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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1988-09-08-LCC-min.pdf LEXINGTON CENTER COMMIlatE September 8, 1988 PRESENT: Mrs. Battin, Bob Ossman, Bill Bowen, Ed Barsamian, David Wells, Norma Bogen, Carla Fortran, Marian Powell. Also attending were Martha Woods, Planning Board; Jack Eddison, Selectman.; Frank Fields, Engineering; Jere Frick, MAPC Representative; Joyce Miller, Conservation; and Liz Banks, Minute Man. MINUTES: The minutes of the L.C.C. meeting of June 30, 1988 were accepted as presented. PARKING SUB-COMMITTEE REPORT Dave Wells - The sub Committee is actively taking inventory of the public and private parking facilities in the Center area. The group has broken down the map of the area into 6/7 districts which will include the location of hydrants, cross walks., bus stops, etc. Bob Ossman - Regerred to the original map that was developed by him and the VoTech students. Some flaws in the original map have been discovered and are now being rectified. _ Two diazo mylar reproductions have been developed. On the back of one of them will be a synopsis of the information of inventory of spaces which will include where the spaces are located and how big they are. The second map will include the bikeway plan and suggest ways to improve parking configurations. Bill Bowen - The measuring of parking spaces is basically completed and at this time the sense of the group is that there are no undiscovered spaces available in the immediate Center. There are spaces available now outside the immediate Center which would require short walking distance and would provide the optimum solution to the parking problem. There are 30 all day spaces on the upper end of the Battle Green which would be available from September on. Meter parking is in short supply and it appears that from 8:15 a.m. on that meter stuffing is done on a regular basis. The 30 spaces in the Belfrey lot are being occupiPr3 all day but the spacesin the Church of Our Redeemer are not. Frank Fields - Parking at the Arts/Crafts building, Belfrey and Meriam Lots are utilized. The permit parking available at the School Administration Bldg. is filling. Chamber members have requested members to utilize off center parking by employees. Non members and non compliers are not responding to communications- from the Chamber. Dave Wells - The Chamber is limited because of many businesses who do not belong to their group. The unknowns of the impact of the completion of the Bikeway and the burned out buildings have contributed to a false sense of security as to the availability of parking spaces for employees. Frank Fields - The original intent of permit parking was to relieve the crunch of the noon time rush. Dave Wells - The guaranteed space as a result of permit parking has not been successful. Possibly issuing doublekpe'mits . -- be -be co - =• Bill Bowen - All day permits are available behind sane of the churches. Maybe offering a lower incentive rate for permits is an option. Frank Fields - Drastic decrease in rate would be needed to inspire better usage of permit parking. Joyce Miller - Street sign on her street is now 10:00 a.m. on. Changing the sign to 9:00 a.m. would help to eliminate ticketing on cars for employees needing all day spaces. -2- Mrs. Battin - The necessity for completion of the study to establish where and how large the parking areas are is more and more apparent. Enablement Committee request for additional parking Bill Bowen - Has noted that most handicapped spaces are not heavily utilized and that there is no meter at the handicapped space at Muzzey St. and Theatre Pharmacy location. Mrs. Battin - There is a legal requirement to provide at least one more handicapped space in the Center Area. Parking committee will review enablement committee's request. Bikeway Spaces Jack Fddison - The Lease pertaining to the ROW would allow use of the area up to the guardrail of the Bikeway for Town parking. Frank Fields - The loss of at least 60 spaces upon the completion of the Bikeway is a surety. There maybe one car length of space but no maneuverability space available. Dave Wells - There is a possibility that the loss of spaces would exceed 60. Jack Eddison - Some construction of the Bikeway will be done this fall but is more likely to take place in the Spring of 89. As the money for the construction of the Bikeway is State controlled there must be space along the Bikeway for possible expansion of rail service by the State. Belfrey Lot Frank Fields - There are now 32 parking spaces in the Belfrey Lot. Mrs. Battin - Is the Belfrey Lot considered part of the Center? Norma Bogen - The Lot is not officially part of the Center but the peripheral area. She asked if this expansion of Grace Chapel in this Lot is considered the best use of the space from a planner's point of view. This question was referred to Mr. Eddison and Martha Wood. Martha Wood - A written memo from the neighbors of this area has been received by the Planning Board as to the possibility of this space being used for affordable housing. This idea has not been officially discussed by the Planning Board as yet. The Grace Chapel site plan for the construction of a Christian Education Building on the Belfrey Lot hearing is scheduled by the Board of Appeals in October upon receipt of the comment statements from the Building Commissioner, Planning Board, Health Dept. , Engineering Dept. and Selectmen. Marian Powell - Historical use of the site by the Old Belfrey Club was community recreational in nature and residential in appearance. Bill Bowen - Map of area shows large space available for building and parking. Mrs. Battin - Negotiations will be needed to insure preservation of 32 parking spaces. Dave Wells - Community use of space is historically significant. Both Dave and Carla Fortman referred to the need to request that at least as many spaces as are available now be preserved for Town use. Norma Bogen - Hoped that the possible use of the area for housing was not eliminated. Jere Frick - The L.C.C. could make the Grace Chapel Committee aware of its concerns and future meetings should include input from Grace Chapel member (s) for give and take purposes. Grace. Chapel Bldg. Plans were reviewed by all L.C.C. members present, at this time. -3- Mrs. Battin - The D.A.C. should also be involved in the recommendations to the Board of Appeals. Bob Ossman- Questioned the elevation and scale of the proposed building in relation to adjoining parcels and recommended that the site plan be supplemented to include this data. Mrs. Battin - reminded the group that necessary recommendations to the Selectmen are needed by the October 3 Selectmen's Meeting. It was decided to hold a joint meeting of the L.C.C. and D.A.C. with representation from Grace Chapel to discuss the building plan on September 22. The Planning Board will be notified of this mccting. Center Base Map Bob Ossman - Data is assembled and will be evaluated for improvements to the Map which will also include the Bikeway plans. Mrs. Battin - Suggested that help frau the Engineering Dept. to assist in the transfer of technicalities to the Map could be requested through the Manager's Office. Bill Bowen - Asked that each team for map assignments please detail recommenda- tions for each section before returning the information to the sub-committee. Mrs. Battin - Asked that each member please come to the next LCC meeting with parking trouble spots listed as to time and place. DAC - RFP Process Norma Bogen - The DAC is working to obtain a consultant for completion of study. RFQ has been prepared. There were 19 responses received by the committee and reviewed. The DAC selected 4 firms to summit proposals to a joint meeting of the LCC and the DAC on September 27, 1988 - one firm per hour beginning at 6:00 p.m. A final selection will be made on Sept. 28th by the two committees and then recommended to the Board of Selectmen. Enforcement of Spccd Limits & Crosswalk Observance Mrs. Battin will talk with Rick White and Chief Furdon to discuss the committee 's concern with better Police enforcement of spccd limits and crosswalk observance now that the education of the citizenry and poster contest on crosswalk observance has been completed by the LCC and Chamber. It was suggested that the Chamber help with further education through contacting the firms in the outlying office parks and providing decals urging "Use the Crosswalks" to be posted on building exit doors. Concern for safety at the Bedford St. , Harrington Road intersection was again expressed and will be conveyed to the Manager. Review of Charge to LCC and Appointments to Committee It was agreed that the LCC suggest to the Selectmen the possibility of expanding the number of members from 9 to 11 to include 2 members of neighborhood associations who have no business affiliation in the Center and who are not professionals but would represent their neighborhoods viewpoints. Jere Frick - Questioned whether the wording in the Charge "in the Center" should be changed to include the areas in the Center Design Plan. The committee agreed to request this. Joint Meeting of ICC, DAC, & Planning Board Selection of Consultant Jack Eddison - To take this opportunity to have input from Town Meeting Members and the community at large regarding the selection of the consultant. Joint meeting will be changed to Estabrook Hall to accommodate number of attendees. Press will be notified of change and inclusion of interested parties. -4- A11 members were strongly encouraged to attend the selection meeting scheduled for Sept. 22, Sept. 27 and Sept. 28, 1988 in Estabrook Hall. Meeting adjourned at 2:30 p.m. Respectfully sd witted Audrey E. Deshler