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2021 Community Preservation Plan:
A Needs Assessment
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December, 2021
Town of Lexington
Community Preservation Plan
Overview
The Community Preservation Act
In March of 2006, the residents of Lexington voted to adopt the Community Preservation Act
(CPA), a statute which communities across the Commonwealth may adopt to fund eligible and
worthy projects in four categories: community housing, historic resources, open space and
recreation. In order to fund these expenditures, CPA communities impose a surcharge on their
own property taxes of up to 3%. The CPA statute also created a statewide Community
Preservation Trust Fund as an incentive for communities to adopt the Community Preservation
Act. In addition to the monies raised through the local surcharge, the trust fund provides annual
distributions to participating cities and towns at a certain percentage, commonly referred to as
the "state match."
The CPA also requires each adopting community to establish a Community Preservation
Committee (CPC), tasked with studying the needs,possibilities, and resources of the city or town
regarding community preservation. The Community Preservation Committees are also required
to make recommendations of eligible and worthy projects to their respective legislative bodies.
The CPA statute requires that at least 10% of the CPA funds received in each fiscal year be spent
or reserved for each of the CPA's three main purposes: open space, historic resources, and
community housing. CPA funds may also be also used for the acquisition, creation,preservation
or the restoration/rehabilitation of recreational resources. CPA funds that are not expended in one
year may be "banked" or carried over to subsequent years within each main designation. The
remaining 70% of CPA funds received in each fiscal year are available to be appropriated or
banked, according to the community's discretion. Up to 5% of the CPA funds raised annually
may be used for administrative activities related to the work of the CPC.
The Community Preservation Act, signed into law by Governor Cellucci in September 2000,
provides a steady source of funding for expenditures that may otherwise be overlooked in favor
of the essential, daily operating needs of cities and towns. The CPA provides communities with a
tool to preserve their own unique character and quality of life. Since the CPA was signed into
law, 186 cities and towns across Massachusetts have adopted the statute.
The Community Preservation Act in Lexington
Lexington voters adopted the maximum 3% surcharge on property tax bills upon the adoption of
the CPA in 2006. Mindful of the burden on homeowners, however, the Town also adopted
provisions which exempt the first$100,000 of home value from the surcharge and grant a total
exemption from the surcharge to lower income residents.
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To-date, Lexington Town Meeting has appropriated over $83 million in funding for CPA
projects (not including debt service payments) in the four primary categories of Community
Housing ($11.6 million); Historic Resources ($33.8 million); Open Space Preservation ($18.8
million); and Recreational Resources ($17 million). Town Meeting has also approved
administrative expenses totaling $2.1 million which help fund staff salaries, mailings,public
notices, real estate appraisals, legal fees, membership dues and other miscellaneous expenses
related to CPA projects. The chart below illustrates the percentage of Lexington's CPA funds
allocated to each category by Town Meeting from 2006-2021:
Appropriated To-Date by Category as of 12/1/21
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Of the funds that have been appropriated from the Town's Community Preservation Fund (CPF),
over $20.2 million has been provided from state supplemental matching funds and $500,000
from a State LAND (Local Acquisition for Natural Diversity) Grant. Therefore, over 24% of
CPA funding has been provided by state matching funds.
In its initial year, fiscal year 2007 (FY07), the surcharge brought in approximately $2.5 million
dollars, which was fully matched with state funds. Since FY07, annual revenue from the local
surcharge has steadily increased. Latest figures are available for FY21, for which the net
surcharge raised $5,492,511. Lexington's FY22 state match totals $2,244,999, or 40.9% of its
surcharge, the highest percentage distribution since FY14. While higher than the initial estimate,
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the FY22 state match did not include a 2021 State Budget surplus on November 15'h due to
COVID-19, a global pandemic. The CPA Trust Fund still could receive a State Budget surplus
fund adjustment similar to January 2020, but it is highly unlikely that this will happen.
Record of Lexington's CPA State Matching Funds
(Source: Massachusetts Department ofRevenue)
CPA STATE MATCHING FUNDS
TO DATE
FISCAL PERCENTAGE AMOUNT
YEAR
2008 100.00 $2,556,362
2009 69.40 $1,927,708
2010 36.17 $1,060,390
2011 28.22 $858,729
2012 27.62 $885,463
2013 27.79 $929,507
2014 54.09 $1,932,347
2015 32.56 $1,230,116
2016 30.70 $1,229,774
2017 21.30 $897,243
2018 17.80 $789,905
2019 19.80 $922,256
2020 24.80 $1,219,950
2021 29.70 $1,549,955
2022 40.90 $2,244,999
TOTAL 1 1
The general decrease in state matching funds, from FY09- FY20, was due primarily to an
increased number of communities passing CPA bylaws therefore competing for limited funds.
The Governor of Massachusetts, Charlie Baker, signed the Fiscal Year 2020 budget into law on
July 31, 2019 which included a permanent increase to the CPA Trust Fund. On December 31,
2019 the increased fees went into effect at the Registry of Deeds. The fee for municipal lien
certificates was increased from $10 to $25 and for most other documents the filing fee was
increased from $20 to $50. October 31, 2021 was the first distribution to CPA communities that
included a full year of revenue at the new rate. $60 million was anticipated to be collected
annually and distributed to the CPA Trust Fund once the new fees were fully implemented. 2021
marks the single largest distribution of funds to CPA communities in the history of the program
with $79.7 million distributed to 177 CPA communities. With the passage of the legislation
permanently increasing the Trust Fund fee revenue, the state is no longer expected to provide
surplus funding dollars for CPA.
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The Lexington CPC consists of nine members, one each appointed by the Conservation
Commission, Planning Board, Housing Authority, Historical Commission, Housing Partnership
and Recreation Committee, and three at-large members appointed by the Select Board. The
Committee is supported by a part-time Administrative Assistant.
The CPC is required to study the "needs,possibilities and resources" for community preservation
in Lexington. To that end, the Committee has reviewed existing plans and documents related to
the four purposes designated for funding under the CPA: community housing, historic resources,
open space and recreation.
In reviewing new projects, the CPC:
• Acts as a reviewing body for projects which fall within the CPA purview;
• Acts as a funder, not a developer;
• Seeks to advance community goals previously set forth in public documents that have
received wide review and public input;
• Attempts to meet multiple community preservation goals in its selection of projects to
recommend to Town Meeting, and to the extent possible, meet multiple goals within each
proj ect; and
• Communicates its mission and goals to applicants, to other community boards and
committees and to the general public.
After completion of its review, the CPC's recommendations are forwarded to Town Meeting for
discussion and voting by Town Meeting members.
Purpose
This Needs Assessment Report ("the Assessment") is a summary of the CPC's work in
developing community preservation goals for Lexington. The CPC has attempted to synthesize
all planning efforts addressing the four purposes identified in the CPA. The Committee has
reviewed Lexington's current resources and has outlined the needs and possibilities for
community preservation activities which will enhance community housing, historic resources,
open space and recreation. The CPC has set out the guidelines it will use to evaluate project
proposals as well as the process it will follow during this undertaking.
This Assessment sets out the goals and aspirations of the CPC, now in its fifteenth year of
implementation. The purpose of the Assessment is to:
• Provide a clear statement of both broad and specific goals that lie behind the CPC's
recommendations; and
• Lay out the specific framework the CPC will use in formulating its recommendations,
both for the guidance of applicants and the understanding of Town Meeting.
Goals
Lexington's committees and commissions have a long-standing history of carefully assessing
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Town needs and goals in light of the shared values of its residents. The Lexington
Comprehensive Plan, the Open Space and Recreational Plan, and the Town's Housing Production
Plan were created in this spirit. (For a complete list of Plans, Documents and Studies that are
used as CPC sources, see Appendix A). In the fifteen years since the adoption of the CPA in
Lexington, the CPC has strived to remain impartial while recommending worthwhile projects
that fall within the purview of the statute to Town Meeting. The CPC expects that the CPA will
continue to be a resource for carrying out the thoughtful community preservation
recommendations contained in these studies.
Subsequent sections of this Assessment discuss community goals and projects specific to
preservation within each of the four designated purposes of the CPA. In addition to these goals,
the CPC has articulated a set of guidelines that apply to projects generally. The CPC will use
these guidelines in its review and decision-making process. They are intended to provide
additional guidance to those preparing applications for funding. Not all guidelines will be
appropriate for every project.
Decision-Making Guidelines
The CPC will only consider proposals that are eligible for CPA funding according to the
terms of the statute (M.G.L. c.44B), specifically,proposals for:
• The acquisition, creation and preservation of open space;
• The acquisition,preservation, rehabilitation and restoration of historic resources;
• The acquisition, creation,preservation and support of community housing
(including the creation of a housing trust for the purpose of preserving or
expanding the affordable housing supply; support in the form of rental assistance,
security deposit assistance, interest rate write-downs or other financial assistance
for persons who qualify for community housing);
• The acquisition, creation,preservation and rehabilitation and/or restoration of
land for recreational use; and
• The rehabilitation and restoration of open space and community housing that has
been acquired with CPA funds.
Preference will be given to proposals which meet as many of the following general
criteria as possible, specifically those which:
• Are consistent with current planning documents adopted by the Town;
• Consider racial and other equity impacts;
• Prepare for the impacts of a changing climate and reduce greenhouse gas
emissions;
• Integrate concepts of inclusion, equity, accommodations, and universal design;
• Save resources that would otherwise be threatened;
• Benefit a currently under-served population;
• Serve more than one CPA purpose (for example, in linking open space,
recreation and community housing, or the reuse of historic resources for
community housing) or demonstrate why serving multiple needs is not feasible;
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• Demonstrate practicality and feasibility, and demonstrate that they can be
implemented expeditiously and within budget;
• Produce an advantageous cost/benefit value;
• Leverage additional public and/or private funds;
• Preserve or use currently owned Town assets;
• Receive endorsement by other municipal boards, committees or departments; and
• Provide long-term contribution and/or enhancement to the Town.
Process
The Town Manager, Town boards, committees and departments, civic organizations and
residents may bring proposals for funding to the CPC. Such proposals must be submitted by
November 1 each year using the application form prescribed by the CPC, in order to be
considered for funding at the next Annual Town Meeting. (See "Further Information"below.)
Except in exigent circumstances, the CPC does not review and submit proposals to Special Town
Meetings. In cases where proposals are contingent upon Town budget processes, or upon receipt
of professional estimates, appraisals and the like, and cannot be completed by November 1,
initial proposals must be submitted by November 1, and completed proposals must be submitted
no later than January 15 of the following year. Proposals submitted after January 15 will not be
reviewed and submitted by the CPC to the Annual Town Meeting, but may, after review and
with the agreement of the applicant, be submitted to a subsequent Town Meeting.
Under the CPA statute, the CPC does not have the power to appropriate funds for particular
projects, only to make recommendations to Town Meeting. While the power to appropriate CPA
funds is reserved solely for Town Meeting, it may act only upon the recommendations of the
CPC. Town Meeting may choose to deny or reduce funding for a project recommended by the
CPC, but it may not increase a recommended appropriation. Town Meeting also may not
appropriate CPA funds for any project that is not recommended by the CPC.
The CPC seeks a Town-wide and long-term perspective. The Committee expects to recommend
projects that will have a significant long-term benefit to the Town. It may choose to recommend
to Town Meeting that some or all of CPA funds be "banked" or reserved for significant projects
and opportunities in the future. It may also recommend bonding of significant acquisitions and
projects in order to benefit the public good. The CPC strives to provide Town Meeting with a
strong and consistent rationale for its recommendations and to create an effective joint process
through which departments, organizations and citizens may gain access to CPA funds for
projects that will enhance the Town.
Further Information
This document, and a wide range of community preservation information, including the
Application for Community Preservation Funding, is available on the Town's web site at
http://www.lexin tog nma.gov/community-preservation-committee.
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Additional information on the Community Preservation Act, current CPA news and events, and
other CPA communities and projects can be found on the Community Preservation Coalition's
website: www.communiiypreservation.org.
The General Guidelines and Process set out above apply in combination with category-specific
goals outlined in the next four sections of this Assessment.
This Community Preservation Needs Assessment is respectfully submitted to the residents of
Lexington in the hope that it will provide a focus and catalyst for significant enhancement of
community preservation goals in Lexington.
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Town of Lexington
Community Preservation Plan
Community Housing
BACKGROUND
Lexington's efforts to maintain an economically diverse community are evidenced by actions
spanning many years. The Lexington Housing Authority (LHA), established in 1969 pursuant to
Chapter 121B of the Mass. General Laws, now provides 338 units for low-income individuals
and families, including veterans, the elderly and the disabled. LHA operates three apartment
clusters (Greeley Village, Vynebrooke Village and Countryside Village), family scattered sites,
and implements several other programs, including privately owned developments and voucher
subsidy programs. The Lexington Housing Assistance Board(LexHAB), created by a special
legislative act in 1983, now administers 77 housing units for persons of low, moderate and
middle income. The Select Board created the Housing Partnership Board in 2003; its primary
function is to advocate for housing for persons of low and moderate income (now generally
referred to as "affordable housing"). Lexington Housing Foundation, Inc., is a private charitable
corporation which promotes affordable housing in Lexington.
The Town's housing goals have also been expressed in planning documents. The "Town-Wide
Vision Statement,"written in year 2000 by the 2020 Vision Committee, referred not only to
"preserving and maintaining a sense of community that includes [the Town's] historic tradition,
its public and private open spaces, and its public support for civic life,"but also to "striv[ing]...
to maintain a range of affordability." More recently, the 2014 Lexington Housing Production
Plan prepared for the Town of Lexington by the Metropolitan Area Planning Council reiterated
the need for additional affordable housing in Lexington. An updated Comprehensive Plan is in
progress, to be completed in 2022. Creation of an updated Housing Production Plan will follow.
Massachusetts General Law Chapter 40B, enacted in 1969, mandates that each municipality have
a minimum of 10% of its housing stock meet certain requirements in order to avoid housing
developments that do not conform to local zoning bylaws. With 11.1% of its housing units
included on the "subsidized housing inventory" (SHI), Lexington is currently in compliance with
the Chapter 40B standard. However, only about one-half of these units actually satisfy the
regulatory affordability definition. This is explained by the fact that DHCD regulations provide
that when 25% of the units in a rental development are deed-restricted as affordable, all units are
counted in the SHI tabulation. This approach was adopted to encourage the creation of rental
units.
Compliance with Chapter 40B alone has not satisfied the community. Continuing efforts to
create additional affordable units evidence this fact. The Town remains committed to the
diversity goal expressed in the Vision Statement and the Comprehensive Plan.
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THE CURRENT SETTING
The effort in Lexington "to maintain a range of affordability" is increasingly difficult. The
current median sale price for a one family home in Lexington is approximately $1,600,000
affordable only to families of five making at least$522,000/year(400% of the area median
income). Even the least expensive homes on the market(older 2-bedroom houses) cost more than
$600,000, affordable only to families making at least$179,400 (165% of the area median income
for a family of 3). Current monthly market-rate rents in Lexington average approximately $2,500
for the least expensive a 2-bedroom apartment, affordable only to families making at least
$104,400/year(96% of the area median income for a family of 3).
The gradual replacement of smaller homes with larger, more expensive homes continues.
Escalation of the cost of more modest residences and properties, due in some measure to
developers' willingness to pay high prices for teardown sites, has limited LexHAB's ability to
secure and rehabilitate such residences for affordable housing. In 2016 the Lexington Housing
Authority completed the construction of four new ADA apartments at Greeley Village; this new
construction would not have been possible without CPA funding. As Caileen Foley, the
Executive Director of the Lexington Housing Authority said, "Housing Authorities have to be
very creative to build more housing."
Data from the recently completed 2020 census reveals some concerning trends relative to
affordable housing in Lexington. Since the 2010 census, approximately 780 small houses were
torn down to make way for larger, more expensive homes. During the same period the Town
added 364 new housing units. Unfortunately, only three units were added to the Town's
Subsidized Housing Inventory. If this rate of development of market-rate units continues apace,
Lexington will soon be in danger of falling below the 40B 10% affordability requirement.
One way to measure the need for more low-income and affordable housing in Lexington is to
review the wait lists for both Lexington Housing Authority and LexHAB properties, and the
response to lottery applications for first-time homebuyer opportunities in new private
developments. Although both federal and state public housing wait lists are centralized, it is
possible to estimate the numbers of individuals and families who selected Lexington as a
preferred place to live on their applications. Of the 100,000 or so applicants on the CHAMP
(state public housing)wait list, almost 4900 families selected Lexington and 3000 elderly or
handicapped individuals listed Lexington as one of their preferences. This is an increase of over
1000 in both categories since 2020. The average wait time for a unit at Countryside Village
(federal) is four years. The average wait time for a unit at Greeley Village, Vynebrook Village
and scattered family sites (state public housing) is four to five years. Only approximately 15
units in the entire Lexington Housing Authority portfolio are vacated in any given year. The
prospects for a family or an individual to acquire a `Section 8' voucher are equally grim; the
average wait time for a voucher is 8 years.
Data from LexHAB show a similar trend. There were 176 applicants for the lottery for the six
new affordable units at"Farmview" on Lowell Street; 122 names remain on the wait list. In the
fall of this year, there were 61 applicants for a `wait list' lottery for LexHAB SHI units; at the
time of the lottery, there were no vacancies in any of the units on LexHAB's SHI inventory.
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Additionally, there are approximately 55 applicants for the non-SHI units in LexHAB's
portfolio.The `public benefit' development at Liberty Ridge yielded three first-time homebuyer
units. The lottery drew 87 applicants. The lottery agent for Liberty Ridge, Liz Rust of the
Regional Housing Services Offices, stated that this was the largest response she had seen in over
200 first-time home buyer lotteries.
THE ROLE OF THE COMMUNITY PRESERVATION ACT
The CPA authorizes acquisition, creation,preservation and support of"community housing"
activities, as well as the rehabilitation and restoration of community housing that has been
acquired with CPA funds. "Community housing" is "low and moderate income housing for
individuals and families, including low or moderate income senior housing." "Low income
housing" is defined as "housing for those persons and families whose annual income is less than
80% of the area-wide median income," as determined by the United States Department of
Housing and Urban Development. "Moderate income housing" is "housing for those persons and
families whose annual income is less than 100% of the area-wide median income," again as
determined by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development. "Low or
moderate income senior housing" is "housing for those persons having reached the age of 60 or
over who would qualify for low or moderate income housing." (All content is from CPA Section
2.)
As noted at the beginning of this Needs Assessment Report, since 2007 Town Meeting has
approved $11,574,512 of CPA funding for community housing, including preservation projects
at Greeley Village,Vynebrooke Village, and various LexHAB units; the development of new
affordable housing at Farmview (Lowell Street); the acquisition of 11 dwelling units by
LexHAB; support for 15 living units at Douglas House; preservation of dwelling units at Pine
Grove Village, and funding of a study of future affordable housing needs.
NEEDS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Lexington continues to strive to maintain an economically diverse community, although it has
become increasingly difficult to do so. It will continue to be necessary to draw on CPA funds to
create additional affordable units.
LexHAB used CPA funds to design housing on the Vine Street parcel purchased with CPA funds
in 2009. An architect was selected and LexHAB completed a schematic design. This project
offers the opportunity to provide some new units to persons with disabilities, as has occurred at
Fairview and Farmview.
Housing owned by the LHA is a major component of the Town's affordable housing inventory.
With State funding in short supply, continued CPA funding of preservation efforts will be
appropriate. CPA funds were combined with funding from the Massachusetts Department of
Housing and Community Development to build four new handicapped accessible units at
Greeley Village. There may be other LHA locations where construction of additional units would
be feasible.
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For years, the lack of opportunities for down-sizing in Lexington has been identified as a major
concern of residents. Given that current CPA guidelines allow for CPA support for community
housing serving individuals earning less than 100% of the area AMI, it would seem that CPA
support for new senior developments is warranted.
Seeking to secure land for additional LexHAB projects warrants priority attention. Some
communities increase affordable rental units by contributing to tenant's rental payments.
Consideration of implementing this approach is appropriate.
The Town is exploring the creation of both an affordable housing trust to manage community
housing funding and a housing development corporation to supplement the LHA and LexHAB
efforts. The Town should also work with outside housing developers to further these efforts. In
future years, these may provide additional opportunities to fund and construct housing.
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Town of Lexington
Community Preservation Plan
Historic Resources
BACKGROUND
The Town of Lexington is rich in cultural resources. Its role in the Revolutionary War has
created a stewardship responsibility for its historical sites that extends to the nation at large; its
later role in commercial expansion due to the arrival of the railroad created a building boom of
late 19'h and early 20'h century housing stock that continues to distinguish the Town. Structures
of the recent past—Moon Hill, Five Fields, Turning Mill and the Peacock Farm enclaves
throughout Town, among others —enhance Lexington's diverse architectural heritage.
Lexington has received national and state recognition of its historic resources: four properties or
areas, the Battle Green, Buckman Tavern, the Hancock-Clarke House, and the Minuteman
National Historical Park (which includes the Battle Green), have been designated as National
Historic Landmarks by the U.S. Secretary of the Interior for their role in the opening battle of the
Revolutionary War. Ten additional properties are individually listed on the National and State
Registers of Historic Places, in addition to the Town's listed National Register Historic Districts
(The Lexington Green Historic District, the Buckman Tavern Historic District, the Sanderson
House - Munroe Tavern Historic District, the Peacock Farm Historic District, and the Six Moon
Hill Historic District) and their contributing properties. The Metropolitan State Hospital Multiple
Property National Register listing (shared with the towns of Belmont and Waltham) also contains
a number of significant buildings. In addition, the Mid-Century Modern Houses of Lexington
multiple property listing highlights the unique characteristics of Lexington's modern
architecture. In total, approximately 600 properties are protected through inclusion within one of
the four Town-established local historic districts (Battle Green, East Village, Hancock-Clarke,
Munroe Tavern).
The Town has recognized this wealth in its "Vision Statement: Fostering a Sense of
Community." Prepared by the Vision 2020 group, the first vision listed was that of appreciation
of the Town's history, through the "preservation and celebration of historic Town assets,
including local events and interest points as well as Lexington's national attractions." And in the
Planning Board's 2002 Comprehensive Plan, "The Lexington We Want,"the authors recognized
that the Town's stewardship responsibility to its Revolutionary War heritage has been executed
"with effective care"but at the same time urged the adoption of a preservation plan that would
rationalize preservation efforts throughout the Town. Lexington's history enhances its citizens'
sense of place, attracting people to come and live here—and stay. The impact of our historic
resources also extends beyond the boundaries of the Town,providing educational opportunities
for the nation's youth and for historical scholars, and bringing important tourist dollars to
support the local economy.
CURRENT RESOURCES
To manage these cultural resources, the Town employs a powerful array of tools. They include
oversight by the Lexington Historic Districts Commission, the Lexington Historical
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Commission, the Design Advisory Committee and, for those resources located in the Town
Center, the Lexington Center Committee. Two nationally known historic resources are located
within Lexington, the Scottish Rite Masonic Museum and Library and the Minute Man National
Historical Park, which is part of the National Park System. In addition, 2016 Spring Town
Meeting approved enabling legislation to permit Neighborhood Conservation Districts upon
application and approval of the requesting neighborhoods. Two such Districts, the Turning Mill
Neighborhood Conservation District and the Pierce-Lockwood Neighborhood Conservation
District, were approved by Town Meeting in spring 2018.
Historic Districts Commission (HDC)
The Historic Districts Commission of Lexington was established in 1956 by Special Act of the
Legislature to "promote the educational, cultural, economic and general welfare of the public
through the preservation and protection of historic buildings,places and districts through the
development of appropriate settings for said buildings,places and districts and through the
maintenance of said buildings,places and districts as landmarks of historic interest." The HDC
ensures that development or demolition of properties within the four historic districts may
proceed only following a determination of appropriateness. The five full and four alternate
members of the HDC are appointed by the Select Board, to serve at large, and from candidates
proposed by the Historical Society, the Lexington Chamber of Commerce, and the Cary Library
Trustees.
Lexington Historical Commission (LHC)
Similarly, the Lexington Historical Commission was created in 1975 by vote of Town Meeting
"for the preservation,protection and development of the historical or archeological resources" of
the Town. The LHC has prepared an inventory of historical structures located throughout the
Town that documents over 2,300 buildings, structures and objects and is accessible through the
Town web site. The LHC administers the Town's Demolition Delay Bylaw to ensure that every
effort is made to preserve these historically and architecturally significant structures. The LHC
also endeavors to educate citizens on the breadth and importance of Lexington's cultural
heritage. The five members of the LHC and any alternates are appointed by the Town Manager.
Neighborhood Conservation Districts (NCDs)
The creation of Neighborhood Conservation Districts was approved under Article 29 of the 2016
Spring Town Meeting "to preserve,protect and enhance" Lexington's "unique and distinctive"
neighborhoods by conserving and preserving existing buildings, fostering appropriate reuse, and
encouraging compatible new construction, all through Town-appointed neighborhood review
boards. To date, two neighborhoods have been approved to self-regulate through an NCD: the
Turning Mill Neighborhood and the Pierce-Lockwood Neighborhood, both at 2018 Spring Town
Meeting.
Lexington Historical Society
On a private level, the Lexington Historical Society plays a number of key roles, including the
ownership and management of the Hancock-Clarke House, Munroe Tavern and the Depot, and
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the management of Buckman Tavern under a long-term lease from the Town, as well as through
publications, the presentation of educational programs, and the maintenance of an important
archive of documents,photographs and other non-governmental historic records and research
center.
The Scottish Rite Masonic Museum and Library
The Scottish Rite Masonic Museum and Library, founded and supported by the Scottish Rite
Freemasons, also provides resources and programs on American history and culture that draw
national and international visitors and complement the cultural management efforts of the Town.
The Minute Man National Historical Park
The Minute Man National Historical Park, established in 1959 and located in Lexington as well
as Lincoln and Concord, is a 1.2 mile linear park commemorating the opening battle of the
American Revolution in 1775. Sites in Lexington include Fiske Hill, an important battle site, the
Jacob Whittemore House and the site of"Parker's Revenge."
Cary Memorial Library
Cary Memorial Library, established in 1868 and occupying its current location since 1906 in a
Willard D. Brown-designed local landmark, serves as an important repository of historic
documents, books,photographs, and maps and other information about the history and growth of
the Town.
Town Archivist
Finally, a part-time Archivist/Records Manager within the Town Clerk's office is responsible for
conserving,preserving, digitizing and cataloguing Lexington's historic documents and records.
NEEDS AND GOALS
The goals for historic preservation in Lexington are embodied in the criteria for evaluation of
potential CPA projects. The CPC seeks projects that:
• Protect, preserve, enhance, restore and/or rehabilitate historic, cultural, architectural or
archaeological resources of significance, especially those that are threatened;
• Protect, preserve, enhance, restore and/or rehabilitate Town-owned properties, features or
resources of historical significance;
• Protect, preserve, enhance, restore and/or rehabilitate the historical function of a property
or site;
• Support the adaptive reuse of historic properties;
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• Affect a site within a Lexington Historic District, on a State or National Historic Register,
or eligible for placement on such registers, or on the Lexington Historical Commission's
Cultural Resources Survey (the "Inventory");
• Demonstrate a specific public benefit; and/or
• Provide permanent protection for maintaining a historic resource.
RECOMMENDATIONS
These goals can be addressed, first, through the comprehensive identification of the historic
resources that are at risk in Lexington due to lack of funding, insensitive alterations or deferred
maintenance, or other lack of stewardship. Second, the Town needs to provide the incentives to
promote successful and sensitive rehabilitation/restoration projects, in compliance with the
Secretary of the Interior's Standards for Rehabilitation (Department of Interior Regulations, 36
CFR 67) and the adaptive reuse of historic buildings that have outlived their original purposes.
Third, Lexington should be aware of the full complement of preservation techniques available to
it, including the creation of neighborhood conservation overlay districts to protect areas where
the substantial oversight and control of a historic district is not warranted or feasible, and the
purchase of preservation easements from owners of historic houses that would equalize their
economic value so that they could be sold as houses rather than teardown opportunities. Special
attention should be paid to threatened classes of resources, such as Lexington's 17'h and 181'
century homes; Mid-Century Modern homes, streetscapes and landscapes, including the
Lexington Center Streetscape;post-World War II buildings; historic schools; and unique
examples of Lexington's commercial and residential architecture, especially those reflecting a
high level of architectural and historical significance, with accompanying design integrity, intact
settings or landscapes, and associations with notable individuals and/or architects.
Specific projects might include the following:
• Acquisition of historic properties—buildings, landscapes, sites, structures or
preservation easements. CPA funds could help bridge the economic gap to make possible
the acquisition and adaptation of older, historic homes for affordable housing or assisted
living as an alternative to teardown and redevelopment. Lexington CPA funding
contributed to the acquisition and reuse of the M. H. Merriam and Co. Building and
Foreman's House on Oakland Street, a former factory that was converted into the
Douglas House, a residence for survivors of brain injuries; and the Tower Estate on
Marrett Road, formerly the headquarters of the Scottish Rite Masons and now
rehabilitated and repurposed as the Town's multigenerational Community Center.
• Bricks and mortar repairs and rehabilitation, including preparation of plans and
specifications for construction, architectural/engineering assessments, and modifications
for accessibility, and HVAC updates, to historic resources, including modifications for
the purpose of making such historic resources accessible and/or functional for their
15
intended use, all completed in accordance with the Secretary of the Interior's Standards
for Rehabilitation. Examples of past projects include the restoration of the exterior of the
Stone Building (the former East Lexington Library) on Massachusetts Avenue, the
Hancock-Clarke House, Munroe Tavern and Buckman Tavern. Importantly, the CPA-
funded rehabilitation of the Cary Memorial Building and the Lexington Community
Center is now complete. Future projects could include restoration and rehabilitation of
other buildings on the Battle Green and the interiors of the Hosmer Home ("White
House") and the Stone Building, as well as restoration of and sensitive modifications for
accessibility in the Lexington Center Streetscape.
• Documentation, survey, conservation and restoration of historic landscapes,
including historic burying grounds and monuments. Examples would be the CPA-funded
projects for creation of a Master Plan for the Battle Green, including restoration of the
MinuteMan statue, and restoration of two of the Town's historic burying grounds.
• Application for survey and planning grants for adding new properties to the Town's
Cultural Resources Survey (the "Inventory") and completing National Register
nominations, with special emphasis on Mid-Century Modern neighborhoods and the
social changes that accompanied these resources. CPA funds provide important matching
funds for other grant opportunities, including grants from the Massachusetts Historical
Commission. Past CPA grants have enabled the expansion, and posting online of the
Town's Cultural Resources Survey, as well as a study of the Mid-Century Modern
movement in Lexington. Completed projects include the preparation of National Register
of Historic Places nominations for the Peacock Farm and Six Moon Hill neighborhoods, a
review of the Inventory listings on Meriam Hill, and the research and documentation of
123 new properties long pending for inclusion in the Inventory.
• Educational projects such as research of historic sites and buildings and the installation
of informational signs that encourage the preservation of historic resources. CPA has
provided funding for extensive archaeological research into the battle site of Parker's
Revenge, within the Minuteman National Historical Park. CPA funding has also enabled
the placement of directional and informational signage throughout the historic center of
Town, as well as the posting online of a survey of historical periods in Lexington, historic
maps, a guide to the architectural styles of houses found here, and a bibliography of
additional reading about Lexington's history. Future projects could include the
restoration and repair of the Tercentenary guidepost signs formerly located at key
intersections across Town and the creation of programs for the public to showcase the
history and significance of homes and neighborhoods on the Inventory.
• Preservation of historic documents, archival materials and artwork. The Town
Archivist continues to evaluate, restore and digitize many of the Town's historic records
in a multi-year project using CPA funding. The Lexington Historical Society and the
Cary Memorial Library have similarly used CPA funds to conserve important Town
records. Many important paintings and sculptures in the Town's collections could also be
preserved using CPA funds.
16
Town of Lexington
Community Preservation Plan
Open Space
BACKGROUND
Open space is one of the defining characteristics of Lexington. It enhances the historical and
scenic character of the Town; protects important watershed and biological values, including
wetlands, streams, floodplains, and wildlife habitat; provides climate change resilency; and
affords opportunities for passive recreational and educational uses, including hiking, walking,
bird watching,picnicking, and nature exploration.
CURRENT RESOURCES
The Town Conservation Commission is entrusted with promoting and managing the Town's
natural resources, administering and enforcing the Massachusetts Wetlands Protection Act
(M.G.L. c. 131 §40), Lexington's Wetland Protection Code (C. 130) and stormwater
management regulations, and acquiring and managing open space. The seven—member
Commission is appointed for overlapping three-year terms by the Town Manager with the
approval of the Select Board.
Out of approximately 10,650 acres of Open Space in Lexington, approximately 1,400 acres are
designated as permanently protected conservation land for passive recreation purposes, and
approximately 400 acres are designated for recreation purposes, including active recreation fields
and parklands. Town fiscal demands and restraints associated with Proposition 21/2 have been
accompanied by the constant pressure of development, resulting in only one open space
acquisition by the Town in the 10-15 years prior to the adoption of the CPA. (For a list of
specific goals and priorities for open space and recreation purposes, see the 2015 Lexington
Open Space and Recreation Plan, which can be viewed in the Conservation Office or online at
http://www.lexingtonma.gov/conservation/pages/conservation-landganchor_plan).
The CPA has enabled the acquisition,protection, and enhancement of open space by providing
funding in three important areas: 1) For the outright purchase of land to be owned by the Town,
2) for the purchase of permanent conservation or agricultural restrictions that provide protection
to privately owned land, and 3) for improvements to visitor access,passive recreational
opportunities, and resource protection and planning. Since the passage of the CPA, the Town has
purchased nine parcels of land totaling approximately 70.1 acres. Of this total, 67.4 acres have
been devoted to conservation purposes. These include the two Goodwin Parcels off Hartwell
Avenue, the Leary Parcel off Vine Street, the Cotton Farm Parcel off Marrett Road, the Wright
Farm property off Grove Street,parcels on Kendall Road and Sherburne Road, and the Highland
Avenue parcel. The Leary and Wright Farm parcels were both subdivided as part of the
acquisition to also provide for community housing at each property. The 7.9 acre Busa Farm
parcel off Lowell Street was also purchased with CPA funds. It has been subdivided, with a
20,198 square foot parcel designated for community housing (per Approval not Required Plan,
17
dated February, 2014) and the remainder designated for community supported agriculture.
Additional visitor access and resource preservation and protection improvements include land
management planning for three CPA-funded properties, an ongoing conservation meadow
preservation program, and visitor access improvements at Cotton Farm and Parker Meadow.
NEEDS AND GOALS:
The goals for open space include, but are not limited to the following:
Protection, through acquisition or conservation restrictions, of parcels of highest scenic and
historic character. Parcels are considered significant if they preserve one or more of the
following:
• Historic landscapes and the visual relationships between historic buildings and their
settings;
• The visual character of the Town,particularly of those areas designated as scenic; and/or
• Open fields and meadows visible from public roads.
Protection, through acquisition or conservation restrictions, of parcels of highest
environmental value. Parcels are considered significant if they preserve one or more of the
following:
• Wetlands and watershed resources;
• Agricultural land;
• Greenway connections and wildlife corridors; and/or
• Wildlife habitat.
Acquisition of appropriate parcels to enhance recreational and educational opportunities
of open space.Parcels appropriate for this purpose may include but are not limited to the
following:
• Open spaces adjacent to existing conservation land;
• Trail connections or access to conservation land;
• Open spaces near schools, and
• Open spaces accessible to people of all ages and abilities.
18
Improvements to the ecological, recreational, and educational values of all Town-owned
conservation parcels. Projects appropriate for this purpose may include but are not limited to
the following:
• Land management planning
• Accessibility and other visitor use improvements
• Ecological preservation and natural resource protection
RECOMMENDATIONS
• The Town should continue to monitor the status of parcels on its Land Acquisition
Planning Report so as to be able to move promptly when such parcels become available
for sale or donation to the Town. The Land Acquisition Subcommittee has nearly
completed updating the 1996 Land Acquisition Planning Report.
• The Town should conduct comprehensive land management planning and implement
such plans to preserve ecological resouces and protect important natural resouces and to
provide for universal accessibility to the Town's open spaces.
19
Town of Lexington
Community Preservation Plan
Recreation
BACKGROUND
The Recreation Committee's goal is to provide a wide range of quality programs and facilities
for the broad spectrum of Lexington residents. The Recreation and Community Programs
Department, supported by the Town Manager-appointed 7-member Recreation Committee,
administers and promotes recreation and wellness programs in the Town and manages the
Lexington Community Center, neighborhood parks and playgrounds, athletic fields and other
recreational facilities —including tennis and basketball courts, Center Recreation Complex,Pine
Meadows Golf Club, and the public swimming facilities at the Irving H. Mabee Town Pool
Complex and Old Reservoir.
CURRENT RESOURCES
• The Recreation and Community Programs Department manages approximately 439 acres
of parks and recreation land. A most important recreational resource for Lexington is the
Pine Meadows Golf Club, which is one of the main revenue sources for funding capital
improvements through the Recreation Enterprise Fund. Regular course improvements and
upgrades to the facility have made Pine Meadows a popular destination for local golfers,
thus helping to ensure the financial strength of the Enterprise Fund and its role in
supporting Department programs. Other important recreational resources include: the
Irving H. Mabee Town Pool Complex, Old Reservoir, tennis courts, Center Recreation
Complex, bikeways, walking trails, the skate park, outdoor basketball courts, multi-use
athletic fields, the Community Center campus, and neighborhood parks and playgrounds.
NEEDS AND GOALS
The need for rehabilitation of recreation facilities, especially athletic playing fields, has increased
as activities have grown to include younger participants and senior adults, gender equality and
special needs accommodations, longer and multiple seasons, and a greater number and variety of
new sports and activities.
General recreation goals include:
• Preserve, rehabilitate, restore or add new recreational uses of and access to Lexington's
natural and recreational resources;
• Preserve, rehabilitate, restore and/or protect existing recreational facilities such as: the
Irving H. Mabee Town Pool Complex, Old Reservoir, Pine Meadows Golf Club,
Community Center campus, tennis and basketball courts, Center Recreation Complex,
bikeways, walking trails, the skateboard park, outdoor basketball courts, multi-use
athletic fields and neighborhood parks and playgrounds;
20
• Acquire land for active and passive recreation, including playing fields; consideration
should be given to recreational uses whenever the Town looks to acquire additional open
space;
• Provide integration of recreational activities, such as the CPA-supported West Lexington
Greenway for bicycles and walkers, with other Town Departments, such as the
Conservation Department;
• Provide high quality, year round, accessible balance of recreation and leisure activities
(active and passive, structured and unstructured, indoor and outdoor) for residents of
Lexington; and
• Collaborate with Town Departments in continuous planning and implementing recreation
and leisure opportunities for residents of all ages and abilities at the Community Center.
RECOMMENDATIONS
• Acquire and create additional athletic fields to meet the increasing needs of the
community.
• Acquire and create new active recreational resources, including playing fields and
playgrounds, with special attention to universal access, as well as adult/senior and toddler
recreational needs.
• Increase recreational access/use of open spaces and natural resources (where
appropriate), including areas for hiking, bicycling, cross-country skiing, and fishing.
• Preserve,protect, and improve Lexington's recreational infrastructure through
rehabilitation and restoration of existing recreation facilities as outlined in the Recreation
5-Year Capital Plan, the Open Space and Recreation Plan, the 2014-2016 Recreation
Strategic Plan, the 2017 Recreation Facilities and ADA Compliance Study, and the 2020
Community Needs Assessment.
• Take preservation, rehabilitation, and restoration measures to extend the life and use of
existing recreational facilities, such as neighborhood parks and playgrounds, tennis
courts, as well as larger projects including the Center Recreation Complex, Irving H.
Mabee Town Pool Complex, Old Reservoir, Pine Meadows Golf Club, and Community
Center campus.
21
Town of Lexington
Community Preservation Plan
Appendix A
Plans, Documents and Studies
SELECT BOARD
Select Board's Goal Setting (annual documents 1997-2021).
PLANNING BOARD
• Comprehensive Plan:
• Land Use (1/2002)
hqps://www.lexingtonma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif7101/f/pages/compplan -
land use.gdf
• Natural and Cultural Resources (1/2002)
htti)s://www.lexin�tonma.�ov/sites/�/files/vvhlif7101/f/i)ages/comi)f)lan -
natural and cultural resoLirces.pdf
• Economic Development(1/2002)
htti)s://www.lexin�tonma.�ov/sites/�/files/vvhlif7101/f/i)ages/comi)f)lan -
ecQE_dev.pdf
• Transportation (6/2003)
htti)s://www.lexin�tonma.�ov/sites/�/files/vvhlif7101/f/])ages/coml)f)lan -
full transportation element.pdf
• LexingtonNext(202 1)
hLtps:Hlexingtonnext.orlexnext/
• Zoning Bylaw (2021)
hLtps:Hecode360.com/10529421410529421
• Zoning Map (2021)
hLtps://www.lexingtonma.gov/sites/gfiles/vyhlif7101/f/tiploads/2021zoning map for p
rinLgdf
22
CAPITAL EXPENDITURES COMMITTEE
• Town Five-Year Capital Plan, 2022-2026.
2020 VISION COMMITTEE
• Visioning Reports, 2000 —2007.
• Report of the Demographic Change Task force—Final, March 19, 2010.
• Final Report on Town-Wide Survey, 2017.
COMMUNITY HOUSING
• Lexington Consolidated Housing Strategy (2006-2010).
• Affordable Housing Subsidy Executive Summary, 2010.
• Affordable Housing Subsidy Plan, 2010.
• Lexington Housing Partnership and LexHAB "Affordable Housing Assistance Program"
Design, January 20, 2010.
• Lexington Housing Production Plan "Affordable Housing: Goals and Strategies for
Lexington,"March 2014.
HISTORIC PRESERVATION
• Lexington Cultural and Historic Inventory (updated December, 2020), online at
http:Hhistoricsurve, .ly exingtonma.gov.
• "Lexington Reconnaissance Report for the Massachusetts Heritage Landscape Inventory
Program," 2006, online at
http:Hrecords.lexingtonma.gov/WebLink/DocView.aspx?id=97675&searchid=7cf105ae-
75d8-4476-b388-72bf251dd84f&dbid=0&cr=1.
• Lexington Battle Green Area Master Plan, Town of Lexington, March 14, 2011, online at
http://www.lexin tog nma.gov/battle-green-master-plan.
• History of Lexington Municipal Buildings, September 21, 2011, online at
http:Hhi stori csurvey.lexin�ztonma.gov/muni cipal-buildings-report.pdf.
23
• Planning Report for the Stone Building, June 2008, Volume I and 2, on file at the Cary
Memorial Library.
• Stone Building Historic Structure Report and Recommendations for Rehabilitation and
Reuse, September, 2009, on file at the Community Preservation Committee office.
• Historic Structure Report, the Hosmer(White) House, November 30, 2010, online at
hLtp://www.lexingtonma.gov/hammond-hosmer-house-white-house/pages/historic-
structures-reoort.
• Cary Memorial Building Evaluation, Final Report, June 1, 2011, online at
htty):Hrecords.lexintonma.Dov/WebLink8/0/doc/226298/Pa�e5.aspx.
• Leary House Condition Report, March 1, 2010, on file at the Community Preservation
Committee Office.
• Leary Property Community Housing Task Force Final Report, May 25, 2011, online at
hLtp:Hrecords.lexingtonma.gov/WebLink/O/doc/357472/Pagel.aspx.
• Muzzey Junior High Condominiums Envelope and Systems Analysis, April 9, 2008, on
file at the Community Preservation Committee office.
• Estabrook School Historic Structure Report, June 2012, on file with the Lexington
Historical Commission.
• Hancock-Clarke House, 2007 Restoration Report, on file at the Community Preservation
Committee office.
• Munroe Tavern Historic Structure Report, January, 2010, on file at the Community
Preservation Committee office.
• Buckman Tavern, Historic Structure Report, October 21, 2012, on file at the Community
Preservation Committee office.
OPEN SPACE/CONSERVATION/RECREATION
• Open Space and Recreation Plan, Updated 2015.
htty):Hrecords.lexin�ztonma.�ov/weblink/O/doc/279558/ElectroniL.as
Tx
• Recreation 5-Year Capital Plan.
• Recreation Strategic Plan, 2014-2016.
• Recreation Facilities and ADA Compliance Study, 2017.
24
• Priority Habitat and Estimated Habitat Map for Rare Species.
• BioMap and Living Waters Plans and Map.
• Aerial Photo Survey of Potential Vernal Pools.
• Priority Resource Map.
• Western Greenway Map.
• "Lexington Reconnaissance Report for the Massachusetts Heritage Landscape Inventory
Program," 2006.
• Community Needs Assessment, 2020.
DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS
• Town Maps
25
Town of Lexington
Community Preservation Plan
Appendix B
Glossary
Capital Improvements
"Capital Improvements" -reconstruction or alteration of real property that: (1) materially adds to
the value of the real property or appreciably prolongs the useful life of the real property; (2)
becomes part of the real property or is permanently affixed to the real property so that removal
would cause material damage to the property or article itself, and (3) is intended to become a
permanent installation or is intended to remain there for an indefinite period of time.
Community Housing
"Low income housing" - housing for those persons and families whose annual income is less
than 80 per cent of the area-wide median income. The area-wide median income is determined
annually by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development for specific
regions, including the Boston Metropolitan Area.
"Moderate income housing" - housing for those persons and families whose annual income is
less than 100 per cent of the area-wide median income. The area-wide median income is
determined annually by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development for
specific regions, including the Boston Metropolitan Area.
"Low or moderate income senior housing" - housing for those persons having reached the age of
60 or over who would qualify for low or moderate income housing.
Community Preservation Act(CPA)
The Community Preservation Act(CPA) (MGL c. 44B) is legislation designed to help
communities plan ahead for the preservation of important resources and to raise funds to achieve
their goals. The CPA allows towns to levy a community-wide property tax surcharge of up to 3
per cent for the purpose of creating a local Community Preservation Fund (CPF) and qualifying
for State matching funds. The Fund must be used to acquire, create,preserve and rehabilitate or
restore (if purchased with CPA funds) open space; acquire,preserve and rehabilitate or restore
historic resources; acquire, create,preserve, support and rehabilitate or restore (if purchased with
CPA funds) community housing; and may be used to acquire, create,preserve or restore or
rehabilitate recreational resources. The State will provide "matching" funds to communities
approving CPA bylaws, which Lexington did in 2006 at a 3% level.
26
Community Preservation Committee(CPC)
A nine-person committee with individual members appointed by the Conservation Commission,
Historical Commission, Housing Authority, Housing Partnership, Planning Board, Recreation
Committee, and three at-large members appointed by the Select Board. The Committee reviews
funding applications and makes recommendations to Town Meeting for the appropriation of
CPA monies to support approved projects. It consults broadly with Town organizations, boards
and committees.
Community Preservation Fund (CPF)
A separate Town account for the deposit of all surcharges collected and State matching funds.
Sub-accounts of CPF (sometimes referred to as "buckets") have been established to ensure that
required shares of the annual revenue added to the CPF are either spent each year or allocated to
the appropriate reserve funds. These are:
• Open Space Reserve Fund (minimum of 10% annually)
• Historic Resources Fund (minimum of 10% annually)
• Community Housing Reserve Fund(minimum of 10% annually)
• Unbudgeted Reserve Fund(remaining 70% of funds, less administrative costs)
• Undesignated Fund Balance
• Administrative/Operating Fund (up to 5%)
The CPC is permitted to appropriate up to 5% of the funds for administration and operational
expenses of the Committee. For example, these funds can be used to hire support staff,purchase
office supplies, do mailings and cover the cost of professional services as needed. Any
administrative monies not used in a given fiscal year are returned to the CPF Undesignated Fund
Balance.
Recreation projects are eligible for CPA funding but there is no minimum amount specified by
the Act.
Beyond these required disbursements, Town Meeting, acting upon the recommendations of the
CPC, will decide the allocation of the remaining 70% of annual CPA revenues. For example, the
CPC could recommend and Town Meeting could allocate the remaining 70% of annual revenue
to one purpose, spread it evenly among all four, or set the funds aside for future spending. These
allocations can be changed each year.
Community Preservation Surcharge
The locally raised share of CPA revenue comes from a surcharge (additional amount based on
the real-estate tax) on real estate tax bills. Lexington voted a 3% surcharge which is separately
stated on each tax bill.
27
Community Preservation Surcharge Exemptions
Taxpayers currently exempt from real property taxes under Chapter 59 of Massachusetts General
Laws are exempt from the CPA surcharge. In addition, Town Meeting approved exemption of
the first$100,000 of taxable value of residential real estate. Exemptions, as well as the surcharge
percentage, can be changed at any time with the approval of Town Meeting and subsequent voter
referendum; however, a sufficient surcharge must remain each year to meet any remaining long-
term obligations (e.g., debt service on bonds) of the CPF.
Historic Resources
"Historic resources" shall mean a building, structure, vessel, real property, document or artifact
that is listed on the State Register of Historic Places or has been determined by the Historical
Commission to be significant in the history, archeology, architecture or culture of a city or town.
Lexington Community Preservation Bylaw
A copy of the Bylaw can be obtained online at hgps:Hecode360.com/10534926410534926
Maintenance
Incidental repairs which neither materially add to the value of the property nor appreciably
prolong the property's life, but keep the property in a condition of fitness, efficiency or
readiness.
Open Space
"Open space" shall include, but not be limited to, land to protect existing and future well-fields,
aquifers and recharge areas, watershed land, agricultural land, grasslands, fields, forest land,
fresh and salt water marshes and other wetlands, ocean, river, stream, lake and pond frontage,
beaches, dunes and other coastal lands, lands to protect scenic vistas, land for wildlife or nature
preserve, and land for recreational use.
Preservation
"Preservation" shall mean protection of personal or real property from injury, harm or
destruction.
Recreational Use
"Recreational use" shall mean active or passive recreational use including, but not limited to, the
use of land for community gardens, trails, and non-commercial youth and adult sports, and the
use of land as a park,playground or athletic field. "Recreational use" shall not include horse or
dog racing or the use of land for a stadium, gymnasium or similar structure.
28
Rehabilitation
"Rehabilitation" shall mean the capital improvements, or the making of extraordinary repairs to
historic resources, open spaces, and lands for recreational use and community housing for the
purpose of making such historic resources, open spaces, and land for recreational use and
community housing functional for their intended use, including but not limited to improvements
to comply with the American with Disabilities Act and other Federal, State or local building or
access codes; provided that with respect to historic resources, "rehabilitation" complies with the
Standard for Rehabilitation stated in the United States Secretary of the Interior's Standards for
the Treatment of Historic Properties codified in 36 CFR Part 68; and provided further, that with
respect to land for recreational use, "rehabilitation" shall include the replacement of playground
equipment and other capital improvements to the land or the facilities thereon which make the
land or the related facilities more functional for the intended recreational use.
Support of Community Housing
"Support of Community Housing" shall include, but not be limited to,programs that provide
grants, loans, rental assistance, security deposits, interest-rate write-downs or other forms of
assistance directly to individuals and families who are eligible for community housing or to an
entity that owns, operates or manages such housing, for the purpose of making housing
affordable.
Approved by the Community Preservation Committee, December 16, 2021.
Marilyn Fenollosa, Chair(Historical Commission)
Charles Hornig, Vice-Chair(Planning Board)
David Horton (at large, appointed by the Select Board)
Jeanne Krieger(at large, appointed by the Select Board)
David Langseth (Conservation Commission)
Joe Pato (at large, appointed by the Select Board)
Robert Pressman (Housing Partnership)
Lisah Rhodes (Recreation Committee)
Melinda Walker(Housing Authority)
29