Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout1966-09-26PLANNING BOARD MEETING September 26, 1966 The Lexington Planning Board held a regular meeting in its office, Town Office Building, on Monday, September 26, 1966. Chairman Campbell called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. with members Fowle, Riffin and Worrell, and Planning Director Zaleski present. Mr. Zaleski reported on his meeting with Mr. Zerbey, Supt. of the Minute Man National Park. Mr. Zerbey states that Massachusetts Ave. will not be abandoned until another adequate access is provided, such as by paving Hayward Ave. Mr. Zerbey will inquire into how the National Park Service can assist the town in improving Hayward Ave. and will look into the question of sign to be placed in Lexington pointing to the National Park and to historic sites in town. MINUTE MAN NATIONAL PARK The Board decided that in view of Mr. Zerbey's state- ment, adequate paved access will be available for the land of SCHUMACHER Augustus Schumacher and Mr. Schumacher may make a four -lot SUBDIVISION subdivision of his land next to Amherst St. Any future ex- tension of the subdivision may require the provision of a second access from Wood St. Letter from the Appropriations Committee relative to 1967 budget was read. Board members decided to consider the needs of the Board and resume the discussion at a future meeting. A year-round cooperative plan student,'a view - graph projector, increased printing costs in connection with long range studies and zoning by-law codification were some of the items mentioned. At this time Mr. Greeley arrived at the meeting. At 8:00 p.m. the Board adjourned to Estabrook Hall and the duly advertised public hearing on the Bridle Path Estate (Paddock Lane) was declared open by the Chairman. Mr. Stoico, the owner, explained that he proposed to subdivide the land into twelve lots and convey some 150,000 sq.ft. to the town, partly in exchange for the conveyance of town land at Follen Rd., partly as the open space required under "cluster" provision of the zoning by-law. Mr. Campbell then read a letter from the Town Engineer with numerous recom- APPROPRIATIONS PADDOCK LANE - BRIDLE PATH EST. STOICO mendations relative to this subdivision. Mr. Stoico wished to study the requirements of the town engineer and was advised that a copy of the letter would be made available to him. There being no other questions, the Chairman declared the hearing closed at 8:07 p.m. Resuming the meeting, the Board decided to reserve the meetings of Oct. 3 and Oct. 17 for discussion of long range planning and not to make any appointments on those nights. 9-26-66 Mr. Weiss, 16 Estabrook Rd., pointed out that the land which is now dry used to be wet. Mr. Charles Collazzo of 2360 Mass. Ave. stated that he didn't receive the legal notice of the hearing and that the land is wet in some portions be- cause of collected snow and rain water and because of springs. Mr. Collazzo also asked how the children in this area will get to school, there being no sidewalks on Massachusetts Ave. and that the schools in this area are already overloaded. Mr. Collazzo said that children have used the low area as a skating pond. He suggested that the low wet area should be preserved for conservation, recreation and nature study. Mr. Collazzo submitted three small slides showing the low area used by children. Mr. Worrell asked Mr. Weiss as to the level of his lot relative to the low land and Mr. Weiss replied that the lot was higher. Mr. Weiss submitted a photograph taken from his land in 1961 looking towards the subdivision. Mr. Maynard of 2380 Mass. Ave. stated that the low wet area existing and he helped to maintain it for use as a skating Mrs. Riffin was elected to and accepted the position STEERING as the Planning Board's representative on the Steering Com - COMMITTEE mittee of the community Planning Organiaation. MINUTES Minutes of the meeting of September 19, 1966 were corrected and approved. Planning Director's memo relative to Worthen Rd., Mrs. Murphy, etc. was read and discussed briefly. NICKERSON RD. At 8:40 p.m. the duly advertised public hearing on WOODBRIDGE the proposed Woodbridge (Nickerson Rd.) estates subdivision ESTATES of land was held. OUTHET Attorney S. Russian spoke for the applicant, E. Outhet, pointing out the salient features of the proposed subdivision, including the agreement by Mr. Outhet to grant an easement for the construction of a road to the land of Mr. Essarian. Mr. Russian referred to a hollow within the subdivision, which at elevation 290 is some 35 ft. below the high point of the subdivision. Referring to Chapter 426, Acts of 1963 (now Section 27, Chapter 130 G.L.) Mr. Russian pointed out that it deals with coastal waters and that Chapter 220, Acts of 1965, may be what was meant by the residents who wrote to the Plan- ning Board and other agencies. Mr. Russian stated that Chapter 220 refers to wetlands adjacent to inland waters and does not apply to this subdivision, on which excavations have shown no surface or underground waters. Chairman Campbell next read a letter from the Town Engineer with several comments and recommendations relative to this subdivision. Mr. Weiss, 16 Estabrook Rd., pointed out that the land which is now dry used to be wet. Mr. Charles Collazzo of 2360 Mass. Ave. stated that he didn't receive the legal notice of the hearing and that the land is wet in some portions be- cause of collected snow and rain water and because of springs. Mr. Collazzo also asked how the children in this area will get to school, there being no sidewalks on Massachusetts Ave. and that the schools in this area are already overloaded. Mr. Collazzo said that children have used the low area as a skating pond. He suggested that the low wet area should be preserved for conservation, recreation and nature study. Mr. Collazzo submitted three small slides showing the low area used by children. Mr. Worrell asked Mr. Weiss as to the level of his lot relative to the low land and Mr. Weiss replied that the lot was higher. Mr. Weiss submitted a photograph taken from his land in 1961 looking towards the subdivision. Mr. Maynard of 2380 Mass. Ave. stated that the low wet area existing and he helped to maintain it for use as a skating 9-26-66 -3- area for children. Mrs. Krause, 22 Estabrook Rd. stated that the area looked like Levittown and asked how many trees Mr. Outhet was planning to remove. Mr. Russian stated that only a minimum of trees will be removed and that only small part of the area is claimed to be wet. Mrs. Hillman, 24 Estabrook Rd., stated that in her opinion the sewer and drain were not adequate, regardless of the recommendations of the town engineer. Mr. Zaleski explained that the plans showed an 8" sewer, which is ade- quate, and 12" drain which would be enlarged to 18" accord- ing to Town Engineer's recommendations. Mr. Collazzo asked who would provide sewer for his house, pointing out that Mr. Outhet could do that much easier than the town. Mrs. Young, 28 Estabrook Rd., asked why the sewer would not be connected to Mass. Ave. One of the residents attending the hearing pointed out that we are in the seventh year of a 50 -year drought cycle according to Mass. Dept. of Public Health. Mr. Essarian said that in his opinion the Outhet sub- division would increase the value of real estate in the area and that, if desired, the water in the low area could be easily drained. Mr. Essarian stated that he intends to ex- tablish five lots and leave the remaining three acres as open land for recreation and pointed out his proposals on the plan. Mr. Fowle asked Mr. Outhet regarding the proposed grading of lots 1 and 2, should the plan be approved. Mr. Outhet said that he would fill his lots so as to drain onto Nickerson Rd., including the filling of back yards. Dr. Elliot Krause, 22 Estabrook Rd., asked whether any drainage or sewerage would drain into Estabrook Rd. and stated that 1965 Planning Board letters signed by Mr. Zaleski recommended against such practice. Mr. Zaleski read excerpts from the letters of April 13 and 20, 1965, and explained that they referred to water main and to the drain in the easterly branch of the street and have been adhered to in the new plans. Mrs. Billman, 24 Estabrook Rd., asked whether the con- struction would entail any blasting. Mr. Outhet said yes, ' blasting would be involved but no damage need result. Dr. Hillman asked how the street opening would affect 9-26-66 -4- the driveways of the houses across the street. Mr. Collazzo asked what provisions would be made to ' eliminate loose rock after blasting. Mrs. Krause asked whether foundations would be damaged by blasting. Mr. Outhet replied that rocks will be cleaned out after blasting and Mr. Greeley stated that blasting damage, if it occurs, would be a recoverable damage. Chairman Campbell read a section from the subdivision control law regarding the duty of the Planning Board to approve a subdivision unless it violates a specific provi- sion of the law or of subdivision regulations. Mr. Daniel Power said that in his opinion there will be too many street entrances to Mass. Ave. if this subdivi- sion is approved. Mr. Collazzo stressed that a lot of accidents occur on Mass. Ave. in the location of the sub- division. Mr. Maynard said that a sidewalk would substantially narrow the 40 ft. street exit onto Mass. Ave. An abuttor asked whether the developers had considered a pathway through to Estabrook Rd. and to Maria Hastings School. Mr. Maynard see6mmended that the land be preserved as I open conservation area. Chairman Campbell then explained the procedure which the Board must follow in acting on the subdivision. Dr. Billman asked that trees be preserved along the streets. Mr. Essarian suggested that the owners of lots adja- cent to 40 ft. road should agree to permit widening to 50 ft. and dedicate enough of their land to do so. Mr. Power asked whether the Town can restrict the number of street entrances and Mr. Greeley said that the Board was of the opinion that they couldn't. Mr. Essarian asked that the road to his property be constructed same as the connection to Morgan Rd. Mr. Newlands said that kids do not use sidewalks, so there is no point in providing them. The hearing adjourned at 10:20 p.m. ' Returning to its office and resuming the meeting, 9-26-66 the Board discussed briefly the Nickerson Rd. subdivision. It was decided to ask the developer to widen the easterly branch of the street to 50 ft. and to provide pedestrian easement to Estabrook St. over the Gane lot owned by the developer. Mr. Zaleski will discuss the question of drain- age with the Town Engineer. Chairman Campbell and Mrs. Riffin went to the meet- ing of the Board of Selectmen, but at that time the discus- sion of Worthen Rd. was concluded. The meeting adjourned at 10:40 p.m. Natalie H. Riffin Clerk 1 �I -5-