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Home My WebLink About1986-01-15-CRC-rpt.pdf ►tit% SUMMARY ' Since its appointment in 1980 by the Board of Selectmen , the Center Revitalization Committee (CRC) -- comprised of repre- sentatives of the Selectmen , Planning Board , and Chamber of Commerce -- has been an active working group concerned with ongoing improvements in the Center as well as future activities Its major objective has been to assure a healthy and diversified Center that serves the needs of the residents and the business community Based on market , economic , land use , and traffic and parking surveys that it has initiated , the CRC has developed a set of policies for the Center and a program for future action MAJOR FINDINGS OF THE CRC Lexington Center is changing It has weathered the uncer- tainty of the '70s and is adapting well to the trends of the °80s Formerly primarily a local Center , it now serves a larger market comprised of residents and non-residents Some of the older businesses are gone , replaced by others that better reflect the higher income and changes in pre- ferences and lifestyle of the population There is more activity at night On the whole , the Center is a thriving , bustling , active place The changes in Lexington Center have been stimulated to a large degree by the growth of employment in Lexington and nearby communities , resulting in an increase in the number of non-residents using the Center , especially at lunchtime The result has been the growth of restaurants and specialty shops , in particular , which in turn have attracted residents of nearby communities for dining , shopping , browsing , and other activities The Chamber of Commerce ' s strong promotion program for the Center and its businesses has succeeded in encouraging greater use and enjoyment of the Center by town residents and strengthening its identity There is a good divesity of retail , personal services , office , and government uses in the Center ; and its compactness permits the consumer to accomplish a variety of activities on one trip and within a relatively short period of time The growth of restaurants and specialty shops are signs of the vitality of the Center The addition of branch establishments and chains as well as offices also attest to its attractiveness to business There is both a strong retail market and a strong office market Theaters , art galleries , eating estab- lishments , and consumer services add variety and energy to the mix V There appears to be a balance between land uses and parking for the Center as a whole at the present time On a subarea basis , however , this is not always the case , since demand varies according to the time of day , season , and type of establishment Although there is some traffic congestion , it seldom results in inordinate delay and is not likely to worsen substantially unless additional floor space is added The new parking program for the Center and recent parking and traffic improvements have added parking spaces and facilitated movement within the Center The new zoning regulations for the Center require that new construction or expansion or more intensive use of existing buildings in the business zone be accompanied by adequate parking Since there is no vacant land available and the demolition of existing buildings may be either uneconomic or undesirable for visual or historic reasons , the key to additional development/reuse is finding other appropriate ways to provide additional parking spaces The Center is generally pleasant and includes a number of older or historic buildings -- particularly on its edges -- and an attractive promenade along Massachusetts Avenue From a design viewpoint , however , it can be considered kNdks+ingwiske,Q_, Many buildings are non—descript , and building and sign and awning changes tend to take place on an individual basis without regard for overall unity or coordination Moreover , adequate amenities , such as seating , bike racks , restrooms , and the like , are lacking Litter is a problem that needs more attention Competition in the Lexington trade area is intense , and the Center must continue to strengthen its advantages in order to have a healthy level of sales Superior customer service , unique and well priced merchandise , convenience , and a special environment are all necessary to assure the soundness of the Center Managing change in the Center is a continuous process which has to be shared by the town and the business community-- since both have a stake in the Center and both derive benefits when it is a vital and attractive place The key to the long term viability of the Center is a coordinated effort that recognizes the Center as a dynamic and changing organism and at the same time respects the Center as a symbol of the town and its proud history Vi RECOMMENDED POLICIES The CRC has agreed on a set of twenty-four policies that deal with land use , development , and the role and character of the Center These policies view the Center as the focal point of the community and a place for residents to do business and take care of their needs At the same time , the necessity of serving non-resideitsis recognized as a means of sustaining a large enough market to provide a variety of goods and services CRC policies Encourage a variety of uses in the Center , with special concern for retail establishments so that office uses , in particular , do not overwhelm the Center A variety of uses reinforce each other by providing "one-stop" convenience A variety of retail uses is especially important to the vitality of the Center since they provide visual excitement and color Promote a compact Center with development of a scale that is compatible with the character of the town and sympathetic to the quality of the Battle Green area Support the retention of historic buildings and the "village" characteristics of the Center Encourage improvement in the Center ' s appearance and the provision of amenities Special efforts are needed to improve facades , signs , backs of buildings , and parking lots Amenities and improvements in maintenance and cleanliness are necessary to enhance the Center ' s competitive advantage Support protection of adjacent neighborhoods Stress the importance of a balance between land uses and parking , with the highest priority placed on short term, turnover parking that is supportive of retail and personal service uses Consider the provision of parking a shared responsibility of the town and the business community , with central business district property owners/developers having the major re- sponsibility for providing parking for newly created floor space and more intensive use of existing space VII FUTURE PROGRAM PRINCIPAL ELEMENTS While Lexington Center is currently flourishing , it must be watched and nurtured on a regular basis , since it must constantly compete with many other commercial locations and is readily affected by economic conditions as well as demographic , lifestyle , and market trends Continuing improvements are necessary to ensure that it remains a lively and enjoyable place to shop, browse , dine , and do business Following are the major recommendations of the CRC ORGANIZATION Reconstitute the CRC as the Lexington Center Committee -- comprised of representatives of the town , business community , and adjacent neighborhoods -- to continue the process of managing change in the Center ECONOMIC STRUCTURE/ LAND USE Assist retail businesses to adapt to changing markets Set up clearinghouse to help in the search for suitable retail establishments when space becomes available Update land use and establishment data on a regular basis ACCESS/PARKING Explore feasibility and impact of assembling certain private lots between Waltham and Muzzey Streets and Muzzey and Clark Streets into common lots to be used for public parking Continue to investigate changes to improve traffic flow -- traffic lights , direction of traffic , signs , etc Continue to explore the feasibility of a possible parking structure as a shared town/business community responsibility DESIGN AND AMENITIES Revive the Design Advisory Group (DAG) , comprised of design professionals living in Lexington Develop a Visual Design Plan for the Center -- to include recommendations for facade changes , building signs , backs of buildings , street furniture , improvement of parking lots , etc Hold Competition to redesign Emery Park as a more attractive place better suited to its current activities Revise zoning bylaw to permit projecting signs in the Central Business zone by right Develop coordinated designs for all public signs in the Center -- traffic , parking , information , parking lot entrances and exits , etc Add necessary amenities in the Center (seating , bike racks , trash receptacles , restrooms , bus stop shelters, etc ) , and improve maintenance PROMOTION Encourage and support Chamber of Commerce promotional &ttuttozs \X