2000-06-12 Managing Growth Development and Open Space Working Group.pdf

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ENVIRONMENTAL SCAN approximately 1,900 rental units,less than half are in MARCH 10, 2000 multi-family complexes of five or more units. • Much of Lexington's historic character is based on CURRENT STATUS the town's preservation of 18th and 19th century houses.The Historic Districts Commission has jurisdiction over 150 homes while the Historic General: Lexington is widely considered to be an Commission has identified an additional 671 exceptionally attractive community in which to live. historically significant residences.Lexington Many of the town's physical characteristics are maintains its reputation as an historic town in spite of clearly important to the quality of life in Lexington. the fact that more than 75%of the town's housing These characteristics include a location accessible to stock has been constructed since 1940, and more than a major city,many historic and period homes of half was exceptional quality,the availability of pleasing open built during the boom between 1940 and 1969.Much and recreation space,a clean and healthy of the town's post-war development was constructed environment,and a center that serves as an agreeable in densities and styles typical of suburbs across the and convenient shopping,dining and meeting place. nation, with many modest sized houses on quarter- acre or larger lots,in a pattern heavily dependent on We have consciously managed growth. While there automobile transportation. are always external pressures on a community,many of the pleasing aspects of the town are consequences Whereas there were 4,500 acres of developable of well debated and carefully considered decisions by vacant land in 1960,by February 2000 the Planning the citizens and their government. The present center Department estimated that only 175 to 200 acres of is the result of long range plans,as is much of our vacant land which could be used for new housing or historical preservation and open space conservation. other development remain. An additional 1,100 to Well-crafted regulation has been a crucial factor in 1,200 acres is considered "under-developed"relative developing the physical character and attractiveness to what zoning would allow. of Lexington. Much of the housing constructed in Lexington in the There have been unintended consequences of our last decade has been"infill" development,which management of growth. Although the number of our includes construction of new houses on scattered households is growing,our household size is steadily vacant lots,the tearing down of an existing house and shrinking. Our population is aging,and doing so at a replacement with a new house,and the creation of a greaterrate than in neighboring towns. We have very new subdivision allowing construction on "orphan" little undeveloped land remaining.Lexington's open lots.Over the last decade,approximately 400 houses spaces,wildlife habitat and biodiversity have been have been built,evenly divided among"tear-downs", adversely affected by development. subdivisions,and those on vacant parcels. The largest "Mansionization"is resulting in higher housing share of the infill development has occurred since prices and fewer smaller, less expensive homes for 1997,including approximately 80 "tear-downs."Infill younger,less affluent families. This inhibits the development is generating increasing concern diversity that we value.Our dependence on the regarding impact on the scale of neighborhoods and automobile is increasing.We drive more miles each on housing affordability.Tear-downs are eroding the year then we did in the past even though more people limited stock of"starter" homes for moderate-income may be working in their homes at computers. The households. sleeping giant of Hanscom is stirring and threatening us with more traffic,noise and pollution.These The cost of housing in Lexington has increased unintended consequences of our past growth steadily over the last decade.The median sale prices management must be carefully considered as we for a single-family house in Lexington has gone from develop our plan for the physical character of $189,500 in 1985 to$253,000 in 1990 to$283,100 in Lexington in 2020. 1995,and soared to$425,000 by 1999.Roughly five percent of the town's housing(541 units)is Residential Development: Of Lexington's 10,650 considered "affordable" by state standards, including acres,63%are in residential use, supporting just 261 rental units in six locations owned by the about eleven thousand housing units.Nearly 82%of Lexington Housing Authority. Still,Lexington falls these are detached single-family houses;the same short of the state standard for a minimum of 10%of percentage is owner-occupied. Of the town's affordable housing for households Managing Growth -20