HomeMy WebLinkAbout2023-04-03-PB-min
Minutes of the Lexington Planning Board
Held on Monday, April 3, 2023
Parker Room, Town Office Building 1625 Mass Ave. Lexington
Meeting at 6:00 pm
Planning Board members present: Robert Peters, Chair; Michael Schanbacher, Vice-Chair; Melanie
Thompson, Clerk; Robert Creech, Charles Hornig, and Associate Member Michael Leon.
Also present was Abby McCabe, Planning Director, Sheila Page, Assistant Director, Mina Makarious, Town
Counsel.
Robert Peters, Chair of the Planning Board, called to order the meeting of the Lexington Planning Board
on Monday, April 10, 2023, at 6:00 pm.
Chair Peters informed everyone that the agenda topic tonight is to review any amendments that have
come in for Annual Town Meeting warrant articles because floor amendments were due this evening at
5:00 pm. The meeting was filmed by LexMedia.
Ms. McCabe noted that two floor amendments were submitted for Article 34 and two for Article 33.
Article 34 – Floor Amendments:
Chair Peters asked the floor amendment sponsors summarize their proposed amendments. Ms. McKenna
summarized the proposal to clarify some of the zone names in the purpose section, remove some overlay
districts from the including the CB (Center Business) district, add in a height buffer, and require special
permits in the East Lexington and Bedford Street/Reed Street areas.
Mr. Burger summarized his amendment to article 34 was to change the housing use in the center to be by
special permit to have the article be more widely supported. Also, to have an upper floor step-back.
Board Discussion:
Board members thought the Center was an ideal place to have the upper story housing and were not
supportive of removing the multi-family housing use in the center.
Article 40 – review revised motion for residential gross floor area
Mr. Creech suggested additional zoning changes the Board could incorporate into a future zoning
amendment to better address the community’s concern such as by remove the basements and covered
porches from the gross floor area calculation. Dimensional controls could also be reviewed such as
lowering the maximum height.
Article 33 – Amendments
The Board will continue this discussion to next week after the special permit residential ad hoc committee
can meet.
Minutes:
On a motion made by Mr. Schanbacher, seconded by Ms. Thompson, the Board voted 5-0 to approve the
minutes from March 29, 2023
On a motion made by Mr. Schanbacher, seconded by Ms. Thompson, the Board voted 5 -0 to adjourn at
7:07 pm.
List of Exhibits: Available on the Town Meeting webpage: https://lexingtonma.gov/1557/2023-Annual-
Town-Meeting
• McKenna and group amendment to Article 34
• Burger Amendment to Article 34
• Arens Amendment to Article 33
• Jensen/McBride Amendment to Article 33