2022-05-12-HC-min - Laserfiche WebLink

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MEETING MINUTES May 12th 2022 Call to Order: A public hearing of the Historical Commission was held remotely through Zoom. The meeting convened at 7:00PM. Historical Commission Members in Attendance: Susan Bennett, Chair, Marilyn Fenollosa, David Kelland, Wendall Kalsow and Robert Rotberg AGENDA ITEM #1 (7:03PM): Discussion on demolition delay bylaw The Commission looked at data that went back to 2011 to get a ten year look at the effectiveness of the one-year demolition delay bylaw. Would a longer demolition delay allow the Commission to save more homes? Although the numbers were not definitive, it appears that 23 homes have been saved since 2011. The majority of the homes have not been saved have been demolished in the last 5 years. Mr. Kalsow said the one-year demolition delay was more effective about 10 years ago. Now, with the potential for building larger and more expensive homes, the developer is willing to wait out the delay. It takes the developer six months to go through the process of permitting and this only delays the builder a few months. If the delay was 18 months that might have a more significant impact on developers. Ms. Fenollosa said there might be more appetite from Town Meeting to go to 18 months. There are people fed up with the development in Lexington. Ms. Bennett said this could give neighbors who are passionate about their neighborhoods a chance to mobilize against demolition. Ms. Fenollosa suggested reaching out to a few other committees and build relationships to show we are all on the same page. Next Steps: Ms. Fenollosa and Mr. Rotberg will cross check their numbers regarding the demolition delay spread sheets. (NOTE: subsequent to the meeting Ms. Fenollosa prepared the following figures for 2011-2022: 55 demolition delays imposed; 27 houses demolished; 20 houses still standing; 8 pending.) Mr. Kalsow will reach out to the Historic District Commission to build support. Ms. Fenollosa will reach out to the LexHab and Lexington Housing Authority. Ms. Bennett will reach out to the Historical Society.