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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1971-02-08PLANNING BOARD MEETING February 8, 1971 ' At 7:00 p.m. Board members Clarke, Graham and Mrs. Brown, Planning Director LEXINGTON Zaleski and secretary Mrs. Cole attended the Lexington Housing Authority's HOUSING meeting at Police Headquarters to see the "study model" of the Vine Brook AUTHORITY Road - Waltham Street housing for the Elderly site plans. Selectman Kenney, MEETING Conservation Commission Chairman Stanley Brown and Mrs. Frick, the Town Manager and Building Inspector were also present. Joseph Rooney, in the absence of Temple Scanlon, LRA chairman, opened the meeting and introduced George Adler, who gave the following information: Plan 667-2 approved for $850,000 at 2.72% interest, 5.3 acres for site, 10 1/2 a. total, with wooded area retained and trees left to form a natural screen for abutters. There will be 48 apartment units, 2 stories high, Johnson-Hotvedt 8 Assoc. Inc. architects. The cost and the wood frame one -hour -rating fire wall construction are of concern to the LHA. The buildings will have safeguards, employing the "buddy system", which is a signal to the adjacent apt. neigh- bor of trouble,,and an alarm system hook-up with the fire station. There were questions, followed by discussion, about the 45 ft. wide access strip proposed across the Hasting's property, which has not been negotiated. F. Worrell and E. Clarke represented the Planning Board at the Selectmen's WORTHEN public road hearing on the Worthen Rd. extension from Marrett to Sherburne ROAD Rd. at 7:15 p.m. in the Bird Room. HEARING At 7:40 p.m. Mr. Worrell, in the absence of the chairman, called the Plan- PUBLIC ning Board public hearing to order in Cary Hall and read the notice on the HEARING, citizen's petition to rezone from RS one -family dwelling to CG -general REZONING ' business land on Waltham St. and Vine Brook Rd., Art. 73 of the Town Meet- TO CG, ing Warrant. 38 people were in attendance. A. P. Tropeano, co-owner of TROPEANO, one of the lots proposed for rezoning, showed a map transparancy of the VINE BROOK area and explained that he had acquired his parcel in 1958, had discussed & WALTHAM plans with the Planning Board in 1961 and is now following the recommenda- tions of the 1963 Summary Report Phase I and the 1966 "Plan for Lexington Center". He proposes to build, as soon as possible, a colonial style office building with 7000 sq. ft. of rental space, total size 19,760 sq. ft. with parking underneath, using the same driveway on #114 Waltham St., sav{-ng the tree, if possible, and tying into the existing underground drain system. Questions brought out answers describing present use and size of most of the lots in the area and the following information: Several lots have Board of Appeals variances or non -conforming uses. A rezoning would result in a contiguous general business zone down Waltham St., would avoid spot zoning and extend to, but not include the professional building at 114 Waltham St. A variance might be easier to obtain but wasn't a good conveyance to get a mortgage, according to Mr. Tropeano. CG requires one parking space for every 150 sq. ft. of building space. In Lexington land is usually assessed according to use not zoning. Land can be rezoned with- out the owner's approval. The existing residence and rooming house can con- tinue if the land is rezoned to CG and any use permitted under the CG zone will be allowed. Though this area is not in a historic district the proposed Tropeano building would conform to HDC regulations. Those asking questions were Margaret Rawls, Pct. 4, Melvin and Gloria Holland, Pct. 2, Paul Riffin, Pct. 4, Frank Sandy, Pct. 5, Judith Gary, Pct. 4, Lillian Nielson, Pct. 4 ' (16 Vine Brook Rd.), Miles Uhrig, Pct. 4 (15 Vine Brook Rd.), William Scouler, Pct. 5. Mr. Tropeano believes office space is needed. Mr. Sandy remarked that there is unused space between the "Green" and Emery Park which would imply that 2.8.71 minutes (continued) there isn't much need for office space. Mr. Tropeano referred to the Central Block and the proposed efficiency apartments that never material- ized and added the comment that offices above stores won't rent. Weiant Wathen-Dunn asked if it would be allowable within limits of the article to reduce the size of the proposed zone and was answered that it can be reduced but not increased. He suggested some modification by reducing the area. Speaking in opposition, Ruth Peck (Mrs. Charles), Pct. 2, daughter of the owner of the rooming house, said that her parents weren't interested in rezoning because they would be plagued with speculators wanting to buy their property. Elis and Edith Guditz, 9 Vine Brook Rd., were concerned that they would be surrounded by parking lots and exposed to the noise of tractors removing snow. They had enjoyed the privacy of that residential area for 15 years. They did not object to rezoning on Waltham St. Also in opposition, as the petition now stands, were Judith and Miles Uhrig, 15 Vine Brook Rd. Letters opposing rezoning were received from Joanne Rudd, 17 Vine Brook Rd., and Joyce Hals, 14 Vine Brook Rd. All Board members were present for the official photograph taken by Mr. Garber for the Town Report at the close of the public hearing at 8:20 p.m. Next, Planning Board members met, as scheduled, with Selectmen in the Bird Room. Mr. Lund explained the Planning Board's proposal for land options ' for municipal parking in the Clarke-Muzzey streets area. Maps prepared by the Planning Director were reviewed. Planning Board members contri- buted affirmative recommendations explaining the advantages for acquiring options now in line with long range plans for relieving the problems of parking, including the DAC's recommendations for arrangements to facili- tate snow plowing and maneuverability in general. Selectmen submitted arguments that it would add to town expenses in the form of maintenance and police protection, questioned the need for haste in getting the options and the ultimate results of rezoning the Medical Building vs any real increase in parking spaces. The Selectmen agreed to discuss the proposal further and let the Planning Board know the results of their review. -2 PUBLIC HEARING (continued) Members and 8 spectators, including Tom Curran of the Lexington Minute Man and DAC representative Holzbog, returned to the Planning Board office. Mr. Lund presided as the Board continued with items on the Planning Board agenda. The minutes of February 1 were approved as amended. Three letters in support of conservation purchases of land, referred to as Hamilton land, Justin b Ivan St. land, and Drummer Boy land were approved and signed. I The letter to the DAC, dated February 8, re. bicycle paths, was approved after clarification by Mrs. Brown that the Radcliffe course in landscape architecture, referred to in the letter, was not limited to summer. OFFICIAL PHOTO MEETING WITH SELECTMEN: MUNICIPAL PARKING 2/1 MINUTES SUPPORT FOR CONSERVATION PURCHASES DAC, BICYCLE PATHS A letter will be prepared by the Planning Director in response to the Recre- HARRINGTON ation Committee's request for assistance in planning the design of the ex- PLAYGROUND 1 2.8.71 minutes (continued) -3 panded Harrington Playground saying that it would be premature at this time PLAYGROUND and giving reasons. (continued) The proposed letter to the Selectmen, dated February 3, with copies to the Town Manager and DAC, regarding Hadley Rd., was approved by the Board. Justin Gray Associates' letter saying 25 copies of their full report will be ready soon, 300 copies of the summary report will be ready by February 15, and that they will be requesting monies for extra expenditures, as a result of additional work not spelled out in the contract, was discussed. It was decided to send a copy of the letter to the Town Manager and let him know that it is the position of the Board that no significant extra work :beyond the Agreement was asked of, or performed by, the consultants and the Board would like to discuss any request for extra compensation with him. The Board of Appeals notices of hearings to be held Feb. 23 were noted: Wagon Wheel Nursery - sell supplementary items Raytheon Co. - continue for 3 more years at 16 Hazel Rd. Messinger - proposed lot alterations, 3 Valley Rd. Chalet - restaurant and signs Emery - subdivide lot Schumacher - build on lot with insufficient frontage The Board requested the Planning Director to prepare a letter with recom- mendations for the Wagon Wheel Nursery Board of Appeals' hearing. An ' effort will be made to find a way of clarifying the apparent misunderstand- ing of the requirements for nurseries and roadside stands, and special permit uses. Since Mr. Nickerson is away, Mr. Sheldon and other members of the Board of Appeals will be invited to meet with the Planning Board. HADLEY ROAD JGA REPORTS & NOTICE OF REQUEST FOR EXTRA COMPENSATION B/A HEARINGS March 7 is the date for the annual TMMA bus tour to see the sites of proposed TMMA Town Meeting Articles. James McLaughlin will be informed of the sites the BUS Planning Board would like to see included. Members will go on the tour and TOUR be ready to answer questions on Planning Board Articles. The Board discussed the Tropeano proposal and the information from the hear- REZONING ing in an attempt to reach a consensus. Members agreed that a modification TO CG, by reducing the area to be rezoned and also allowing for a buffer strip TROPEANO would make the article acceptable to the Board. The Board requested the Planning Director to draft a report. The Board reviewed Mark Moore's proposal to rezone to RH land off Bedford St. in preparation for the hearing scheduled for February 10 at the Science Lecture Hall of the Sr. High School. The plans were left in the Planning Board office for citizen's review. They would be reviewed by the DAC Tuesday evening. Noted by the Board were two letters from M. Moore's attorney, Fred Conroy, ' offering 3.8 acres of land northeast of the RR for conservation if the rezoning of his property passes Town Meeting. The Board reviewed the plan submitted with the application Form A71-1 by J.H. Hinchliffe, C.E., dated February 5, 1971, showing the proposed divi- sion of lot 37 on Washington St. REZONING TO RH, BEDFORD ST., MOORE FORM A71-1 1 1 2.8.71 minutes (continued) -4 Upon a motion duly made and seconded the Board VOTED: FORM A71-1 LOT 36 & 37 The plan entitled "Lot 36 and Proposed Sub -Division of Lot 37, WASHINGTON Hinchliffe Property, requires no approval under the Subdivision STREET Control Law. (continued) The Board noted the request for the release of all remaining lots RELEASE OF in the Oak ParkII, Fairfield Drive Subdivision for building and LOTS, OAK sale. The Board requested the Planning Director to write to the PARK II, Town Counsel asking him to prepare the necessary instruments. FAIRFIELD $16,000 will be held as security. The time for performance shall DRIVE be two years. The Chairman invited the Board to meet Sunday at 2 p.m. at his home. NEXT The Board will hold its regular meeting on the holiday, Washington's MEETING Birthday, February 15, 7:30 p.m. in Cary Hall. The meeting adjourned at 11:00 p.m. Eric T. Clarke Clerk