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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2023-01-06-PB-min Lexington Planning Board Meeting Minutes January 6, 2023, Page 1 of 1 Minutes of the Lexington Planning Board Held on Friday, January 6, 2023, 9:00 am First Friday Forum hosted by the Lexington League of Women Voters Cary Memorial Library, Lexington Present: Robert Peters, Chair; Vice-Chair; Melanie Thompson, Clerk; Robert Creech, and Charles Hornig. Also present Abby McCabe, Planning Director. Robert Peters, Chair, called to order the meeting of the Lexington Planning Board on Friday, January 6, 2023, at 9:00 am. For this meeting, the Planning Board is participating in the League of Women Voters First Friday Forum and no Board deliberation is expected but a quorum of members is present. The Forum was filmed by Lex Media and can be viewed here: https://videoplayer.telvue.com/player/c0gKv9ZUF0uiidDafFfESDZA5EkkJp7L/media/772076?autostart=t rue&showtabssearch=true&fullscreen=false Planning Board Chair Mr. Peters and Planning Director Ms. McCabe summarized the recently enacted state law, highlighted the major components of the law, followed by where the Planning Board is in the zoning amendment proposal process, and overview of the Board’s proposed districts. The Planning Board is proposing a zoning amendment proposal to bring to Annual Town Meeting this spring for 2023. The Planning Board is proposing several different areas in town to allow multi-family housing and mixed use for some business uses. It was noted that changes were made by the Planning Board this week which removed the Wilson Farm from the proposal and the Board will require mixed use in Lexington Center. The Planning Board zoning amendment proposal has been evolving over the last several weeks and the public hearing will begin in February before going to Annual Town Meeting for a vote in March/April. The Board members helped answer questions from the audience. Mr. Horning responded to a question about parking explaining the Planning Board’s proposal requires any new dwelling units to have a minimum of .5 parking space per dwelling, where 1 parking spaces in required per dwelling currently. In response to a question regarding inclusionary (income-restricted dwelling units), the Board members responded that the Board is proposing the maximum allowed per the state’s guidelines and also has a supplementary zoning article proposing more, which is subject to the completion of a fiscal impact study. The Board’s goal is to require inclusionary dwellings but also to the extend that would be approved by the state so long as a project is still economically feasible. A copy of the Power Point Presentation can be found here: https://www.lexingtonma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/7718/LWV-Presentation-01-06-2023-PDF?bidId= The meeting adjourned at 10:12 am.