1986-03-BOS-min - Laserfiche WebLink

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Or Selectmen's Meeting March 18, 1 986 _3_ 0 Pon The purpose of the evening's meeting was to seek Selectmen, Planning Board and Chamber acceptance of CRC findings, support of Land Use and Development Policies and support of future program priorities. Norma Bogen showed a slide of the Center showing the Central Business Zone and peripheral areas , pointing out blocks of commercial development along Mass. Avenue. She gave CRC findings on the state of the Center, reported on its major strengths and pointed out the areas which need a t t e n t i o n . Stephen Cr i pps reported on the role of the Center, retail, services and Office use, visual farm of the Center with respect to scale, environment, character, improvements, amenities and appearance, adjoining residential areas, parkin and responsibility for parking, commercial growth and parking as a land use Y As program components recommended by the CRC, Mrs. Sa t t i n listed organization, economic structure /land use, access - parking, circulation, and design and amenities, Under organization, she requested r e c o n s t i t u t i o n of the CRC as a means of monitoring, coordinating and managing change in the Center. The committee would make an annual report on the state of the Center and would give its recommendations pertaining to the Center. Under . Rromo t i on" , Mrs. Sat t i n recommended support of Chamber of Commerce promotions, a "Center Watch", and design of a logo for the Center. She gave the priorities of the CRC as Design and Amenities, including revival of the Design Advisory Group; development of a visual plan; improvement of parking lots; design of public signs.; a t t e n t i o n to Emery Bark and improvement of receptacles, benches, bike racks, restrooms, and bus shelters and, as the second priority, Access and Parking, i.e. i n cr eased parking and improvement of traffic flow. Laura Nichols showed a series of slides depicting rear entrances in need of redesign or renovation, need for monitoring of trash and litter, and some of the strengths and weaknesses of the Center as viewed from Mass. Avenue. The Committee proposed that the report be filed with the Town Meeting under Article 2 and Mrs. Ba t t i n asked that copies of the summary be prepared for Town Meeting members. With reference to the non-uniformity of si gnage and other examples of undesirable features pointed out by the Committee Mr. Marshall questioned how the Committee could regulate the tastes of private property owners. He felt that improvement of Emery Park could be accomplished and sign age could be controlled, but that fragmented ownership in the Center would make uniformity difficult. Mrs. Bat t i n responded that the CRC and Design Advisory Group would supply guidance rather than imposing control and should be considered as a resource to businesses.