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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1989-05-04-DAC-public-min.pdf MINUTES OF PUBLIC MEETING AT ESTABROOK HALL PRESENT See attached sheet SUBJECT Presentation by David Dixon and Associates and discussion regarding Design Guidelines for Lexington. DATE OF MEETING May 4, 1989 BY John Frey, Chair, Lexington Design Advisory Committee John Frey Announced meeting to be held on May 10, 1989, 7 30 PM at Estabrook Hall for citizens of East Lexington, Countryside and other business areas in Lexington, to meet with David Dixon and Associates Announced cancellation of LCC meeting noon, May 11, 1989 Turned Meeting over to David Dixon. David Dixon Summarized progress to date and presented the following form and content for the guidelines document that they will prepare A. General 1 Lexington is a paradox. It is not a gaslight village It is not a strip commercial development It is not a museum like Williamsburg. 2 Rather, it has elements of all three; it has Roots in colonial past Commercialization of the Center Qualities of the '50s and '60s, except that Lexington Center was spared from massive parking areas in front of its stores Values of the ' 80s; relative success of new development in the Center 3 A single strong image has not been developed a Public sector Mass Ave trees are varied; there are five styles of lights b Private sector storefronts are diverse, but not all bad c Suggests that the public sector of Lexington needs a strong cohesive image to allow diversity on the private sector B The Public Sector 1 Resources History Massachusetts Avenue Lexington Battle Green MINUTES OF PUBLIC MEETING AT ESTABROOK HALL - Design Guidelines - May 4, 1989 Page 2 2 Unresolved aspects (not up to their potential) Gateways not developed Parking lots (second front door ignored) Alleyways, pedestrianways Emery Park unique opportunity, because it is not encumbered by history like the Battle Green. Should provide setting and frame for handsome old Railroad Station, provide seating, encourage buastop activity and remain basically green, although some additional more attractive paving is recommended. 3 Hierarchy of public sector elements a. Lighting most important in the hierarchy because the fixtures are strong, visable, architectural elements 1 The fixture proposed for Mass Ave (the "sheperd's crook" design) should be established first in priority Its design should work well with the character and scale of the Center 2 Alley and pedestrianway lights could be the same fixture, but perhaps some mounted on buildings 3 Parking lot fexture could be the more practical rectilinear one 4 Lighting should be used to help define space b Tree planting 1 Extend life of existing trees on Mass Ave by enlarging or combining planter areas 2 Define edges of bike path 3 Mark major pedestrian walks through parking lot 4 Enhance backs of buildings c. Paving (least important in hierarchy) 1 Pave south sidewalk of Mass Ave with brick to give stronger image 2 Extend brick paving into major pedestrian links to parking areas 3. Use brick walks next to backs of buildings in parking lots, rather than having asphalt go right up to the base of buildings d. Signature elements 1 Park benches 2 Fountain 3 Trash receptacles 4 Flowers spring, summer, fall, winter 5 Planters 6 Public signs MINUTES OF PUBLIC MEETING AT ESTABROOK HALL — Design Guidelines — May 4, 1898 Page 3 C. The Private Sector 1 Promote public/private partnership, such as a. Coordinate public tree planting with private signs b Joint fund raising for common improvements 2 Establish "rules of the game" allow stores to be creative, but show where harmony comes in. 3 Create guidelines to perpetuate qualities we like such as a. Two story height b Continuity c Scale of glass to building d. Break between upper and lower floors e Compatable materials 4 Facades a. Rhythm of storefront bays should tell a story (when bay frame is too long it says "strip development") b Need for glass in retail shops c Examples of facades, good and bad. 5 Signs a. Compatable with each other b Consistent with facades, fit with architecture c. Quality d. Role of sign; what is it trying to say? e Hanging or projecting signs 6 Rears of buildings a. Landscape or otherwise improve blank facades b Make "bigger deal" out of rear entrances David Spillane What the end product (the Guidelines report) will be A. Issue 1 Problems in the Center are not so severe 2 Problems in outlying areas are more severe B Role of guidelines 1 In the Center perhaps only a format for HDC review is all that is required. MINUTES OF PUBLIC MEETING AT ESTABROOK HALL - Design Guidelines - May 4, 1989 Page 4 2 In outlying areas such as East Lexington or Countryside more direct guidelines are needed, since there is no review process in place C Section I of the report 1 Begin with a statement of general principal 2 Get more specific doorfront frame sizes, etc 3 List of things not to do spacing, do not recess glass, etc D Section II 1 Steps for review process E Section III 1 Detail. F Section IV 1 Appendix; cost information, signs, storefronts, etc Peter Johnson. Will concentrate on details (Section III) of the report Buildings tell stories It is possible to understand what the Center is telling you and what it is not telling you Buildings set up their own hierarchy and express individuality The following are specific guidelines for signs which he intends to draw up for us A. Facades can be used to tell the story about what sort of business is inside Store windows or lack of them give an idea of the type of business This is the general rule, but also, rules can be broken. Sign tend to tell the story better B Three kinds of signs 1 Wall 2 Projecting 3 Window C. Wall signs three types MINUTES OF PUBLIC MEETING AT ESTABROOK HALL - Design Guidelines - May 4, 1989 Page 5 C Wall signs three types 1 Architectural - letters attached to the building itself This type does not work when there are more than one use in the building 2 Backerboard a. Allows freer use of letter types b Board should relate to building, which will usually will have a place for the board. c Shape and colors must relate to building so that architecture of the building is not changed like at Photomat d. Maximum height of board should be 30 inches e Letter height 10 inches f Wall signs are not the place to list all products sold in store 3 Sign integrated into storefront ie Coffee Connection, "sort of" D Projecting signs 1 Can be three dimensional. 2 Can be more whimsical. 3 Size 24 inches by 18 inches 4 Not internally lighted 5 Bracket should be interesting, strong and level. E. Window signs 1 More specific - tells what's for sale inside. 2 Maximum letter size 8 inches Not at eye level 3 Material vinyltransfer, silk screen or paint F Awning signs 1 On valance or roof 2 Must have design review G Size and proportion of letters 1 Size of letters should relate to backerboard 2. Letters should not be too close together and not too far apart. 3 Space between letters should equal width of the "i" H. Typefaces 1 Chance to tell story elegance, ethnic, plain, masculine, feminine, etc. 2. Upper and lower case together are easier to read; all capital letters take more space MINUTES OF PUBLIC MEETING AT ESTABROOK HALL - Design Guidelines - May 4, 1989 Page 6 I. Sign materials 1 Wood - more maintenance, but may tell story better 2 Metal - less maintenance; can be etched 3 Glass - can be etched and lighted from below 4 Plastic or composit board - may not warp J Sign lighting 1 Flourescent - more efficient, good color 2 Incandescent - not efficient, best color rendition. K. Sign texture 1 Shiney 2 Smooth L. Prices 1 Comparative; ie gold leaf vs dye, etc Questions Norma Bogen Asked about prioritizing public improvements D Dixon 1 Parking lot walkways 2 Street lighting and trees more important than paving 3 Emery Park. 4 Outlying areas more clear B Whitman Questioned elimination of incandescent lights on north side of Mass Ave. D Dixon These can remain and work with the proposed ones This will get more input from Halvorson. D Eddison Questioned how trees could be made healthier D Dixon Suggested variety rather than one kind of tree, or family of similar trees K. McGuire What happens next and what would encourage owners to comply? D Dixon. This document will not be law It is more for moral suasion and education Most people will do what is best for them and for their neighbors The Town may change zoning and may not That is the Town's decision. MINUTES OF PUBLIC MEETING AT ESTABROOK HALL - Design Guidelines - May 4, 1989 Page 7 Questions (continued) D. Spillane The guidelines will relate more to new construction; but they also provide an opportunity for business and the Town to work together on general improvement, with the Town agreeing to make certain improvements in the public sector if business makes their own improvement J Eddison Benches have been given to Town Money is in the bank for them. B Hulsizer Requested benches or more sitting places in front of the stores J Frey Need answers fast on trash receptacles and other street furniture, because our new tree and parks superintendent is anxious to make replacement at Emery Park and other places D. Dixon Halvorson will make recommendations on these B Whitman. Willthe document make recommendation to close off road next to Bay Bank? D Dixon. Yes M. Kabat-Zinn. Source of light is a problem in the proposed "old fashioned" fixture, especially with metal halide It's too bright, glary D Dixon There are ways to modify fixture P Kotler Will light spacing be different? Same height? D Dixon. Perhaps 90 feet spacing No need for brighter lighting Perhaps fixture would be lower D Spillane Question of whole series replacement or individual replacement D. Dixon Halvorson to study B Whitman What about crosswalk lighting? M. Kabat Zinn More needed right by crosswalk J Frey Suggest input from traffic safety committee M. Battin. Crosswalks around Battle Green especially need more light MINUTES OF PUBLIC MEETING AT ESTABROOK HALL - Design Guidelines - May 4, 1989 Page 8 Questions (continued) C Fortmann How much is Boston Edison involved in these decisions? D Dixon We're not talked to Edison, but they are concerned with availability and want certain stock items J Eddison Should there be any connection in signage for public versus private sectors? D Dixon Public signage should be consistant within itself Private signage in contrast should be diverse P Johnson. There should be no direct connection. R Bradley Most signage is stock sign directed. B Whitman. On crosswalk signs, can you help them? D Dixon Can't do coordination work with the Commonwealth, but will provide suggestions for general catalogue signs P Johnson. Custom systems of signage are not practical for a Town the size of Lexington.