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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1987-12-10-LCC-min.pdf LEXINGTON CENTER COMMITTEE December 10, 1987 • • PRESENT: Chairman Battin, Bob Ossman, Marian Powell , Dave Wells, Ed Barsamian, Norma Bogen, Bill Bowen. Also in attend- ance were Leo McSweeney, Board of Selectmen; Jere Frick, MAPC Representative; Mary Ann Lazarus and Robert Domnitz, Meriam Hill Association members and Liz Banks , Lexington Minute-man. MINUTES The minutes of the L.C.C. meeting on November 19, 1987 , were approved as corrected. Mrs. Battin reported on a telephone meeting that she had with Bob Bowyer regarding his views on the possible resolvement of the parking situation in the Center. He felt that the subcommittee should begin by requesting a parking utilization study, using monies from the parking fund. In addition the committee should research further the potential costs for the deck if it were to be considered, and determine the commitment of the business community to analyzing the parking situation and, if necessary, implementing solutions. Mr. Bowyer stated that zoning would not allow added development in the area if a deck was built and operated solely with public monies. TRAFFIC/PARKING SUBCOMMITTEE - Dave Wells, Bill Bowen, Ed Barsamian Dave Wells reported that the subcommittee felt strongly that a parking survey was needed as soon as possible, which would include data on full utilization, time location, etc. The subcommittee had received preliminary estimates from two consultant firms for a survey with this amount of detail and had been told that the cost would be approx. $30 , - 35, 000. but would prove to be very useful to the Town. The utilization of volunteer help could mitigate this overall cost by $6 - 7, 000. The Chamber of Commerce would be asked to oversee the volunteer help for this project. The presentation to the Selectmen recommending they propose a parking utilization study to Town Meeting should stress the need to go beyond differing perceptions of the parking situation to determine if there is need for increased parking, recommended solutions and the costs of improvements. Marian, Bob and Norma agreed that the business community and the residential community should join forces towards the resolvement of this town problem. Bill Bowen reported that the consultants opinion was that the survey analysis should be conducted in the fall of 1988 with a team of observers to collect data and then integrate all of the information for the report. Mr. McSweeney asked that the committee present backup information to the Selectmen in advance of the Monday meeting so that they would have sufficient time to review the info. before recommending that the warrant article be placed to release the parking meter moneys for the survey analysis. -2- Mary Ann Lazarus , Meriam Hill Associates , asked if the consultants could include information on the survey as to where the users of the parking spots originated. Mr. Bowen agreed they could but at an additional cost. A motion was made and seconded that the Lexington Center Committee would request the Board of Selectmen to submit a warrant article for 1988 Town Meeting to use $30 - $35, 000 of the Parking Meter Fund monies to conduct a Parking Utilization Study. The motion was unanimously approved with Mr. Battin abstaining. PARKING METER FUND/SUSAN ADLER Marian Powell asked why the collection from the meters was $20 ,000 less in FY8.7 than in FY84 . Dave suggested that it could possibly be a collection problem. Robert Domnitz, Meriam Hill Associates, asked where does the moneys collected go? Ms. Adler replied that the money is used for the payroll of collection personnel, maintenance of the parking lots, resurfacing and landscaping of the parking areas. CENTER CLEAN UP / JOE MEDLIN DPW Mr. Medlin reported that there is a Special Assignment person for 9 hours a week, using a power broom sweeper from Clarke St. to Wallis Court and down Waltham St. to collect papers , etc. Usually, C.V.S . has not taken care of its rubbish properly. He stated that for a short period of time, a full time person was in charge of the Center area. At this time the Town sweeps the entire area of sidewalks twice a year. One of those times is just before the Patriot' s Day celebration. Bill Bowen said that what the area needs is the regular collect- ion of small trash which the power broom can not reach. Bob Ossman suggested the use of equipment that would get the job done much faster and would be a more efficient use of the time that is alloted for this project. It was determined by the committee that 9 hours was not sufficient to adequately clean the Center and that possibly the time could be increased to 20 hours , to accommodate the vast areas of public land as well as business properties in the Center area. Leo McSweeney and Susan Adler will write a recommendation to the Selectmen to help resolve this problem. Coodination of Public Works/Park Department and private ownership efforts are needed to address the problem properly. DESIGN SUBCOMMITTEE Norma Bogen reported on a meeting that was held with Mary Hastings, Bob Ossman, John Frey, Chairman of the DAC and herself. A rough draft will be reviewed on Tuesday Dec. 15 in preparation for the meeting with the Board of Selectmen on Dec. 21 for a request of a Town Meeting article to receive approx. $20 , 000 for a Design plan for the entire Center area. The consultant hired for this Design plan would be provided with maps to help develop an overall image with input from the DAC, LCC and HDC on how best to retain and preserve existing beauty spots and improve facade and street scapes with specific recommendat:' s and alternatives for items such as barrels , benches , etc. The consultant would be asked to prepare a priority list and a strategy for proceeding. -3- At this time a public meeting would be held with the Chamber of Commerce, Public Officials and residents to finalize the report. A motion was made and seconded that the Lexington Center Committee would support the Design Advisory Committee in their request to the Board of Selectmen to place an article in the 1988 Town Warrant for the sum of $20 ,000 to cover fees to develop a Design Plan. The motion was voted for unanimously with the Chairman, Mrs. Battin, abstaining. BASE MAP UPDATE Leo McSweeney stated that he had had a positive reaction from Minuteman VoTech for help in the development of a base map. MMVT had said that this could possibly be an assignment for a senior student at the school Meeting was adjourned at 1: 57 p.m. Respectfully submitted: Audrey E. Deshler