USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Plymouth > Town annual report of Plymouth, MA 1955 > Part 4
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The Committee recommends an appropriation of $2,400.00.
Voted: That the Town raise and appropriate the sum of $2,400 to build three home-making units, including new base and wall cabinets and sinks and to install new lighting as the first step in modernizing the cooking room of the Junior High School.
Article 48. To see if the Town will authorize the Water Commissioners to lay a water main of not less than six (6) inches in diameter for a total distance of about 1,720 feet on Thomas and Abington Avenues in the so-called White Horse Beach area, including gates, valves, fire hydrants, serv-
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ices and other appurtenances as necessary and to raise and appropriate or transfer from the Sale of Real Estate Fund the sum of $10,800.00 therefor.
The Committee recommends an appropriation of $10,800.00, of which $7,700.00 shall be a transfer from the Sale of Real Estate Fund.
Voted: That the Town authorize the Water Commission- ers to lay a water main of not less than six inches in diameter for a total distance of about 1,720 feet on Thomas and Abington Avenues in the so-called White Horse Beach area, including gates, valves, fire hydrants, services and other appurtenances as necessary and to raise and appropriate the sum of $10,800 therefor, $7,700 of said appropriation to be transferred from the Sale of Real Estate Fund.
Article 49. To see if the Town will authorize the Water Commissioners to lay about 2,550 feet of water main of not less than six (6) inches in diameter together with gates, valves, hydrants and other necessary appurtenances on parts of Elm, Hemlock, Beach and Spruce Streets in the so-called Manomet Heights Development off Taylor Avenue, Manomet, and to raise and appropriate the sum of $16,000 therefor; such authorization and appropriation to be contingent upon pay- ment to the Town by the owner of said development the sum of $7,650 which is $3.00 per linear foot of the estimated length of the main, in accordance with the Rules and Regulations of the Water Department.
The Committee recommends an appropriation of $16,000.00,, provided $7,650.00 of this appropriation is deposited with the Town Treasurer by the owner before town meeting.
Voted: That the Town authorize the Water Commission- ers to lay about 2,330 feet of water main of not less than six inches in diameter, together with gates, valves, hydrants and other necessary appurtenances, on parts of Elm, Hemlock, Beach and Spruce Streets in the so-called Manomet Heights Development, off Taylor Avenue, Manomet, and to raise and appropriate the sum of $14,600 therefor, and that to meet said appropriation the sum of $7,610 be appropriated from the tax levy of the current year and $6,990 from money in the Town Treasury received from the owner of the development, repre- senting $3 per linear foot of main to be laid in said develop- ment.
Article 50. To see if the Town will authorize the Water Commissioners to lay a new water main of twelve (12) inches
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in diameter in Warren Avenue for a distance of 450 feet and a new water main of eight (8) inches in diameter on Clifford Road for a distance of about 250 feet including gates, valves, fire hydrants, services and other appurtenances as necessary and to raise and appropriate or transfer from the Sale of Real Estate Fund the sum of $8,200 therefor.
The Committee recommends an appropriation of $8,200.00, of which $5,000.00 shall be a transfer from the Sale of Real Estate Fund.
Voted: That the Town authorize the Water Commission- ers to lay a new water main of twelve inches in diameter in Warren Avenue for a distance of 450 feet and a new water main of eight inches in diameter on Clifford Road for a dis- tance of about 250 feet, including gates, valves, fire hydrants, services and other appurtenances as necessary, and to raise and appropriate the sum of $8,200 therefor, $5,000 of said appropriation to be transferred from the Sale of Real Estate Fund.
Article 51. To see if the Town will authorize the Water Commissioners to enter into all necessary contracts to lay water mains of not less than 6" in diameter and to do such other acts or things as may be necessary to supply Town water along the so-called Darby Road westerly from the end of the present main for a distance of approximately three miles, and to purchase necessary material therefor and enter into all necessary contracts and to do such other acts and things in respect thereto as may be necessary to supply Town water to the inhabitants in the above-mentioned territory and to make an appropriation therefor. To meet the appro- priation, the Town Treasurer, with the approval of the Selectmen, be authorized to borrow a sum sufficient to meet the cost thereof and to issue therefor bonds or notes of the Town payable in accordance with Section 19 of Chapter 44 of the General Laws, as amended, so that the whole loan shall be paid in not more than fifteen (15) years after the date of the issuance of the first bond or note, or at such earlier date as the Treasurer or Selectmen may determine.
(By Petition)
The Committee recommends no action.
Mr. Eugene S. Holton moved that the Town take no action under Article 51.
Mr. John A. Armstrong moved to amend the motion of Mr. Holton by substituting therefor the following: That the
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board of water commissioners be authorized and directed to make a study of the possibility of supplying water to residents of so-called Darby Road section of the Town by means of a separate water system, together with estimate of costs, and file report of same with Town Clerk not later than January 1, 1956. The motion to amend was lost.
The original motion was then put before the Meeting and voted.
Article 52. To see if the Town will authorize the Water Commissioners to purchase a one-half ton Pick-up Truck with special utility body and to dispose of the 1950 Ford one- half ton Pick-up Truck, and to raise and appropriate the sum of $1,700 therefor.
The Committee recommends an appropriation of $1,700.00.
Voted: That the Town raise and appropriate the sum of $1,700 for the purchase of a one-half ton pick-up truck with special utility body for the Water Department and to dispose of the 1950 Ford truck now in use.
Article 53. To see if the Town will authorize the Water Commissioners to purchase a one-half ton Pick-up Truck and to raise and appropriate the sum of $1,750 therefor.
The Committee recommends no action.
Voted: That the Town take no action under Article 53.
Article 54. To see if the Town will vote to amend the Town of Plymouth, Massachusetts, Zoning Map, dated Feb- ruary 1, 1951, changing from a Residence District to a Com- mercial District, the area in North Plymouth bounded north- westerly by the Plymouth Cordage Company, northeasterly by Plymouth Harbor, southeasterly by the northwesterly line of Prince Street extended to meet Plymouth Harbor and southwesterly by land already zoned as commercial.
The Committee recommends favorable action.
Mr. Eugene S. Holton moved that the Town amend the Town of Plymouth, Massachusetts, Zoning Map, dated Febru- ary 1, 1951, changing from a Residence District to a Com- mercial District, the area in North Plymouth bounded north- westerly by the Plymouth Cordage Company, northeasterly by Plymouth Harbor, southeasterly by the northwesterly line of Prince Street extended to meet Plymouth Harbor and southwesterly by land already zoned as commercial.
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Mr. Arthur S. Nickerson moved to amend the motion of Mr. Holton by substituting therefor the following: That the Town take no action under Article 54. The motion to amend was lost.
The original motion was then put before the Meeting, 111 voting in the affirmative and 10 in the negative, it was voted.
Article 55. To see if the Town will amend the Zoning By-Laws to revise the provisions of Article I regarding non- conforming uses; changing Article IV to confine its scope to Residence Districts only; changing Article V to redefine the uses permitted in Commercial Districts; and changing Article VI to redefine lot frontage, area and set-back provisions.
The Committee recommends the following amendments to the Zoning By-Law, as approved by the Planning Board:
Article I. By adding at the end the following: "ex- cept that, when a non-conforming use has been discontinued for a period of three years, it shall not be reestablished and future use shall be in conformity with this By-Law."
Article IV. By deleting from the first sentence the words "anywhere in the Town" and inserting in place thereof the words "in Residence Districts."
Article V. By deleting the first paragraph and inserting in place thereof the two following paragraphs:
"In Commercial Districts, buildings and structures may be erected. altered or placed and premises used for the fol- lowing purposes:
(a) Any use which, under Article IV, is or may be per- mitted in Residence Districts; and no reference to the Board of Appeals shall be required for any such uses."
By designating the present Article V (a) as Article V (b) and the present Article V (b) as Article V (c).
Article VI (a). By adding at the end the following words: "and provided further that there shall be 6,000 square feet of area for each dwelling erected or placed on any one lot in any district and further that no dwelling shall be placed, nor extend, within 20 feet of another dwelling on the same lot."
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Article VI (b). By substituting in place thereof the following:
(b). "Set-Back from Ways.
In a Residence District where the way is forty or more feet in width, no building or roadside stand shall be erected or placed within twenty feet of the way line. Where the way is less than forty feet in width the building or stand shall be placed not less than forty feet from the center of the way. On lots of less than sixty feet, existing and shown on a plan or plat duly recorded with the Plymouth County Registry of Deeds at the time this by-law is adopted, no building shall be erected or placed within thirty-two feet of the center line of a side way or within twelve feet of the way line of a side way. Where present buildings on adjoin- ing lots are less than twenty feet from any way line, new buildings may be placed as near the way line as the average of the buildings on said adjoining lots. A vacant lot shall, for this purpose, be treated as though occupied by a building set back twenty feet."
Article VI (c). By substituting in place thereof the following:
(c). "Set-Backs from Lot Lines of Adjoining Owners.
In a Residence District no dwelling shall be built within ten feet of the lot lines of adjoining owners and no other building within five feet of such lines."
These amendments are proposed mainly to clarify am- biguities in the present by-law.
Voted (Unanimously): That the Town amend Articles I, IV, V and VI of the Zoning By-Law as shown in the printed report of the Advisory and Finance Committee.
Article 56. To see if the Town will vote that the Zoning By-Law be amended by providing that the land adjoining Ellis Pond, also called Saby's Pond, and belonging to Adrienne Carreau in the Town, which land is now located in a resi- dential district under said by-law, be changed and located in a commercial district; said land being shown on a plan or plans filed with the Plymouth Planning Board. (By Petition)
The Committee recommends no action.
No legal action can be taken by the Town on this article, as it was not submitted to the Planning Board in time for the required public hearing to be held.
Voted: That the Town take no action under Article 56.
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Miss R. Dorothy Cannucci moved that Article 68 be taken up before Article 57, but the motion was lost.
Article 57. To see what action the Town will take with regard to improving the parking area at the rear of the Me- morial Building including the approaches thereto, the grading and surfacing of the lot, the installation of lighting and the construction of a chain-link fence along its northwesterly boundary, and make an appropriation or transfer from park- ing meter receipts therefor.
The Committee recommends the transfer of $13,470.00 from the Parking Meter Receipts, to be expended in accordance with the plan proposed by the Planning Board.
Voted: That the Town raise and appropriate or transfer from Parking Meter Receipts the sum of $13,470 to improve the parking area at the rear of the Memorial Building, includ- ing the approaches thereto, the grading and surfacing of the lot, the installation of lighting and the construction of a chain- link fence along its northwesterly boundary.
REPORT OF PLANNING BOARD ON OLD TOWN HOUSE PROPERTY
The disposition of the old Town House property, which was placed in the hands of the Planning Board for study and report, presents a number of alternatives.
The Town could take the position that the building pos- sesses sufficient historic and sentimental interest to warrant its preservation, and then again, the Town could say that, having served its usefulness and possessing nothing of archi- tectural or historical value, it should be torn down and the area made available for some more modern use. With this in mind, the Planning Board sought all available historical data.
So far as we can determine, the building is about 200 years old, making it the oldest structure in the country in continuous use in the function of government. It appears that during its life the building has been used for various public services, such as court room, jail, fire house, market stalls, etc.
Our next step was to procure plans for the restoration of the building along its original lines. This was done after it was determined that the structural condition was suitable. A thorough study of necessary details was then made, con- tacting all persons who had any knowledge by whatever
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means, and a great deal of valuable information was obtained from these sources. This being completed, prices were sought and the best estimates range from $125,000 to $150,000.
This cost seemed to be out of line and our thoughts turned to some department of the Town or private organ- ization taking it over on a rental or lease basis, on condition that the building be suitably maintained during the period of the lease.
With this in mind, town departments, a church, a public utility and the county government were considered, who, all for one reason or another, decided it did not suit their purpose. Later, a letter was received from the Church of the Pilgrimage, stating that they would be willing to lease the old Town House for church purposes and church-related activities, they to furnish heat for the public sanitaries and keep the rest of the building in good repair.
The Board gave this serious consideration, having in mind the large expenditures of money that will have to be made in the next five or ten years for schools, sewerage disposal, etc., and we feel that, by leasing the building at the present time, we could eliminate spending any money on the building now and save $5,000 to $6,000 a year operating expenses until the Town is in a better position to do a real job of restoration.
We therefore recommend that the building, formerly used by the Water and School Departments, be torn down and that the building known as the Old Town House be leased to the Church of the Pilgrimage for a period of five years with an option of five years, they to furnish heat for the public sanitaries at no expense to the Town and keep the rest of the building in good repair as their payment for its use.
JAMES A. WHITE, ELLIS W. BREWSTER, AMEDEO V. SGARZI, A. LINWOOD ELLIS, JR., WALTER H. NEAVES. Plymouth Planning Board.
Article 58. To see what action the Town will take with regard to the removal or other disposition of the old Town House and other Town buildings in Town Square and the improvement of the site and make an appropriation therefor.
The Committee recommends that the report of the Planning
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Board be accepted and their recommendation adopted, with an appropriation of $1,000 for razing the Water and School Department building.
Voted: That the Town authorize the Board of Selectmen to lease the Town House, so-called, to the Church of the Pil- grimage for five years, with an option to renew for five years, the lessee to furnish heat for the public sanitaries and to keep the building in a good state of repair, together with such reversionary condition as the Selectmen may determine.
Mr. Howard P. Barnes moved that the Town Meeting consider the Articles relating to Off-Street Parking, Articles 67, 68, 69 and 70 following Article 58 and before consideration of Articles 59 and 60 which relate to a Comfort Station or the Town House Sanitary, and the motion was so voted.
Mr. Thomas F. Quinn moved that Articles 67, 68, 69 and 70 be taken as one unit and it was so voted.
REPORT OF THE PLANNING BOARD ON OFF-STREET PARKING
At a special Town Meeting held August 16, 1954, under Article 7, it was moved and voted: To refer the matter of off-street parking to the Planning Board.
Since that time the Planning Board has met at least once a week, and it is safe to say that parking has been discussed at about every session, and approached from many angles. The Board has found that the problem is involved and complex and difficult, a conclusion which seems sup- ported by the difficulty which the Town has found in dealing with the question heretofore.
First, the Board gave some consideration to the present situation. From the Town Engineer the Board obtained the number of present parking spaces in the most congested area - that between Training Green and Depot Park, and the waterfront and Burial Hill. There are 1160 public park- ing spaces of which 250 are metered. There are 382 private parking places to be found at the following locations:
Emonds' 38
A & P 36
Savings Bank 28 Mabbett's Mill 17
First National Store 91
Memorial Press 20
Federal Svgs. & Loan 17
Dr. Ortolani 20 Sadow's 15
Registry of Deeds 36
Gloria and Pioppi's 24
Pilgrim Hall 18
Ply. Elec. Light Co. 22
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Some of these are of very recent provision, and we would record also the improvement in parking conditions in Town Square brought about by the moving of the Town Offices to Lincoln Street, and of the Leyden Press to Samoset Street.
After the influx of summer visitors had subsided, each member of the Board agreed to pay particular attention to parking conditions on the streets, and at no time was it found impossible to park within a reasonable distance of any of the business houses, with the exception of a few special occasions. It is obvious that Plymouth's parking problem in summer is very different from that for the winter.
The Board has given attention, also, to certain areas which have been proposed for parking in the past. Particular attention was given to School Street, where the Selectmen were experimenting with two-hour parking. This proved to be a failure as no one parked there and the two-hour signs have been removed. This would seem to indicate that the location is not sought after by the general public for transient parking but is used instead by employees of business houses in Town seeking all-day parking facilities, and would indi- cate that the Town acted wisely in refusing to appropriate $24,000 for this project at our last special Town Meeting.
Business houses could make a valuable contribution toward a partial solution of the Town's problem by loading and unloading freight before or after business hours and furnishing parking spaces for their own employees and customers.
The Town Engineer, at the Board's request, has made plans and rough estimates of certain other areas, as follows:
The land and buildings on five lots between Leyden and Middle Streets directly behind the business houses on Main Street with a total assessed valuation of $67.600. The final approximate figure after takings and other pertinent costs is estimated to be $130,000. This would provide 120 parking spaces at $1,100 per space.
The land and buildings on three lots between North Street and Gordon Court with a total assessed valuation of $27,500. The final approximate figure after takings and other pertinent costs is estimated to be $59,000. This would provide 111 spaces at $540 per space.
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The land and buildings on five lots between Court St. and Howland St. with a total assessed valuation of $34,200. The final approximate figure after takings and other pertinent costs is estimated to be $40,000. This would provide 65 park- ing spaces at $620 per space.
The land and buildings on the Emond-Webster Lots with a total assessed valuation of $36,525. The final approximate figure after takings and other pertinent costs is estimated to be $81,000. This would provide 92 parking spaces at about $880 per space.
The parking area back of Memorial Hall was given par- ticular attention, as will appear later.
A public meeting was held on January 24, 1955, to pro- vide an opportunity for interested citizens to express their views, and to enable the Board to obtain the benefit of any suggestions which might be made. At the meeting, the need of some relief was stressed, certain possible parking areas were suggested, and the use of a shuttle bus service was proposed.
In addition to the efforts above, the Planning Board has informed itself to some degree on what other communities have done, both in the way they have approached the prob- lem and the solutions which they have worked out. We are convinced, as we have said, that the problem is involved and difficult. More than the provision of parking spaces is re- quired; what is desired is the smooth and convenient flow of traffic, including a place to stop. Other communities have found that traffic regulations, one-way streets, no parking near intersections, pedestrian traffic control, etc., are all involved. As to parking spaces themselves, their location, their size, their effect on business, whether metered or not, and if metered, the period of occupancy, are all important.
The Board is of the opinion that it has neither the time nor the ability to produce the best solution. We quote the Chamber of Commerce of the United States, who have done a lot to help on parking problems over the country, and this is what they say:
"Parking remedies should not be devised through guess- work or opinion. The most satisfactory results will come from getting the right facts and applying them intelligently. Therefore, the services of a qualified engineering consultant
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should be obtained for this purpose where there is no municipal traffic engineer to turn to."
Seeing the situation in this light, the Planning Board is reluctant at this time to recommend large expenditures and the destruction of substantial taxable property. Only such proposals should be undertaken now, the Board thinks, which, even in our present state of inadequate data and knowledge, would seem almost certain to fall well within any solution which might be recommended by more com- petent authorities.
One such proposal which it seems clear could be safely undertaken is the improvement and the making more useful of the parking place in the rear of Memorial Hall, and an article has been inserted in the Warrant to permit the Town to take this action if it so desires.
Another proposal, which we think worthy of consider- ation, is the area of the Emond and Webster lots. Although the cost per space is high ($880), the Board feels that there are other factors to be taken into account - it is land the Board feels the Town should own, and its improvement would, the Board thinks, tend to improve certain adjacent areas. Therefore, the Board recommends that these lots be purchased and improved for parking purposes. (Mr. Neaves believes that decision on this space should await expert advice.)
Beyond this, the Board recommends that the Town appro- priate funds to engage expert advice, working under either the Planning Board or such other committee as the Town may prefer. believing that by this approach the Town will most satisfactorily, most economically, and most quickly obtain the relief it so badly needs. An article has been in- serted in the Warrant to permit the Town to take such action.
JAMES A. WHITE, ELLIS W. BREWSTER, AMEDEO V. SGARZI. A. LINWOOD ELLIS, JR., WALTER H. NEAVES,
Plymouth Planning Board.
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Article 67. To see what action the Town will take with regard to off-street parking, including the continued study of the problem and make an appropriation therefor.
The Committee recommends that the Planning Board be au- thorized to continue their study of off-street parking and to engage expert advice.
Article 68. To see if the Town will raise and appropriate or transfer from Parking Meter Receipts or to raise such additional funds as necessary by a bond issue to be paid out of Parking Meter Receipts the sum of Twenty-nine Thousand Dollars ($29,000) for the purpose of acquiring by purchase, a parcel of land on the southwesterly side of Main Street Extension and being portions of Lots 58A and 58B of Plat 19 of the Town Assessors' Plan, more specifically and bounded substantially as follows: Southwesterly by Market Street, 82.18 feet; Northwesterly, 42.40 feet; Northeasterly 3.90 feet, all by land now or formerly of Mary N. Churchill; North- westerly by said Churchill land and land now or formerly of Edward B. Atwood et al, 70.60 feet; Northeasterly by the inner edge of the sidewalk on Main Street, 82.51 feet; and Southeasterly by land now or formerly of Edward B. Atwood et al and land now or formerly of John A. Harris. 142.68 feet, for the purpose of Public Off-Street Parking. (By Petition)
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