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MINUTES OF LEXINGTON DESIGN ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETING July 11, 1989
PRESENT Elaine Adler
Norma Bogen
Dan Olson
Bob Ossman, LCC
Jack Eddison, Selectman
John Frey, Chair, DAC and Acting Secretary
MINUTES The minutes of the DAC Meeting June 13, 1989, were approved.
LEXINGTON CENTER GUIDELINES
a) Second part of draft report to be picked up by Committee Members
Monday, July 24, 1989, at the Police Station. (Now there has been
a change. The pick up date has been postponed No New date has
been set )
b) The report format has been changed. Now there will be two separate
work products; one addressing public design, the other private.
c) A special subcommittee was appointed to review design of the lights
in the Center Don Olson, DAC and. Bob Ossman, LCC will meet with
Craig Halvorson and David Spillane of David Dixon Associates
d) Walter Pierce submitted his comments on the draft of the first part
of the report in writing They are attached here. The consensus
of those present agree with his comments Walter also said to
John on the phone that the Town sign By-Law allows larger signs than the
Historic District Committee feels are appropriate.
e) It was felt that the consultant had not yet dealt sufficiently with
the bigger picture such as how the individual houses used as commercial
fit into the general context of the Center Muzzey St and the houses
across Mass Ave. from the Town Office Building were used as examples
Some guidelines for private owners as to how to handle front yards,
curb cuts, setbacks for remodeling or new construction should be
addressed; and also a general philosophy as to whether we want to
encourage more continuity along these special districts or encourage
diversity or what
f) John Frey is to call David Spillane to inform him of the above concerns
STREET LIGHTING
The Selectmen at their meeting July 10, 1989, agreed to authorize an ad hoc
committee to research options, costs, long range implications of the various
lighting options (incandescent, mercury vapor, high pressure sodium and
other new alternatives) and recommend a policy for future lighting in
Lexington. The Selectmen will probably appoint a DAC member to the street
lighting committee.
Page 1
TRASH RECEPTABLES
Eight receptacles (Victor Stanley S42) have been ordered by Dale Gaasland
and are supposed to arrive sometime in July The wood trash receptacles
in Emery Park and Tower Park were made up by Town forces last winter
"ADOPT A SPACE"
The "Adopt a Space" subcommittee met June 28, 1989, with Dale Gaasland
Minutes of the meeting will be sent out with minutes of this meeting
LINCOLN STREET FIELD MOUNDS
Bob Ossman was concerned about the height and appropriateness of the new
mounds at the field. He will call Dale Gaasland.
*** Next meeting of D.A C Tuesday, August 8, 1989, Room 111 , T 0 B , at 8 pm
Page 2
TO: John Frey, Chairman :DAC
FROM. (Xnf
RE Design Guidelines for Lexington's Commercial
Area - comments on Preliminary Draft -
July 7, 1989
• Without graphic examples of Do's & Bont's, I find
the extensive prose not very helpful to lay users
• This shortcoming is compounded by the prose itself
inconsistent sentence structure and phrasing,
extensive use of general terms such as "compatible
with the building's character", "cohesiveness"-,
"sense of character", signs "should look like a
family", etc , terms that professional designers
(who don't necessarily need instruction) may
understand, but which are too vague to be helpful to
many store-owners working on their own or with a
sign company
• There are conflicts with the current sign By-Law
which, for example, prohibits internally-lit plastic
signs.
• There are other conflicts with current HDC thinking
the HOG has generally discourolool signs which go
beyond announcing a company name, with possibly its
logo
• The HDC has been concerned about signs behind the
glass fronts; this is a loophole in the sign By-Law
and the HDC jurisdiction which, at some point,
should be addressed
• In sum, this document in my opinion, is a long way
from being a useful "how-to" handbook At this
point it isstill much too generalized