2018-06-26-CPAC-min - Laserfiche WebLink

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In this, and in the other elements of a Comprehensive Plan, our role, as the CPAC, is to help the community make choices and trade-offs. Some members of the community have expressed a concern that we (Lexington) wants to make up for the capital demands of recent project funding by enhancing the tax base in the commercial district at Hartwell. As places for comparison,we are directed to look at Crosby Drive in Bedford, and/or the Middlesex Turnpike Extension in Burlington to see examples of current development models. David Field presented the results of the June 41h public gathering by handing out snippets of comments written down during that gathering. He asked that members of the committee and others cut out the comments and place them under subject areas that seemed most appropriate for each comment. CPAC members synthesized the comments onto each of six boards, each with a different title. In summary, results include the following overall message: Ray (Ruixi Yuan) summarized the comments under "Harmony with Nature." Too many tear-downs are changing the landscape, large homes on small lots, losing shade trees discourages walking, and comments included a general call for more green. Patrick(Sullivan) summarized the comments under "Accessible and Connected." Calls included a strong desire for traffic calming, more affordable housing and more diverse housing stock, and more alternative transportation options. Christian (Senna) dealt with the board entitled "Healthy and Socially Responsible." Comments included those that note an absence of racial diversity in town, some folks expressed regret that there are too many McMansions, and others expressed a desire to support aging in place as regards housing and retirement. In addition, comments called for more density in the commercial districts and more diversity in housing. Deepak(Amenani) addressed the comments placed beneath "Vital &Resilient Economy." Comments included a concern that the Ton is not supporting small businesses, and those that are present are often closed. Here too, comments reveal a desire for more affordable housing,better mass transit, and calls for more economic diversity in our commercial center. Marilyn (Fenollosa) presented comments that fell under the heading "Good Governance." Here, comments included a concern that taxes are too high,that one has to know the system in order to access affordable housing, and one comment raised a concern about low water pressure.