HomeMy WebLinkAboutPlanning Board Minutes, 1999-11-03 PLANNING BOARD MINUTES
MEETING OF NOVEMBER 3, 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, Galaitsis,Merrill
Planning Director Bowyer,and Assistant Planner Garber present.
***************************** COMPREHENSIVE PLANNING ****************************
145 Land Use Element,Management of the Comprehensive Plan Process: Mr Bowyer introduced
notebooks for the Board that contain background, outlines and resource material on the comprehensive
planning process.
He said that although hiring a consultant has received a great deal of attention,perhaps two thirds to three
quarters of the professional planning work will be done by the Planning Department staff - as measured
either in hours or dollar value.Mr Davies expressed concern about the amount of time and energy the staff
will expend on this effort and whether it all can be completed by June 2000.Mr Bowyer is working
essentially full-time on the comprehensive plan.
Mr. Bowyer emphasized that the Planning Board is really the key participant in the process and one measure
of how much progress can be made how fast will depend on the Board's efforts in completing
questionnaires, evaluating sites and articulating policy direction. The Board will have to make hard
decisions.
The Board discussed what to produce and how in this planning process. The site analyses are seen as a
fundamental building block.Mr. Merrill commented on the importance of having a clear vision of what the
Board is trying to produce.Mr Bowyer commented on the importance of implementation—the actions to
carry out policies and Board positions. He explained the general framework in which land use policies are
implemented.This land use planning process is heavily weighted toward implementation and the specific
actions needed to implement the land use element. He noted that there are already implementation
techniques in place—in the Zoning By-Law and Subdivision Regulations. One of the Board's tasks will be
to evaluate whether existing zoning and subdivision regulations need to be modified.
The Board focussed on the answers of individual Board members to Questionnaire#2, Hard Questions and
Issues, and Questionnaire#3,Needed Desirable Land Uses.
************************* CONSULTANTS, CONTRACT SERVICES *************************
146. Status of RFP for Land Use Element Consultant: Mr. Bowyer distributed copies of the Request for
Proposal for a consultant for the Land Use Element.
The meeting was adjourned at 10:28 p.m.
Anth y G. Galaitsis,Clerk