50, 51 and 52 in the subdivision en- titled "Lowell Estates Lexington, Mass.", dated December 90 1958• VOTED: to return to Westchester Estates, Inc. its check for $2600.00 that secured the perform- ance by said corporation of its agreement with the Towns dated April 3s 1961, to com- plete the installation and construction of the ways and services to serve lots numbered 7, 16 and 31 in the subdivision entitled "Lowell Estates Lexington, Mass.", dated December 91 1958. Mr. Snow also called to the Board's atten- tion a memorandum, dated August 25s 1961 and ad- REFUSE dressed to him, from the Supt. of Public Works DISPOSAL and Mr. Snow's letter of reply of September 5 in AREA regard to access to the new refuse disposal area ACCESS southeasterly of Hartwell Avenue and southwesterly of the Boston x, Maine Railroad tracks. (See adden- dum.) At 8:30 p.m. the Board held a public hear- ing relative to the application of The Whiter & THE GROVE, The Greener Trust for aonroval of a definitive SEC. 1 subdivision plan entitled "The Grove Section One Lexington, Mass.", said subdivision to be located METTER & on the former McDevitt farm situated between Bur- GREENER lington Street, Grove Street, and the northern TRUST circumferential nignway (Route 128). Approxi- mately 36 persons attended the hearing. After discussing the procedure to be fol- lowed in conducting the hearings the chairman read the notice of the hearing as it had been mailed to each abutting property owner as shown ' on the subdivision plan and as the notice had been published in the August 17, 1961 issue of the Lexington Minute -man. He then called upon 9-5-61 Mr. Stephen T. Russian, attorney for the appli- oant, to present and discuss said plan. Mr. Russian pointed out that the proposed sub- division consisted of 27 lots fronting on four roads, all at present unnamed. He stated that the first would begin at Grove Street and be oriented in a northeasterly and then northerly direction. He noted that the second road consisted of a short cul-de-sac located northerly of lots 11 and 12 as shown on the plan. Mr. Russian also noted that the third proposed street um uld begin at Burlington Street and would be oriented in a northerly direction. He then pointed out that the first and third streets would connect to a proposed section of anintra-town road, namely, Enerson Road, Mr. Russian concluded his presentation by stating that the over-all plan followed one pre- viously studied by the Planning Board. Numerous and oftentimes similar questions were asked by those attending the hearing. Typical ques- tions and replies ars-­summarized as follows: Mr. Walter G. Hatch of 33 Grove Street and Mr. James M. gest of 135 Simonds Road asked about sewers in the subdivision. They were told that ' there would be a sewer in each street and that the proposed town trunk line sewer would be located in part in Emerson Road. Mr.Benjamin Keith of 138 Burlington Street asked about the trunk sewer loca- tion in relationship to Burlington Street. The Board having only general knowledge of this matter referred him to the Lexington Superintendent of Public Works. Mr. Earl M. Cleaves of 19 Grove Street spoke about a drainage problem caused by surface runoff onto his lot from a culvert under Grove Street creat- ing a continual wet spot located in the southeasterly corner of said lot. He wished to know if the grading of the road adjacent to his lot would increase the drainage problem on the lot and if drains in the pro- posed road would eliminate said wet spot. Tt was stated that this matter would be called to the atten- tion of the Supt. of Public Works when the subdivision plan was referred to him for approval. Mr. Arthur A. Therrian of 22 Grove Street asked what could be done to take care of surface runoff which flowed through his property from Kineen Park to Mr. Cleaves' clot. Mr. Donald G. Winters of 10 Grove Street wanted to be assured ' that there would not be more surface water accumu- lating in his front lard each spring. Both indi- a-5-61 -5- vidttals were told that the drainage problems they discussed should be referred to the Supt. of Public Works since Grove Street was a public way and out- side the proposed subdivision. Mr. Charles A. Butte and Mrs. Richard S. Beal of 116 and 130 Burlington Street respectively# wished to know about the extension points of Peter- son Road and its nroposed location. The chairman stated that Fbierson Road would extend from Grove Street over the proposed location shown on the sub- division plan to Hawthorne Road and then to Adams Street, connecting to the Oxisting section of Ener - soft Road between Adams and East Streets and from there continuing across Woburn and Maple Streets and Massachusetts Avenue. Mr. Merrill F. Norlin of 118 Burlington Street called attention to hazardous conditions existing on Burlington Street, particularly during the winter months, and what he considered would be an increase in hazards created by the intersection of a proposed subdivision street and a curved sec- tion of Burlington Street. ' A number of objections were made to the name of the subdivision, the architecture of the rest- dences the subdivider had already constructed at the corner of Grove and Burlington Streets# to the lack of landscape planting around some residences, and to the removal of trees now screening Route 128 from Burlington street. To the remarks made in re- gard to these matters, it was pointed out that the only jurisdiction the Planning Board had over a proposed subdivision was the location and design of the streets within the subdivision. Mr. Robert H. Moulton of 146 Burlington Street asked about possible access to his landfrom Emerson Road. It was suggested that he discuss this matter with the subdivider. Mr. Leonard M. Lansky of 112 Burlington Street Lhquired about the length of time it would take to complete the work in the subdivision. Mr. Viite of the Trust estimated that the development would take two and one-half or three years to complete. At the close of the hearing the chairman asked those present for an expression of opinion in regard to approving the plan as presented. Six per- sons indicated they were in favor of approving said Q-5-61 Ir:l plan; twenty-five persons indicated they were opposed ' to approval. Thereupon, the chairman closed the hear- ing at 9:30 p.m. stating that the plan would be taken under advisement. The Board considered next the application of BURNS ROAD George Derderian for tentative approval of a prelimi- EXTENSION nary subdivision lan consisting of an extension of Burns Road. Mr. now reported that he had referred DERDERIAN the plan to Mr. Carroll, Lexington's Supt. of Public Works, for an opinion. Mr. Snow then read a letter, dated August 23, 1961, which he had received from Mr. Carroll. Upon consideration of Mr. Carroll's letters it was moved, seconded, and unanimously VOTED: that the preliminary subdivision plan entitled "Preliminary Plan of Subdivision Burns Road Extension Lexington, Massachusetts," dated August 3s 1961s submitted on August 18, 1961 to the Board by George Derderian, be and here- by is disapproved for the following reasons: (a) No water main is shown on the plan. (A water main must be connected to the existing main in Marlboro Road.) (b) The drainage system is inadequate. (The system shown on the plan must be extended back to station 1+32.11 in order to adequately drain the street. The Superintendent of Public Works can find no brook sufficient to carry the run- off from the street at the point where the drain outlet is shown on the plan.) (c) No existing or proposed profile is shown for the turnaround. (The profile of the exist- ing ground should be continued beyond station 4+70 to a point at least 200 feet beyond the temporary turnaround as shown on the plan. The proposed grade of the turnaround should also be shown.) (d) No cross sections of the road and adjacent land and necessary slope easements are shown on the plan. (It will be necessary to indicate on the plan slope easements which will be needed on all the lots because of the fact that the cuts and fills to construct the road are extremely severe. Unless the Town is granted these slope easements prior to construction of I the road, it is possible that a lot could be sold by the developer to a person who might 9-5-61 .7 - prevent the developer from constructing a '. slope adequate to protect the road. Mr. Snow exhibited two plans which he had Rrepared for the Board, the plans being entitled GREEN VALLEY Study of Layout for Green Valley, Section 7 Sub- SEC. 7 division - Scheme One," and "Studs of Layout for - Green Valley, Section 7 Subdivision - Scheme Two," BUSA both plans dated August 31, 1961. (See minutes of August 21, 1061 Planning Board meeting.) Mr. Snow reported that he had given a print of each plan to Air. Antonio Busa. Scheme One showed a subdivision of Mr. Busats land into eight lots fronting on an exten- sion -of Circle Road in the form of a compound curve connecting to Lillian Road. Scheme Two showed a subdivision of the same land into nine lots fronting_ on two streets, one beginning at Lillian Road and oriented in a northerly direction to the Town of Arlington land and planned to con- nect ultimately to the proposed location of Emerson Road; the second being an extension of Circle Road to connect with the first street. ' Mr. Snow said that after studying the prob- lem of a connection between Lillian Road and the proposed location of Emerson Road, he believed that the best location for such a connection would be the extension of Anthony Road in a northerly direc- tion to the Christian High School land and thence to Bartlett Avenue. He said he had so informed Mr. Busa when he discussed the studies with him. Mr. Snow suggested discussing his proposal with Mr. Leeland McConchie, one of the sponsors of said High School. The.Board asked Mr. Snow to do this. Considered next was the following Form a application for determination of Planning Board FORM A jurisdiction: x`61-44, submitted August 22, 1961 by E. Lester Goodrich, Schofield Brothers, Agt.; plan entitled "Plan of Land in Lexington, Mass.", Scale: l" = 50', dated August 14.9 1961, Schofield Brothers, Reg. Land Sur- veyors. In viewing the plan accompanying said application it was noted that the subdivision of ' Lot 1 on Land Court Plan #23315A into Lots 5 and 6.1eft Lot 6 with no frontage. Thereupon it was 9-5-61 -8- moved, seconded and unanimously ' VOTED: that the Lexington Planning Board determines that the plan accompanying Form A applica- tion #61-44 does require approval under the Subdivision Control Law. Considered next was the application of Reginald CARRIAGE A. mood for approval of the Carriage Grove Estates GROVE definitive plan. Mr. Snow gave a report of his confer - ESTATES ence with Mr. Carroll., Supt. of Public Works, with ref - WOOD erence to the plan and exhibited a marked set of prints of the plan.showing the corrections which Mr. Carroll ' felt were needed before he could approve the plan. Other matters In regard to the plan were also discussed Read to the.Board was a letter, dated August COUNTRYSIDE 31, 1961, from the Town Clerk transmitting a certi- fied petition requesting the Planning Board to hold REZONING a public hearing on a proposed amendment to Section PROPOSAL 4 (e) 22 of the Lexington Zoning B)r-law. The amend- ment would add an additional parcel of land to the so-called Countryside local business district. Mr. Snow was asked to prepare for the Board a recommend- ation setting forth the area deemed to be affected by the proposed amendment and the fee to be charged for holding such a hearing. Mr. Snow called to the Board's attention Mr. BUCKMAN Harry G. Berglund's written appraisal of August 244 DRIVE 1961 of lots 11 and 12 on Moreland Avenue, said lots - being the ones it was desired to purchase from Mr. LUONGO Pasquale Luongo for the purpose of extending Buck- man Drive. Mr. Grindle was asked to discuss the ' matter of acquisition of these lots with Mr. Luongo. There was discussed next the matter of acquir- ing the Hennessy land at the end of Robinson Road for LAND FOR an addition to town land to be used for public recrea- RECREATION tional purposes. Mr. Snow reported that Mr. Berglund PURPOSES had appraised the 10 -acre parcel of Hennessy land as - having a fair market value of $1500 per acre and the HENNESSY stable on said land as having a value of $1200 if it had to be moved and $3000 if it didn't. Mr. Snow said that this appraisal took into consideration such fac- tors as the cost of moving the stable because of its particular construction and the usability of the strue- tura after moving because of its narrow :width. The Board then considered an offer to be made to Mrs. Hennessy and dictated notes which Mr. Snow was asked to prepare in the form of a proposal for the Board's fur- ther consideration. Considered next was the application of Reginald CARRIAGE A. mood for approval of the Carriage Grove Estates GROVE definitive plan. Mr. Snow gave a report of his confer - ESTATES ence with Mr. Carroll., Supt. of Public Works, with ref - WOOD erence to the plan and exhibited a marked set of prints of the plan.showing the corrections which Mr. Carroll ' felt were needed before he could approve the plan. Other matters In regard to the plan were also discussed Ll u C 9-5-61 after which it was moved, seconded, and unanimously VOTED: that the definitive subdivision plan entitled "Carriage Grove Estates, Lexington, Mass.", dated April 15, 1961s which was submitted to the Board by Reginald A. Wood on June 30, 1961, accompanied by an application for approval of definitive plan, Form C, dated June 30, 19611 be and hereby is disapproved for the following reasons: a) Carriage Drive does not conform to the study plan adopted by the Planning Board; b) No leveling area is provided on Carriage Drive at the intersection of Grove Street; c) The centerline of Coach Road is not a pro- jection of the centerline of Rangeway; d) Part of lot 13 is laid out in the form of a reserve strip; e) An existing house and drain easement are not shown on the plan; f) The definitive plan has not been submitted to the Board of Health for approval. The remainder of the meeting was devoted to a discussion of a rezoning proposal for the M 1 - C 3 dis- tricts in Lexington. Tt was decided to meet informally on Saturday morning next to consider and complete a draft of all the Board's rezoning proposals. Thereupon the meeting adjourned at 11:00 p.m. ** The Board also confirmed the action by the Planning Director in approving for payment since the previous meeting of the Board the following bills: A.S.P.0., Information Reports --$20.75; Charles' Store, rubber stamp..$2.50; Wesley J. Ewell, drafting services and reimbursement for use of automobile for period ending August 23, 1961-4100.75; Lawrence Hdwe. Co., glue --1. 2. Ro ert E. Meyer, Clerk 9-5-61 Planning Board Lexington 73, Massachusetts Gentlemen: -10- August l4, 1961 Reference is made to the request to me by the Lexington Development Corporation for evidence of satisfactory performance for the section of Lowell Estates (plan dated December 9, 1958 entitled "Lowell Estates, Lexington, Mass.tt, Fred A. Joyce, Surveyor, recorded in Middlesex South Registry of Deeds as plan No. 533 of 1959s Book 9358s Page 204) described as follows: Bryant Road: From station 0 - 155 to 17+61.02 and including lots #3, 4, 35, 14, 36, 26, 37, 25, 38, 39, 24, 23, 311 32, 33, 40, 411 42, 52, and parcels A, B and F. Page Road From station 0+0 to 8+94.72 and including lots #43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48s 49, Sas 51.. Sanderson Road: From station 10+23.26 to 21+R7.36 and including lots #1, 2, 5, 6, 7, l6, 15, 34. Please be advised that the required work in the part of the subdivision referred to above has been completed to my satisfaction. However, in stating that the work in part of the sub- division has been completed to my satisfaction, I reserve the right to require the Lexington Development Corporation at any time, prior to the completion of the entire Lowell Estates subdivision, to repair any defects which might arise in the section referred to above. This letter supersedes all previous letters written by the Supt, of Public Works pertainl.ng to the completion of work in this subdivision. Very truly yours, /s/ John J. Carroll Supt. of Public Works & Town Engineer cc: Lea. Development Corp. 1 9-5-61 5 September 1c)61Mr. John J. Carroll, Jr. Superintendent of Public Works Town Office Building Lexington 73, Massachusetts Dear John: Reference is made to your memorandum of August 25 to me and your letter of July 251, 1961 to the Board of Select- men in regard to access to the new refuse disposal areas. Preliminary studies of the land southeasterly of Hart- well Avenue and southwesterly of the Boston and Maine Railroad right of way would be the projection of the cen- terline of Maguire Road for a distance of 1600 feet. If this recommended location crosses over the culvert under the Tennessee Gas Transmission Company pipe line as indi- cated on the sketch accompanying your letter to the Selectmen, it is suggested that the culvert be extended the necessary distance under the fill for the proposed road into the refuse disposal area. It is suggested also that the brook be relocated parallel to the B & M right of way and the T G T easement so as to make as much land available as possible for a future in- dustrial site at this location. In making this last sug- gestion it is assumed that the velocity of the brook at all times is as slow as observed this year so that there would be no erosion at the sharp turns indicated on the attached sketch. Sincerelv, /s/ Samuel P.Snow Planning Director Enc . cc: Board of Selectmen I I 1 1 PLA_1T7TNG BOApD MrT7TT?G Sentember 9, 1951 From 10:00 a.m, to 12:30 p.m, on Saturdav, Sep- tember 9, 1961, the Lexington Planning Board held an Informal meeting in its office in the Town Office Building. Present were Chairman Soule, members Bryson, Grindle, Mabee and Mever. The nurnose of the meeting was to consider further the Board's oronosals for amend- ing the Lexington Zoninn By-law with particular refer- ence to LexinFton's C 3 and M 1 districts. Tn addition to the abofe matter, Mr. Grindle re- norted that he had visited Mr. Pasquale, Luongo of Pleas- ant Street and discussed with him the -possible acquisi- tion of lots 11 and 12 on Moreland Avenue for the pur- pose of extending Buckman Drive over the Town's water easement located In said lots. Mr. Grindle stated that Mr. Luono was of the opinion th-t lots 11 and 12 were worth X11500 each but that he did not wish to sell them at this time. Mr.Grindle said he believed, after talk- ing with ?sir. Luongo, that if the Town wished to acquire said lots t world have to do so by eminent domain. 4robert F. Fle-yer Clerk BUCKMAN DRIVE EXTENSION LUONGO