HomeMy WebLinkAboutPlanning Board Minutes, 1999-10-06 PLANNING BOARD MINUTES
MEETING OF OCTOBER 6, 1999
The meeting of the Lexington Planning Board held in the Selectmen's Room,Town Office Building,was
called to order at 7:35 p.m. by Chairman Davies with members Bridge-Denzak,Colman,Merrill,Planning
Director Bowyer, and Assistant Planner Garber present.Mr Galaitsis was absent.
*************************** PLANNING DIRECTOR'S REPORT **************************
139 Recent Activity
Mr Bowyer informed the Board about a "friend of the court" brief being prepared by Erica Powers, for a
suit filed by Massachusetts Crushed Stone against the Town of Weston.
**************************** COMPREHENSIVE PLANNING ****************************
140. Comprehensive Plan. Land Use Element.
a. Status Renort: Present for this item was Philip B.Herr, of Philip Herr and Associates,planning
consultant. The Board has contracted with Mr. Herr to help in framing an approach to the comprehensive
plan. Mr Herr outlined what a comprehensive plan is and what it purports to do and showed overheads of
his Lexington Center plan from 1965 He said that plans traditionally cannot really achieve many of the
changes and improvements they typically portray because much of the property is privately owned.
He handed out a flow chart illustrating long range planning activities in Lexington in 1999 and 2000 and
described how the Planning Board's process picks up where Vision 20/20 leaves off.Vision 20/20 segues
into and overlaps the Planning Board's Comprehensive Plan Land Use Element,which, segues into some
kind of Phase H, characterized as the Implementation Phase.
IMr. Colman cautioned about falling into the endless data collection trap. He said implementation must be
constantly interwoven with planning.Mr Herr responded with an anecdote about the Town of Westwood's
comprehensive planning process which entailed a proposed building permit moratorium.The intense debate
spurred by the moratorium led to a series of quick actions on a number of implementation fronts.In response
to a question from Ms. Bridge-Denzak,Mr.Herr described an array of implementation approaches.He noted
that Lexington has created numerous innovative land use tools,without the benefit of a comprehensive plan.
He cautioned against using a comprehensive plan as an excuse not to do anything, or not enough.
Mr. Garber outlined his thoughts on implementation, among which were:
• Revisit the Zoning By-Law and Development Regulations,draft necessary amendments.
• Consider creative new legislative initiatives,pushing the envelope.
• Put teeth into regional planning and or otherwise focus on specific regional impact via projects or
intertown special agreements.
• Set and recommend some capital investment priorities,e.g., purchase open space,build public
facilities.
• Use administrative,managerial, governmental tools,mechanisms
• Create public/private partnerships to pool implementation/financial resources
Mr.Herr indicated that he has talked with key Town officials and read the background material put together
by Mr. Bowyer
b. Breakdown of Tasks: Mr Merrill suggested that a multi-year context and framework is needed for this
process. He suggested that a"plan for planning" should proceed the land use element scope, as that should
exist in a larger context. He also commented that the Board and staff need to think about responding to
Town Meeting with progress on the comprehensive plan.Ms. Bridge-Denzak concurred.Mr Bowyer noted
that the kind of thing aimed at Town Meeting is very different from that created for consultants receiving
Minutes for the Meeting of October 6, 1999 2
and responding to an RFP The Board agreed that it is critical to issue the RFP quickly so that something
will be ready to present to Town Meeting.
On the motion of Mr Merrill, seconded by Ms.Bridge-Denzak,the Board voted unanimously,4-0,to
endorse and accept the Request for Proposal,dated November 5, 1999
The meeting was adjourned at 10:23 p.m. 1
Anthor G. alaitsis,Clerk