HomeMy WebLinkAbout1970-11-17Tuesday - November 17, 1970
Special Meeting
The PLANNING BOARD held a special meeting on Tuesday evening, November 17,
1970 at 7:30 P.M. in the Town Office Building. The.following members were ~
present: William Chepulis, Chairman; Charles W. Trombly, Jr., .V. ChmnJ'; John J.
Monteiro, Secretary and Donald N. Keirstead.
This meeting was called for the purpose of receiving a progress report from
John A. Brown, Planning Consultant. Mr. Brown and an assistant, David Mills,
were present. Constantine Constantinides, from the Dept. of Community Affairs,
was also present.
Several members of the Planning Advisory Committee were present: Ben Osgeod, Mrs.
Stekert, Fritz Ostherr, Nick Artimovich, Joseph Guthrie, Mrs. Virginia Donovan,
Edward Phelan, Henry Green, Henry Fink, John Willis and Jay Burke. The Eagle-
Tribune reporter was also present.
Chairman Chepulis introduced everyone and explained the purpose of the meeting.
Mr. Brown explained that there were three matters that he wished to discuss this
evening:
1. Preliminary sketch maps.
2. Preliminary goals that have been developed.
3. Draft of Planned Residential Development by-law.
He started the discussion by displaying and explaining each map. The first map
showed housing patterns broken down into three categories; single family units,
two family units and multi-family (apartments) units. It was noted that most of
the residences are located within a five square mile area in the southwest
section of town.
The second map showed where business and industry was located throughout town.
The transportation facilities map marked the streets according to their function
such as limited access, Route 495; major arterial, Route 12~, 1L4 and Sutton
Street; secondary arterial, those roads connecting one town to another other than
major routes; major collector, those streets running into arterial roads and
minor arterial, those smaller streets indirectly leading into the arteries. The
utilities map showed existing sewer lines, water lines, etc. Another map showed
watershed areas of the town and another showed the flood plains and hills.
Another map showed the given areas of town such as the town farm, Trustees of
Reservations land, Boston University center, Brooks School, Merrimack College,
golf course, airport, cemeteries, Western Electric, etc. The last map showed
the existing zoning areas.
He then showed other maps with alternative development concepts as follows:
Concentric development, Satellite development, Nodal development, Ribbon (linear,
strip) development, undirected development, Composite development,,such as con-
centric and ribbon combined and satellite and nodal combined.
Mr. Brown distributed a draft of Preliminary Goals for Discussion to the members
and several of the other people present. He wants everyone to study the draft
and participate. This is to stimulate discussion only and will require revision
after discussion of the alternative development concepts. The various areas
covered in the draft are land use; conservation and open space; transportation
and circulation; housing and economy.
November l?, 1970 ~cont.)
Ne expls~ned that he will apply much more detail in the second phase. There will
be specific zoning changes, specific appropriations of money for various things.
He will discuss housing more fully, possibly at the next meeting. He stressed
that all reports are raw data and not. complete and they should not be used by
any other town departments, agencies~ etc. He said the newspaper reports have
not been accurate and they should not be published with second-hand information;
preferably, the reporter should attend the meetings.
John Willis complained that the P.A.C. members do not receive any material before-
hand. He doesn't think the Planner is developing the master plan according to
the wording of the Article passed at Town Meeting. Mr. Keirstead said he would
like to see more work on commercial development also. Mr. Brown said the P.A.C.
is a new thing with him and he is not used to workiug this way. He finds him-
self spending alot of time preparing for meetings rather than doing the actual
necessary work. He doesn't like to make his reports public too soon since they
are preliminary and subject to change.
Mr. Constantd_uides said there seems to be a problem of communication. He feels
that drafts and reports should be made public - that people should know what is
going on.
Mr. Brown said the first phase is inventory and analysis and this leads up to the
final phase of work.
A lengthy discussion was held relative to reports and the participation of the
various committees.
Mr. Keirstead made a motion that all pertinent data submitted by the Planner to
the Planning Board be submitted to the interested sub-committee of the P.A.C.
and whenever possible all reports to be discussed at meetings to be delivered
one week in advance. Mr. Trombly seconded the motion and the vote was unanimous.
Mr. Brown displayed the large land use map and said he w~_ll be making copies of it
on zoning map size. He said he would like to have some guidance when something
comes up for re-zoning at town meeting. He will have a concept plan completed
before March and will be able to have more to say about any re-zoning and can
then take a position on it.
Mr. Keirstead suggested that each sub-committee make up what they thi~ are the
most important goals and present their ideas.
Mr. Constantinides expl~lued that the master plan is not adopted as a document.
The meeting adjourned at lO:A5 P.M.
~(William Chervil%s, Jr. )~
(Anna Donahue)
Clerk