HomeMy WebLinkAbout2010-11-19-EDAC-min
Town of Lexington
Economic Development Advisory Committee
November 19, 2010
Legion Room, Cary Hall 1605 Massachusetts Avenue
Lexington, MA
8:00am-9:30am
Minutes
Members present: Chair: John McWeeney, Narain Bhatia, Frederick DeAngelis, Lawrence
Smith, and Sigmar Tullmann
Liaisons present, non-voting: George Burnell (Selectmen), Greg Zurlo (Planning)
Staff present; Susan Yanofsky, Carl Valente, Aaron Henry and Brianna Olson
Committee approved Minutes.
With sincere gratitude the Committee reluctantly accepted the resignation of Sheryl Mahoney.
L. Smith nominated Narain Bhatia for Vice-Chair (second by S. Tullmann. The nomination was
accepted and approved unanimously.
The Committee received an update on the TMOD from Senior Planner Aaron Henry.
The Planning Board adopted the TMOD Rules and Regulations.
Planning staff is recommending to the Planning Board that special permit issues be kept
discreet from the site plan review issues.
The staff will prepare a packet with all the TMOD regulations: Site Plan Review, TMOD
Regulations, and application process.
Additionally, planning staff along with Garry Rhodes will bring forward a proposed
zoning change to the Traffic Bylaw section removing the “renovation” triggers in the
bylaw.
101 Hartwell has filed for minor site plan approval.
A. Henry stated that enforcement is not expected of the 85% trip reduction section of the
Transportation Demand Management report.
G. Burnell suggested a better approach might be to set realistic goals, such as 5% then revise as
they are met.
The discussion of the TMOD will be continued to December 2.
Colin Smith of Colin Smith Architects and Adam Colangelo of Lexington Management presented
plans for their retail development at 12-18 Hartwell Avenue. They are proposing to replace the
building with two buildings: 36,000 s.f. business retail and office use; and, a 6,000 s.f. building
for a single restaurant. They require special permits for some dimensional relief on the side lot
line and relief from the parking and loading bay calculations (245 required but requesting 209
parking spaces and seven required loading bays but three requested). They are proposing a
sidewalk and bus stop on their property. C. Smith stated that there is not enough volume that you
would see retail creeping along Hartwell. A visual was shown which depicted the closer driving
distance of Bedford and the Burling ton Mall than the Center.
L. Smith commented that the area is starved for these amenities.
Committee requested information on the economics of the site and the effect on the tax base. The
matter will be continued on December 2.
Respectively submitted by S. Yanofsky, December 2, 2010