HomeMy WebLinkAbout2005-06-01-DAC-MIN
DESIGN ADVISORY COMMITTEE
TOWN OF LEXINGTON
Meeting Minutes
June 1, 2005
Present:
Members and associates: John Frey, Bahig Kaldas, Carl Oldenburg (Chair)
Scribe:
Carl Oldenburg
Call to Order:
The meeting was called to order at 7:35 PM by Carl Oldenburg.
Approvals:
The Minutes of the April, 2005, meeting were reviewed and approved.
[Note: There was no meeting held in May, 2005.]
Presentations/Review:
1.177 Bedford Street/Wireless communications facility:
Adam Braillard, representing T-Mobile, presented the proposal for a new 100-foot
“faux flagpole” tower housing and concealing wireless communications antenna arrays
for T-Mobile and two other future carriers. Submitted and presented information was not
complete enough for the DAC to evaluate the visual impact of the height of the proposed
tower. Applicant indicated that a balloon test would be conducted on June 8, 9, 10 and
11, 9AM to 1PM, and that photo simulations would be available following that.
Therefore, the DAC will postpone final recommendations until viewing the balloon test
and review and discussion of the photo simulations and any other materials at the next
DAC meeting.
However, the DAC does have specific concerns which the applicant is invited to
address:
a. Diameter of the tower is too great, creating a “fat” proportion to the pole.
b. The finial “ball” at the top of the pole is superfluous and out of proportion
and should be deleted.
c. DAC strongly objects to a flag being flown on this pole.
d. DAC objects to the intent of designing a communications tower to be a
fake flagpole, and urges the applicant to design this as an elegant, tall, slender tower.
e. DAC prefers a wood stockade fence rather than a chain link fence
surrounding equipment at the base of the tower, for aesthetic and acoustic advantages.
DAC Meeting Minutes – June 1, 2005
Page 2 of 2
2.Waltham Street, Assessor’s Map 5, Parcel 11A (Special Permit with Site Plan
Review):
Site development plans (dated 4/25/2005) and preliminary architectural plans
(dated 4/15/2005) for proposed office building with ground-floor retail banking facility
were reviewed.
In general, the DAC has no objections to the proposal.
The DAC would like to review and comment on additional information on
exterior lighting, exterior building materials and colors, and the free-standing sign in the
front yard, because submitted information was not sufficient. The applicant is urged to
design exterior lighting in conformance with Lexington lighting standards, and the
exterior sign in conformance with DAC guidelines described in “A Guide for Sign Permit
Applicants” available though the Town website.
3.Pedestrian Way between Bank of America and Carlson Real Estate:
Carl presented a proposed plan for closing the existing driveway to vehicular
traffic and creating a brick-paved and landscaped pedestrian way, with a brick sidewalk
extending along the building housing Carlson Real Estate and leading to the Merriam
Street Parking lot. Requested by the Lexington Center Committee, this is part of a larger
plan for “Connectivity” and other improvements to the parking lots, the Depot, the bike
path, and other areas. A conceptual “master plan” is being developed for presentation at
the upcoming “charrette” of the Lexington Center Collaborative on June 11.
4.Lexington Center Collaborative:
Carl gave a brief update on preparations for the “charrette” on June 11.
Adjournment:
The meeting was adjourned at approximately 10:00 PM.
Next meeting:
The next meeting will be Wednesday, July 6, 2005, at 7:30 PM in Room 111.