HomeMy WebLinkAbout2022-02-10-LCC-minTown of Lexington
Lexington Center Committee
Minutes for the meeting of February 10, 2022. The meeting was held pursuant to
Chapter 20 of the Acts of 2021, beginning 8:33 am.
Committee members present: Richard Brown, Katherine Huang, Frederic Johnson,
Pamela Lyons, Innessa Manning, Jerold Michelson, Chair, Pamela Shadley
Liaisons: Doug Lucente, Select Board, Sandra Shaw, Council on Aging, Sandhya
Iyer, Economic Development Director, Casey Hagerty, Economic Development,
Erin Sandler-Rathe, Chamber of Commerce, Upasna Chhabra, ArtWalk, Dawn
McKenna, Tourism Committee, Dave Pinsonneault, Department of Public Works
Guests: Jesse Steigerwald and Michelle Tran, LexSeeHer and Leslie Masson,
Monuments and Memorials Committee
We began with the update from DPW with Dave Pinsonneault. Dave noted that
the seemingly never-ending ice storm was more challenging to clean up than a
snowstorm. The lights will be coming down at the end of February or early March
in advance of the Patriot’s Day clean-up. Dave reminded us that if we see
something that needs attending to in the Center, we can send him an email.
Then we had the Economic Development update with Casey Hagerty: The refill
store on Waltham Street has pulled permits. The bike place (?) moving into the
old Panera space is moving forward. No news on the big restaurant spaces (Sanyo
and Bulpan.) Sandya Iyer discussed an entity that helps businesses to do pup-ups
ARPA funding has been approved by the Select Board. “Extension of Commercial
Use” onto the sidewalks has been approved by the Select Board. No branding on
umbrellas. Sandwich boards have been approved by the HDC for the past two
seasons. Unknown this year.
Jesse Steigerwald gave a slide presentation regarding the LexSeeHer monument
which was approved by the HDC for placement between the Visitors Center and
Mass Ave (closer to Mass Ave.)
(https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/e/2PACX-
1vTQaJJRIC7nakS7Z6qalZHFuTo0lTJIf8YNw5TXQOxvvoU3TPhV0FqsXZ1cbuT2xE2Q
U_qw5SkFBRh1/pub?start=false&loop=false&delayms=3000&slide=id.p) Jerry
Michelson asked for comments and all comments by committee were generally
supportive. Dawn McKenna noted that the monument is not part of the Battle
Green Master Plan which talks about preserving open space. “Tourism does favor
a women’s monument but not in that location.”
Leslie Masson told us that the Monuments and Memorials Committee is working
on placing all monuments and memorials on a GIS map.
The Center Committee voted seven to zero to support the Women’s Monument
as presented at this meeting.
Charles Hornig, Chair of the Planning Board talked about the Planning Board’s
warrant article on zoning in the Center. The Center gives us an opportunity to
locate about 700 housing units under that plan. The Center is Lexington’s
transportation hub. The zoning encourages diversity of housing and mixed use.
Dick Brown was concerned about hearing more detail on coordinating this with
the Comprehensive Plan and the MBTA Communities Act.
Then we moved on to parking, our favorite subject. What should we do with the
meters? Pamela Shadley urged that the meters be as flexible as possible.