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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1962-04-23' PLANNING BOARD MEETING April 23, 1962 The Lexington Planning Board held a regular meeting in its office, Town Office Building, on Monday, April 23, 1962 at 7:35 p.m. Present were Chairman Grindle, members Bryson, Campbell and Mabee, and Planning Director Snow. The Board approved the minutes of its Meet- ing of April 16, 1962. The Board also approved for payment a bill of $20 for car allowance for Mr. Snow for the month of April, 1962. Considered next was the following Form A application for determination of Planning Board jurisdiction: #62-23, submitted April 18, 1962 by John C. Collins for Marie C. Stone; plan en- titled "Plan of Land in Lexington, Mass.", Scale: 1 inch = 30 feet, dated February 1962, Rowland H. Barnes & Co., C.E.'s & Surveyors. Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was unanimously VOTED: that the Lexington Planning Board determines that the plan accompanying Form A applica- tion #62-23 does not require approval under the Subdivision Control Law, and that said plan be so endorsed. Read was a letter of April 18 addressed to the Planning Board from the Board of Selectmen in regard to arrangements for locating underground electric and telephone lines in the Bowser Estates subdivision. It was noted that the Selectmen sug- gested that the Planning Board consider amending Its subdivision regulations to include a provision wherein the Town of Lexington will assume the an- nual cost for the operation and installation for underground connected concrete lighting facilities If a subdivider is willing to pay the cost for all the work required by utility companies for said installation. MINUTES BILL FORM A SUBDIVISION REGUU TIONS ELECTRIC ATID TELEPHONE LINES 4-23-62 Mr. Snow's memorandum of April 20 to the ' FOOT WAY Lexington Planning Board was considered. It was decided to follow the recommendation in said HENNESSY LAND memorandum that the matter of a foot wag from DeMar Road to the Hennessy land and thence to the Fsta- DEMAR ROAD brook School be referred to the residents in the area asking them for suggestions as to a location for said way. Mr. Bryson was asked to discuss this matter with those residents on DeMar Road who had asked that the Planning Board look into the possi- bility of locating a site for the foot way. Mr. Bryson was given a number of prints of a plan show- ing the relationship between said road and school ane related properties involved for distribution to those residents wr.o were Interested in the problem. After reading the notice as it had been sent to all those property owners abutting the proposed subdivision and as had been advertised in the April 5, 1962 issue of the Lexington Minute -man, the Chairman explained the procedure in conducting a hearing. He then called upon Mr. James A. Carrig to present the plan. Mr. Jamey A. Carrig said the Trust land con- sisted of about 50 acres and was divided into 76 lots as shown on the plan. In response to several re- quests he indicated the locations of abutting roads and properties. One Derson asked where Worthen Road and More- land Avenue were to be located in relationship to the subdivision. Mr. Robert W. Carrig said he had no knowledge of future plans for Moreland Avenue but understood ?,Torthen Road was to be located westerly of the Minute Man High -Lands subdivision. At 8:00 p.m. the Board held a public hearing MINUTE MAN on the application of Girrac Realty Trust for HIGH -LANDS approval of a subdivision of its broperty entitled SEC. 4 "Minute Man High -Lands Section Four Lexington, Mass.", - said subdivision being bounded in general by the land GIRRAC takings of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts for the REALTY TRUST widening of Route 2 and the relocation of Pleasant - Street, lots of the Moon Hill area, and those front- CARRIG ing on the paper streets of Moreland and Hanson Avenues. Fifteen people were present at the hearing, ' including Mr. Wilbur C. Nylander, civil engineer who prepared the subdivision plan, and Messrs. James A. and F.obert W. Carrig of Cambri.d_ge representing the subdivider. After reading the notice as it had been sent to all those property owners abutting the proposed subdivision and as had been advertised in the April 5, 1962 issue of the Lexington Minute -man, the Chairman explained the procedure in conducting a hearing. He then called upon Mr. James A. Carrig to present the plan. Mr. Jamey A. Carrig said the Trust land con- sisted of about 50 acres and was divided into 76 lots as shown on the plan. In response to several re- quests he indicated the locations of abutting roads and properties. One Derson asked where Worthen Road and More- land Avenue were to be located in relationship to the subdivision. Mr. Robert W. Carrig said he had no knowledge of future plans for Moreland Avenue but understood ?,Torthen Road was to be located westerly of the Minute Man High -Lands subdivision. 4-23-62 ' Mr. Carl P. Good. of 37 Wellington Lane asked if the subdivision was to be connected to Hanson Avenue. Mr. James A. Carrig said it was not planned to do so. Mr. Richard S. Morehouse of 37 Moon Hill Road asked when the subdi_vi.sion was to be developed. Mr. Robert W. Carrig said he was not sure when It would b e. Mr. Morehouse also asked how it was pr.onosed to develop the swampy area adjacent to his property. Pointing to the nlan Mr. Robert W. Carrig said that It was proposed to locate a road through said swampy area, a drain in the road connecting to a system dis- charging into Clematis Brook. There being no further questions or comments the Chairman declared the hearing; closed at 8:15 p.m. A letter, dated April 20, 1962, from Walter S. Pierce to the Chairman of the Planning Board was read, said letter summarizing the presentation which Mr. Pierce had made to the Board at its meeting on April 16. (See addendum.) ABBOTT EP?GIN=ING INC. EMERSON AND WORTHEN ROADS In connection with the Minute Man High -Lands Sec. 4 subdivision plan, Mr. Snow presented sketches showing how Worthen Foad might be located througH said subdivi- sion, and how it might be connected to a proposed road which the State Dent. of Public Works was planning to construct from Wellington Lane Avenue to Waltham Street. (See minutes of Planning; Board meeting of April 16, 1961.) Mr.Carroll met with the Board briefly and en- tered into the discussion of said studies. It was de- cided that he and. Mr..Snow would work together on a final study to be presented to the Board at its next meeting and that at the same time Mr. Snow was to pre- sent a memorandum to accompany said studies recommend- ing definite action to be taken In regard to said sub- division plan. Mr. Snow exhibited a print of Plan No -716 of Mr. Snow then reported on the conference which he and Mr. Carroll, Supt. of Public Works for Lex- ' ington, had held that morning with Messrs. Carr and LaRosa of the Abbott Engineering, Inc, in regard to retaining said corporation's services by the Planning Board for the nreparation of studies for Worthen and Emerson Road connections to Route 2. Mr. Snow said it was his understanding that Abbott Engineering would present a formal nronosal for its services in connec- tion with the studies which the Planning Board wished to have made. ABBOTT EP?GIN=ING INC. EMERSON AND WORTHEN ROADS In connection with the Minute Man High -Lands Sec. 4 subdivision plan, Mr. Snow presented sketches showing how Worthen Foad might be located througH said subdivi- sion, and how it might be connected to a proposed road which the State Dent. of Public Works was planning to construct from Wellington Lane Avenue to Waltham Street. (See minutes of Planning; Board meeting of April 16, 1961.) Mr.Carroll met with the Board briefly and en- tered into the discussion of said studies. It was de- cided that he and. Mr..Snow would work together on a final study to be presented to the Board at its next meeting and that at the same time Mr. Snow was to pre- sent a memorandum to accompany said studies recommend- ing definite action to be taken In regard to said sub- division plan. Mr. Snow exhibited a print of Plan No -716 of 4-23-62 -4- ADDENDA Anril 18, 1962 Mr. Thomas S. Grindle) Chairman Lexington Planning Board Town Office Building Lexington 73, Massachusetts Dear Mr. Grindle: On April 2, 1962 Mark Moore discussed with this Board the possibility of having both electric and telephone lines underground in the Bowser Estate subdivision. The problem that presented itself was what to do with street lighting. The Board unanimously decided that if Mr. Moore would do ' all of the underground work required by the Boston 1952, recorded in the Middlesex South District Registry MURPHY LAND of Deeds in Book 7898, page 161, said plan being en - , FOR RECREATIONAL titled "A Compiled Plan of Land in Lexington, Mass.", dated April 18, 192 and prepared by Albert A. Miller PURPOSES and Vilbur C. Pdylander,C.F.'s & Surveyors. Mr. Snow said he had discussed with Mr. James J. Murphy, owner or the land shown as lots 8A and 8B on said plan, the possibility of acquiring said lots as an addition to the Baskin playground, Mr. Murphy having indicated his willingness to sell these to the Town if he received an acceptable offer. Mr. Snow reported that he had examined the land on the ground recently with Mr. Harry G. Berglund and that the latter had appraised the value of the land at that time at about 1300 per acre for the reason that it was low, at an average of about 25 to 30 feet below Grove Street, and could not be utilized economically for house lots. Mr. Snow asked for and received authority to negotiate with Mr. Murphy for the acquisition of said lots at approximately the rate sug- gested by Mr. Berglund. The remainder of the meeting was devoted to a discussion of a proposed reorganization of the Board's work and program. The meeting adjourned at 10:15 n.m. 1 O�(F Arthur E. Bryson, Clerk ADDENDA Anril 18, 1962 Mr. Thomas S. Grindle) Chairman Lexington Planning Board Town Office Building Lexington 73, Massachusetts Dear Mr. Grindle: On April 2, 1962 Mark Moore discussed with this Board the possibility of having both electric and telephone lines underground in the Bowser Estate subdivision. The problem that presented itself was what to do with street lighting. The Board unanimously decided that if Mr. Moore would do ' all of the underground work required by the Boston 4-�3-52 - -5- Edison Company, the Town would Aay the annual cost for ' Installation of underground connected concrete lighting fixtures. This annual cost is somewhat higher than the cost of the usual overhead connected lighting arrange- ment which is now used. However, the Board felt that It was i.n the best interests of the Town to have all of the wiring in the street underground. The Board therefore recommends for your consideration that the subdivision rules and regulations be altered or modified to include a provision which states that in the case where a subdivider is willing to pav the cost for all of the work required by the utility companies for underground installation, then the Town of Lexington will assume the annual cost for operation and installa- tion of underground connected concrete lighting facil- ities. Very truly yours, /s/ Alan G. Adams, Chairman April 20, lo62 Mr. Thomas S. Grindle, Chairman ' Lexinrrton Planning Board Lexington 73, Massachusetts Dear Mr. 71rindle: I would like to thank .you and the other members of the ?Tanning Board for taking the time last Monday evening to consider our suggestions for a Worthen Road -Emerson Road connection to Route 2. In the more sparsely settled areas of Lexington., where new residential developments are anticipated, there may be very good reason to anticipate this development by having the Town specify the location of an Emerson Road. But, in areas that are already fully settled, it would appear to be sounder policy to improve existing rights- of-way where feasible (in this instance, Watertown Street) rather than construct new roads which would closely parallel existing routes. New rights-of-way may not only prove to be more costly, If all the high ini- tial costs of acquisition, filling, base preparation, and new storm drainage are considered, but since in existing neighborhoods there would be no opportunities for developers, these costs would be borne entirely by ' the T own . The Peacock Farm area contains sixty families. In the M 4_2_62 past three years these families have planned, financed and , built common recreational facilities including a 35' x 75' swimming pool which, it can be assumed, contributes to re- lieving the load on the tax -supported Municipal Pool. An Emerson Road through Peacock Farms would senarate 25% of these families from (and therefore possibly cut off their continued financial support of) these facilities. It would introduce serious traffic hazards into an area where up- wards of 150 children now live and play in relative safety. We at Peacock Farms are very desirous of working closely with the Planning Board and the Selectmen in seeking a solu- tion which will fully serve the Town's needs and which, at the same time, will avoid needless disruption of a sound and otherwise hazard -free neighborhood. We are confident that in principle the Town's planning policy is entirely sympathetic with this goal of planning for orderly growth while nreservin g its greatest assets, our vital residen- tial areas. Sincerely, /s/ Walter S. Pierce WSP/t 1 1