HomeMy WebLinkAbout1979-12-03 Board of Survey Minutes December 3, 1979
' Meeting of the Board of Survey convened in Room 16, Municipal
Building at 7:35 P.M.
Present were Chairman Price, Secretary Cowell , Board Members
Testa, DeHart and Wood, Clerk of the Board E. Roger Louanis and
Assistant Superintendent Bergeron of the Public Works Department.
The Board reviewed letter from John Rivers, developer of
Cumberland Road Extension requesting a release, or reduction in
the three-way-agreement with the Town of Reading together with
memorandum from Assistant Superintendent Bergeron stating the
remaining work approximates the amount of the bond and therefore
recommends no reduction. Mr. Testa moved, Mr. DeHart seconded
and it was voted to deny the request for a release under the bond
on Cumberland Road Ext.
Discussion at the November 26th meeting relative to a reduc-
tion in the bond for Riverside Drive development was tabled until
this evening. Chairman Price advised the Board that the services,
' water and sewer are installed to the property line on the two lots
where homes are not as yet built. It was therefore moved, seconded
and voted to reduce the bond on Phase #1 from $4,000 to $500 or by
$3,500 and to reduce the bond on Phase #2 from $6,650 to $800 or by
$3,850 on Riverside Drive.
Meeting adjourned at 7:45 P.M. and reconvened at 8: 15 P.M.
following a meeting of the Board of Public Works.
Secretary Cowell read notice of public hearing at 8: 15 P.M.
regarding the approval , disapproval or modification of plans to
extend the existing end of Warren Avenue approximately 105 feet.
The developer, John Rivers was present and represented by Attorney
0. Bradley Latham and Edward Stearns, engineer from the firm of
Hayes Engineering of Melrose, Ma. Approximately eighteen people
attended the hearing. Mr. Latham stated there were 3.5 acres of
land involved and it is the developer ' s wish to divide it into
two lots, the first to contain 209800 square feet and the second
' to consist of 2.9 acres. This division would cause Warren Avenue
then to be approximately 840 feet long ending in a cul-de-sac with
a radius of forty-five feet as opposed to its present dead end.
The Engineering Division presented a list of concerns as follows:
1 . The proposal requests a 40 foot raodway layout with 8-foot
wide sidewalks and bituminous concrete berm.
2. Thesubdivision has sewer and..water available.
3. A large portion of the area is included in the Towns Wetlands
Protection District where water ponding has been experienced
in the past.
4. The area was under consideration for purchase as an addition
to the Washington Street park and will be released from the
restriction on May 9, 1980 or the Board of Survey may wish to
rescind the restriction if it does not intend to purchase the
land.
5. The proposal would have one house built near Park Avenue. This
would require an illegal driveway onto Park Avenue or a drive-
way approximately 440 feet long.
Mark Whelton, Chairman of the Ad Hoc Committee (Parks and Playgrounds)
spoke and stated that hi.s committee had hoped to see a mini Birch
Meadow developed at this site. Thomas Riley, Chairman of the Con-
servation Committee stated his committee was meeting on December
4th and would discuss this property, adding that the area is the
very bottom of a very large water shed. Many of the abutters ex-
pressed concern because of water problems in the area and Louise
Garrett presented a picture showing water ponding within ten feet '
of her house and stated she felt that further construction in the
area would increase her problem. Chairman Price stated there will
be a final hearing and it will be advertised in the paper. Mr.
Cowell moved, Mrs. Wood seconded and it .was voted to close the
hearing.
Mr. Cowell read notice of public hearing at 9: 12 P.M. relative
to a proposed subdivision northerly of Franklin Street, between Main
and Pearl Streets. The meeting was attended by the Developer, Albert
Symes of Symes Associates, Edward Stearns of Hayes Engineering and
approximately twenty-five citizens residing in the general area.
Chairman Price indicated that the developer and/or Hs engineer would
make a presentation, questions would be asked by the Board and
finally the meeting would be opened to the citizens for questioning.
Mr. Stearns stated the proposed roadway would extend northerly off
Franklin Street between #115 and #125, easterly of Main Street and
westerly of Pearl, would be approximately 1 ,000 feet long ending '
in a cul-de-sac. The development will consist of 12 lots on the
proposed roadway and one lot on Pearl Street. The Engineering
Division presented a list of concerns, as follows:
Minutes - continued December 3, 1979
1 . The proposed road exits off a very narrow section of Franklin
Street and all obstructions to view should be shown on the
' plan to insure a safe intersection.
2. The proposed road is longer than the nine hundred foot maxi-
mum allowed by the Board of Survey Rules and Regulations.
3. The proposed profile does not meet the Board of Survey or
the A.A.S.H.O. standards in regard to vertical curve lengths.
The profile will have to change substantially to meet this
requirement.
4. The drainage proposal indicates that all of the runoff will
be directed to Main Street. The existing condition at Main
Street has been a problem in the past and the additional
drainage will increase the problems. This must be addressed.
5. The proposal does not indicate that the water main will be
looped to another area.
6. Retaining walls may be required at the entrance to Franklin
Street. Details will have to be made of this section.
7. There is a section of roadway at Station 9*00 that will have
a 10' cut section to get down to the road grade. This will
require substantial side sloping into the lots or retaining
walls.
' The developer ' s engineer reviewed the items of concern presented
by the Engineering Division but his answers generally indicated
that they had not completed the engineering study of the problem
since this was merely the preliminary plan. All concerns of the
Engineering Division of the Public Works Department and those of
others will be addressed at the time the final plan is submitted.
The meeting was opened to the citizens for questions. Mr. Louis
Hadad posed questions concerning the possible widening of Franklin
Street, drainage and wetland areas. The Superintendent stated he
had recommended to the Board six or seven years ago that Franklin
Street at that time was not adequate to handle the traffic and at
a public hearing the abutters were in agreement that they definitely
did not want the street widened. Chairman Price indicated to the
citizens that this was merely a preliminary hearing and that a final
hearing would take place, the time and place to be posted in three
locations and advertised in the Reading Chronicle. Mr. Cowell
moved, Mr. DeHart seconded and it was voted to close the hearing.
Respect f fitted,
Secretary /4��G(i�•