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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1966-09-12PLANNING BOARD MEETING September 12, 1966 A regular meeting of the Lexington Planning Board was held in its office, Town Office B uilding, on Monday, Septem- ber 12, 1966. The meeting was called to order by Chairman Campbell at 7:30 p.m. with members Fowle, Greeley, Riffin and Worrell, and Planning Director Zaleski present. The minutes of the Planning Board meeting of Septem- ber 6, 1966 were approved as amended. Plan for the exchange of land with Castoldi at Suzanne Rd., dated Jan. 14, 1965, was re -endorsed, the first endorsement of October 25, 1965, being more than six months old. The Board next voted to execute the release of Cove- nant for Longfellow Estates, Sec. II (Farmer), these lots having been released in January of 1965 and the release document having been lost. MINUTES CASTOLDI LONGFELLOW EST. - FARMER ESSARIAN SUBDIVISION HOSPITAL SITE Messrs. Essarian, Outhet and Attorney S. Russian met with the Board to discuss the development of Mr. Essarian's land off. Morgan Rd. next to the proposed Woodbridge Estates subdivision. Messrs. Essarian and Outhet showed three different ways in which a street can be brought from the Outhet proposed subdivision. Mr. Outhet agreed to give to Mr. Essarian sufficient land for a street, provided Mr. Essarian would agree to construct the street. The Board took the matter under advisement. Messrs. McQuillan, J. West and Dr. William Cosgrove of the Lexington Board of Health met with the Board to dis- cuss the need of a site for a hospital. Some ten years ago a Hospital Needs Study Committee recommended the provision of a site for a hospital against the time when town population may be such as to warrant a hospital. A Chamber of Commerce questionnaire placed medical services second and the need for the hospital services fourth in importance among the various needs of the Town. Eighty-three percent of those replying were in favor of an "emergency medical facility." Mr. Campbell pointed out that a committee of the citizens plan- ning organizations working on town services (or a subcommittee thereof) could well be charged with the task of determining whether a site for the hospital is needed and where it should be located. It was pointed out by Mr. Greeley that should the question of hospital site study come up in the town meeting, the members would take it as the first step towards an expen- diture of several millions of dollars. It was the consensus of the Board that the question should be first referred to a committee within the framework of the long range (701) study. Mr. Greeley suggested that the Board of Health may wish to sub- mit names of citizens to work with the committee. MINUTES CASTOLDI LONGFELLOW EST. - FARMER ESSARIAN SUBDIVISION HOSPITAL SITE 9-12-66 -2- Messrs. Holland (State Division of Planning), Johnson "701" PROGRAM (Metcalf & Eddy) and R. V. Whitman (Citizens Planning Organi- zation) met with the Board to discuss the progress to date of the Urban Planning Assistance (701) program. Mr. Johnson reported that the following preliminary reports will be avail- able within a week: Area of Influence, Existing Land Use, Population, Neighborhood Analysis and Economic Base. Mr. Holland explained the role of the State in the 701 program, namely that of a disinterested third party, re- viewing the reports for being on time, fulfilling the re- quirement of the contract and being technically correct. The State does not enter into the area of policy determination, which is the domain of the town. Mr. Holland said that he was a little concerned with the progress to date; and that he is glad to learn that reports will be forthcoming in the immediate future. The major part played in the study by citizens' com- mittees is an unusual feature, which is desirable but may somewhat complicate the program. Mr. Zaleski reported that he has three reports prepared by the Planning Board staff, namely Recreation, Housing and Land Use Revenue implications. These reports point out problems, possibilities and choices, but make a mihimum of policy recommendations, except in the field of recreation. Mr. Whitman stressed the need for a new effort or a new start by various citizens committees. Mr. Johnson expects to have a report on recreation facilities by October 30, historical assetts by the end of September and school facilities by the end of December. The report on town buildings and lands study should be forth- coming in December. The financial aspects will be entered into after the alternatives for the future land use have been established, probably after March 30, 1967. The divergence between the desires of the town for a long range financial study and the requirements of the 701 program was noted by Mr. Whitman. A general discussion fol- lowed. The Board next resumed its review of the Heritage Rd. HERITAGE RD, subdivision and the question whether sewer should be required NICOLAI in the subdivision. It was decided to require that the recommendations of the town engineer be complied with and that sewer be designed to serve all lots but leave in abeyance the question whether installation and connection would be re- quired depending on the availability of municipal sewer. OUTHET - OFF The action on Outhet's preliminary plan for the sub - WOOD ST. division off Wood St. was deferred. The date for the discussion of the draft of recreation 9-1_-66 -3- plan was set for October 17, 1966. r The proposed policy statement on Emerson Rd. was discussed at length. It was decided that the chairman would EMERSON RD. discuss the statement with the chairman of the Board of Selectmen and the statement would then be reviewed by the Board and published in the Minute -man. (See addendum.) Mr. Zaleski mentioned that, as earlier reported to the Chairman, due to a clerical error some of the abuttors PEACOCK FARMS to the Peacock Farms, Section VI subdivision did not receive SEC. VI. notices of the public hearing. The Board decided to ask Town Counsel's opinion in this matter. The discussion of Bedford St. zoning was postponed. The Board next considered its previous position on MUZZEY CORP. the petition for Board of Appeals variance to permit business BOARD OF APPEALS use of 4124-26 Muzzey St. After a discussion the Board de- cided to advise the Board of Appeals as follows: 1. 24-26 Muzzey St. is within the area slated for rezoning to C l in accordance with EDA recommendations. 2. Rezoning by Town Meeting on recommendations of ' the Planning Board or on a citizens' petition is the orderly proper way of converting land to uses not previously per- mitted. 3. The situation at 24-26 Muzzey St. can be and, in the opinion of the Board, should be corrected by the owners availing themselves of the rezoning procedure of the by-law rather than by varying the by-law. The meeting adjourned at 11:40 p.m. Natalie H. Riffin Clerk * * * * * * * * * * ADDENDA A Preliminary Draft of a Statement by the Lexington Planning Board The Lexington Planning Board unanimously supports the concept of Emerson Road serving as a collector street for local traffic con- necting the several neighborhoods between Grove St. near Rte. 128 and the Emerson Gardens apartments off Maple St. Emerson Road should be located generally, but not necessarily exactly, as shown on the 9-12-66 -4- town road map published in the Summary Report, Phase One, in 1963. The Board affirms its stand, announced at the public hearing on ' May 27, 1965, and the June 1965 Special Town Meeting, that Emerson Rd. is a neighborhood connector road and not a by-pass for inter - town traffic. When Emerson Rd. is finished between Grove St. and Maple St., the effect will be to reduce the number of vehicles using the heavily traveled streets in the center of town in order to get from one part of Lexington to another. In addition, the amount of traffic in the narrow winding streets northeast of the center will be reduced. Thus, Emerson Rd. will contribute to traffic safety and convenience for Lexington residents. A standard 30 ft. pavement width is con- sidered adequate for Emerson Rd., with a minimum 50 ftl right-of-way. A right-of-way of 70 ft., with no increase in pavement width, is preferable to reduce the construction costs and to improve the appear- ance by permitting moderately sloping grass shoulders. While Emerson Rd. is not likely to be completed for a number of years, the Town should gradually acquire the land at future intersections to ensure that construction contrary to the concept of Emerson Road does not result in increased costs or in reduced traffic safety and convenience. The Planning Board is not in favor of an extension of Emerson Rd. from Maple Street to Massachusetts Ave, or Rte. 2 via the Great Meadows for two reasons: first, connection to Mass. Ave, or Rte. 2 would cause inter -town traffic to flow on Emerson Rd. and that is contrary to the Planning Board's concept, described above; second, ' the Board believes that the preservation of Great Meadows as open area is of paramount importance. An extension of. Emerson Rd. between Maple St. and Mass. Ave. could bring about a gradual destruction of Great Meadows. The Planning Board is cognizant of the traffic problems be- tween Mass. Ave. and Rte. 2 at Watertown St. The existing conditions, such as the design of limited access interchange at Watertown St., the desirability of preserving in its present state the Sickle Brook valley (Wilson Farm) and the residential developments near Watertown St., make it undesirable to carry out any of the plans for this connection shown in the Summary Report, Phase One. An attempt to force the implementation of such plans under the present conditions would result in extremely hazardous intersections, would tend to impair the amenities, property values and appearance of desirable residential areas and would encourage the development of Sickle Brook valley. It is hoped that a study carried out in cooperation with the Town Engineer, using either staff or consultants, will help to find the urgently needed answers to this problem. Such answers will certainly include the re -design of intersections, particularly at Mass. Ave. and Pleasant St. Emerson Rd. is a major component of the long range town -wide program of traffic improvements and the Planning Board asks the 9-12-66 -5- understanding and the support of the townspeople in the implementa- tion of this much needed program. LEXINGTON PLANNING BOARD September 19, 1966 1 1 /s/ Joseph A. Campbell, Chairman /s/ Evert N. Fowle /s/ Roland B. Greeley /s/ Natalie H. Riffin /s/ Francis T. Worrell