2004-10-26-PB-min - Laserfiche WebLink

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Minutes for the Meeting of October 26, 2004 2 POTENTIAL ZONING AMENDMENTS - PLANNING BOARD INITIATIVES Affordable Housing Using consultant Philip Herr's draft documents dated October 10, 2004, the Board discussed which of the housing initiatives that the Housing Partnership has been developing with Mr. Herr might be brought to the 2005 Town Meeting: accessory apartments, adaptive reuse, or inclusionary housing. Because adaptive reuse of structures includes the issues of inclusionary housing and public benefits, it was deemed preferable to proceed with an accessory apartment measure, a less expansive topic, in 2005. Inclusionary housing and adaptive reuse would need more data gathering, public education, and other preparation than is possible before the 2005 Annual Town Meeting. Center Parking Mr. Kastorf commented that before the Board devotes time to helping to develop an amendment to the parking provisions for the center business district he wants to know that there is unanimous support from the Lexington Center Committee and how much work the committee members are willing to put in to support it. Ms. Manz indicated that unanimous support was unlikely but noted that while one member of the Center Committee expressed strong opposition, most members favor some change. Reporting further on her meeting with Mr. Levin of the Center Committee, Ms. Manz said that creating satellite parking for center business employees emerged as a high priority. The Center Committee is in favor of relaxing center parking regulations or doing away with them altogether and would like to know the Planning Board's position on this. Everyone concerned wants to change the perception that the regulations are based in part on "virtual parking spaces ". Board members agreed that they would help the Center Committee work toward a change in center parking regulations, but not outright elimination of them. Changing restaurant parking only and or changing the center's underlying zoning were seen as potential paths to follow. On a motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to adjourn the meeting at 10:25 p.m. &K r Wendy Ma , lerk