2008-07-09-PB-min - Laserfiche WebLink

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PLANNING BOARD MINUTES MEETING OF JULY 9, 2008 A regular meeting of the Lexington Planning Board in the Selectmen’s Meeting Room, Town Office Building was called to order at 7:35 p.m. by Vice Chairman Zurlo with members Manz, Galaitsis and Canale and planning staff McCall-Taylor, Henry and Kaufman present. Mr. Hornig was absent. ***************************************PARKING************************************* MAPC consultant, Parking: Mr. Jim Gallagher of the Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC) gave a presentation addressing parking as a regional issue. He discussed some of the parking practices other towns in the region and nationwide have used to help mitigate parking problems in their communities. MAPC has a sustainable parking toolkit on their website. It provides information, examples and assistance to the communities it serves in determining the best parking strategies. Mr. Gallagher addressed 5 of the 15 Smart Growth Principals such as: ?? Integrate people and places; ?? Promote more transportation choices; ?? Take advantage of compact development design and create walkable neighborhoods; ?? Promote economic development; and ?? Encourage community and stakeholder collaboration in development decisions. Strategies for sustainable parking were as follows: ?? Alternatives to minimum requirements; ?? Minimizing negative consequences; ?? Addressing spillover; ?? Reducing the demand; and ?? Paying for parking. Shared parking was also addressed; Mr. Gallagher said it could reduce parking by 50% and increase open space. Board Comments and questions: ?? Were there any communities with free parking structures? Mr. Gallagher said there were no municipal parking structures that he knows of that are free.