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

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impoverished by horticultural choices of non-native The total number of miles driven by Americans each lawns and plant species that provide little food or year is increasing more than three times as fast as the habitat for birds and wildlife.Landscaping of public country's population. New Englanders are driving spaces is similarly unfriendly to wildlife. The nearly a third more miles than they were just a Bikeway and the Minuteman Park are notable decade ago, an increase of another third from the exceptions. previous decade. This increased travel accounts for about 40%of the smog that caused violations of RESIDENT NEEDS AND PREFERENCES health-based air standards for more than 20 days per year in parts of New England. Residential Development: Surveys of town residents in recent years have yielded consistent but sometimes The quality of life in and the attractiveness potentially conflicting statements of goals and values Lexington's built environment are dependent to a regarding residential property.Preservation is great extent on the health and resilience of its natural important to us--of our historic properties,our New environment. The amount of waste generated,and England small town character,the ambiance of our the manner of waste incineration,contribute to the neighborhoods and center,the diversity of our presence of toxic contaminants such as dioxin and housing stock and the diversity of backgrounds,ages mercury in the food supply. and incomes of our residents.We worry about growth in general and an increase in density,often about loss In the next few years Lexington can expect to have of open space and increasingly over to 15—20,000 wireless phone users,plus a significant mansionization and the loss of space between increase in non-voice wireless devices ranging from individual houses.Maintaining affordability is a mobile internet devices to vending machines that use frequent concern,especially for those who grew up in wireless to report that they are empty. In addition, town,are employed by the town,or are on fixed the number of wireless devices in vehicles passing incomes.More recent opinion surveys reveal even through the town will increase substantially. greater concern about the high and increasing cost of housing in Lexington, going beyond that expressed Average Lexington residential water usage is 74,800 about those on fixed income to a broader concern gallons per household per year,totaling 2 billion about the changing social characteristics of the town, gallons per year purchased from MWRA. The about"creeping exclusivity," and the"danger of average household generates 15-20 lb.of toxic waste becoming economically homogeneous" and losing per year. "economic diversity." Conflicting goals include the desire for affordable housing and the desire to Open Space:Land use:Lexington covers 10,650 preserve density patterns and open space. One is acres,of which about 1300 acres(12.2%) difficult to provide without the expense to the other; is conservation land or private land with conservation the Mercer analysis found 72%of residents preferred restrictions. About 11%of the town is covered in maintaining the current amount of open space in paved roads. town over use of undeveloped land to build additional Undeveloped Land: There are 222 acres of vacant affordable housing. land remaining in town. Commercial Development:The citizens of Critical Parcels: In 1996 the Lexington Conservation Lexington view the town as primarily a residential Commission identified 20 parcels of unprotected land community. Most large-scale capital investment in comprising 498 acres that were considered to be infrastructure that would generate commercial "critical" open space. Development of these parcels enterprise has been rejected or opposed. At the same will clearly harm open space values.The largest time,there has been consistent expression of the need parcel,the Arlington/Lexington Great Meadows,has to expand tax revenues from commercial enterprise. 183 acres.The Lexington Golf Club comprises 72 Support for the existing tax rate,66%higher for acres. commercial than for residential,has been strong. Wildlife habitat and biodiversity:Much of Town Center:Residents are interested in pedestrian Lexington's current open space consists of backyards access,bicycle accommodation, adequate parking, in residential areas,where single-family lots leave the variety of uses,retention of historic buildings,and undeveloped portions fragmented and less usable to protection of adjacent neighborhoods. Residents wildlife.Much current residential landscaping is express concern over litter,the poor condition of the Managing Growth-22