HomeMy WebLinkAbout2023-02-09-EDAC-min
These are the approved minutes from the EDAC meeting of February 9th, 2023.
PUBLIC MEETING NOTICE
January 24, 2023
The Economic Development Advisory Committee (EDAC) has scheduled a meeting for
Thursday, February 9, at 8:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. via Zoom.
AGENDA
1. Opening of the Meeting and Introductions of New Members - Chair
a. Attendance: Ric DeAngelis, Bridger McGaw, Dave Pronchick, Lisa Murray (joined at
9:00am); Samuel Ang; Jon Wakelin; Joe Pato (Select Board), Doug Lucente (Select
Board), Charles Hornig (Planning Board), Sandhya Iyer (EDO)
b. Quorum established at 8:04AM
2. Update on new Commercial Development in Lexington – EDAC Members and Town Staff
Ms. Iyer provide a short update on projects before the Town.
a. 12-18 Hartwell Ave. (Greatland) Project approved by the Planning Board
b. 99 Hayden project is with MEPA.
c. 5 Hartwell Place (former 91 Hartwell Ave) is back to Planning Board with a revised
plan with 2 phases: a smaller garage and revised building plan. Unicorp (220
employees) will be using this site as their Headquarters
d. 186 Bedford Street is “moving along”
e. 420-430 Bedford Street (170Ksqft) remains in the middle of the MEPA process;
Environment Impact Report is underway in coordination with
f. 440 Bedford Street (formerly Margaritas/Quintas Hotel): Just starting Building Permit
g. Popup Grant was awarded and the clothier will be signing a long-term lease in
Lexington Center. A local success in testing a new small business and seeing it stay.
h. Starbucks new tenant will not be happening and process of tenant identification is
starting again
i. Ms. Iyer reported the Economic Development team received an award from PR Daily
/ Regan Communications for their Business Guide. The EDAC congratulated the
staff.
3. Select Board Liaison Requests for EDAC input – Select Board Liaison(s)
a. Mr. Lucente and Mr. Malloy met with potential facilitators of a charette. A proposal
has been submitted to the Town Manager and Mr. Lucente recommended that the
team work through the proposal with a small planning group of members from
appropriate committees (EDAC, Tourism, Center Committee, etc.)
b. Goal is this project is not to be done in a vacuum and may take a few months before
an actual event takes place.
c. Regarding Town Meeting Warrant
i. We are interested in EDAC position on the MBTA Zoning initiative and there
is a lot of interest in our point of view on this. (Art 34, 35, 36). Doug will not
be participating on the discussions regarding zoning change on two of the
zones due to conflicts.
ii. SPRD Committee presented last night but is not something the Select Board is
expecting a formal EDAC position on.
iii. Regarding the Specialized Energy Code – yes
iv. Positions on the Stone Building / Fire Station are welcome
v. The Chair requested members to review the MBTA recommendations and
information available on the Planning Board web page as well as published
hearings.
4. EDAC Committee Discussion
a. Comprehensive Plan Action Planning Members discussion around possible priorities
– we reminded members to identify their priorities.
b. Center Revitalization – This was not covered beyond the discussion on the charette
5. Items that may come before March Town Meeting
a. MBTA Multifamily housing Zoning Changes (Articles 34-35-36)
i. Mr. Hornig provided a briefing as these items which go further than the State
Law requirements in an effort to meet our Comprehensive Plan goals.
ii. Link to the MBTA Zoning Change Briefing
iii. To meet density requirements we need 3 stories of residential development
(40ft in height); if there is a non-residential (commercial/retail) on the first
story then an additional story of residential can be added. (1st floor
commercial/retail; 2-4th floor would be residential. Planning Board wanted to
incentivize the extra story so that we cannot lose retail spaces)
iv. The large district by requirement is envisioned at Bedford/Worthen Road
v. An active conversation took place around the height of the buildings in
Lexington Center. The plan is to have 4 stories and the amount of residential
is hampered by the amount of parking. The Committee Members expressed
some reservations around messaging and lack of more specific design
intentions in this Center District to build a better case for why the building
heights, parking, setbacks are essential to both allowing more housing while
protecting central business district and how it works within the historic
district.
vi. Added a district at Southern end of Hartwell
vii. Looking more at 4 floor buildings instead of 5 along Bedford Street corridor
as well.
viii. Mr. Ang and Ms. Murray referenced the importance of telling the story of
mixed-use development stronger with relevant local community images
(before/after) to Town Meeting.
b. The Future of LexPress and Mobility in Lexington
i. Informed the EDAC members that the a Select Board Ad Hoc Transportation
Committee is being appointed at 2/13 Select Board meeting. Members will
include:
1. Sally Castleman - Member of Transportation Advisory Committee
2. Howard Cloth - Member of Senior Community
3. Sharon Gunda - Human Services Designee
4. Varda Haimo - Business Representative
5. Carolyn Kosnoff - Assistant Town Manager for Finance
6. Bridger McGaw - Member of Economic Development Advisory
7. Committee
8. Deepika Sawhney - Member of School Committee
The Meeting minutes from the December 15th meeting were approved by a roll call vote with Ric
DeAngelis, Bridger McGaw, Dave Pronchick, Lisa Murray, Larry Smith (joined at 9:00am)
voting to approve. Samuel Ang abstained.
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