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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1971-04-12PLANNING BOARD MEETING April 12, 1971 Chairman Lund called the meeting to order at 7:40 p.m, with members Mrs. Brown, Dr. Clarke, Mr. Graham and Mr. Costello, planning director Mr. Zaleski, DAC representative Mr. Galehouse and secretary Mrs. Cole. Also present were Lexington Minute -Man reporter Mr. Curran, Doreen Plasse, Mary Collins and Bernice Crocker. Robert McSweeney of Brothers' Trust, meeting with the Board by appointment, ROBERT submitted a preliminary subdivision plan of land off Young St., known as MC SWEENEY, the Battleview Park, for which Mr. McSweeney has an option. This land is BATTLEVIEW shown divided into 25 ft. lots fronting on First and Second streets (paper PARK, OFF streets) on a plan recorded in 1913 at the Registry of Deeds. In 1957 YOUNG ST. (A57-103) an identical plan was endorsed by the Planning Board "approval not required" for the purpose of registering the title in Land Court. First and Second streets, shown on the plan, have never been constructed. Mr. McSweeney proposes to construct the streets, intall municipal services, including a dry sewer for a future connection, and consolidate the 25 ft. lots into 62.5, 75 and 100 ft. wide building lots having less than the minimum frontage and area currently required by the Zoning By -Law. In 1965, on advice of Town Counsel, the Board refused to approve a plan submitted by the owner at that time, Mr. Richey, showing consolidation of lots into 75 and 100 ft. wide lots. Discussion followed as to whether the land can be properly drained and sewered, since it is surrounded by higher land on all sides, and whether streets could be constructed without requiring provision for 30,000 sq. ft. ltos. It was decided to ask Town Counsel the following questions: "If the developer is willing to lay out the streets, sewers, etc., can he build on the land as he has proposed and what power does the Planning Board have on this?" Mr. McSweeney left a set of plans with the Board. At 8:40 p.m. Bud Connelly, speaking for Paul Nelson of Oneida Corp.,"DrummexONEIDA CORP. Boy" subdivision, T. Reenstierna, D. McKechnie and J. Moore met with the Board DRUMMER BOY by appointment to discuss the Hadley Rd. extension. The Planning Director SUBDIVISION said that drainage questions have been generally resolved to the satisfaction of the Town Engineer and the only question still remaining was that of Hadley Rd. ext. and whether it could be built on fill in a manner meeting our sub- division requirements without being too close to the Edison Power lines. Mr. McKechnie submitted a preliminary profile showing that a road at 109 grade would have 23.5 ft. clearance from the power lines. The profile was left with the planning director to be submitted to the town engineer. An extension of the time for Planning Board action is expected to be requested. Mr. Connelly asked whether Hadley Rd. would have to be constructed and the chairman replied in the affirmative. The construction of Hadley Rd. would be one of the condi- tions of subdivision approval to meet the requirement for a second access. It was suggested that the developer bond most of the subdivision, including Hadley Rd. extension, to permit the release of lots before the second access is contructed. Should an acceptable alternate second access become available, such as across the Ben Franklin Homes land to Grove St., the Planning Board could then waive the requirement of building Hadley Rd. extension. ' It was agreed that the developer's engineer will submit a definitive profile and construction plan of Hadley Rd. extension as soon as practicable. When these are reviewed and approved by the Town Engineer, including the necessary 1 slope easements adjacent to Hadley Rd. embankment, the Town Counsel will be requested to prepare for Mr. Nelson's signature the legal papers required for approval of the subdivision. Mr. Connelly volunteered to furnish any legal descriptions of easements in this subdivision. The minutes of April 5 were approved as submitted. Temple Scanlon, LHA Chairman; Mr. Adler, Architect; Mr. Fisher and Mr. Zehner of the Arts and Crafts Society met with the Board to discuss the Vine Brook Village Housing plans and the access to the land from Waltham St. The letter, dated April 12, to the Board of Appeals containing recom- mendations on the layout, special permits and variances was discussed. After revisions were made on the second page of the letter it was approved. Copies will be sent to the Selectmen, Housing Authority and Town Engineer. As modified, the plans submitted met with the Board's approval, subject to any minor modifications to meet specifications of the Town Engineer and Building Inspector. The Board would be opposed to any relocation of the proposed rear boundary of the parking area of the Arts and Crafts Society, if it were to be closer to Building A than 85 ft. indicated on the plan. The Board discussed the problems concerned with the residentially -zoned land of the Hastings' lot which the LHA proposes to acquire for an access. The letter to the Selectmen in regard to the possible courses of action to be taken on this matter was discussed and the letter was approved as submitted. Ya MINUTES 4/5 The proposed New England Tel. & Tel. Co.. addition was discussed by the N.E. TEL.&TEL. Board. In the absence of zoning requirements the Design Advisory Committee ADDITION could see no way of providing a solution to any parking problem which might evolve. Mrs. Brown and Mr. Clarke agreed to attend the Board of Appeals' hearing and ask questions to clarify the reasons for the addition. The numerous possibilities for the use of the land and the position of a new building on the former Central Block property were discussed. The variety of recommendations of the DAC and the letters from citizens were noted. It was agreed that the Planning Director would borrow the Select- men's set of photographs, which show by transparent blocks of color, the effect produced by a building set at different angles or setbacks on the property. Noted was the date for the DAC annual meeting for April 22, 8 p.m., Bird Room. The Planning Board office will send notices to all members and a notice was given to Tom Curran for the newspaper. The Board approved the wording of the advertisement for a new secretary and submitted the original to Tom Curran for publication. The Board voted to hold a regular meeting on April 19th. CENTRAL BLOCK DAC ANNUAL MEETING Mx14110YA lira The Board approved the letter to the Town Engineer in regard to photo- PHOTOGRAM- grammetric maps. The letter defined the needs, specifications and recom- METRIC MAPS mendations to be considered. Noted by the Board was the proposed 1971 Work Program which will be dis- 1971 WORK cussed at a later date. PROGRAM 3 Mr. Costello suggested modifying the RH Zoning By -Law so that whatever plan ZONING BY - is proposed at town meeting would have to be the one actually built by the LAW developer. Mrs. Brown pointed out that the requirement for 10 ft. side and rear yards in commercial districts next R0, RS and RT districts did not apply to commercial land next to Rft districts. The Zoning By -Law should be revised to correct this. The meeting adjourned at 11 p.m. C 11 A 4on_a4ledl Graham Clerk