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pollution levels and headlights would then become an issue for the neighbors. Mr. Marchant suggested that the developers not throw that idea out if the neighbors liked it. In response to a question,Mr. Cheng indicated that the layout of the original site has been looked at by the Fire Department and the Town Engineer. They suggested that the plans would be acceptable, however, Mr. Cheng informed the committee that the approval was not official. John Frey stated that, although the perimeter road created more asphalt, it provided a greater distance between the units and the neighbors. Mr. Cheng indicated that if the group felt positively about the perimeter road that the designers would look at a plan that incorporated that element. Mr. Passman mentioned the Morrow Crossing development, a project that utilized a large garage for four units. There,the access road was along the perimeter and pushed the buildings back from the property line. Mr. Posner mentioned Russell Square as another interesting development. It fit in nicely with the neighborhood with some buildings set back 25 feet from the property line. This development had 17 units on two acres with some above ground and some below ground parking. Mr. Marchant stated that the Russell Square development was a good one and that committee members should go and look at the site. Mr. Posner stated that Rising Tide Development did not want to make the Lowell Street development like Locke Village. He indicated that they had looked at the Locke Village idea but that it did not seem like the best type of development for this location. Rising Tide Development wanted to make the Lowell Street buildings similar to others in Lexington. If neighbors want the Locke Village type, Rising Tide Development can make two row houses with landscaping. Mr. Passmen stated that he understood that the developers want to build as many units as they could and sell them for the greatest amount of money. He stated that separate units are more marketable. He indicated that it would be worth looking at the number of 2-plex buildings because he also wanted to see a successful development. Mr. Abkowitz asked whether the developers had looked at the financial viability of different plans. Mr. Posner stated that they had examined the financial viability of different plans but that he was hoping the committee could discuss the issue of setbacks without discussing the financial impact on the development. He indicated that a row house might be acceptable financially but not to the neighbors. Mr. Marchant questioned who would make the first commitment. He pointed out that the neighbors should be thinking about who is going to establish acceptable thresholds. Mr. Passman wanted to know why couldn't the neighbors move around units without being shouted down. Mr. Marchant said that the process wais good and to keep with it. It was suggested that the single-family houses on Porter Lane were similar in massing to the quadraplex units being proposed here. Mr. Galaitsis asked that the model be left so that people could play with it. Mr. Trainer agreed to leave the model in the Planning Department so people could use it. Mr.Taylor said that he would like a better sense of what minimum number of units would yield 16% profit, since if a 16%profit can be done with 20 units,why do 48? Mr. Possner said that 26 is the minimum for land costs, but there are fixed costs for the entire development. He also noted that 16%of a larger development is a larger number. He said that the developers blinked first by putting 48 units on the plans. Ms. McCall-Taylor suggested that the next meeting be just with the committee,without the developer present to allow the committee to discuss what they wanted to see on this site. Mr.Abkowitz asked if Mr. Marchant could meet the neighbors separately and was told that Mr. Marchant is hired by the town to work with the committee. Mr. Taylor commented that he has no real sense of where the town and the individuals on the committee stand on the proposal. Mr.Posner said he would be moving the official part of the process along. He is about to file. He will be filing 48 units and says that they will continue the discussion. When he asked what was driving him to file now he said that the market was causing nerves. They have assumed$285 per square foot as a sale