Neighbors happier with newest plan : Garden Road approved as culdesac
Published on November 25th, 1997
STONEHAM, MA - It was inevitable. On Wednesday night, the Stoneham Planning Board voted acceptance of the latest proposal to develop a section of Garden Road that calls for construction of a subdivision with a roadway ending in a cul-de-sac.
The Planning Board listened to opinions expressed by concerned area residents who, in general, felt that the plan currently before the board by Treacy Builders, would be in the best interest of the neighborhood since it proposed construction of a cul-de-sac rather than development of an access way to the heavily traveled Green Street.
An on-going land court case has served to linger somewhat over the minds of area residents and Planning Board members. The current litigation involves development of the area calling for such a through-way to Green Street, which Stoneham Police and Fire Departments have also stated they are opposed to.
Garden Road resident Nancy Meaney stated that, ideally, the residents would not like to have any road going through the neighborhood, but that the cul-de-sac, as proposed by the petitioner, would properly address safety issues and would be preferred by most over a throughway to Green Street.
"It would be unrealistic to think that something will not go in there," Meaney stated.
Specifically, the plan seeks to divide a parcel of land with existing lots along Garden Road from Brackett Avenue to a cul-de-sc. The plan calls for a waivers to the layout width from 50 feet to 42 feet and a l0 foot cul-de-sac width waiver, from a 45 foot radius to 40 feet. The board did not approve the request to waive the sidewalk on the northwesterly side of the road.
This sidewalk waiver was requested by the petitioner due to the tightness of the area. Without the waiver, construction of a sidewalk may result in some residents losing land that they previously thought was theirs. Planning Board member August Niewenhous suggested that a survey be done to verify the property lines to determine if this additional waiver is appropriate.
Planning Board member Stephen Catalano voiced his opposition to the waiver, citing that although the petitioner has been attempting to accommodate the residents by not impinging on their land, or what was thought to be their land, the primary concern must be for public safety.
Garden Road resident Steve Kingston expressed his opposition to the waivers, citing the history of Garden Road which is a dirt road and is what he considers a "disgrace."
"I cringe when I see waivers that go against the requirements," Kingston stated.
Since the last meeting, Houghton stated that a botanist, hired by the petitioner, had determined that the proposed roadway fell beyond l00 feet of the wetlands line. The roadway would, therefore, not fall under the jurisdiction of the Conservation Commission. The Commission will also do their own investigating to verify the petitioner's findings.
According to Houghton, if actual house lots fall within the l00 feet, a notice of intent would need to be filed with the Conservation Commission before a building permit is issued.
Planning Board member Kevin Dolan called the proposal "not typical" of the plans that are presented to the Board. He stated that uncertainty over the area which stems from the pending land court case, makes the board's decision more difficult. The pending litigation poses somewhat of a threat to the area if nothing is developed.
"We don't hold all the cards, and the abutters sense that," Dolan stated.
The plan was approved unanimously by the Planning Board.
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