2016-02-10 PB-min - Laserfiche WebLink

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PLANNING BOARD MINUTES MEETING OF FEBRUARY 10, 2016 The meeting of the Lexington Planning Board, held in the Selectmen’s Meeting Room was called to order 7:06 p.m. by Chair Nancy Corcoran-Ronchetti. Present were board members Charles Hornig, Tim Dunn, Richard Canale, and Ginna Johnson, with planning staff Aaron Henry and Lori Kaufman present. ********************** STAFF REPORTS ********************** G: ENERAL UPDATES Written comments regarding the fiscal impacts of the Gross Floor Area (GFA) proposal have been submitted by the Residential Policy Committee (RPC) for the Board’s review. ***** UPCOMING MEETINGS & ANTICIPATED SCHEDULE ***** The February 24 meeting will start at 6:00 p.m. in the Parker Room with a public hearing at 7:00 p.m. If there are any continuations tonight, they will be added to either the March 2 or the March 16 meeting. The Board needs to be prepared to go early at Town Meeting, and will need to start at nd 6:00 p.m. on the 2to keep up with the schedule. **** 2016 ANNUAL TOWN MEETING – ARTICLE HEARINGS **** LSUCBD,A43: ARGE ERVICE SES IN THE ISTRICT RTICLE Ms. Corcoran-Ronchetti called the public hearing to order at 7:14 p.m. There were 35 people in the audience. Mr. Canale explained the goal is to make the Center more vibrant by creating a supportive environment for a variety of uses. The concept was to limit the concentration of banks and real estate offices in the Center by only allowing them by special permit with specific criteria in the CB District. Parking requirements were also added. Public Comment:  The Center Committee has noticed that the diversity of spaces is changing and there appear to be more office in storefront spaces. It was determined that this could be limited by special permit with high criteria which would protect the retail climate of the Center.  Why do Concord and Winchester not have 12 banks and 8 real estate offices in their main center? The Lexington Town Center has now been now been overrun by office spaces and there should be more stringent enforcement of the rules to limit office space. The understanding is that Concord made it an unfriendly environment so banks looked at other locations. The special permit process hopefully will get existing banks to incorporate other uses like a café. That is not a solution it takes business away from existing businesses like the Ride Studio.