HomeMy WebLinkAbout1996-02-13-DAC-min.pdf DESIGN ADVISORY COMMITTEE
DATE. 13 February 1996
PRESENT. John Frey (Chairman), John Davies (Planning Board), Betsey Whitman,
Tom Koffman, Carl Oldenburg, Barbara Hulsizer, Steve Hurley, John
Vinton
NOTES BY John Vinton
1 January meeting minutes were approved as submitted.
2. Board of Anneals: American Express 229 Massachusetts Avenue, East Lexington. John
Coleman, fabricator retained to make the sign, presented for American Express. American
Express requested a free standing sign with standard logo and colors. Little information was
available to illustrate the signage installation except a plot plan with no context indicated, and
two photographs. Mr. Coleman was not sure of the location since he was unfamiliar with
Lexington. He had not visited the site to determine design requirements. The sign area at 9
sf exceeds the guideline of 6 sf maximum. The committee was concerned about precedent in
this largely residential pocket along Mass Ave. No other free standing signs exist in the , LL
immediate area. The building already has one commercial establishment with a sign: tc,
Cricket's Corner; a second sign is not allowed as of right. At a minimum, the sign proposal c
needs to be coordinated with existing. What are the users requirements for signage? Not
known by presenter.
DAC recommended that Mr Coleman return with a rationale and design including a site plan,
site photos, sign size and location, functional requirements, entry sequence, parking, the
design philosophy Committee when pressed by Mr. Coleman indicated that it would prefer
a smaller wooden sign mounted on the building. The proposed sign appeared too corporate
and prominent.
3. Temporary Siena2e: Committee noted that realtors signs especially for commercial space
appeared to be escalating in size and aggressiveness. Tom Coffman noted that in New
Canaan CT realtors are allowed to use only a standard black and white sign of regulated size
and graphics, keeping the urge to be visually prominent in check. Need to consider as part
of sign by-law revision effort for 1997 town meeting.
4 Emery Park: Process and schedule of public meeting: reviewed Mission Statement
prepared by Tom Coffman and Position Paper prepared by Barbara Hulsizer and Betsey
Whitman summarizing the deliberations of the Emery Park subcommittee. Concept is to
send out packets of material to potential attendees of the public meeting so that they may be
prepared with a knowledge of the background. At the meeting, would go over the key
schemes and rationales in order to arrive at a consensus. Presentation materials would
include existing conditions plan, and plans of schemes A, B and C and a summary of pros
and cons. Will provide middle of the road, non-controversial approach. Most people
attending will have been to prior meetings. This will not be covering new ground. The
meeting will be one last round to complete the public review, then the committee's
recommendation will be presented to the Selectmen.
Schedule: Public Meeting, March 13th, at Esterbrook Hall. Final comments on information
package by week of February 26th, and send packets out. Comments from public meeting
by March 20th. On Selectmen agenda for March 25th.
5 Re-Zoning Petitions: 10 Pelham Road: rezone to residential, former auto dealership;
prospective commercial groups have proposed unsuccessfully on this site, including a retail
tire business; residential appears to be a good use; committee takes no opposition.
6. Rezoning Petition. 577-581 Marrett Road: the Grey Nuns are requesting re-zoning so
as to offer retirement community services to the general public as they have been doing for
some time for members of religious orders. They will not be increasing the footprint of
existing buildings and have agreed to maintain a 500 foot open space zone along Mass Ave,
preserving the present lawn and plantings. The planning board is very much in favor of
proposal. DAC agrees.
7 Re-Zoning Petition: Waltham Street Cad Waltham line: to add more parking for star
Market. From residential to commercial. Must be done with controls: landscape buffer
plus street trees; limit parking to 1/2 of the land area; request light and crosswalk as
condition of approval.
8. Sian Proposal Guidelines: currently in HDC's court. Thought it would be reviewed at
last meeting of HDC. Clark Griffith has the ball.
9 2000 Celebration: LCC initiating push for improvements on the Green. stone cobbles
for stone dust, initiate redesigned island and statue surround, etc. Peg Read and Barbara
Hulsizer working on policy for the Green, which ties into LCC initiative.
10. Harrington Road: discussed "traffic calming" as an approach. Potentially public
funding for looking into this? Steve Hurley will see if he can get the traffic accident reports
to document the history of the intersection vis a vis others in town. John Frey will locate his
info on traffic calming and forward to John Vinton.
Meeting was adjourned at 10:30 pm. Next meeting March 12th.
Respectfull, submitted,