HomeMy WebLinkAbout2023-11-07-PB-min
Minutes of the Lexington Planning Board
Held on Tuesday, November 7, 2023
Meeting at 6:45 pm, Parker Room, Town Office Building
1625 Massachusetts Avenue
Planning Board members present: Michael Schanbacher, Vice-Chair; Melanie Thompson, Clerk; Robert
Creech, Charles Hornig. Robert Peters, Chair, joined via Zoom. Also present were: Abby McCabe, Planning
Director, and Sheila Page, Assistant Planning Director.
Michael Schanbacher, Vice Chair of the Planning Board, called to order the meeting of the Lexington
Planning Board on Tuesday, November 7, 2023, at 6:45 p.m. For this meeting, the Planning Board is
meeting in person in the Parker Room and Mr. Peters is joining remotely via Zoom.
The only agenda item is to review and prepare for Town Meeting this evening.
Staff informed the Board that no floor amendments and nothing new relating to Special Town Meeting
articles have come up.
The Board members discussed Article 8 related to the Speed Hump Pilot Program. Mr. Hornig asked about
staff positions from other departments about Article 8. Ms. Page responded that the fire department did
not support the speed hump pilot program because they are concerned about slowing down their
response times, possible damage to vehicles, and the patient experience for ambulances. She also said
that public works was not supportive because of road maintenance concerns and the police department
does not support speed humps because they wouldn’t want response times to be increased.
In response to further questions Ms. Page said that there are almost 2,000 cars a day on Walnut Street,
that the road is already narrow, and other traffic calming measures wouldn’t work. The goal is to test the
speed humps on a trial basis before making any permanent installations.
The Planning Board members decided not to make a recommendation or take a position on Article 8.
On a motion made by Ms. Thompson, seconded by Mr. Creech, the Planning Board voted to adjourn at
6:59 pm. (Roll call: Creech – yes; Peters – yes; Schanbacher – yes; Thompson – yes; Hornig – yes)
List of Exhibits:
Special Town Meeting 2023-1 webpage: https://lexingtonma.gov/1805/2023-1-Special-Town-Meeting