Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout1965-12-27PLANNING BOARD MEETING December 27, 1965 A regular meeting of the Lexington Planning Board was held in its office, Town Office Building, on Monday, December 27, 1965. The meeting was called to order by Chairman Bryson at 7:30 p.m. with members Campbell, Fowle, Greeley, Riffin, and Planning Director Zaleski present. Mr. Jules Sussman, Chairman of Conservation Com- mission and Eric Lund of School Sites Committee met with CONSERVATION the Board and outlined the proposals of the Conservation COMMISSION Commission for the 1966 Town Meeting. Mr. Sussman also recommended that Planning Board require wiring in sub- divisions to be underground. The recommendation was dis- cussed and it was decided to study it further, including inviting Mr.Charles Abbott and a representative of Simplex. Minutes of the Planning Board meeting of December MINUTES 20, 1965 were amended and approved. The Board authorized and requested the Town Counsel to prepare the necessary instruments for the release of THE ORCHARD ' all lots in "The Orchard" subdivision (Bloomfield St.) in BLOOMFIELD ST. $1,000 bond. Letter from Selectmen suggesting the inclusion of the Planning Director on the Traffic Study Committee was TRAFFIC STUDY read. The Board was in favor of the Planning Director COMMITTEE serving on the Traffic Study Committee. It was decided to write to the Selectmen regard- ACQUISITION OF ing several parcels of land, the acquisition of which had LAND been authorized by the Town Meeting but which had not been acquired. Letter from Albert Gray, Executive Assistant to the CORRESPONDENCE Selectmen, regarding the submission of 1966 Town Meeting T.M.Articles and Articles and of the Annual Report by January 10, 1966 was Annual Report read and noted. Letter from the Conservation Commission relative to the application of Chapter 220, Acts of 1965 (Wetlands Conservation Com. Bill) to the proposed Longfellow Rd. extension was read and noted. Copies of letters written by the Planning Director to Messrs. Fiore, Bigham and Moore were noted. Letter from the Building Inspector relative to the Laconia St. building permit application for the lot at the northwest 12-27-65 da corner of Lowell and Woburn Sts. was read and discussed. It was the opinion of the Board that Mr. Kobrick's proposal for the relocation of Laconia St. exit onto Lowell St. would be acceptable to the Board if Mr. Kobrick were to agree to CN 1 restrictions for this lot. The Board then adjourned to the Selectmen's office where the question of this lot was dis- cussed with the Selectmen. Selectman Cataldo suggested the acquisition of this corner lot by the town, but couldn't muster enough support among the members of the two boards. Resuming the meeting in its office, the Board con - 1966 TOWN: tinued its review of 1966 Town Meeting articles. It was de - MEET ARTICLES cided to limit CS districts to CS 3 and CS 4, and to combine articles E and F so far as feasible. Several modifications were made in the listing of permitted uses. It was decided to adjourn the meeting to 3:00 p.m. December 28, 1965 to continue the discussion of Town Meeting articles. The meeting adjourned at 11:15 p.m. tCR-�r f fCvG Natalie H. Riffin, Clerk 1 The Town Meeting in 1965 adopted the following Planning Board proposals: ANNUAL REPORT - 1965 56 In 1965 the Planning Board held 17 advertised public hearings, required by Law for zoning amendments, street name changes and approval 59 of subdivisions, and 39 meetings. In an effort to promote closer cooperation and reduce duplication of work the Planning Board initiated 60 70 and held several joint meetings with the Capital Expenditures Committee, Conservation Commission, Recreation Committee, Traffic Study Committee, 71 Community Planning Organization (for long range financial study), Central Business District Study Group, TMMA Land Use Committee, Lex- ington Housing Authority, as well as numerous meetings with the Board of Selectmen. In addition to public hearings required by law, the Planning Board on two occasions met with interested citizens for a preliminary discussion of the 1966 zoning articles and of the plans for the creation of a municipal parking lot between Muzzey and Clarke Sts. The Board plans to continue the policy of working closely and exchang- ing information with other committees and citizen groups as being of significant benefit to the committees concerned and to the town as a whole. The Town Meeting in 1965 adopted the following Planning Board proposals: Article 58, rezoning of northwest corner of Lowell and Woburn St. to R 1 was defeated, while Art. 57, rezoning of Carriage House lot to R 1 and Art. 64 permitting apartments in the center, were with- drawn as was the citizens' Article 83 for rezoning of land at Rte. 2 south of Woodhaven to apartments. Eight new residential subdivisions, totalling about 6,400 ft. of streets, were reviewed and approved in 1965. Three previously approved subdivisions were completed, and as of December 31, 1966, $327,000. in bonds were held by the town as security for the completion of subdivi- sions under construction. The new Rules and Regulations governing the subdivision of land were adopted by the Planning Board on March 1, 1965, the first revision since 1954. A complete inventory of all land uses in Lexington on a lot by lot basis was done in 1965 in both tabular and map form. A chart show- ing major land use groups as percentage of total town land is reproduced herewith. ' Substantial progress was made in 1965 in zoning studies resulting in several articles for consideration by the 1966 town meeting. These include: Art. 56 - Rezone 1775 House to R 1 Art. 59 - Clarify purpose of Zoning By -Law and map Art. Art. 60 70 - Clarify zoning map revisions - Long range study of Lexington's future development Art. 71 - Study of central business district Article 58, rezoning of northwest corner of Lowell and Woburn St. to R 1 was defeated, while Art. 57, rezoning of Carriage House lot to R 1 and Art. 64 permitting apartments in the center, were with- drawn as was the citizens' Article 83 for rezoning of land at Rte. 2 south of Woodhaven to apartments. Eight new residential subdivisions, totalling about 6,400 ft. of streets, were reviewed and approved in 1965. Three previously approved subdivisions were completed, and as of December 31, 1966, $327,000. in bonds were held by the town as security for the completion of subdivi- sions under construction. The new Rules and Regulations governing the subdivision of land were adopted by the Planning Board on March 1, 1965, the first revision since 1954. A complete inventory of all land uses in Lexington on a lot by lot basis was done in 1965 in both tabular and map form. A chart show- ing major land use groups as percentage of total town land is reproduced herewith. ' Substantial progress was made in 1965 in zoning studies resulting in several articles for consideration by the 1966 town meeting. These include: Report -2- Relaxation of lot size (not use) regulations in mfg. districts Establishment of service and trade districts for contractors, etc. Establishment of neighborhood convenience shopping district Provision for "cluster" developments, saving open land Requirement for consolidation of small lots in one ownership Clarification of conditions and safeguards imposed by the Bd. of Appeals. The Planning Board will also introduce an article for the beautifi- cation and improvement of the central business district in the belief that the cost of such improvement will be more than offset by the resulting economic and aesthetic benefit to the town as a whole. Federal funds for the long range study approved by the 1965 Town Meeting had been applied for in March, but no approval was re- ceived from Washington as of the end of the year. In the meantime a Citizens Planning Organization, headed by Robert V. Whitman, was set up to work with the consultant on this study. Many public-spirited citizens who volunteered their services for the several study commit- tees of the Citizens Planning Organization deserve our recognition and thanks. The Planning Board is particularly grateful to the Land Use Committee of the League of Women Voters and its chairman, Mrs. Arnold Relman, for their assistance in carrying out land use, small lot and land availability studies. This work couldn't have been done otherwise without the expenditure of substantial sums of money. In conclusion the Planning Board wishes to express its sincere thanks to town departments under the control of the Board of Select- men and of the School Committee, as well as to other elected and appointed town officials and citizens' committees for their splendid cooperation and hopes that this spirit of helpfulness and coordination so important for efficient and effective work, will continue to be a significant characteristic of Lexington town government. LEXINGTON PLAN�NIN,G ^BOA(\R/D atL A. Arthu,r E. Bryson, ar., Chairman J Evert N. Fowle Roland B. Greeley Natalie H. Riffin D