HomeMy WebLinkAbout1958-06-05242
Thursday, June 5, 1958
~ublic Hearing
A public hearing was .held on Thursday evening, June 5, 1958 at 8:00 PM in the
B~adstreet School Auditorium by the Planning Board. Me, ers present and voting
were James M. Barman, Chairman, Robert Burke, Secretary, John Osgood~ Nicholas
Nicetta and Howard Gilmsn.
The legal notice published for the hearing regarding United Shoe Machinery Corporation
was read by Mr. Burke.
Kent Andrews, head of the United Shoe's Real Estate Department explained United Shoe
is interested in building a one story industrial plant if the land is rezoned and other
conditions are met. 'The plan Would employ 75-80 per,ale and the building would cost in
the v~q~fty of $500,000. Mr. Andrew~ explained they would like the land changed from
residential to industrial. He also explained the objection to the outlet on Prescott
Street wottld be eliminated if the land were ~ezoned and the Town would provide the
company with a road.
Mr. Duffy questioned what the water recuirements would he and Mr. Andrews explained
the compan~ does not use water for pre~essing therefore it would use a domestic supply.
Mr. Wilbur Harvey, 93 Prescott Street, an abutter on the right of way stated the .sketch
of the proposed building was different from the sketch he had previously seen and
cuestioned what the 40 foot strip of land would he used for. He stated the traffic
is very heavy now on Prescott Street and that if this strip would be used for a roadway
he would be objecting to this even though he is not objecting to the plant coming into
the area.
Mr. Andrews explained the firm had no intention of usingthis parcel of land as a
roadway right now but if accidents occurred on Chickering ~oad they might use this
as a driveway for their employees in the future. Mr. Harvey stated if the buil~t~g
were going to be one story, it would he ~3most out of sight except for the smoke
stack. He asked about the smoke.
Mr. Andr~ 'assUred the people present the building would be low and if the smoke
became a nuisance the fuel would be changed. He also said smoke nuisance is covered by
the By-Laws and would be enforced by the Board of Selectmen.
Mr. Edmund Dixon, 67 Chestnut Street, asked what would be done with the scrap. Mr. Dixo~
~so said he felt the plant would be an asset to the c~unity
Mr. Andre~ ex plained the scrap would be burned in the boLler.
George Mailhot an employee of the United Shoe Company said the company has been
shipping all sawdust therefore there would be no smoke.
Mr. Wilbur HaA~vey stated he was speaking for himself and Mrs. Alice Fre~m~n~ another
abutter, and said they are both willing to co-operate in getting industry into the
Town but they would like assurence from United Shoe that the right of way would not be
used for trucks, cars, etc.
Mr. Andrews stated no written assurance could be made but felt somthtng could be
worked out. He also stated he now understands the only objection is the question
of using the 40 foot strip of land. He stated United Shoe does not want to come
into a Town ~f the ~Opls in the Town do not want it. He suggested United Shoe
could discuss this strip of land with the Pl~.~ning Board and would give some ~d
of a guarantee of the use of the land.
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Mrs. Beverly Evangelos of Prescott Street asked what would result if the Town did not
agree to build the RoadWay and Mr. Andrews replied the Town would have to agree to build
the road before the firm buys the land.
Mr. Henry Lund of Prescott Street mentioned unde~ the present set up this strip of
land, which is residential on both sides, would have to be grassed.
Harold Barrington of PresCott Street stated Prescott Street is now heavily traveled
with trucks from Davis and Furber Machine Company.
Atty. John McNiff stated the Planning Board can place restrictionson the area abutting
Prescott Street.
Atty. John Willis asked if the land abutting on Moody Street would have anything ~t
on it and Mr. Andres answered nothing in the foreseeable future.
Arthur Doucette of Prescott. Street sPOke stating he opPOsed ~nited Shoe coming into
this area.
Mrs. Pauline Jardine of Prescott Street said the majority of people on Prescott Street
are opposed to the rezoning of the land.
George Cullen of BrightW°od Avenue asked if the road might be extended to High Street
from Davis and Furber to el~ate the traffice p~eble~.
Mr. Ralph Finck stated he has discussed this possibility ~ith Mr, Forbes P~ckwell of
Davis and Furber and Mr. Rockwell did not think it feasible.
Wilbur Harvey suggested the Town acquire a through road to be used for the Town. This
would el~uate heavy trucking and traffic on Prescott Street. He also asked if Davis
and Furber did not want to sell the land if it couldn't be taken by eminant domain.
Mr. Nicetta moved to take the matter under advisement. Mr. G~n seconded the motion.
The meeting adjourned at 9.'15 PM.
The Board returned to the Town BUild~Bg for executive session.
Mr. Nicetta stated he felt United Shoe should build and maintain their own road until
the Town builds the road through. Mr. Osgood felt the same way and stated if the road
is built for United Shoe other concerns will want roads built for them.
It was decided the Board would wait and see if the the Town Meeting voted to appropriate
money for the building of the road and them Mr. Barman would ask for a 2-5 mt Bute recess
and the Board would then E~ke their decision. The Board felt they would go alga with
the Town,s people vote.
Mr. Nicetta moved Mr. Barman reqUest that Article 1 be deferred until articles 2,3,4 were
disposed of and then the Board would rake its reco~nendation.
Bills were signed for the folloMing: George Cunntngham, Janitorial SeA-~lces $ 7.50~
Mary Doherty, Se~vices $ 9.30 for a total of $16.80.
The meeting adjourned at lOla15 PM.