HomeMy WebLinkAbout1963-01-291
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PLANY7TG BOARD MEETING
January 29, 1963
The Lexi.nf*ton Planning Board held a regular
meeting in its office in the Town Office. Building
on January 29, 1963 at 7:40 p.m. Present were
Chairman Brindle, members Bryson, Campbell and
Meyer, and. Mr. Snow, nlanninc, Diriector.
The Board approved the minutes of its meet- MINUTES
inns of Janunry 7 and 1l.. 1953.
,�.pnroved for navment were the following
bills which had been presented: Wallace B. BILLS
Mitchell Co., drafting supplies -46-47; Samuel P.
Snow, car allowance for month of Januar�r, 1963--
{2.00.
Mr. Snow mave a report of a conference which
was held nt the request of Lexington officials in
the office of the Chief E'nm.neer, Mass. Dept. of
Public 7,'or7,cs, on Thtzrseay afternoon, January 21,, in
re7ard to the desir'n of the southeasterly quadrant
of the -proposed Route 2 -S -)ring Street interchange.
Messrs. Alan G. Adams, Chairman of the Board of
Selectmen; Irvin; H. Mabee, `Ti.ce Chairman of the
Planning Board; John J. Carroll, Supt. of Public
',,forks; and Mr. Snow represented Lexington; Messrs.
Cox, Deputy Chief Fn^i neer; Hue, Hi�wav Design
Enf;ineer; Levine, Assistant Hiahwav Design Engi-
neer; and Jackson, Coordinator of the Route 2 re-
location project in Lexington represented the Mass.
Dept. of public Jorks.
The Department's officials were informed
that it was the Planning Board's intention to place
articles in the warrant for Lexington's 1963 annual
town meeting to zone for some kind of commercial use
land on both sides of Snrinfi; Street southerly of
Route 2, and also to acavire as a recreation and
open space a tract of land between the proposed com-
mercial zone on Snrin,F Street and the Five Fields,
residential area. There was then exhibited to the
officials a sketch nlan incorporating the land which
was beim^ considered for rezoning and for acquisi-
tion as open snace as well as a nronosed scheme for
an off -ramp from the east -bound lanes of Route 2 to
Snr_nm Street, an on-ramp from Springy; Street direct -
Iv to the same east -bound_ lanes, and a right-angle
connection from the on-ramp to Concord Avenue. It
was nointed out that the nronosed scheme completely
ROUTE 2 -
SPRING ST.
INTERCHANGE
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avoided the juniper hillside preserving it as a
piece of landscape and as a visual barrier between '
the on- and off -ramps. The officials were informed
that the sketch plan met with the anoroval of all
the residents in the area as well as the Planning
Roard and the Board of Selectmen, but that without
the direct access to Route 2 from Spring Street and
the preservation of the juniper hillside and open
space the Planning; Board would orobab17 not support
the prorosed zoning article. .
Mr. Cox said that the department's policy
had not changed in regard to the suggested ramp from
Spring Street directly onto Route 2 and would not be
aDnroved as stated in the Chief Engineer's letter of
January.4 to the Board of Selectmen. (See minutes
of the Planning Board meeting of January 21.)
Officials from Lexington then asked if ways could not
be found to avoid going through the juniper hill with
the Concord Avenue connector and to eliminate some
potential traffic on Concord Avenue.
It was suggested that a ramp located entirely
on either the easterly or westerly side of the 1uni-
per hill would preserve it In its entirety. Depart-
ment officials indicated that there would be only a
cut which they estimated to be about twenty feet ,
when the connector was built throurrh the hill and
that in their opinion this would not destroy the
hill. They said, however, that they might agree to
the location of a ramn on the westerly side of the
hill but that they did not believe the Department or
the Bureau of Public Roads would approve the extra
length of road which they thought would be required
if the ramp from poute 2 to Spring Street were lo-
cated on the easterly side of the juniper hill.
Some discussion was held in regard to the
elimination of the connector between the off -ramp to
Spring Street and Concord Avenue. Mr. Cox said that
the Department would have to replace the section of
the avenue which was being eliminated by the proposed
interchange but would give consideration to the elim-
ination of the connection upon receipt of a written
request to do so from the Board of Selectmen.
What appeared to be a more satisfactory solu-
tion was found in the suggestion of not allowing (1)
a left turn from Route 2 onto Concord Avenue and (2)
eliminating the ramn numbered "B 1" on the Depart-
ment's plan. In conjunction with this it was sug-
gested that no provision be made for a right turn
onto the Spring.Street connector to Concord avenue.
1-2c)-63
There was next exhi'rited a letter, dated Jan-
uary 28, from Alan idade of 521 Concord Avenue to Mr.
Yabee _informi.ng the Planning Board that Five Fields,
Tne. had orr;anized a committee to study'the problems
involved in the relocation of Route 2 And in the pro-
posed. Snrinq Street rezoninp,. Tn the letter it was
stated that the committee was in favor of dead -end -
in? Concord. Avenue with a turning circle northwest-
erly of the Anderson residence. Tt was also stated
that in view of the obvious inter-relationsrin of
roads and rezoning, the Five Fields community is
-)resently categorically amainst rezoning in the Spring
Street area until the roar design i_s resolved. (See
addendum.)
Mr, Caleb Warner came to the meeting to leave
with the Board a -clan which was to accomnanv Mr.
Wade's letter and which showed graphicalltr three sug-
gestions the Five Fields committee set forth in -its
letter. The plan and letter were taken under con-
' sideration.
From 8:05 to 8:35 n -m. Mr. Edwin M. Sadler
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SPRTNG ST.
REZOT7TNG
PROPOSAL
Under tris arrangement vehicles traveling easterly
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on Route 2 to the Five Fields residential area would
have to use the off -ramp at the southwesterly,* quad-
rant of the Waltham Street interchange to Waltham.
Street and thence travel southerly on Waltham Street
and westerly on Concord Avenue. Also unser this
arrangement vehicles travelinrr northerly on Spring
Street and then easterly on Route 2 would have to
cross over Route 2 and Ilse frontage road "A" on the
northerly side of Route 2 to get to the Waltham
Street interchnn7e.
The Lexi.n7ton officials were shown a revised.
preliminary plan of the Lexington sector of the n ro-
posed Route 2 wieennn;and relocation showing (1)
frontage road "A" adiacent to the northerly side
line of Route 2, (2) a comnletely revised ?oute 2 -
Waltham Street interchange and (3) a ramp from the
east -bound lanes of Poute 2 to Pleasant Street. At
the conclusion of the conference Mr. Cox stated that
the Denartment intended to proceed with the preparation
of final nlans following this revised preliminary plan
including the Department's nronosal for the southeast-
erly quadrant of the Snring Street interchange. He
said that any letter requesting a modification of the
off -ram-) from Route 2 or the Concord Avenue connector
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at this interchange would have to be received at a
very earl* date to b e considered by the. Denartment.
There was next exhi'rited a letter, dated Jan-
uary 28, from Alan idade of 521 Concord Avenue to Mr.
Yabee _informi.ng the Planning Board that Five Fields,
Tne. had orr;anized a committee to study'the problems
involved in the relocation of Route 2 And in the pro-
posed. Snrinq Street rezoninp,. Tn the letter it was
stated that the committee was in favor of dead -end -
in? Concord. Avenue with a turning circle northwest-
erly of the Anderson residence. Tt was also stated
that in view of the obvious inter-relationsrin of
roads and rezoning, the Five Fields community is
-)resently categorically amainst rezoning in the Spring
Street area until the roar design i_s resolved. (See
addendum.)
Mr, Caleb Warner came to the meeting to leave
with the Board a -clan which was to accomnanv Mr.
Wade's letter and which showed graphicalltr three sug-
gestions the Five Fields committee set forth in -its
letter. The plan and letter were taken under con-
' sideration.
From 8:05 to 8:35 n -m. Mr. Edwin M. Sadler
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SPRTNG ST.
REZOT7TNG
PROPOSAL
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Mr. Elbaum said that candidly he could not
quote a nri_ce because Mrs. Baldwin had a case, the
nature of uich was confidential, against. the De-
partment for the takinr, which already had been made
for the widening of 'route 2, and that Mr. T. H. Reen-
stierna
een stierna of Arline*ton had been engaged for Mrs.
Baldwin as an annraiser in this case, and that no
statements would be made until after the case was
settled.
Mr. and Mrs. Ned S. Rasor of 80 Marrett Road
RASOR and their attorney, Frederick J. Conroy, met with
the Board from 8:35 to 9:05 n.m. to discuss the
FOLLEN HILL Doss ,bility of the Rasors acgi irin7 the -parcel of
town -owned land known as Lot Bl on Land Court plan
7o.16684A and situated between Follen Road and the
former Moulton property, now owned by the Rasors.
(See minutes of Planninr~ Board meetInm of Janiaary
14, 1963.)
On an over-all sketch plan tlbe Rasors were
shown the relatio^shin between their land and other
privately -owned parcels and that land owned by the
Town. It was then indicated to the Rasors that in
connection with the acquisition from the Tower Es-
tate of the tract of 44.1 acres for playground and
recreational.purposes Parcel Bl was also acquired
from the estate as part of a future access from said
tract of land to Pollen Road. Mr. Rasor said he I
would like to acquire Parcel Bl for the purpose of
adding it to his land and then creating two lots
of Woburn and Mr. George J. Elbaum, attorneys both
BALDWIN
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representing Mrs. Florence Baldwin, met with the
LAND FOR
Board to discuss the possible acquisition by the
PUBLIC
Town of a portion of the Baldwin land for public
RECRF,ATION
recreation and open space purposes. There was ex-
hibited a sketch plan showing the Board's recom-
mended scheme for the southeasterly quadrant of the
Route 2 -Spring Street interchange as well as parcels
of landit was desired to acquire, as noted above,
and additional parcels it was nroposed to rezone.
Using this plan In only a neneral way Messrs. Elbaum
and Sadler were informed of the Board's intention to
place acquisition and rezoning articles in the war-
rant for the 1963 annual town meetinn. An attempt
was made to obtain from Mr. Elbaum a unit price for
such land as the Board would recommend be acquired
for recreational,nurposes after a final decision was
reached in regard to the amount of Baldwin land the .
Massachusetts Department of Public Works took for
the interchange.
Mr. Elbaum said that candidly he could not
quote a nri_ce because Mrs. Baldwin had a case, the
nature of uich was confidential, against. the De-
partment for the takinr, which already had been made
for the widening of 'route 2, and that Mr. T. H. Reen-
stierna
een stierna of Arline*ton had been engaged for Mrs.
Baldwin as an annraiser in this case, and that no
statements would be made until after the case was
settled.
Mr. and Mrs. Ned S. Rasor of 80 Marrett Road
RASOR and their attorney, Frederick J. Conroy, met with
the Board from 8:35 to 9:05 n.m. to discuss the
FOLLEN HILL Doss ,bility of the Rasors acgi irin7 the -parcel of
town -owned land known as Lot Bl on Land Court plan
7o.16684A and situated between Follen Road and the
former Moulton property, now owned by the Rasors.
(See minutes of Planninr~ Board meetInm of Janiaary
14, 1963.)
On an over-all sketch plan tlbe Rasors were
shown the relatio^shin between their land and other
privately -owned parcels and that land owned by the
Town. It was then indicated to the Rasors that in
connection with the acquisition from the Tower Es-
tate of the tract of 44.1 acres for playground and
recreational.purposes Parcel Bl was also acquired
from the estate as part of a future access from said
tract of land to Pollen Road. Mr. Rasor said he I
would like to acquire Parcel Bl for the purpose of
adding it to his land and then creating two lots
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fronting on Follen Road. Fe asked if the Board
would consider substituting an access across his
land to "arr.ett Road instead of one to Follen
Road. !Tot having previouslzr considered. such a
substitute, the Board sur_rrested that Mr. Rasor
maT;e a definite nronosal in the way of an exchanpre
of his land for Parcel Bl. It was agreed to Frive
him a print of the over-all stretch plan for use in
makinc such a proposal.
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From 9:10 to 9:50 r.m. Messrs. Wilbur C.
Nylander and Hr. Alfred P. Tropeano met with the
Board to discuss nreli.minary schemes of proposed
revi --ions of site and bui.ldi_n�, plans for the '^lal
tham Street 7areen apartment project. (See min-
utes of Planning; Board meetinrr of October 2Q, 1962.)
Their presented for consideration by the Board four
rrints entitled or identified as follows: (1)
"Depths of Peat Deposit, dated December 1962 and
prepared by TTaley $ Ilerlch, eonsultinr soil en7i-
neers; (2) an untitled schematic site And existinm
topographic plan which Mr. Tropeano dated_ 1/2°/63;
(3) prelimi_nar•y floor and elevation plans on plan
entitled ''Duildi rm A Modified,'' numbered "Drawi.na
prepared by C. Harry Erickson, architect,
and dated 1/29/63 by Mr. Tropeano; and (4) rrelim-
inary floor and elevations on plan entitled "Bui.ld-
inv E Modified.," numbered "Drawing* 7-1-M", also
prepared by Mr. Erickson and dated by Mr. Tropeano
1/29/63.
On the first sheet depths o
shown by location of probes and by
tral area had neat depths from 15
pointed out that the neat deposit
the location of buildinrps shown on
that it would be necessary still t
four apartment buildinr-s.
IJALTFAM
STREET
GARDEN
APARTMENT
PROJECT
f peat deposit were
contours. One cen-
to 24 feet. It was
greatly influenced
the site plan but
o drive nilin�rs for
On the site plan 11 apartment buildingy-s were
shown. Mr. Tropeano soi6. that these build_incs would
contain a total number of 97 apartments. He said,
however, that it was nronosed to have 11 apartments
in four bui.lCinrrs, numbers 1, 2, 4, and 61 three
apartments in each of these buildinns beings located
in the basements. Mr. Troreano said he proposed to
seek under Section 14 0£ the Zoning By-law variances
for these basement apartments and for more than 10
apartments in a buildinn;.
It was bointed out on the site nlan that 'Build-
ing A could be located parallel to Worthen Road at a
FORMS A
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much closer distance than shown on a previously ,
annroved site elan for the reason that one deed re-
striction limitinP building on the narticular.land
involved to single family residential use expired in
1963.
On the preliminary plans for modified buildinr*s
A and E, it was shown how it was proposed to treat the
facades of the buildings, particularly below the first
floor grades. Mr. Troneano pointed out th^t if it
were necessary to brim^ in the quantity of fill shown
on the previously annroved site nlan or i.f basement
apartments were not allowed as shown on the new pro-
nosal, the apartment house project was not feasible
economically and would be abandoned by the rrouo he
represented.
A set of prints referred to above was left with
the Board for its study.
Considered next were the following Form A
applications for determination of Planning Board juris-
diction:
#63-8, submitted January 28, 1963 by Kingston '
Homes, Inc., Emilio Spa-nuola, Treas.; elan en-
titled "Plan of Train Easement Through Lot #2
as Shown on Land Court 19319D in Lexington
Mass.", Scale: l" = 40', dated Sept. 12, 1962,
MacCarthy Engineering Service, Inc., ?Natick.
463-9, silbmitted January 28, 1963 by Emilio
Spagnuolo for Kin7stor Homes, Inca; elan en-
titled "Plan of Land in Lexington, Mass. Show-
ing Revised. Lot Lines and Drain Easement;"
Scale: 1" = 401, dated Sept. 11, 19(2, Mac-
Carthy Fn7ineering Service, Inc., `Tatick.
X463-10, submitted January 28, 1963 by Nicola
Iodice, J. J. Silverman, Atty.; plan entitled
"Plan of Land in Lexington -Mass. , Scale: I"
40', dated Mar. 11, 19[7, Miller 8 Nylander,
C.F.'s &: Surveyors.
Upon motion duly made and seconded) it was
unanimously
VOTED: that the Lexin5*ton Planning Board determines
that the plans accomnanyi.ng Form A applica-
tions 1'63-8, A63 -P and .#63-10 do not require '
approval under the subdi.vislon control law,
and that said plans be so endorsed.
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Read to the Board_ was a letter, dated Decem-
ber 26, 1062, from John J. Carroll, Lexington Super- OAK HiLL
i.ntendent of Public '+'orks, giving evidence that the ESTATES
reouired work in the Oak Hill Estates Section Three SEC. 3
subd_vision had_ been completed. to his satisfaction.
Also read was a letter, dated January 24, 1963] from 77TWOOD
Town Counsel Le-ro confirmi.ng the fact that he had ASSOCIATES
received_ a grant of utilities In the above-named
si?bdi_vision and stating that he believed the .Plan-
ning Board was now in a position to release the
bank book which was pledged to the Town as security
for performance of the agreement in regard to this
subdi.vi_ s i -on .
All matters appearing to be in order, and
upon motion being duly made and seconded, it was
unanimously
STOTP'D: to release as security for the performance
of the agreement of Lynwood Associates, Inc.,
dated October 131 1060, in reference to the
subdivision entitled. "Oak Hill Estates Sec-
tion Three" the savings account of If'vnwood
Associates, Inc. i.n the Lexinc*ton Savings
Bank Book No. 41160 and to return the bank
' book representing said account to Wnwood
Associates, inc.
Similar letters to those above, one dated
Januar7, 8, 10h3, from '."r, Carroll and, a second, dated
January 28, from Mr. negro were likewise read in TILLINGHAST
regard to the Tillinghast Estates subdivision. All ESTATES
matters appear n7 to be in order in this case, also, -
upon motion duly made and seconded, it was unani- SULLIVAN
moil s ly
VOTED: to release as security for the performance of
the agreement of 141111am H. Sullivan and Mary
G. Sullivan, dated January 151 1062, in refer-
ence to the subdivision known as "Tillinghast
Tstates in Lexin ton, Mass.", the savings
account of Mr. Sullivan In the Lexington Fed-
eral Savings and Loan Association and to return
the bank book, No. 12355, representing said
account of Mr. Sullivan.
Attention was next called to a letter, dated
Januar* 28, 1963 and addressed to the Planning Hoard, RE?ONir'G
from Stephen T. Russian, attorney, enclosing; a heti- PPOPOSAL
tion of registered voters requesting a public hear-
ing for a proposal to amend the zoning_ by-law by SHORT
rezoning additional land of Dr. Short situated at
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the Waltham city line for a local business district. Mr.
Russian's request that the pri.ncinals involved be
allowed to meet with the Planning Board prior to the
date of public hearing was noted. Mr. Grindle was asked
to arrange with Mr. Russian for such a meeting.
The next regular meeting of the Board was
scheduled for February 4. An informal session to work
on the draft of the Board's summary report was scheduled
for Saturday morning, February 2.
The meeting was adjourned at 10:15 p.m.
w
All
n ^
Thomas S. Grindle,
Chairman
n JK
Mr. Irving Mabee
Planning Board
Lexington, Mass.
Dear Mr. Mabee:
524 Concord Avenue
Lexington, Mass.
January 28, 1963
Five Fields ras set up a committee to stud7r the problems
involved in rebuilding Route 2, and the problems involved
in the nronosed Spring Street rez&ning.
As our first act, we'd like to thank the Selectmen and the
Planning Board for their help in our area's effort to have
the Ro-vte 2 "ramp" situation fixed. If the other prob-
lems can be solved, the `s'altham Street "ramn" rou insetted
will be of major importance in improving t raffic safety.
You suggested that we look over the plans after the lRtest
changes and present our ideas on the situation as it now
stands.
The Committee voted in favor of the State suggestion for
dead -ending Concord Avenue wits a turning circle below the
Anderson home.
To provide a second access for fire trucks in an emergency
the Committee suggests, in this order:
G
1. Linking Old Shade Street to the superhighway via a dirt- '
path -type entry, with a U-turn in the Route 2 divider
strip to nermi.t fire engines to cross in an emergency
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' (for Instance, if anoil truck fire blocked Concord
Avenue) .
2. Linking the Concord Avenue turning circle, after the
dead -ending, with Route 2 via a dirt -path -type strip.
3. Linking the Concord Avenue turnirg circle with the
Route 2-S-,rl.ng Street exit ramp via a f*ravel road and
gate.
Tn a phone conversation with you last night, Caleb
7arner has discussed these plans in some detail. Tn a
similar letter, we are also writing to Alan Adams as Head of
the Selectmen..
Tn vi.ew of the obvious inter-relati.onshi.p of roads
and rezoni.nr�, the Five Fields community is presently cate-
gorically against rezoning in the Snrin7 Street area until
the road design Is cleared un. We therefore feel we cannot
intelli7ently make a decision re�,ardin rezoning until a
definitive road. elan is arrived at by the State and the
Town. The communitlr presently trends toward 'no zoning'
even if the road design Is settled in our favor, but we are
stud7*i_n�- the basic loncr-ran^e implications of various future
' rezoning prepositions, both in regard to their effect on our
Immediate area and their effect on the town as a whole.
Sincerely,
/s/ Alan Wade
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