2008-11-05-PB-min - Laserfiche WebLink

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Page 4 Minutes for the Meeting of November 5, 2008 to first define the necessary improvements and determine their cost and then to assign a pro-rated figure to the developers and to the Town for infrastructure improvements. Traffic calming on Hartwell Avenue may need to be done very selectively since measures like speed bumps would impact more then just single occupancy vehicles, for instance buses and bikes. Mr. Zurlo said it would be helpful to understand the tolerance level of the residents. The Board should not be so quick to get rid of LOS. What would happen if developers were responsible for building their own mitigation improvements? Audience comments: ?? It was a dangerous misconception that parking spaces would generate traffic since it would be office spaces that would generate traffic. Would the Town be taking steps to protect the neighbors adjacent to commercial properties and spend the monies needed in the areas in close proximity to commercial developments? There would be a disproportionate impact on the immediate area, while the entire Town would benefit from the increased revenues. This would impact tremendously on the abutters’ quality of life. ?? The high priority should be the environment and our neighborhoods should not be for sale. Planned commercial developments were not fair to their neighbors. Spend the impact monies locally and residents in the area would expect to see the infrastructure improvements first. ?? There had been questions regarding the enforcement of past promises. A letter had been sent to the Zoning Enforcement Officer on October 15 and still there has been no response. ?? There has been noticeable fragmentation over the past year and there should be a larger effort to instill a change in attitudes of the Town such as using walking school buses. Think on the level of societal issues and not fragmented single neighborhood solutions. ?? The Town would need more then the LOS considered so residents could get out of their driveways. Mr. Canale said the comments made were critical and important since there is the potential that the process of balancing of the impacts and benefits to the Town and the neighborhoods could be divisive . Next time the Board meets with the Board of Selectmen it should be addressed. Ms. Manz said the reality was there were very few commercial zones in Lexington and abutters in those areas would feel the impacts the most. It was not realistic to expect improvements be made before increasing commercial development, but mitigation funds could be applied to those areas that would be