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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2024-02-08-LCC-minTown of Lexington Lexington Center Committee Minutes for the meeting of February 8th, 2024, held in the Parker Room, Town Office Building, Lexington Massachusetts beginning about 8:30 am. Members present: Richard Brown, Upasna Chhabra, Katherine Huang, Frederic Johnson, Jeffrey Lyon, Pamela Lyons, Innessa Manning, Jerold Michelson (Chair), Pamela Shadley Liaisons: Doug Lucente, Select Board, Sandra Shaw, Council on Aging, Lorraine Welsh, Economic Development Coordinator, Captain Chris Barry, Lexington Police Department, Dave Pinsonneault, Dept. of Public Works, John Livsey, Town Engineer, Abby McCabe, Planning Director Guests: Susan Barrett, Transportation Manager, Anne Lee, Lexington Historical Society, Lin Jensen We began with the economic development update with Lorraine Welsh: Tatte Café Bakery is coming into the Bertucci’s space with an anticipated October, 2024 opening. Question about how the rear entrance will be handled. Nothing yet on the Signature Stationer, Sanyo and Bulpan spaces. Fred asked if there was a way to get art into the Signature windows. It would not necessarily have to be art. Other suggestions include a display regarding Lexington. Susan Barrett suggested Lexington transportation images. Dave Pinsonneault took us through the DPW update: the holiday lights are coming down right after Valentines Day. DPW is working on the new issue of “the banner arms are stationary” which means some banners don’t fit. The pre-streetscape banners were adjustable. So it goes. The 250th monument will be installed at the lower Belfrey area. Artists have been winnowed down to the final five. Winner should be chosen by April. The Battle Green punch list is going forward. DPW has engaged a new contractor to power wash the bricks. Fred inquired if there was anything we could do about the CVS lot, suggesting that we either move it forward or at least do a quick resurfacing before 2025. The Center Committee voted NINE to ZERO to recommend to the Select Board that the CVS lot be resurfaced and improved to the extent possible prior to the 250th festivities and events. Pamela Shadley noted that a single brick is missing near CVS. Dave Pinsonneault had noticed it too and will get it taken care of. Susan Barrett described a recent issue with the Rev where its morning pickup location (2x between 7:30 and 9 am) needs to be moved because it dwells (for about 4 minutes) in the cutout space in front of the Depot which is owned by the Historical Society. An assortment of suggestions were pitched and discussed. The committee was sympathetic to the needs of mass transit balanced with the needs of local businesses. The Center Committee voted NINE to ZERO to recommend to the Select Board a pilot where two parking spaces in front of 7 Depot Square be used as the morning pickup location (between 7:30 and 9 am weekdays) for the Rev (with the parking spaces remaining intact for use as parking the rest of the day.) (It was not known as the meeting but there is a handicapped space there so a new location will be suggested to the Select Board.) We then embarked on a detailed discussion of the Planning Board articles heading toward Town Meeting. Abby McCabe joined us for a deep dive into signs and banners. Doug noted that we need to understand what will the article do in light of the HDC’s guidelines. The consensus was that the HDC by-laws need to be updated to be consistent with Town zoning. At the very least there should not be any conflict between the HDC and zoning. The whole purpose is to give clarity to businesses. The Center Committee voted Eight to ZERO to approve the minutes for the meetings of December, 2023 and January, 2024.