2015-06-08-WALKS-min - Laserfiche WebLink

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Lexington Sidewalk Committee Meeting Minutes Monday, June 8, 2015, 9 AM Selectmen's Meeting Room, Town Office Building Present: Chair Craig Weeks, Judy Crocker, Francine Stieglitz; Liaisons: Elaine Celi, Lexington Public Schools Transportation Guests: Aaron Henry, Planning Department; Gerry Paul and John Frey, Tree Committee; Bettina McGimsey, Hank Manz, Rob Wilkinson, Shirine Boulos Anderson, Patricia Nelson The meeting of the Sidewalk Committee (SWC) was called to order at 9:15 AM. The Chair noted that the Committee did not have a quorum of its members; therefore no votes could be taken. 1.Public Comment: Comments and concerns from the Community a.Decision of Hill Street Sidewalk Application – May 27, 2015 Community Meeting Mr. Weeks reviewed the status of the project. Hill St. is to be resurfaced this summer. DPW and Engineering will attempt to take into account pedestrian and bicyclist community concerns during construction as much as possible even though such measures are beyond the scope of the project. A Committee vote could not be taken due to a lack of quorum. b.Tree Committee comment upon the procedures to be followed with public requests Mr. Paul and Frey explained that the Tree Committee has a questionnaire regarding trees in the public right-of-way on residential property. He explained that the Town takes requests to plant setback trees on an owner’s private property. The tree is then a private tree but its serves as a shade tree. While the Committee recognizes its value, Mr. Weeks indicated that such an instrument is beyond the purview of the Sidewalk Committee. 2.DPW Update – Colony Road subdivision Mr. Henry reviewed changes to Colony Road due to the development of a small subdivision on the private portion of the road. The road width will increase to 20 feet. The road has a steep grade with a densely tree-lined, inverted S-turn with drainage issues. The question facing the Planning Board is whether to request a sidewalk from the developer from the Fiske driveway to the property subdivision, a length of about 600 feet. The abutters are not in favor of a new sidewalk and it will not connect with another sidewalk on the subdivision end. In addition, no regular school buses or special education vans travel on this end of Colony Rd. Mr. Aaron noted that in the past there had been No Left Turn signage off Colony Rd at the Fiske driveway. He questioned why the sign was removed. He suggested that the Committee follow its guidelines and petition the neighborhood to quantify the number of neighbors for and against the new sidewalk installation. 3.Planning Board Update – Massachusetts Avenue Department of Transportation Project The Committee reviewed the proposed lighting of three intersections in East Lexington – Mass Ave/ Pleasant St, Mass Ave/Maple St, and Mass Ave/Marrett Rd. As indicated in previous meetings, the intersection improvements aid in pedestrian and bicyclist safety and thusly echo