HomeMy WebLinkAboutPlanning Board Minutes, 1999-12-01 PLANNING BOARD MINUTES
MEETING OF DECEMBER 1, 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, Planning
Director Bowyer, and Assistant Planner Garber present.Mr.Merrill was absent.
***************PLANNING BOARD ORGANIZATIONAL MATTERS ************************
152. Personnel
a. Appointment of Planning Director: Mr. Davies reported that the Town Manager had sent a memo
dated November 10, 1999 that said he was prepared to appoint Glenn Garber as Planning Director subject to
the approval of the Planning Board. On the motion of Mr Colman, seconded by Ms.Bridge-Denzak and Mr.
Galaitsis,the Board voted unanimously,4-0,to approve the Town Manager's recommendation that Mr
Garber be appointed Planning Director.
b. Search for Assistant Planner: Mr.Bowyer informed the Board about the interviews held with six
candidates for the position of Assistant Planner Five of the six candidates were very well qualified. An offer
has been made to Maryann McCall-Taylor and she indicated she would accept it.Maryann was the
Lexington Zoning Officer for four years and chairman of the Winchester Planning Board for a time. A
graduate of the MIT planning program,she has a great deal of potential as well as past experience to
recommend her.
c. Volunteer Intern:Mr Garber reported that Sherry Ranjbar,a professional planner,has volunteered
to do some work in the Planning Department to gain practical experience. A former Lexington resident, she
has an under graduate degree in Construction Engineering and a graduate degree in Urban Studies. She is
working on organizing and converting the planning department databases from Paradox to Microsoft Access
as well as helping with subdivision application processing. Mr. Davies suggested inviting Ms.Ranjbar to a
Planning Board meeting,to see that side of the decision making process.
d. Budget Presentation to the Selectmen: Mr. Garber reported on his budget presentation to the Board
of Selectmen. He asked for another appropriation for comprehensive planning for implementation purposes.
This could consist of legislative actions,changes in internal policy,rezonings, amendments to the Zoning
By-Law, amendments to regulations,etc. He said that request appeared to be well received by the
Selectmen. He emphasized to the Selectmen that we consider comprehensive planning to be a multi-year
commitment and that we intend to build comprehensive planning into the Board's regular activities. The
prospect of an additional staff person was brought up by a selectman.
**************************** COMPREHENSIVE PLANNING ****************************
153 Land Use Element: Mr.Bowyer asked the Board for their reactions to the draft Land Use Element
included in their packets last week.He said that each new draft will contain their input from the discussions
at their meetings.Implementation techniques will be part of each discussion. The end product,the Land Use
element will present a roster of implementation techniques projects for years ahead.Priority will need to be
set on which implementation projects to undertake.
Mr Galaitsis posed a number of questions: What is the Town's character?What are the real impacts of
growth?How does it affect community character?What is our vision for Lexington?How many years will it
take to build out?How much loosening of controls is too much?
Ms.Bridge-Denzak agreed that these are good questions to ask and to answer They will help to define our
intent. Mr. Colman stated that the Comprehensive Plan is a road map to get us where we want to go. The
Board needs to establish real context,a vision and direction. Mr. Davies said he believes a hierarchy of land
use will result from the planning process.
Further discussion followed around the topics of the need for housing for smaller households,the possibility
Minutes for the Meeting of December 1, 1999 2
of mixed use zoning that would allow a combination of commercial and residential uses, gateways to
Lexington, e.g,the Fletcher Avenue/Massachusetts Avenue parcel, and techniques for achieving established
goals. One important editing change is to emphasize that there are few parcels left for development.
Discussion of two family housing,mixed use development,housing for small households and the like needs
to be in the context of few opportunities for such development and they will not change the character of the
town appreciably
The Board agreed to discuss citizen participation in the comprehensive planning process when Mr.Merrill is
present.
The meeting was adjourned at 10:52 p.m.
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Anthon G. Galaitsis,Clerk
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