Planning Board Notebook: Hoover Ave. Discussed, Morgan Farm Continued

Editor's Note: The following are notes and updates from the Westwood Planning Board's most recent meeting, which took place on Tuesday, Dec. 13. 

Abandonment of Hoover Avenue 

The Westwood Planning Board this week had originally planned to discuss an issue relating to an Approval Not Required plan for the former Hoover Avenue. 

The Board, though, postponed discussion until it could get signatures from eight residents of the road, and will resume discussion once the signatures have been obtained, according to Town Planner Nora Loughnane.

At Town Meeting in 1986, Westwood approved a discontinuance of Hoover Avenue as a public way between Sexton Avenue and Buckmaster Pond. Since, neighbors in the area blocked vehicular access to the area by installing a park and a pedestrian path. In 1996, another portion of the street was discontinued, Loughnane said. 

"The road continued to exist, and some parts of it were used as a walking path," she said. "The town was attempting an Approval Not Required plan, which made it clear that the former road that it was not public land; it was not authorized for public transportation." 

The road was brought to the forefront again at Town Meeting this past May, when . Approval was needed for the easement in order to provide a pedestrian path between Sexton Avenue and Bucksmaster Road. 

The easement was listed as Article 27 on the Town Meeting Warrant; all articles at the Town Meeting passed. 

Morgan Farm Estates

The long-discussed plan for was continued to take place on Jan. 10 after lengthy discussion on whether to continue it or not, Loughtnane said.  

"(Planning Board Chair Steve Rafsky) is working with neighbors, Hale Reservation, the Westwood Land Trust and the Board of Selectmen to see if they can negotiate a deal where a portion of the land involved, up to 100 percent, could be acquired for conservation land," Loughnane said. 

The Board had looked to have an appraisal of the land conducted to see if funds could be raised in order to make an offer to Wall Street Development, but an appraisal didn't come in time for Tuesday's meeting. 

The hearing pertains to a proposal for a 10 buildable lot definitive subdivision that will be known as the Morgan Farm Estates Subdivision. Also being discussed is the creation of a roadway between Little Boot Road and Shoe String Lane.