HomeMy WebLinkAbout2023-08-10-LCC-minTown of Lexington
Lexington Center Committee
Minutes for the meeting held on August 10, 2023 at 8:40 am in Estabrook Hall in the
basement of the Cary Hall Building, Massachusetts Avenue, Lexington Massachusetts.
Center Committee members present: Upasna Chhabra, Frederic Johnson, Pamela Lyons,
Innessa Manning, Jerold Michelson (Chair), Jon Wakelin
Liaisons and Town Staff: Doug Lucente, Select Board, Charles Horning, Planning Board,
Sandhya Iyer, Economic Development, John Livsey, Chief Engineer, DPW, Len Morse-
Fortier, Commission on Disabilities, Carol Kowalski, Assistant Town Manager, Lorraine
Welsh, Economic Development
Public: Sharon Spaulding, 1666 Mass Ave, Sorabh Kapoor, Clay Oven, Heather
Hartshorn, Chamber of Commerce, Bob Triconi, Bodywork Masters, Neil Hdusen,
Enterprise Bank
We began with the DPW update from John Livsey – DPW is getting vendors’ quotes for
sidewalk cleaning (need machines that don’t remove the sand between the bricks.)
There’s a long lead time for lights – new ones are expected this winter. The sidewalk in
front of the Minuteman statue is being redone. Jerry noted various trees need pruning.
We moved on to a lengthy discussion of the merits of having the MBTA bus stop in
front of Conte Bikes or in front of 1666 Mass Ave. John Livsey began by describing work
that would need to be done to retain the stop in front of Conte Bikes to make it MBTA
and ADA compliant. Len Morse Fortier indicated that the Commission on Disabilities
voted unanimously to support moving the stop to 1666 Mass Ave and described the
ADA considerations regarding this vote. Sharon Spaulding and business owners at 1666
Mass Ave described the benefits (convenience and helping disabled customers from
their vehicles) to their businesses for retaining the parking spaces (three, plus one space
that remains whatever option is selected.) Pamela Lyons urged the business owners to
consider using their private parking for their customers while availing themselves of the
free parking on Mass Ave just past the church. Jon Wakelin gave a visual presentation
supporting moving the stop to 1666. Doug Lucente suggested a compromise that had
not been entertained previously but it appeared that it would not quite work out
engineeringwise. Charles Hornig said that the Planning Board looks at the needs of
pedestrians, cyclists and transit users and cars are not prioritized. Carol Kowalski and
Heather Hartshorn supported the business owners.
The Lexington Center Committee voted six to zero to approve the minutes for the
April, May and June, 2023 meetings.
Sandhya Iyer noted that a bakery is going into the LaDolda space, a gallery is going into
the Anisoptera space, Karma is coming to the Dabin space, and Revival (a breakfast and
lunch place) will be coming to the Starbucks space. Three businesses are requesting
liquor licenses. Jerry described the history of liquor licensing in Lexington – has trended
conservative in the past, more liberal now. The Venue has extended its lease for a year
and is among those seeking a liquor license. The pop-up stores are over and the
disabled access ramp is coming down. Overall this was a good experience for Lexington
and other towns have adopted this model. Because the Covid suspension of the rules
regarding sandwich boards in the have expired, sandwich boards are no longer
permitted. Blade signs, technically known as “projection signs” are allowed by right.