HomeMy WebLinkAbout1988-05-05-LCC-min.pdf LEXINGTON CENTER COMMITTEE
May 5, 1988
PRESENT: Chairman Battin, Dave Wells , Mary Hastings, Norma Bogen,
Bob Ossman, Carla Fortmann, and Ed Barsamian. Also in
attendance were Jere Frick, MAPC Representative; Robert
Domnitz, Meriam Hill Association member; and Liz Banks,
Lexington Minute-Man.
MINUTES: The minutes of the L.C.C. meeting on January 28, 1988 were
accepted as written.
REVIEW OF TOWN MEETING ACTION/CRITIQUE
Dave Wells reported that he felt that there were 2 major problems with the
presentation for the Parking Study to Town Meeting this year. One was the
incorrect connection to the construction of a parking facility and the other
was insufficient data available at this time of the impact of the completion
of the bikepath and the new structure where the burned out buildings were
located. There is a potential loss of 50 spaces on the completion of the
bikepath. This point was not accepted by Town Meeting members. Carla
Fortmann stated that the message she had received from several Town Meeting
members was that no parking problem exists. Mary Hastings referred to the
lack of communication that exists between committees and the citizenry at-
large which has resulted in misunderstanding of the motives of the committees.
Bob Ossman said that the drawing of the downtown is coming together so that
it would be possible to design sketches and overlays to help make the
available parking areas more efficient. He offered his expertise in this area
to the committee. Several committee members felt that because more people
work in Lexington than live in Lexington the use of the Center has changed
dramatically over recent years which has increased resentment by the residents
of the traffic and parking problems they feel non residents create. The
parking sub committee will be expanded to include Bob Ossman and will meet
with Rick White prior to the June 30 meeting to begin a preliminary analysis.
In response to a question by Bob Domnitz regarding the selection of the
composition of the L.C.C. , Mrs. Battin explained that the Selectmen chose the
various members to represent all facets of the community i .e. business sector,
Town boards and knowledgeable residents. Bob Ossman suggested that after a
preliminary analysis of the parking situation, a discussion group be formed
with representatives of the neighborhood and Planning Board to help ferret out
better information and cut through the stumbling blocks to enable the committee
and residents to agree on the nature and degree of problems pertaining to the
parking situation.
Mrs. Battin referred to the recommendations of the 1984 C.R.C. Report that
strongly urged no expansion of the Center.
DESIGN PLAN
The committee members agreed that the 'L.C.C. , working through its design sub-
committee, should play an equal role in developing the center design plan with
the DAC. Mrs. Battin asked Mrs. Bogen to determine at what point the DAC would
want the LCC to become involved in the action of Town Meeting. Norma replied
that the first meeting of the DAC since the Town Meeting vote would be held on
Tuesday, May 10 at 8:00 p.m. . It was decided that the LCC subcommittee did not
necessarily have to help choose the consultant but should participate in the
design of the RFP and monitor the work of the consultant.
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A sub committee of the DAC will be formed to choose a selection process for
the consultant with input on key decisions from the entire Design Advisory
Committee and the LCC subcommittee.
The consultant would develop continuity in the general issues of lighting,
crosswalks and signage including the Center, East Lexington and other
neighborhoods with the main focus on the Center.
Recommendations for individual issues for each area would also be developed
to provide continuity.
UPDATED BASE MAP
Bob Ossman presented the updated Base Map, that the students of Minuteman
Vocational Technical School had developed, for viewing by the LCC.
RICK WHITE
Rick White joined the meeting at this time. He suggested that in order to
determine where the major trouble spots and times were in the Center for
parking, the LCC, with involvement from the Engineering Department, survey
some selected areas during the coming summer and fall and then make a
comparison in the spring of 1989. Mr. White said that small amounts of
money could be made available for this selected survey which could help
develop some hard data if plans for making capital investments were deemed
necessary.
The next meeting of the LCC is scheduled for Thursday, June 30, 1988 at noon
in the Selectmen's Meeting Room.
The meeting was adjourned at 1 :40 p.m.
Respectfully submitted
Audrey E. Deshler