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Minutes, August 12, 1985 page 2 <br />Mrs. Flemings reported on the meetings and the activities of the Committee. Mr. <br />Hays explained that the Committee had been created by action of the Selectmen to <br />explore the possibilities of congregate housing in Lexington. The Committee <br />first worked toward defining the need and developing physical and design require- <br />ments, including investigating what the private sector might provide. The <br />Selectmen were interested in what type of controls and regulations might be <br />necessary and what services are provided in existing examples of congregate <br />housing. <br />The Committee met with developers and nutrition providers. Developers have found <br />they can't sell congregate housing without private baths and some kind of kitchen <br />facilities, i.e, a small apartment, when they are planning a large development <br />(similar to a large apartment building). The Committee struggled with the prob- <br />lem of keeping the congregate aspect viable as a part of a large development. <br />They wondered if zoning could be used to accomplish this. They felt that conver- <br />sions of existing buildings would not happen without public support as outlined <br />in Part 4 of their draft report. They are also looking at Board of Health regu- <br />lations re congregate housing. Mrs. Edmonds would like the Town to encourage a <br />variety of congregate housing types. The following problems were identified: <br />1) affordability - high cost of elderly care, staffing/nursing, <br />2) scarcity of funding, and 3) services already provided to elderly, such <br />as Meals on Wheels, which tend to postpone their acceptance of the <br />congregate living concept. People living independently would rather stay as <br />' they are and have services added. <br />The committee presented a draft report of their findings to the Board for study. <br />Mrs. Smith commented that the need for independence sometimes outweighs the <br />ability to care for oneself. She felt the Committee did well not only examining <br />need, but looking at how people reacted to the concept of congregate housing. <br />She added that the Planning Board would work with the Committee's recommendations <br />relating to zoning, and that it must continue to be a joint effort. <br />180. Kiln Brook IV, Conditions in Special Permit: Appointment with Thomas <br />Dupree: Mr. Dupree felt the proposal he discussed with the Planning Board includ- <br />ing a general restriction in each lease he signs with his tenants provides the <br />means to control traffic problems if they occur. He said his tenants react to <br />traffic congestion by readjusting their schedules voluntarily. <br />Mr. Sorensen commented that the roads in the area are saturated, and the Planning <br />Board feels the alleviation of the traffic problems should be divided among all <br />business in the area, hence the solution of roping off portions of parking lots <br />if traffic problems warrant it. <br />Mrs. Smith felt the Town must be able to protect the interests of the Town if the <br />roads in the area become oversaturated by enforcing the restriction proposed by <br />the Board, and can not depend on the promises of individual business to control <br />the problem. She feels this is accomplished by the language the Board has pro- <br />posed in their report on the Special Permit. <br />The Planning Board will report to the Board of Appeals that Mr. Dupree and the <br />Board can not agree. The Board is satisfied with the actions taken by Mr. Dupree <br />in the Kiln Brook IV building to date. The current situation is workable, in <br />