2020-01-23-LCC-min - Laserfiche WebLink

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Town of Lexington Lexington Center Committee Minutes for the meeting of January 23, 2020, Parker Room, 1625 Massachusetts Avenue, Lexington, Massachusetts Members: Katherine Huang, Frederic Johnson, Jeffery Lyons, Pamela Lyons, Jerold Michelson (Chair), Pamela Shadley Liaisons: Jill Hai, Select Board, Bob Creech, Planning Board, Casey Hagerty, Economic Development Office, Dave Pinsonneault, Department of Public Works Guests: Sandra Shaw, Council on Aging, Peg Barringer, Finepoint, Dawn McKenna, Chair, Tourism Committee, Jen Lawrence, Melanie Tanionos, Executive Director, Chamber of Commerce, Carol Kowalski, Assistant Town Manager Dave Pinsonneault gave the DPW update: the Center Streetscape Project will go out to bid in Fall/Winter 2020/21. Once the contract is in place Dave will set up stakeholder meetings. There is already specific language in the contract regarding minimizing disruption to Center businesses. The Project will take two construction seasons. We anticipate this will be 2021 and 2022. The goal is to wrap up in advance of 2025. All of the new electric charging stations will be operational this Spring. Capacity for expansion is built in. Dawn McKenna let us know that the Visitors' Center is running behind schedule so there are more personnel working there. She will alert the construction crew that they should not park on Merriam Street (which has been a bit of a problem.) Peg Barringer gave us an overview of the Lexington Center: Analysis of Economic Conditions and Recommendations ("Center Retail Strategy Report.") There was a lively discussion and the Committee decided to focus (initially) on these steps: 1. Addressing long term vacancies with some combination of incentives and penalties (requiring vacancies to be registered and engage in conversations with landlords, this has proved successful in Arlington); 2. Helping new businesses with Town regulations and HDC issues; supplementing brinks and mortar retail with pop-ups and develop a pop up strategy; 3. Addressing the high cost of rent in Lexington—perhaps a small business loan program. Carol suggested putting together a prepermitting package that would indicate permitted signs/colors/parking etc. for certain desirable retail uses. It would be helpful to have a downtown manager/business recruitment and advocate/omsbudsman.