HomeMy WebLinkAbout1961-11-021
PLATTT?T?rG BOARD HEAPING AND "JET7T-1'G
November 2, 1961
The Lexington Planning Board held a public
hearing on November 2, 1961 at 7:40 n.m. in Fsta-
brook Hall, Cary Memorial Building to consider two
nronosals to amend the Lexington Zoning By-law so as
to add to the Town's C 3 - Special commercial dis-
trict an area of land described in the notice of the
hearing and to nrovide for the construction of under-
ground fall -out or blast shelters within the required
yard areas. Present were Chairman Soule, Vice Chair-
man Trindle, and Mr. Mever, Clerk. Also present were
Planning Director Snow and Mrs. Macomber, Planning
Board secretartT. In addition to the Planning Board
and its staff, 28 persons attended the hearing*.
Mr. Trindle opened the hearing by reading the
introductory portion of the notice of the same as It
was -published In the October 12 and 19, 1061 issues
of the Lexinmton ,,.mute -man. Because there was so
few neonle present at the time of the reading, Mr.
G.rindle recessedd the hearing until more nersons were
in attendance. At 7-50 n.m. Mr. Soule continued the
hearing* by explainin7 the nrocedure in conducting the
same. He t -en stated th:nt unless there were objec-
tions he would forego the reading of the lengthy and
detailed description of the boundaries of the land to
be considered for rezon;nrr as set forth in the first
nronosal. ^here i -.,ere no objections.
On a man exhibited for the nurnose, Tir. Soule
pointed out the location of the narcel bei_nf: consid-
ered as an addi.tion to Dexi_nry-ton's C 3 district, the
narcel being about b-3 acres in area and bounded on
the northeast by I'Tarrett Road (State Poute 2A), on
the north, northwest, and west by land of the Lex-
ington Votor Inn, Inc, and the Boston Fd son Company,
on the south by land of the City of Cambridge (Hobbs
'rook reservoir watershed) and on the east and north-
east by Poute 12R and the Route 2A-12-9 i_nterchan�_re
so-called.. :fir. Soule said that the narcel of land nro-
nosed for rezoning was oT.-rned by Lexin-ton Office Cen-
ter Trust, a subsidiary of Cabot, Cabot & Forbes Co.
of Boston. He then called on ?sir. Daniel G, `�I-eeler,
Vice Pres;_dent of said Company, to discuss the zoning
rronosal.
' Mr. ',,'heeler stated that C. C. €. F, was of the
oninion that the land under consideration should be
PROPOSED
C3
DISTRICT
LF7 TNGTON
OFFICE
C ENT ER
TRUST
11-2-51 -2-
rezoned for the following reasons: (1) The land is defi-
nitely in a section of Lexington suitable for research '
purposes and will be annealing to a research -type of
firm looking for a campus-tyne of operation. The parcel
of land nronosed for rezoning Is located directly on Route
128. (2) The land is located directly at the southerly
entrance to the Bedford Air Base, Lincoln Laboratory and
the Cambridge Pesearch Center so that there can be continual
d.ay to da,r contact with these facilities. (3) The land is
located in the Town of Lexinrrton itself which meets with
the annroval of neonle both as a place to live in and as a
place to wor'c in. (4) The land_ being in Lexington is
virtually at the center of a 70 -town area situated around
greater Boston and devoted to industrial research. (5)
The land is close to needed services such as Howard John-
son's
ohn-
sons and the Lexinc-ton Inn, which are veru convenient
for those executives from out-of-state visiting for a day
or a month at a time.
Mr. '•,'_heeler continued by stating that Melpar, Inc.,
a subsidiary of T>festinghouse Air Drake Comnanv3 desired to
locate on a 9 -acre tract of the 43 -acre parcel under con-
sideration if the rezoning nronosal was acted unon favor-
abl7T by the Town. Fe said that in terms of town planning
he believed that Mel -oar's nronosed electronic research and
development laborator- was a logical tune of plant for the
area with the commercial establishments already in the '
vicinity. He also said that he understood that the 1�'lan-
ning_ Board had made nhblic statements to the effect that
the land was an area to be considered at a future time for
the tyne of zoning to accommodate the nronosed laboratory.
T,1r. `.heeler concluded hi_s statement by sayir_r. that If the
land were rezoned, there would be very little cost to the
Town, that the nronert-- could be divided for two to four
research facilities ha'Tinr about 100,000 square feet of
floor space and would rri Ve the Town 5 to 5-1/4 milli -on
dollars worth of taxable nroperty.
Mr. Robert F. Kingston of L Field Road asked If
Melpar would purchase the 9 -acre lot to which T,ir. ' heeler
referred. Tr. "heeler replied that Melpar would, the re-
maining 3!i acres being made available by C.C. g. F. to other
research facilities.
Mr.Tii_ngston also asked what the mans were for the
relocation of State Route 2A (Marrett Pond) adjacent to
the C.C.e- F. land. Mr. Soule said Route 2A would be wid-
ened at a point where it joined Route 128. Mr. Kingston
then asked if, when the widening took place, there would
be commercial land damac-es as the Town is now burdened
with at the Raytheon site at the junction of Routes 2 and '
128. T`r. Soule, stated that he understood t' -at if the
State took land for the widening of State Poute 2A the
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H? T.1heeler commented that t' --ere was involved in the
land talon^- for -Inute 2A only a small portion of all the
land. be'n� considered for rezonirrr, e said that Cabot,
Cc'oot r: Forbes would not ask for ante cost otl^er than which
would 'i -,e involved for R 1 lane. '?r. "i.n. ston stated that
the --,oi-nt which s:^ould be made was that after tke land was
actua%I * rezoned for C 3 use, it would be sold to ot'rer
parties to whom damages would have to be nasal for takings,
t'^e '''tate thcr(I-T su"ferin�7 s;off r n; a series of damage
costs. Tr. heeler slid that in, the event a talon-^ did
talze place for a. Route 2A relocation or widening; while
C,C.R 7. owred the lane', hi,s cnmoan., in any land sales
' would place the same restriction on dama^es that C.
was lllinr- to assume.
Mr. zraskeil ',r Feed of 72 Lowell Street asked how
much land was in nr .vate ownership located on the westerly_
side of 7oute 128 in the vicinit?* of the Cabot, Cabot E:
Forbes land and was not being considered at this time for
rezoni �;�. _ e said he believed there was some sucl^ land
and planted to know if there were some reason for rot .n-
cludir. 'It i" tT-e reznni�-rr nronosal. T'r. Soule replied.
t;at he. t'�-vn t t" -ere was four or five acres of land
sortherl of the Cabo'-., Ctibot & Forbes nroperty but not
contiguous to it. Tle pointed out on the exhibited map
t' -e loc.^.tion of this nronert,,- and that of the Cit,, of Cam-
brid7e, includirm so-called "Sebei.be Par'_.." which he said
t=e Board would like to 'rave acquired as a town nark.
Several questions were asked about the status of the
so-called nark. tir. ."_dams, member of the Board. of Select-
men, said that the w000'ed hill and surrouncing City of
Cambridc^e reservoir land. had been dedicated to the memory
of 70,'rar F. Scheibe, who formerli- lived on Lincoln Street
in the ,ri c, ni t ,- of the hill named for him.
Mr. Weiant Tathen-Dunn of 4h. Maple. Street said that
there were some residential nronerties on Lincoln Street
next to the Citzr of Cambridge lanr'. T -'e asked if it was
land da -nares world be on the basis of the present R 1
(sin -le -farill-T residential) value of the land.
sirs. Vorev, Chairman of the oard of Selectmen, said
that the parcel of land beim considered for rezoning; rad
on1T- 17q feet of fronta,rne on Route 2A but that with the
relocation of this state road. there would be more frontage
than nresentlir exists. S1 -e said that if the Town rezoned
the land. for C 3 use, tl,e owners of the land shorle not
hold out for C 3 prices for the -oast of the land the State
needs for the relocation but should sell that nart at an
R 1 lane_ price. She also said that if this were not agreed
upon ti -e Town should vote against the rezoni-nf* proposal.
H? T.1heeler commented that t' --ere was involved in the
land talon^- for -Inute 2A only a small portion of all the
land. be'n� considered for rezonirrr, e said that Cabot,
Cc'oot r: Forbes would not ask for ante cost otl^er than which
would 'i -,e involved for R 1 lane. '?r. "i.n. ston stated that
the --,oi-nt which s:^ould be made was that after tke land was
actua%I * rezoned for C 3 use, it would be sold to ot'rer
parties to whom damages would have to be nasal for takings,
t'^e '''tate thcr(I-T su"ferin�7 s;off r n; a series of damage
costs. Tr. heeler slid that in, the event a talon-^ did
talze place for a. Route 2A relocation or widening; while
C,C.R 7. owred the lane', hi,s cnmoan., in any land sales
' would place the same restriction on dama^es that C.
was lllinr- to assume.
Mr. zraskeil ',r Feed of 72 Lowell Street asked how
much land was in nr .vate ownership located on the westerly_
side of 7oute 128 in the vicinit?* of the Cabot, Cabot E:
Forbes land and was not being considered at this time for
rezoni �;�. _ e said he believed there was some sucl^ land
and planted to know if there were some reason for rot .n-
cludir. 'It i" tT-e reznni�-rr nronosal. T'r. Soule replied.
t;at he. t'�-vn t t" -ere was four or five acres of land
sortherl of the Cabo'-., Ctibot & Forbes nroperty but not
contiguous to it. Tle pointed out on the exhibited map
t' -e loc.^.tion of this nronert,,- and that of the Cit,, of Cam-
brid7e, includirm so-called "Sebei.be Par'_.." which he said
t=e Board would like to 'rave acquired as a town nark.
Several questions were asked about the status of the
so-called nark. tir. ."_dams, member of the Board. of Select-
men, said that the w000'ed hill and surrouncing City of
Cambridc^e reservoir land. had been dedicated to the memory
of 70,'rar F. Scheibe, who formerli- lived on Lincoln Street
in the ,ri c, ni t ,- of the hill named for him.
Mr. Weiant Tathen-Dunn of 4h. Maple. Street said that
there were some residential nronerties on Lincoln Street
next to the Citzr of Cambridge lanr'. T -'e asked if it was
the 'Tannin? Board's intention to ma'ntain this area for '
residential use. Mr. Soule renlied in the affirmative.
Mr. Josenh A. Busa of 6L Hancock Street stated that
he owned a rarcel of land in this viclnity, the land hav-
ing no access to it. He wanted to know why he had not been
notified of the rezoning rronosal, and also wanted to
know why his rroperty could not be rezoned along with that
of Cabot, Cabot and Forbes. Mr. Snow stated that from the
list of nronert77 owners which rad been liven the Dlanning
Board by the Board of Assessors, Mr. Busa was not listed as
one of the abuttors of the land considered for rezoning; at
this time. He also said that the land was not contiguous
to the Cabot, Cabot 8,. Forbes land and therefore was not
considered as Hart of the rezoning nronosal. Mr. Adams
commented that the Cabot, Cabot 8 -`Forbes nrorerty was be-
ing rezoned at the reauest of the owner, and that Mr. Busa
could make a similar request.
Donald B. Lindsay of 11_7 t/ood Street stated that he
was always curious about r,exin-toms long-range plans and
how the Town was to core with the problems that arose in
rezoning land for the type of use being discussed. He
said that all the citizens knew from the previous rezoning
of land for C 3 use at Spring Street and 7oute 2 that
plants locating on such land generated much vehicular ,
traffic. He also said r e wanted to know what snecifically
the Town had in mind to cone with the amount of traffic
expected as a result of the nronosed rezoning. In reply
Mr. Soule said that the Planninv, Board did not think there
would be any particular traffic rroblem in the area in-
volved. He said that he believed that the major rortion of
the traffic generated i_r this area would use Route 128.
Mr. Lindsay stated that a minor nortion of the traffic
?enerated by plants locating in the or.oposed zone would
utilize Lexin^7ton streets. He said he would like to have
some estimate as to what the traffic burden would be on
streets such as Marrett Road and Trassachusetts Avenue for
the reason that the Town should take a serious look at
whether or not these streets were adequate to handle the
traffic. In rer17 TM?r. Soule stated that at this time he
had no estimate of the amount of traffic that would be gen-
erated in this area from the nronosed zoning district.
Mr. Wheeler commented. that Cabot, Cabot 8i Forbes
had a rule of thumb which was used in such a case as this.
He stated that a 300,000 sq. ft. building area which was
contemplated in the nronosed district would have annroxi-
mately 1000 emplo7Tees and 1000 automobiles. He said, how-
ever, that it was difficult to project the percentage of '
traffic flow which would utilize various streets. He said
it would depend on the t7 -pe of plant which was located in
' the area and where the riaiorittr of the employees re-
sided. Fe added that there was bound to be some flow
of traffic In through Lexin�*ton, 'IT-nchester, and other
towns but he did not bele,,re this would be more than 15
percent of the total traffic ^generated by the district.
Hr. Wathen-Dunn asked to be shown the proposed
relocation of T'assachusetts ^venue west of Route 12R. Mr.
Soule pointed out this locati^n on the exhibited man.
Hr. Kin7ston said that while he was not onnosed to
the type of zon;nr, district nrorosed he was ornosed to re-
zonin first and then tr7ring to solve the resulting -)rob-
lems. 1Te said th^t such a procedure seemed extremely
foolhardy in the 11=7ht of what was taking -)lace traffic -
wise at the Snr-nfi >treet-route 2 intersection as a result
of Lexi_n-ton rezonin7 land now occu-)Ted by the Raytheon
Comnan,- and of ',Taltham rezoning land on which the Clevite
Cornnr^.ti.on was located. Tie pointed out the 7:reat diffi-
cu.lty in c-,ettinr in and nut of the Lexi.nf-ton Tnn drivewav
on 'Tarrett '?oad (State Poute 2A) and stated that he did
not see how traffic could qet in and out of the rronosed
C 3 district between the Tnn drivewav and the end of the
ramp at the new Route 2A-128 interchange. Mr. Adams com-
mended teat the roi.nt T"r. Kingston referred to was a very
' bad corner but that having seen plans for the relocation
of 'Tassachusetts Avenue he believed that the ledge which
mares the corner bad would be eliminated.
1,1r. Me- of the PlanninT Board said that he would
like to have _i.ncli:ded in the record of the hearing a
letter from the T7at oral Park Service setting forth the
Service's views in regard to the nroposed rezoning of the
Cabot, Cabot E- Fori-es land. (See minutes of ^lanning
Board meeting of September 11, 1961.)
There being no further questions or comments, the
first part of the hearing was closed at 8:40 r.m.
Mr. Soule then opened the second -)art of the hear-
in,- by read,-nr� the -)ro-)osal as set forth in the notice
PROPOSED
referred to above. ue said that the purpose of the rro-
Z01177G
-)osal was to nermit the building of fall -out shelters
AP17TWERT
closer to lot lines tran is nresentl7- allowed under
-
Lexi.ngtonts zoning b7-1.aw.
FALL -07T
SFTELTL" s
Mr. T,reiant `lathen-Dunn of Ith Marle Street asked
who i_s to decide what the suitable size of an intake
nine should re. 71'r. Soule re -died that he believed this
wo-ld be determined by the local director of Civil De-
fense in annrovng the over-all design of a shelter.
TTr, ronald B. Lindsay of L_7 Wood Street asked if
11-2-61 -6-
there were an- ,*thin? about emergencir shelter that makes '
this nronosal justifiable. Mr. '?atr.en-Dunn queried,
"Suppose a groun of citizens ask permi=ssion to build_
any kind of underground shelter, would there be any
reason for not allowinrr, it to be built ,f it fitted the
descrintion in the notice?" Commenting_ on these questions
Mr. Soule said that he understood the Civil Defense
authorities dial not want tre Town to be. In a position
where it would deny anRone the r.i_ght to protect tbem-
selves by not being able to build a shelter because it
would be located too close to a lot line. For this
.reason, he said, tre question of amendi=ng the zoning
by-law is being nut before the Town ''Ieeti.nl* for a vote.
Mr. ','athen-Dunn asked if there were ani- reason
why the construction of a shelter could not be taken
care of by the Board, of Anneals. Mrs. Yore7, Chairman
of the Board of Selectmen, renlied that there mtrht be
hundreds of neonle who want to build shelters where they
could not meet the zoning by-law requirements and teat
the question is whether this problem should be controlled
by the Board of Anneals or taken care of by a change in
the zoning by -la*,• . She commenter: that there 'nave been a
number of netitions for variances before the Board of
Appeals during the last few weeks and t'-iat the Board
would be verz7 burdened in its work if there were a mass '
movement for shelters.
Mr. "Tatben-Dunn also asked what would prevent any-
one at a later date from stating that he had_ a foundation
and wi=shed to build on it. 'Mr. Soule said that he be-
lieved that a request for a buildi.ng nermit would neces-
sarily come before the Board of Anneals, the person re-
questing the permit ha?Tint~ to show good reason why a
building should be located on ton of a fall -out shelter.
Mr. Jac?z L. 1141tchell of 1�, Peachtree Toad com-
mented that under the nronosed zoning by-law amendment
he could build a fall -out shelter on his lot anvwhere
he pleased even though he minrt have room to locate it
within the nresent restricti=ons of the zoning by-law.
There being no further questions or comments Mr.
Souls declared the hearing closed at 8:"7'0 p.m. The
Board then adjourned to the Town Office Building to hold
a meeting;.
At 9:00 p.m. the 3oard began a snec_al meeting in ,
its office, the purpose of the meeting to prepare a re-
port on the application of rdward T. Martin, Trustee,
11-2-.'-,1 -7-
' for a cetera nation thatthe 'knerson =ardens garden
apartment builc'inMs an,,use, i_ncludl n_M the site, EMTa'PSON
clans, .unci, bul lc., r- des7_7n constitute a desirable rIAPDIFIIS
ceve'_opment. in and will not be detrimental to tP e A 1
nei,71-borhoo6. (See minutes of Tlanninfr Board meet- DTSTnTCT
ins° of October '�O, 1 '61. ) There was exhibited a copy
of a, letter to the Toard of nnneols from "r. Tfartin,
t'_^e letter beim dated "November 1, 1061 and constitu-
tinra a wit),drawal.. Wt'nout prejudice, of said. applica-
tion. (See addendum.) The 71annin7 Board took no
action in rer-ar.d to the matter nendinrr, completion of
a review of the site plans b<. the Plannin<° Director
and the "urerintenfent of Public ',Jor'_:s and also com-
nleti_on of wor1c in regard to the 7merson Gardens Sec-
tion One definitive subdivision nlan by the above
named persons, the Town Counsel and the engineer who
prepared the original subdivision elan.
The Board considered next the DreDaration of
reports which It was reau'red to file at the special
town meeti_nr, to be 'Geld or "Tonday, ATovember 6.
The meeting was adjourned at 9:20 p.m.
bent E. Meyer, Cle k
ADPTIMUM
November 1,1961
Board of Pnneals
Town of Lexington
Lexlnr ton 7?, I°?assachusetts
Gentlemen:
7eference Is made to my letter to 1'rou, dated October 1L.,1961,
constitutin7 an annlication for a Determination pursuant to
Section 5 (r*) of the '7oninF By -Law of the Town of Lexinrrton,
that the nronosed. Garden Anartment buildings (to be known as
rmerson Gardens Anartments) and use, includin? the site plans
and bui_ldi.n^ desi7ns, as set forth on the plans enclosed
indicate, constitute a desirable development in and will not
be detrimental to the neighborhood.
Because of certain technicalities in interpretations of the
elan, it does not annear that the r lanning Board will have
enough time to make considered evaluation of the rronosal
before expiration of the period of time allowed by law.
11-2-61
This letter, therefore, constitutes a withdrawal, without
prejudice, of the aforesaid ap-olication for Determination.
The annlication will be resubmitted just as soon as the
technical differences are eliminated.
A conv of this letter has been sent directly to the office
of the Planning Board, attenti.on of Nr. Snow.
If the foregoing does not r^eet with -your understandin,* and
annroval, I world appreciate your getting in touch. with me.
Very truly 7 ours,
Isl Rdward T. Martin
F TM/sh
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