HomeMy WebLinkAbout1999-02-02-DAC-min.pdf MAR 01 '99 03.16PM INFORMATION SERJICES P 1
Design Advisory Committee(DAC)
Moines of February 2, 1999
Present: Steve Hurley,Chairman,Members: Betsy Whitman,Olga Voronina,Stacey Bridge-Deneak,Bruce Cresger,Carl
Oldenburg,John Frey,Karen Bechtel(scribe)
I. Minutes of 1/5/99 approved,
2. Bob Stlbaerg resignation letter'Bob sent a very thoughthd letter to the group announcing his resignation.The DAC
discussed possible new members.Karen will contact two potential candidates.
3. Deuce Scare Maples There will be a meeting tomorrow morning to/hither discuss the Noway maples in Depot
Square. Steve and John will attend.
a, Letter to the Board of Selectglen..Steve is willing to advance this effort.We should fax comments to Steve,
5. MIL , ;sur:; 'n, ' t _•<•.a.. ;. a;Steve has been meeting individually with Selectmen to propose the idea. Peter
Enrich and Betty Eddison were supportive.
6. CaryHall,Bruce presented a simplified plan which eliminated paving around the monument and flagpole. Steve
agreed to preset the plan to Rick White.The Blossom Fund may be able to fund some of the project
7 Pletcher Ave:Cindy Savage and Ted Page presented a letter to the DAC with attached sketch,memo, and article from
the Lexington Minuteman.They would like to protect the open space(at the corner of Fletcher Street and Woburn
S Y. *cc)which has been mentioned for use et a perking lot.or possibly a Fire Statioc or school administration building.
Cindy and Ted have issued a town meeting warrant article to make the land conservation land. The wording could be
amended to read"parkland' but it is unclear what the difference would be.They plan to meet with the HDC and the
Lexington Center Committee.It was suggested that they also include the Chamber in the process,
Summery; Tho DAC is interested in supporting Cindy and Ted's effort but would like to understand the Selectmen's
position.Steve will talk to Rick White and Peter Enrich and add the issue to the DAC's March 2 agenda.
8. Janet Tiampo.Lexington Center Committer David Williams chairs this committee which is interested in making
improvements to the center(Enterprise zone for center improvements), Some questions to consider_Bow do we
maintain the mix of email business v chains?How do we improve the center without raising costs of rents?What do we
want to do?Marge Benin chaired the committee several years ago and some of this work may have already been done.
It was suggested that the Planning Board and the DAC be represented on the committee,It might also be an advantage
to include a selectman oa the comta;uee.
Summary Janet and the Committee should look at the Dickson Report.Is It up-to-date?What has been done in the
last I94 year.?A mission statement should be written for the Committee.Karen Bechtel expressed interest in helping
out on this project.
9, .r n „t._ , _- _ 'Jamie McManus and his family have owned thie property for many
years and want a fresh look fbr the'vest sea of asphalt" They plan to go before Town Meeting to ask for a rezoning
from CORN to CD. The residential portion of the lot le not buildable, as it does not have the required frontage.Rick
Bechtel of Bechtel Frank Erickson Architects presented piens for two one-story structures of 5500 and 4500 square
feet, The buildings,which use residential and traditional forms in an interesting way,aro to include good quality
restaurants and shops.The architects and landscape architect,Gary Larson,have provided 61 parking spaces(more
than required by code),a 20'buffer between residential neighbors and a 30'setback from the street. The design also
includes a sunken terrace,atone wall,and a copper-topped sign out front The DAC suggested that more trees could be
added to the corner of the lot—perhaps a tree or trees that were limbed up.It would be advantageous to have the
electric lines,which are currently an eyesore,installed underground,Hardie board will be used instead of clapboards
and ideally HVAC will be located in the attic space rather than on the roof.One DAC member expressed concern over
the sine/proportion of she windows on the buildings. Lighting had not yet been engineered but it was expected that pole
lights would be installed in the parking lot and low level lights in the terrace,The DAC did not like the individually lit
letter signage and requested illumination of the signs from light fixtures or from the ground.The presentation boards
were very informative—the DAC would like to see a model and/or perspective drawing.
Summary' This is a good project that the DAC supports The Committee would like to acct the issues of the signage
lighting,the corner trees(or the idea of a big old oak tree on the farm)and the underground wires addressed.It was
also suggested that an exaggeration of the stone wall would be desirable. Steve will write a letter in support of the
project to Town Meeting.
Meetingadioumed at lU•TQpm.