HomeMy WebLinkAbout2022-10-25-PB-min
Minutes of the Lexington Planning Board
Held on Tuesday, October 25, 2022, Community Center, 39 Marrett Road
6:30 pm
Present: Robert Peters, Chair; Michael Schanbacher, Vice-Chair; Melanie Thompson, Clerk; Robert Creech,
Charles Hornig, and Associate Member Michael Leon. Also present were Abby McCabe, Planning Director;
Sheila Page, Assistant Planning Director; Carol Kowalski, Assistant Town Manager for Development;
Kiruthika Ramakrishnan, Planning Coordinator; Molly Belanger, Planner; and Susan Barrett,
Transportation Manager.
Robert Peters, Chair, called to order the meeting of the Lexington Planning Board on Tuesday, October
12, 2022, at 6:30 pm. LexMedia is filming this meeting and will record it for future viewing.
Ms. McCabe gave a presentation summarizing the new state zoning provisions requiring multi-family
housing in MBTA-served communities. She said the law requires towns to adopt zoning that permits multi-
family housing with an approval process that cannot be discretionary, has to be suitable for families, and
must permit at least 15 units per acre. She explained that towns have to adopt this zoning to allow
applications, not construct the housing. She explained there is a size requirement for the minimum zoning
district size, contiguous zoning, and a minimum allowable housing capacity. If Lexington follows the
minimum state guidance, Lexington is looking for 82 acres where multi-family housing can be permitted.
She answered some questions from audience members.
She explained that there are large maps at each table showing Lexington. The colored properties on the
maps show areas that are eligible under the state’s guidelines and shaded/gray areas are that are not
eligible because they are non-developable because they contain public land, known wetlands, land with
known restrictions, or are far from bus lines. Each table has stickers representing 82 acres with each sticker
being 5 acres. People were asked to work in groups to place all 17 stickers on the map in areas that could
be considered for potential higher density housing.
People worked in groups for approximately one hour.
Ms. McCabe encouraged people to sign up to receive Planning Board meeting notifications to be alerted
of upcoming future events and discussions on the topic. She explained the Planning Board will use these
maps to help formulate a zoning amendment proposal to bring to a future Town Meeting.
Mr. Peters thanked everyone for coming and the Board adjourned at 8:05 pm.
List of Materials:
Workshop Map, feedback comment forms, table instructions
PowerPoint Presentation 10.25.2022 (15 slides)