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Home My WebLink About1964-03-30PLANNING BOARD MEETING ' March 30, 1964 A regular meeting of the Lexington Planning Board was held in its office, Town Office Building, on Monday, March 30, 1964 at 8:00 p.m. Present were chairman Meyer, members Riffin and Camp- bell, and Planning Director Zaleski. Mr. Leonard Colwell then met with the Board to discuss the possibility of use of land at the northeasterly corner of Bedford St. and Larchmont Lane for his office. The land in question is now zoned R 1 and its rezoning to C 1 or other district permitting office uses was considered. Due to the opposition to any rezoning which was expressed by abuttors in the past when such rezoning was proposed, the Board was of the opinion that they could not support the rezoning of this land to C 1 at this time and that there is not sufficient land for C 4 zoning. Messrs. Harold C. Wilsom and Wilbur Nylander, C.E., met with REZONING PROPOSAL COLWELL PRELIMINARY SUBDIVISION PLAN-ELDRED ST. WILSON SETH -MINER. A-1 DISTRICT HOUSING AUTHORITY f the Board and presented a preliminary sketch of land north of Eldred St. and east of Justin St., the sketch being a modification of the layout presented at the Board's meeting on March 24, 1964 as recommended by the Board. The sketch was reviewed by members of the Board and a discussion followed, specifically concerning the effect of the proposed layout on the traffic in that part of Lex- ington, including the provision for an alternate route to relieve the congestion at the junction of Eldred St. with Bedford St. The effect of the proposed layout on the traffic in that part of Lex- ington, including the provision for an alternate route to relieve the congestion at the junction of Eldred St. with Bedford St. The proposed layout is considered acceptable to the Board and Mr. Wilson was advised to proceed with the preparation of profiles and definitive plans based on the preliminary sketch reviewed. Mr. and Mrs. Reuben Seth, Mrs. James Maxner, Mr. Charles Cole II, and Philip Adams, Esq. met with the Board relative to a proposed rezoning of lard on the northwesterly side of Worthen Rd. from R 1 to A 1 and the conveyance of about 7 acres in back of the land to be rezoned to the town, specifically to the Hous- ing Authority. Mr. Temple Scanlon of the Housing Authority was also present and stated that the 7 acres were very desirable as a site for a housing project for the elderly. A discussion fol- lowed as to whether both the Seth-Maxner land and the land they would convey to the town, if their front parcel were rezoned, should be proposed for rezoning to A 1 as one parcel. Chairman Meyer felt that the two parcels should be considered by the town meeting separately, rather than in one article. Mr. Adams, attorney for the petitioners, supported this view. Mr. Cole presented an approximation of the future development of the land for apart- ments, if rezoned, and pointed out that the location, grades and soil pattern of the land all made the development for apartments the best use for this land, with the hill in the southwesterly portion of the land to be conveyed to the town forming a beautiful REZONING PROPOSAL COLWELL PRELIMINARY SUBDIVISION PLAN-ELDRED ST. WILSON SETH -MINER. A-1 DISTRICT HOUSING AUTHORITY f 3-30-64 -2- park and separating the land from the lards to the west. It was pointed out that previous objections by abettors were due to ' their fear that a throughway from Worthen Rd. to Hill or Shirley Sts. would serve as a high-speed shortcut undesirable in a residential neighborhood. Mr. Cole pointed out that his layout would have only a winding, twisting connecting road, not apt to be used as a shortcut. He then offered to provide a foot path of sufficient width and construction to permit its use as a vehicular access road for fire and other emergency vehicles only. Mr. Cole will discuss the need for a through connection with the Fire Chief. The petitioners expressed the hope that, if a second public hearing is needed, the Board would hold it without a petition signed by over 100 residents, since such petition was submitted the last time this rezoning was-pro- posed aspro-posed and later withdrawn by its sponsors. At 9:15 p.m. the Board met with the Lexington Conserva- CONSERVATICK tion Commission, the following members of the Commission attend - COMMISSION ing: chairman Sussman, messrs. Ells, Smith, Richie, Ripley and. Mazerall. Several items of common interest were discussed, in- cluding the following: a. The availability of federal money equal to 3% of the total amount approved for highway construction, for purchase by the State of scenic easements adjacent to federally -supported highways. b. If town votes to purchase land for open space, HHFA may pro- ' vide to 20% of the acquisition cost, State may furnish up to 50%, but would actually only give 30% due to lack of funds. C. $15,000. ceiling on conservation appropriations is about to be eliminated, the bill has passed the Senate and is expected to pass the House within two weeks. r d. Conservation Commission believes that the Town of Lexington would have the right of first refusal on any lands in Great Meadows area taken by Arlington by eminent domain, should these be offered for sale by Arlington. e. U.S. Soil Conservation Service can provide maps based on soils survey and showing land suitability for various uses, estimated cost to Lexington - $2,900. including $800. for reports, etc. and the remainder being 50% of the actual cost of survey. Conservation Commission in favor of asking for funds from the May 1964 special town meeting. Planning Board in.favor of soils survey, but would not treat it as an emer- gency measure and would ask for funds at a later date, in Fall of 1964 or Spring of 1965• f. Conservation Commission recommends the setting aside of parks in subdivisions approved by the Planning Board. g. Land of Palladino off Mass. Ave. beyond Maple St. with a right of way over the railroad. Conservation Commission in 3-30-64 _ -3- favor of town acquiring it, particularly since the town already owns 3 acres adjacent to it. Planning Board in favor, but feels the option should be obtained -by the Selectmen, who had volun- teered to assume the duties of the option committee, previously handled by the Planning Board.' Palladino may be willing to sell for $15,000. Members of both bodies question the price, since the land was bought in 1954 for $3,500., is assessed for $2,900. and about $1,200 in taxes was paid for it in 10 years. Conser- vation Commission will tape this matter up with the Selectmen. h. Conservation Commission would like to see restrictions on land owned by the town north of Hill St. -Cedar St. junction to prevent it ever becoming available for house lots. Mr. Meyer warns against restrictions which would hamper the town in its plans to develop or use the land. i. Conservation Commission would like to see swampy tax -title lots transferred to them, intends to ask the Selectmen to advise the Commission of any proposed sales of such lots. Mr. Francis Gallagher of 151 Spring St. met with the Board ARTICLE FOR to ask whether the Board will sponsor the Spring St. article for TOWN MEETING May special town meeting. Approved for payment'were the following bills which had ' been presented: Minute -man Publications, Inc., advertising --$70.07; BILLS. Charles Bruning Co., drafting supplies --$9.22; Natalie H. Riffin, postage -47.74. Letter to Selectmen on legal expenses was read and approved. CORRESPCNDENCE Letter to Board of Appeals on American Tel. & Tel. Co. petition read and approved. Letter to Selectmen on sale of tax -title lots read and noted. Board of Appeals notices for April 7, 1964 hearing were read and noted. The meeting adjourned at 11:25 p.m. Robert E. Meyer, Chairman 1