1984-01-BOS-min - Laserfiche WebLink

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Selectmen's Meeting -S- January 9, 19 84 Conference Center Project to provide training opportunities for its students. Dr. Fitzgerald reviewed a summary sheet of hotel.proposals received from Howard Johnson r s and .f rom,. Inncorp . and pointed out features of each with regard to space needed, financing, curriculum, lease terms, income to Minuteman, payments in le.iu of taxes to Lexington, schedule for construction, and noted two alternatives f or development: on .campus or of f.-- campus , He pointed out transportation problems involved for- students in the case. of an off - campus development. He outlined his procedural suggestions to the advisory committee, which will give its.recommendations on whether the Vo Tech School Committee should pursue the project, and with which of the afore- mentioned firms, In February, 1984. Dr. Fitzgerald pointed out that the school- constructed center would not be officially subject to Town zoning regulations, however the business/ school joint project would -face a less clear zoning context which would be thoroughly exp -lored if that option is approved by the VoTech School Committee. Regarding traffic problems generated by the hotel option, Dr. Fitzgerald noted other such operations -in the area have not aggravated traffic problems on Rte 2A, since related traffic activity would not be concentrated at peak a.m. and p..m. hours as with industry in the locality. Dr. Fitzgerald stressed the benefits to be realized by students in such a training program and invited all who wish to join in the planning process to do so. O••. Mrs. Uhrig noted concerns of the Planning Board regarding the zoning question and traffic.consi.derati.ons and that the proposal raises many issues that need more thought: She said the Planning Board had un<derstood.that - a rezoning from residential to.cornmercial would be sought. Dr Fitzgerald responded that any necessary steps to comply would be taken when the re- quirement is ascertained, Regarding .traffic considerations, he noted a 1978 . traf f is study pre- pared for the School which.would be duplicated if requested. He noted the additional exit from the site and its potential for other traffic patterns, as has been demonstrated at heavily attended events, would be asked for projections on generation .of traffic. Mrs, Battin felt that, any such traffic information should. be included in the BATS Traff ic.Study, now being developed. Dr. Fitzgerald expressed willingness to cooperate in.the matter, but had thought that aspect had been covered - through Lincoln contacts. Mr. McLaughlin questioned the additional traffic generated by a hotel plus conference center and pointed out that his initial impression had been that only a hotel was being proposed. Dr. Fitzgerald did.not view the additional function as presenting traffic difficulties and said that similar operations are being handled at this time with no problem. In response to Mrs. Battin, Dr.. Fitzgerald said conference /hotel traffic would -be regulated so as not to coincide with existing peak hour commuter traffic on Rte 2A. and school buses. Regarding off - campus training at existing hotels, Mr. Fitzgerald said O NOW- that very little support had been demonstrated by other hotels in the area