HomeMy WebLinkAbout1991-07-09-DAC-min.pdf ► 9 1981 !
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SELECTMEN
M
DE5IGIJ At)VISORY COMMITTEE
Minutes of the Meeting of July 9, 1991
Attendees: John Frey, Rick Bechtel Tom Coffman, Barbara Hulsizer, Bob
Ossman, Walter Pierce, Peg Read, John Vinton, Don Olson, Jack Eddison
(Selectman liaison), Sara Arnold (T.A.C.),Pauline Burke (LEXPRESS)
and Roger Kallstrom (Design Advisory Group)
Minutes: Approval of the minutes of the meeting of June 11 was post-
poned to the next meeting of the Committee
Emery Park/Depot Sauare Bob Ossman, assisted by Roger Kallstrom, opened
a lengthy discussion on the future of Emery Park with a recap of the
plan requested by LEXPRESS for improving the area at the north end of
the park where passengers wait for LEXPRESS buses. Using a 10 scale
plan which he had prepared, Bob detailed the physical characteristics
and current landscaping shortcomings of the park Among the points
which he made were the following: The Depot is an attractive
building, but two evergreen trees and overgrown bushes interfere
with views of it. The 37 bollards and their connecting chains do not
enhance the appearance of the park. 'The sidewalk along Mass Ave
could be wider There is no clear sense as to how the parking areas on
the north side of the square should be used. Property titles to these
parking areas need to be checked. The possibility of eliminating the
exit through the square from the Meriam St parking lot should be
considered.
In response to the request from LEXPRESS, Bob and Roger have
proposed, as a short term, limited solution, the resurfacing in brick
of an oval area on the north side of the park and the placing there of
four benches and two trash receptacles matching those recently
installed along Mass Ave. In the event that a major redesign of Emery
Park is later undertaken, these materials can readily be reused.
A lengthy discussion followed which focused alternately on the need
to consider the longer term aspects of the development of the entire
Depot Square area, and a series of suggested short terra changes
which would result in immediate improvements in the appearance of
the park. It was pointed out that Depot 5quare is the only larger civic
space in the Center and that it needs to offer a feeling of softness'
through plantings of grass, shrubs and trees. But the center of the
park should be as open as possible to accommodate public events
there A sidewalk should be constructed along the entire perimeter of
the park and consideration should again be given to reversing the
flow of traffic around the square
Following the discussion, the DAC agreed to endorse the Ossman/
r ailstrom proposal for the bus stop area and to recommend that al
the missing information on property ownership along the square be
tilled in, and o) the view obstructing hemlocks be removed. An 8&1 /2
by 1 plan with back-up material will be presented by Bob and Roger
at the July 25 meeting of the Lexington Center Cornrnittee (LOC
Board of Appeals Case
The case concerned an appeal by the Sweet Peppers Restaurant to be
aiinwPd to continue using its ident,fving siggR even though it e,(ceeds
the size limits allowed by the sign by-law The rorrmittee felt that
the sign was of good design and proportions ;no « in lost ways
appropriate to the conditions of its location. Although it did not want
o encourage the precedent of approving a procedure in which the
applicant had initially disregarded the restric ion: of the ZBL it
recommended approval of the appeal in this case
Benches.
The LCC has asked that the plan for placing benches along the Mass
Ave sidewalk in the Center be expanded to accommodate requests for K
the placement of additional benches It was agreed that John Frey and
Peq Read would present an expanded bench plan to the July 25 meeting
of the LCC.
Other Business.
Jack Eddison pointed nut that the Town was continuing to paint the
metal supports of many of the benches located in Town parks with
metallic silver colored paint He felt that it would he better it they
were painted black The Committee agreed unanimously to rernrnmena
that the supports be painted black or dark green. [This recommen-
dation was transmitted to the Town Manager and the DPW Director
who agreed that henceforth the darker colors of paint would be used.
August Meeting.
The next meeting of the Committee will be on Tuesday, August 13 at
Son PM, in Room 1 1 1
Respectfully submitted