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by negotiating restrictions with current owners or, where necessary, by acquisition <br /> of priority parcels with public funds. <br /> Goal 2: Restore and maintain Lexington's streets as safe, usable public spaces. <br /> Traffic congestion negatively affects one's quality of life, in terms of both <br /> convenience, environmental quality, and the quality of the town's public spaces. <br /> While our group acknowledges that traffic congestion is both a regional issue and <br /> a transportation issue, we also see traffic as a local development issue and would <br /> like the town to attempt to limit the type of development which would add to the <br /> town's existing traffic congestion problems. Our group would also like the town <br /> to improve conditions for pedestrians and for the use of alternative vehicles, and <br /> to promote development that would be conducive to the increased usage of <br /> existing public transportation. We would like to see residential streets again be <br /> suitable for play areas and places where neighbors meet one another. <br /> Goal 3: Ensure a clean and healthy environment in Lexington and encourage a <br /> transition to sustainable consumption patterns. <br /> Our group would like the town to make an effort to improve the quality of the <br /> environment in the town. This goal is a corollary to the goal of protecting open <br /> space in that both reflect a respect for nature. By limiting waste and preventing <br /> pollution, protecting wetlands, and nurturing and improving biodiversity, the town <br /> and its residents can contribute toward preserving the quality of the environment <br /> for future generations. One way to preserve environmental quality is to establish <br /> sustainable patterns of production and consumption. But we recognize that <br /> sustainable production is a matter largely beyond the control of the town. <br /> Goal 4: Preserve and enhance the physical character of the town and its <br /> neighborhoods. <br /> A deep respect for the town's historic character is one of the things that make <br /> Lexington unique. We hope the town will continue to build upon the best of what <br /> has been done in the past. Recognizing that the town has a long history and that <br /> its landscape has been continually modified by successive generations over three <br /> centuries, choices are necessary about which aspects of town character to preserve <br /> and enhance. We would like the town to take a more active role in shaping the <br /> town's commercial and residential development to be consistent with the human <br /> scale and pedestrian-friendly characteristics of the pre-automobile eras. We <br /> would like to encourage design that enhances neighborhood livability, sense of <br /> community, and that promotes access to green space and other public spaces. We <br /> also want the town to continue to preserve its historic character out of respect for <br /> its place in history, as a source of pride and as an attraction to tourists. <br /> Goal 5: Create a mix of housing stock that permits the choice of lifelong residence in <br /> Lexington and that is affordable for people of all socio-economic levels and age <br /> groups. <br /> Town residents place a strong value on maintaining social and economic diversity. This <br /> value is jeopardized by the trend toward more and more expensive real estate, which <br /> Managing Growth-5 <br />