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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2014-12-11-COD-ltr Town of Lexington Commission on Disability Victoria Buckley, Chair December 11, 2014 Thomas Hopkins, Director Commonwealth of Massachusetts Department of Public Safety Architectural Access Board One Ashburton Place, Room 1310 Boston, MA 02198-1618 RE: Giroux Building 2 Crest Circle, Lexington Via Lago Variance Application Dear Mr. Hopkins, At the monthly meeting held on December 6, 2014, the Commission on Disability reviewed the AAB application for variance of 2 Crest Circle, Lexington, the expansion Via Lago Restaurant, 1845 Massachusetts Avenue. Bill Erickson of Bechtel Frank Erickson Architects presented the plans and asked for the Commission’s support for a variance on two aspects of their proposed plans. The first part of the request is the access entries into the restaurant. The main front entrance is not due to be changed and the Commission wants it changed. The plans show the HP entrance on the side street, not the main entrance that everyone uses. The main entrance should be right for everyone – we do not want a separate entrance! They need to fix the main entrance, since they are doing construction anyway. Right now people in power wheelchairs find it too narrow, there are double swinging doors that impede safety for people on walkers and crutches, and there is not enough turning radius for those in wheelchairs to safely get into the restaurant. In fact, four of the people on the Commission have had difficulty there and there have been complaints filed from other citizens as well. 1625 MASSACHUSETTS AVENUE • LEXINGTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02420 We requested that the main entrance be made accessible and we do not support the part of the request for variance pertinent to the entry path. The plans entail taking over the vacant space next door so there are many ways to make sure there is a main accessible and safe entry. The Town Building Commissioner Fred Lonardo is aware of our concerns. The second request for relief concerns the bathrooms. The site currently has one handicapped bathroom and one ladies’ room on the accessible first floor, but the only men’s room is downstairs. The restaurant tenant wants to have this pass through as an elevator installation would be a hardship and he believes there is no room for a second HP bathroom. The Commission discussed with Mr. Erickson ways to make room for a second HP bathroom, which we would see as ideal, but we could agree to back this request if there are no alternatives. Please feel free to contact me by email or by cell phone if you have any questions. Thank you for your consideration in this manner. Sincerely, Victoria Buckley, Chair Cell phone 617-997-5472 cc by email: Owner James Manganello Building Commissioner Fred Lonardo Blaise LaPorta, Bechtel Frank Erickson Architects