HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025-03-24 SB Packet - ReleasedSELECT BOARD MEETING
Monday, March 24, 2025
Select Board Meeting Room, 1625 Massachusetts Avenue, Lexington, MA 02420 - Hybrid Participation*
6:00 PM
AGENDA
CONSENT AGENDA
1.Approve: Town Manager Committee Reappointments
Conservation Commission:
Alexandra Dohan
Historical Commission:
Marilyn Fenollosa
Wendall Kalsow
2.Approve: Select Board Committee Reappointment
Board of Registrar - Judith Moore
ITEMS FOR INDIVIDUAL CONSIDERATION
1.Approve: Select Board Committee Appointments 6:05pm
Ad Hoc Crematory Study Committee II:
5 Community Representative Members
Archan Basu
Michael Harris
Jyoti Puri
Joseph Su
Judith Zola
1 Lexington Area Interfaith Community Member
Rabbi David Lerner
1 Board of Health Member
Jillian Tung
2.Presentation of Residential Development Impact Study Report 6:10pm
3.Review Select Board Report to Annual Town Meeting 2025 6:40pm
4.2025 Annual Town Meeting - Select Board Article Presenters, Discussion and
Positions
6:50pm
ADJOURN
1.Anticipated Adjournment 7:00pm
Meeting Packet: https://lexington.novusagenda.com/agendapublic/
*Members of the public can attend the meeting from their computer or tablet by clicking on the
following link at the time of the meeting:
https://lexingtonma.zoom.us/j/82013535294?pwd=mGvKYC9PHOT8ByUHHa0a18jNRhRXpf.1
iPhone one-tap: +13017158592,,82013535294#,,,,*848540#
Phone +1 646 876 9923
Meeting ID: 820 1353 5294
Passcode: 848540
An Act Relative to Extending Certain State of Emergency
Accommodations: https://www.mass.gov/the-open-meeting-law
The next regularly scheduled meeting of the Select Board will be held on Wednesday, March 26,
2025 at 6:00pm via hybrid participation.
Hearing Assistance Devices Available on Request
All agenda time and the order of items are approximate and
subject to change.
AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY
LEXINGTON SELECT BOARD MEETING
AGENDA ITEM TITLE:
Approve: Town Manager Committee Reappointments
PRESENTER:
Steve Bartha, Town Manager
ITEM
NUMBER:
C.1
SUMMARY:
Category: Decision-Making
The Town Manager is requesting that the Select Board approve the reappointments of Alexandra Dohan to the
Conservation Commission as well as Marilyn Fenollosa and Wendall Kalsow to the Historic Commission.
State Conflict of Interest Law online training is up-to-date for Alexandra Dohan, Marilyn Fenollosa and
Wendall Kalsow.
SUGGESTED MOTION:
To confirm the Town Manager's reappointments of Alexandra Dohan to the Conservation Commission as well
as Marilyn Fenollosa and Wendall Kalsow to the Historical Commission. All with terms set to expire March
31, 2028.
Move to approve the consent.
FOLLOW-UP:
Town Manager's Office
DATE AND APPROXIMATE TIME ON AGENDA:
3/24/2025
AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY
LEXINGTON SELECT BOARD MEETING
AGENDA ITEM TITLE:
Approve: Select Board Committee Reappointment
PRESENTER:
Doug Lucente, Chair
ITEM
NUMBER:
C.2
SUMMARY:
Category: Decision-Making
Reappointment:
Board of Registrars
The Select Board is being asked to reappoint Judith Moore to the Board of Registrars for a three-year term set
to expire on March 31, 2028.
The membership on the Board of Registrars currently consists of one Republican, two Democrats and the
Town Clerk. No nominations were submitted by the Democratic Town Coommitte. The Lexington Republican
Town Committee has nominated Judith Moore for reappointment as a Republican representative. Her State
Conflict of Interest Law Online Training is complete and up to date.
SUGGESTED MOTION:
to reappoint Judith Moore to the board of Registrars for a three-year term set to expire March 31, 2028.
Move to approve the consent
FOLLOW-UP:
Select Board Office
DATE AND APPROXIMATE TIME ON AGENDA:
3/24/2025
AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY
LEXINGTON SELECT BOARD MEETING
AGENDA ITEM TITLE:
Approve: Select Board Committee Appointments
PRESENTER:
Doug Lucente, Chair
ITEM
NUMBER:
I.1
SUMMARY:
Appointments
Ad Hoc Crematory Study Committee II
Appoint the following as the members of the Ad Hoc Crematory Study Committee II:
Archan Basu, Michael Harris, Jyoti Puri, Joseph Su, Judith Zola (Community Representative Members)
Rabbi David Lerner (Lexington Area Interfaith Community Member)
Jillian Tung (Board of Health Member)
Select Board will also discuss appointing a Select Board Liaison to this committee.
SUGGESTED MOTION:
Move to appoint the following as members of the Ad Hoc Crematory Study Committee II
Archan Basu, Michael Harris, Jyoti Puri, Joseph Su, Judith Zola (Community Representative Members)
Rabbi David Lerner (Lexington Area Interfaith Community Member)
Jillian Tung (Board of Health Member)
and designate Ad Hoc Crematory Study Committee II members as Special Municipal Employees.
FOLLOW-UP:
Select Board Office.
DATE AND APPROXIMATE TIME ON AGENDA:
3/24/2025 6:05pm
ATTACHMENTS:
Description Type
2025.02.08 Basu, Archan - AHCSII_Redacted Backup Material
2025.02.27 Harris, Micheal - AHCSII_Redacted Backup Material
2025.01.31 Puri, Jyoti - AHCSII_Redacted Backup Material
2025.01.23 Su, Joseph - AHCSII_Redacted Backup Material
2025.02.01 Zola, Judith - AHCSII_Redacted Backup Material
2025.01.29 Lerner, David Rabbi - AHCSII _Redacted Backup Material
2025.03.10 Tung, Jillian - AHCSII Backup Material
Submit Date: Feb 08, 2025
First Name Middle
Initial
Last Name
Email Address
Home Address Suite or Apt
City State Postal Code
Primary Phone Alternate Phone
Lexington MA Boards & Committees
Application Form
Profile
Attendance to a regularly scheduled meeting of the board or committee of interest is
strongly encouraged when considering applying for membership. All committee
meetings are open to the public and are posted at least 48 hours in advance of the
meeting in our www.lexingtonma.gov/calendar.
If you are appointed to the board or committee for which you have applied, information
from this application will be used to contact you regarding your appointment from the
appointing authority as well as the Town Clerk’s Office. Please do not offer information
on this application you would prefer we not use.
Applications will be kept on file and considered as vacancies occur for up to one year
unless otherwise noted.
If you have any questions or need more information regarding the completion of the
application, please contact either the Select Board Office at 781-698-4580 or the Town
Manager’s Office at 781-698-4540.
Nickname
Preferred Title (i.e. Mr., Ms., Mx., Dr., Rev .....)
Alternate Email Address (Optional)
th.com
Length of Residence in Lexington (Note: ZBA requirement is a minimum of 8
years)
12
What Precinct do you live in?
Precinct 7
Archan K Basu
@gmail.com
Rd
Lexington MA 02420
Mobile: -1880
Archan K Basu
Employer Job Title
Upload a Resume
Conflict of Interest Law Training Certificate
Work Address
Which Boards would you like to apply for?
Ad hoc Crematory Study Committee II: Submitted
Interests & Experiences
Please tell us about yourself and why you want to serve.
Special Training and/or Qualifications
I bring deep financial acumen plus a willingness to listen, learn, and work hard.
Why are you interested in serving on a board or commission?
Cremation is an important final step in life's journey for increasing numbers of Americans.
Since my wife is Chinese and Protestant, while I am Hindu, and we moved to Lexington to be
closer to my brother's family (also in Lex) and my parents (in Arlington), we embody a
perspective that is multi-ethnic, multi-religious, and multi-generational. All of that must be
balanced against fiscal discipline for all town residents.
How did you hear about the board or commission for which you are applying?
Multiple sources - I have followed town affairs and am currently a TMM candidate in Precinct
7 where Westview Cemetary is located.
Have you recently attended any meetings of the board or committee for
which you are applying?
Yes No
Have you confirmed your availability to attend the board or committee's
meetings? (i.e. can attend at the time the committee regularly meets)
Yes No
Do you currently serve on another board or committee?
Yes No
If yes, please list date of most recent Conflict of Interest Law Training.
Altar Rock LLC Chief Investment Officer
Archan_Basu_resume.pdf
Archan K Basu
Submit Date: Feb 27, 2025
First Name Middle
Initial
Last Name
Email Address
Home Address Suite or Apt
City State Postal Code
Primary Phone Alternate Phone
Lexington MA Boards & Committees
Application Form
Profile
Attendance to a regularly scheduled meeting of the board or committee of interest is
strongly encouraged when considering applying for membership. All committee
meetings are open to the public and are posted at least 48 hours in advance of the
meeting in our www.lexingtonma.gov/calendar.
If you are appointed to the board or committee for which you have applied, information
from this application will be used to contact you regarding your appointment from the
appointing authority as well as the Town Clerk’s Office. Please do not offer information
on this application you would prefer we not use.
Applications will be kept on file and considered as vacancies occur for up to one year
unless otherwise noted.
If you have any questions or need more information regarding the completion of the
application, please contact either the Select Board Office at 781-698-4580 or the Town
Manager’s Office at 781-698-4540.
Nickname
Mike
Preferred Title (i.e. Mr., Ms., Mx., Dr., Rev .....)
Mr.
Alternate Email Address (Optional)
Length of Residence in Lexington (Note: ZBA requirement is a minimum of 8
years)
22 years
What Precinct do you live in?
Precinct 6
Michael P Harris
7@gmail.com
Rd.
Lexington MA 02420
Mobile: -6027
Michael P Harris
Employer Job Title
Upload a Resume
Work Address
Rd.
Which Boards would you like to apply for?
Ad hoc Crematory Study Committee II: Submitted
Interests & Experiences
Please tell us about yourself and why you want to serve.
Special Training and/or Qualifications
I've worked at large corporations on the executive committee level, and currently am co-
founder of a health tech startup. I also serve on the board of a non-profit school and lead
their Governance Committee. My wife and I raised two girls from Pilgrim Nursery School
through Fiske, Diamond, and LHS and are proud residents of the town. I like to contribute to
the community and believe I can offer a rational, business-oriented perspective on the issues
at hand. See LinkedIn profile for more details: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikeharris-coo/
Why are you interested in serving on a board or commission?
I believe that Lexington is a fantastic community that represents the promise of bringing
together individuals from a wide variety of backgrounds, cultures, and perspectives. I and
my family have benefited from the environment here, and I'd like to offer my time and
experience as way to 'pay it forward' for all that the town has done for us and all the other
families in town. This issue is an interesting one to me, as it represents the need to balance
the wishes of our community members with the appropriate level of involvement by our town
government.
How did you hear about the board or commission for which you are applying?
Saw online
Have you recently attended any meetings of the board or committee for
which you are applying?
Yes No
Have you confirmed your availability to attend the board or committee's
meetings? (i.e. can attend at the time the committee regularly meets)
Yes No
Do you currently serve on another board or committee?
Yes No
TriCan Health COO
Michael P Harris
Submit Date: Jan 31, 2025
First Name Middle
Initial
Last Name
Email Address
Home Address Suite or Apt
City State Postal Code
Primary Phone Alternate Phone
Lexington MA Boards & Committees
Application Form
Profile
Attendance to a regularly scheduled meeting of the board or committee of interest is
strongly encouraged when considering applying for membership. All committee
meetings are open to the public and are posted at least 48 hours in advance of the
meeting in our www.lexingtonma.gov/calendar.
If you are appointed to the board or committee for which you have applied, information
from this application will be used to contact you regarding your appointment from the
appointing authority as well as the Town Clerk’s Office. Please do not offer information
on this application you would prefer we not use.
Applications will be kept on file and considered as vacancies occur for up to one year
unless otherwise noted.
If you have any questions or need more information regarding the completion of the
application, please contact either the Select Board Office at 781-698-4580 or the Town
Manager’s Office at 781-698-4540.
Nickname
Preferred Title (i.e. Mr., Ms., Mx., Dr., Rev .....)
Alternate Email Address (Optional)
@gmail.com
Length of Residence in Lexington (Note: ZBA requirement is a minimum of 8
years)
29 years
What Precinct do you live in?
Precinct 6
Jyoti Puri
p .edu
Street
Lexington, MA MA 02420
Mobile: 9666
Jyoti Puri Page 1 of 3
Employer Job Title
Upload a Resume
Work Address
100 Cummington Mall Room 281 Boston University Boston MA 02215
Which Boards would you like to apply for?
Ad hoc Crematory Study Committee II: Submitted
Interests & Experiences
Please tell us about yourself and why you want to serve.
Special Training and/or Qualifications
I am a Professor of Sociology currently working on a long-term research project examining
death rites among South Asians in the U.S., with a specific focus on cremation practices.
Over the past nine years, I have conducted extensive research, including interviews with
South Asian religious leaders and community members, and have engaged in archival work
tracing cremation and funeral practices back to the early 20th century, when South Asians
began arriving in the U.S. in significant numbers. My work has resulted in published papers,
and I am completing a book-length monograph on the subject. In addition to my academic
work, I have significant leadership experience. As a faculty member, I have chaired a
department, led a graduate program, and served in various administrative capacities. My
leadership roles have honed my ability to collaborate, gather and assess data, and
contribute effectively to committee work. As a Lexington resident for nearly 30 years, I have
been actively involved in the community. I previously served as a volunteer on the Lexington
20/20 Vision Committee and was honored by the LexSeeHer Committee in 2022 for my
professional contributions. I also requested and was granted permission to speak at the fall
Lexington Board meeting regarding the potential construction of a crematory in town. These
combined experiences—my research expertise, administrative leadership, and community
involvement—have prepared me to contribute meaningfully to an ad hoc committee tasked
with assessing and recommending plans for the development of a crematory adjacent to or
connected with the Westview Cemetery Building.
Why are you interested in serving on a board or commission?
I am interested in serving on this committee because it aligns with both my academic
expertise and my personal connection to Lexington. As someone who has studied death rites
and cremation practices extensively, I recognize the cultural, spiritual, and practical
significance of cremation facilities, especially in a diverse and evolving community like
Lexington, while being attentive to financial and other relevant constraints. I believe that
thoughtful planning is crucial to determining the feasibility of such a project. Having lived in
Lexington for nearly 30 years, I am committed to contributing to the town’s continued
growth and the development of public services. The possibility of building a crematory is
more than just an infrastructure project—it is an opportunity to engage in meaningful
dialogue about serving residents' needs and planning for the future. I am eager to lend my
expertise and interest in this topic by serving on this ad hoc committee.
Boston University Professor of Sociology
Curriculum_Vitae-Puri.pdf
Jyoti Puri Page 2 of 3
Conflict of Interest Law Training Certificate
How did you hear about the board or commission for which you are applying?
I was at the Lexington Board meeting when the Ad Hoc Crematory Study Committee was
approved.
Have you recently attended any meetings of the board or committee for
which you are applying?
Yes No
Have you confirmed your availability to attend the board or committee's
meetings? (i.e. can attend at the time the committee regularly meets)
Yes No
Do you currently serve on another board or committee?
Yes No
If yes, please list date of most recent Conflict of Interest Law Training.
Jyoti Puri Page 3 of 3
Submit Date: Jan 23, 2025
First Name Middle
Initial
Last Name
Email Address
Home Address Suite or Apt
City State Postal Code
Lexington MA Boards & Committees
Application Form
Profile
Attendance to a regularly scheduled meeting of the board or committee of interest is
strongly encouraged when considering applying for membership. All committee
meetings are open to the public and are posted at least 48 hours in advance of the
meeting in our www.lexingtonma.gov/calendar.
If you are appointed to the board or committee for which you have applied, information
from this application will be used to contact you regarding your appointment from the
appointing authority as well as the Town Clerk’s Office. Please do not offer information
on this application you would prefer we not use.
Applications will be kept on file and considered as vacancies occur for up to one year
unless otherwise noted.
If you have any questions or need more information regarding the completion of the
application, please contact either the Select Board Office at 781-698-4580 or the Town
Manager’s Office at 781-698-4540.
Nickname
Joe
Preferred Title (i.e. Mr., Ms., Mx., Dr., Rev .....)
Mr.
Alternate Email Address (Optional)
@gmail.com
Length of Residence in Lexington (Note: ZBA requirement is a minimum of 8
years)
32 years
What Precinct do you live in?
Precinct 2
Joseph Su
@gmail.com
Avenue
Lexington MA 02421
Joseph Su
Primary Phone Alternate Phone
Employer Job Title
Upload a Resume
Work Address
Avenue
Which Boards would you like to apply for?
Ad hoc Crematory Study Committee II: Submitted
Interests & Experiences
Please tell us about yourself and why you want to serve.
Special Training and/or Qualifications
I have been Air Quality Engineer for 35 years for the Department of Environmental Protection
and have permitted and supervised the stack testing of human crematories throughout the
Metropolitan Boston area.
Why are you interested in serving on a board or commission?
I hope to bring my work experience to this ad hoc crematorium committee.
How did you hear about the board or commission for which you are applying?
I received an email that notified me of this opportunity.
Have you recently attended any meetings of the board or committee for
which you are applying?
Yes No
Have you confirmed your availability to attend the board or committee's
meetings? (i.e. can attend at the time the committee regularly meets)
Yes No
Do you currently serve on another board or committee?
Yes No
If yes, please list date of most recent Conflict of Interest Law Training.
Home: 9827
Commonwealth ofMassachusetts Environmental Engineer
Joseph Su
Conflict of Interest Law Training Certificate
Joseph Su
Submit Date: Feb 01, 2025
First Name Middle
Initial
Last Name
Email Address
Home Address Suite or Apt
City State Postal Code
Lexington MA Boards & Committees
Application Form
Profile
Attendance to a regularly scheduled meeting of the board or committee of interest is
strongly encouraged when considering applying for membership. All committee
meetings are open to the public and are posted at least 48 hours in advance of the
meeting in our www.lexingtonma.gov/calendar.
If you are appointed to the board or committee for which you have applied, information
from this application will be used to contact you regarding your appointment from the
appointing authority as well as the Town Clerk’s Office. Please do not offer information
on this application you would prefer we not use.
Applications will be kept on file and considered as vacancies occur for up to one year
unless otherwise noted.
If you have any questions or need more information regarding the completion of the
application, please contact either the Select Board Office at 781-698-4580 or the Town
Manager’s Office at 781-698-4540.
Nickname
Judy
Preferred Title (i.e. Mr., Ms., Mx., Dr., Rev .....)
Ms.
Alternate Email Address (Optional)
edu
Length of Residence in Lexington (Note: ZBA requirement is a minimum of 8
years)
32 years
What Precinct do you live in?
Precinct 7
Judith S Zola
jszola@yahoo.com
Road
Lexington MA 02420
Judith S Zola Page 1 of 3
Primary Phone Alternate Phone
Employer Job Title
Upload a Resume
Work Address
Which Boards would you like to apply for?
Ad hoc Crematory Study Committee II: Submitted
Interests & Experiences
Please tell us about yourself and why you want to serve.
Special Training and/or Qualifications
I am passionate about creating spaces where everyone's voice is heard and all are included
and respected. I have been in the learning and development space for most of my career, at
both Sodexo and Boston Children's Hospital. My profession is to bring people together,
provide them skills and experiences where they grow as a professional and a human being,
and create spaces where people feel psychologically safe. I want to be able to do that kind of
work for the town I love. I have been involved in the LexSeeHer project as an original
steering committee member. I have been very involved at Temple Emunah, the conservative
synagogue in town. There I have been on the board for many years, including being the
executive vice president and president of the temple. I care deeply about making sure all
people feel included and honored, and it would be my pleasure and joy to serve on the Ad
hoc Crematory Study Committee ll. I want to make sure that all voices are heard and that we
are truly looking at this issue through an equity lens. Thank you!
Why are you interested in serving on a board or commission?
I think this is an important area of conversation, and I would like to lend my voice as a
member of the Jewish community and a member of the Human Rights Committee for the
town of Lexington. I truly believe this needs to be looked at through an equity lens for all
members of our community.
How did you hear about the board or commission for which you are applying?
I have been seeing information about it through the town email and communication.
Have you recently attended any meetings of the board or committee for
which you are applying?
Yes No
Mobile: 08 Home: (308
Boston Children's Hospital Director, Learning andProfessional Development
judith_zola_resume-
_october_2024.docx
Judith S Zola Page 2 of 3
Conflict of Interest Law Training Certificate
Have you confirmed your availability to attend the board or committee's
meetings? (i.e. can attend at the time the committee regularly meets)
Yes No
Do you currently serve on another board or committee?
Yes No
If yes, please list date of most recent Conflict of Interest Law Training.
11/19/2024
Certificate__Judith_Zola__1_.pdf
Judith S Zola Page 3 of 3
Submit Date: Jan 29, 2025
First Name Middle
Initial
Last Name
Email Address
Home Address Suite or Apt
City State Postal Code
Primary Phone Alternate Phone
Lexington MA Boards & Committees
Application Form
Profile
Attendance to a regularly scheduled meeting of the board or committee of interest is
strongly encouraged when considering applying for membership. All committee
meetings are open to the public and are posted at least 48 hours in advance of the
meeting in our www.lexingtonma.gov/calendar.
If you are appointed to the board or committee for which you have applied, information
from this application will be used to contact you regarding your appointment from the
appointing authority as well as the Town Clerk’s Office. Please do not offer information
on this application you would prefer we not use.
Applications will be kept on file and considered as vacancies occur for up to one year
unless otherwise noted.
If you have any questions or need more information regarding the completion of the
application, please contact either the Select Board Office at 781-698-4580 or the Town
Manager’s Office at 781-698-4540.
Nickname
David
Preferred Title (i.e. Mr., Ms., Mx., Dr., Rev .....)
Alternate Email Address (Optional)
@TempleEmunah.org
Length of Residence in Lexington (Note: ZBA requirement is a minimum of 8
years)
What Precinct do you live in?
Precinct 3
David Lerner
@templeemunah.org
Street
Lexington MA 02421
Business: (781) Mobile: 9
Rabbi David Lerner
Employer Job Title
Upload a Resume
Conflict of Interest Law Training Certificate
Work Address
Temple Emunah 9 Piper Rd Lexington, MA 02421
Which Boards would you like to apply for?
Ad hoc Crematory Study Committee II: Submitted
Interests & Experiences
Please tell us about yourself and why you want to serve.
Special Training and/or Qualifications
Burial
Why are you interested in serving on a board or commission?
Play an essential role in clergy; past president of LICA
How did you hear about the board or commission for which you are applying?
From Reverend Reebee Garish, president of LICA
Have you recently attended any meetings of the board or committee for
which you are applying?
Yes No
Have you confirmed your availability to attend the board or committee's
meetings? (i.e. can attend at the time the committee regularly meets)
Yes No
Do you currently serve on another board or committee?
Yes No
If yes, please list date of most recent Conflict of Interest Law Training.
None on file
Temple Emunah Senior Rabbi
Rabbi David Lerner
Submit Date: Mar 11, 2025
First Name Middle
Initial
Last Name
Email Address
Home Address Suite or Apt
City State Postal Code
Primary Phone Alternate Phone
Employer Job Title
Lexington MA Boards & Committees
Application Form
Profile
Attendance to a regularly scheduled meeting of the board or committee of interest is
strongly encouraged when considering applying for membership. All committee
meetings are open to the public and are posted at least 48 hours in advance of the
meeting in our www.lexingtonma.gov/calendar.
If you are appointed to the board or committee for which you have applied, information
from this application will be used to contact you regarding your appointment from the
appointing authority as well as the Town Clerk’s Office. Please do not offer information
on this application you would prefer we not use.
Applications will be kept on file and considered as vacancies occur for up to one year
unless otherwise noted.
If you have any questions or need more information regarding the completion of the
application, please contact either the Select Board Office at 781-698-4580 or the Town
Manager’s Office at 781-698-4540.
Nickname
Preferred Title (i.e. Mr., Ms., Mx., Dr., Rev .....)
Alternate Email Address (Optional)
Length of Residence in Lexington (Note: ZBA requirement is a minimum of 8
years)
19 years
What Precinct do you live in?
Precinct 6
Jillian Tung
@gmail.com
Rd
Lexington MA 02420
Home: (781)
Dr Jillian Tung
Upload a Resume
Conflict of Interest Law Training Certificate
Work Address
Which Boards would you like to apply for?
Ad hoc Crematory Study Committee II: Submitted
Interests & Experiences
Please tell us about yourself and why you want to serve.
Special Training and/or Qualifications
- Member, Lexington Board of Health - M.D., M.P.H.
Why are you interested in serving on a board or commission?
- Fulfillment of Board of Health seat
How did you hear about the board or commission for which you are applying?
- Lexington Board of Health
Have you recently attended any meetings of the board or committee for
which you are applying?
Yes No
Have you confirmed your availability to attend the board or committee's
meetings? (i.e. can attend at the time the committee regularly meets)
Yes No
Do you currently serve on another board or committee?
Yes No
If yes, please list date of most recent Conflict of Interest Law Training.
06/04/2021 (Expired)
Dr Jillian Tung
AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY
LEXINGTON SELECT BOARD MEETING
AGENDA ITEM TITLE:
Presentation of Residential Development Impact Study Report
PRESENTER:
Fougere Planning & Development and
Jeffrey Donohoe Associates
ITEM
NUMBER:
I.2
SUMMARY:
The Board will hear a presentation from the study consultants (Mark Fougere and Jeff Donahue), followed by
a brief Q&A, and discuss next steps.
SUGGESTED MOTION:
FOLLOW-UP:
DATE AND APPROXIMATE TIME ON AGENDA:
3/24/2025 6:10pm
ATTACHMENTS:
Description Type
MBTA Multi-family Impact Study presentation Presentation
Residential Development Impact Study Report Backup Material
IMPACT ANALYSIS OF
MULTI-FAMILY HOUSING
DEVELOPMENT
ON LEXINGTON
Fougere Planning & Development
Jeffrey Donohoe Associates
March 2025
THE ASSIGNMENT
Evaluate the impacts to Lexington Public Schools
resulting from the additional residential development.
In addition, the Project Team was also charged with
identifying potential impacts to emergency services,
including police, fire and emergency medical
services (EMS), along with other town departments
including planning, building/inspectional services,
conservation, public works, public health & human
services and recreation/community programs.
THE APPROACH
Identify comparable Lexington properties to use as
indicators to estimate impact of new multi-family
developments in Lexington.
Apartments
Townhomes
Garden-style condominiums
THE PROPOSED PROJECTS
THE SCHOOL IMPACTS
499 new students if all 1,117 units are built and occupied
480 students generated by apartment projects
217 new students K-5, 130 in grades 6-8, 152 at the high school
Since 2019, LPS enrollment has declined 6.3%, 444 students
Almost 200 staff have been added over the same period
THE SCHOOL COST IMPACTS
All “New” students
Net New Students Based on LPS Enrollment Trends
LSP staff has indicated that adequate capacity exists to accommodate the projected increase in enrollment
THE EMERGENCY SERVICES IMPACTS
Based on existing number of officers per 1,000 metric, Police could require four
additional officers and one additional cruiser.
Additional calls for ambulance service could help support a third ambulance,
which would provide benefits to the larger community. Eight staff and an
additional ambulance. $32,000 in annual staff costs and $20,000 contribution to
a new ambulance attributed to new multi-family projects.
THE SUMMARY OF COST IMPACTS
Total impacts are estimated to be in the range of
$3.6 million to $8.6 million annually
THE REVENUE IMPACTS
Net estimated new revenues of $5.1 million if all
1,117 units are built and occupied
Prepared for
The Town of Lexington
1625 Massachusefts Avenue
Lexington, MA 02420
Draft
Prepared by
Fougere Planning + Development
Milford, NH 03055
In Associafion with
Jeffrey Donohoe Associates
Contoocook, NH 03229
IMPACT ANALYSIS
OF
MULTI-FAMILY
HOUSING DEVELOPMENT
ON
LEXINGTON, MASSACHUSETTS
March 19, 2025
2
Execufive Summary
In April 2023, the Town of Lexington passed zoning to encourage mulfi-family housing
development, consistent with State legislafion requiring MBTA communifies to provide mulfi-
family housing as of right. Lexington zoned more than 250 acres of property for as of right mulfi-
family housing. The zoning change had the desired effect – by February, the Town had received
proposals for 1,117 apartment, townhouse and garden condominium units.
The Project Team1 was retained to evaluate impacts to Lexington Public Schools resulfing from
the addifional residenfial development.In addifion, the Project Team was also charged with
idenfifying potenfial impacts to emergency services, including police, fire and emergency
medical services (EMS), along with other town departments including planning,
building/inspecfional services, conservafion, public works, public health & human services and
recreafion/community programs.
Schools and emergency services (Police, Fire, EMS) are likely to see the most significant impacts
associated with the development of these projects. Although some of the proposed projects
may not be developed, this analysis evaluates impacts associated with all 1,117 units.
The Project Team interviewed leadership at the Lexington Public Schools (LPS), the Lexington
Police Department (LPD) and the Lexington Fire Department (LFD) which provides EMS services
for the Town. In addifion, these departments provided data to support the Project Team’s
analysis. LPS provided detailed enrollment informafion and budget informafion, while LPD and
LFD provided call history, staffing and budgetary data.
Methodology
In order to esfimate the impacts associated with new mulfi-family development in Lexington,
the Project Team idenfified comparable apartment, townhome and garden-style condominium
properfies in Lexington. These include:
Apartments – Avalon at Lexington Hills, Avalon at Lexington Ridge and 186 Bedford St;
Townhomes – Lexington Meadows/Lily Pond and Lexington Courtyard; and
Garden-Style Condominiums – Jefferson Union, Lexington Place and Manor Terrace.
LPS provided enrollment informafion, which was cross-referenced with the comparable
properfies, to idenfify student density by grade level for each property type. Enrollment data
was further delineated by market-rate versus affordable units and bedroom count to calculate
more specific mulfipliers.
1 Fougere Planning + Development and Jeffrey Donohoe Associates
3
LPD and LFD provided address-based call data for each of the comparable properfies to allow
for the development of call rafios for each type of property. These mulfipliers for school-age
children and calls for service were ufilized to esfimate the impacts of the new mulfi-family
projects in Lexington.
School Impacts
The review of comparable projects indicates that an addifional 499 students may be enrolled at
LPS if all 1,117 units are constructed and occupied. Full occupancy is anficipated for the
2030/2031 school year. It is esfimated that 480 of these students will be generated in
apartment complexes, 14 at the garden condominiums and 5 at the townhome projects.
It is esfimated that approximately 217 new students will be generated at the K – 5 level,130 new
students will be generated at the 6 – 8 level, and 152 new students at the 9 – 12 level as a result
of the proposed and approved mulfi-family projects in Lexington.
The most significant impact at the elementary school level is the Estabrook Elementary School,
which would see an esfimated 98 new students, assuming all of the new mulfi-family projects
are approved, constructed and occupied. The Diamond Middle School would see an esfimated
102 new students once all of the new mulfi-family projects are approved, constructed and
occupied.
The addifion of 499 students at LPS is projected to result in $7.9 million in incremental
Educafion costs based on a net increase to exisfing enrollment of 6,678. However, since LPS
enrollments have been declining, the students from the new mulfi-family projects could replace
enrollment declines projected by LPS. The LPS mid-range enrollment projecfion anficipates a
loss of 312 students by FY30, such that the addifion of 499 new students from the mulfi-family
projects would result in a new enrollment increase for LPS of 177 students by FY30. The LPS
Business Administrator esfimated the cost for these new students to be $2.9 million.
Police Department Impacts
LPD provided call data for each of the comparable properfies. The call data was used to develop
rafios of the number of calls per unit for each type of property – apartments, townhomes and
garden-style condominiums. These rafios were used to esfimate the total number of calls for
service to the LPD. Total annual calls are esfimated to be 481.
The current staffing at the LPD is equivalent to 1.4 officers per 1,000 populafion in Lexington.
The populafion increase from the 1,117 mulfi-family units is esfimated to be 2,670, which based
purely on an officer per capita metric would indicate a delta of 3.9 officers to maintain current
service levels. The FPD Team notes that the Town recently appropriated $120,000 to conduct a
public safety (police and fire) staffing study. It is expected that the staffing study will examine
not only current staffing levels to ensure that exisfing resources are being deployed efficiently
and effecfively but also whether changing demographics and/or increased populafion calls for
changes to current staffing levels.
4
In terms of cost, police officer with benefits costs approximately $115,000 annually. A new hire
will also inifially cost $10,000 for equipment and uniforms. The Chief also indicated that a new
cruiser may be necessary to support addifional staffing, at an esfimated cost of $60,000. Based
on these assumptions (and prior to the staffing study), the data would indicate a potential
annual cost of $497,000 and one-fime costs of $100,000 (cruiser and equipment for four new
officers).
Fire Department Impacts
LFD provided call data for each of the comparable properfies. The call data was used to develop
rafios of the number of calls per unit for each type of property – apartments, townhomes and
garden-style condominiums. These rafios were used to esfimate the total number of calls for
service to the LFD. It is esfimated that the 1,117 new mulfi-family units will generate an
addifional 119 fire calls and 131 EMS calls annually.
The LFD EMS has two ambulances that provide response 24/7. The Townwide increase in calls
over the past several years (prior to MBTA) has resulted in discussions of a third full-fime
ambulance. A third ambulance would require the addifion of 8 EMTs/firefighters, adding two
per shift for a total annual cost of $800,000. A new ambulance costs approximately $500,000. To
allocate cost to proposed MBTA project demand, 4% (131 new calls / 3,257 exisfing EMS calls) of
the new EMT cost is accounted for which totals $32,000 in annual costs. One-fime costs for the
new ambulance total $20,000 (4% x $500,000). LFD EMS calls generate an average of $1,105 in
revenue per call, with potenfial annual revenue from MBTA projects totaling $143,000.
Other Departmental Impacts
The Project Team met with other key Lexington department heads to gain an understanding of
current condifions for each department, and to determine whether and to what extent each
department anficipates impacts associated with mulfi-family projects proposed and/or
approved under the Town’s MBTA Zoning.
Building and Inspecfional Services
The fiming of future MBTA projects will influence the need for added staffing. The Department
often uses per-diem personnel when demand for services increases. This cost is borne by the
town with an annual cost ranging from $40,000 to $50,000. To address future growth, the
Commissioner believes the per-diem budget would need to be increased.
Public Works
When applicafions are proposed, the department does review all plans to ensure consistency
with town requirements, including reviewing water and sewer department impacts. If a ufility is
impacted because of increased demand, the applicant is required to upgrade systems to ensure
that service is not degraded. If new sidewalks are constructed with public streets, the
department would then be required to maintain these areas. To date, all MBTA projects have
5
included private trash disposal, removing that impact. Impact on the department may be seen
in the future depending on project site locafion and size.
Conservafion
Two posifions exist in this Department, with one vacant land management posifion. The
Department also has a per-diem inspecfion posifion of 10 hours a week which is funded but not
filled. They are aftempfing to fill the posifion currently. The Director believed a new full-fime
posifion was needed before the MBTA zoning was in place, and the MBTA projects will only add
to the demand for this posifion. The Director believes an annual salary of $60,000 to $70,000 is
appropriate. Revenue from NOI applicafions may be a source for some of this cost, possibly
$20,000 annually.
Planning
The Planning department has four full-fime posifions. The Director noted that a request was
made in the budget this year (but not funded) to add another posifion to the department to
assist in meefing the demands placed on the department from MBTA project oversight. The new
posifion is anficipated to cost upwards of $100,00 annually for salary plus benefits. Lexington
has a complicated and comprehensive regulatory framework which mandates significant
oversight of all new construcfion acfivifies.
The Planning Board’s applicafion fees have a ceiling of $10,000, regardless of the size of a
project; however, fees are set (and can be adjusted) by the Planning Board.
Recreafion
The Director noted that residents of Lexington are very acfive and take full advantage of
programs offered by the department. As an Enterprise Fund, the department is funded through
public assets (the golf course is the largest source of funding) and user fees. Their top 10
programs all have waifing lists, and indoor space is ufilized 80-90% of the fime (town and school
building spaces are used). Some field space will be impacted by the planned construcfion of the
high school and will not be returned to service unfil 2030 once the high school project
commences. Depending on the level of increased demand from new MBTA residents, user fees
may have to be increased to fund addifional staff and acfivifies, impacfing affordability.
Human Services
The Director noted that the Department assists residents who have challenging financial needs
which may include those who occupy the affordable housing units in MBTA developments.
Older residents often need more services including transportafion. Assisfing veterans is also a
prime responsibility of the Department. The Department plans on monitoring the progress of
the projects as they are constructed to properly evaluate potenfial increased service demands.
6
Potenfial Revenues
The proposed mulfi-family projects will create incremental revenues for the Town of Lexington,
both from property taxes and from excise taxes.
Based upon discussions with Lexington Assessing Staff and development professionals, the
proposed MBTA condominium developments will likely generate an esfimated net increase in
property tax revenue of $4,644,800.
Addifional annual revenue will be realized from vehicle excise taxes. The MBTA mulfi-family
development projects would generate an esfimated $326,667 in annual excise tax revenue to
the community, in addifion ambulance revenue will be generated. Hundreds of thousands of
dollars of one-fime revenue will also be generated from building permit related fees.
7
Introducfion and Overview
Fougere Planning + Development (FPD) was retained by the Town of Lexington, together with
Jeffrey Donohoe Associates (JDA), referred to as “the Project Team” in this document, to
evaluate potenfial impacts associated with residenfial development proposals related to the
Town’s MBTA2 zoning. Under Massachusefts General Law (MGL) Chapter 161A and Chapter 40A,
Secfion 3A:
“An MBTA community shall have a zoning ordinance or by-law that provides for at least 1
district of reasonable size in which mulfi-family housing is permifted as of right;
provided, however, that such mulfi-family housing shall be without age restricfions and
shall be suitable for families with children. For the purposes of this secfion, a district of
reasonable size shall: (i) have a minimum gross density of 15 units per acre, subject to
any further limitafions imposed by secfion 40 of chapter 131 and fitle 5 of the state
environmental code established pursuant to secfion 13 of chapter 21A; and (ii) be located
not more than 0.5 miles from a commuter rail stafion, subway stafion, ferry terminal or
bus stafion, if applicable.”3
The Project Team was retained to evaluate anticipated service impacts to the Town of
Lexington and Lexington Public Schools (including enrollment driven marginal cost increases)
resulting from the additional residential development, including identifying potential impacts to
emergency services (police, fire and emergency medical services (EMS)), along with other town
departments, including planning, building/inspectional services, conservation, public works,
public health & human services and recreation/community programs. The Project team was
also asked to work with school staff to estimate marginal cost increases that may occur based
on the projected enrollment increases for elementary, middle and high school students.
The Town of Lexington was an early-adopter of zoning intended to meet the requirements of
the State’s MBTA zoning requirements. On April 12, 2023, the Town approved 253.9 acres
intended to support multi-family housing under the State’s MBTA-related multi-family zoning
requirement. The map below identifies where these zones are located.
2 Massachusefts Bay Transportafion Authority
3 hftps://www.mass.gov/info-details/mulfi-family-zoning-requirement-for-mbta-communifies#what-is-the-law?-
8
Figure 1 Lexington Village and Mulfi-Family Overlay Districts
The zoning change to allow more dense mulfi-family housing was successful in
generafing proposals for more mulfi-family housing – as of February 1, 2025 (the date of
this analysis), the Town had received ten applicafions (the basis of this analysis) to
develop more than 1,100 units. Six of these applicafions have been approved, while the
remaining four applicafions are sfill pending. The six approved projects represent 611
total units – 55% of the 1,117 units proposed. The approved projects include three
apartment developments (525 units), two garden-style condominium projects (76 units)
and one townhouse condominium project (10 units).
A list of the proposed and approved projects is presented in Table 1 below.
9
Table 1
One-bedroom and studio units account for the majority of the units (60%). Two-
bedroom units account for 29% of the total, and three-bedroom units account for 11%
of the units. In total, 15% of the proposed and approved units are affordable.
It is important to note that as part of this assignment, the Project Team interviewed a
number of developers with projects in Lexington and surrounding communifies.Mulfiple
developers expressed their belief that one or more of the projects referenced in Table 1
may not actually be built, due to cost issues of developing mulfi-family housing,
parficularly rental housing. However, this analysis evaluates impacts assuming that all
1,117 units idenfified in Table 1 are actually permifted, constructed and occupied.
Apartments Approved Units
Studio
Market
Studio
Affordable
1BR
Market
1BR
Affordable
2BR
Market
2BR
Affordable
3+ BR
Market
3+ BR
Affordable
331 Concord Ave.200 10 2 115 19 28 6 17 3
17 Hartwell Ave.312 14 2 141 25 82 15 28 5
186 Bedford St.13 9 4
Apartments Pending
3-5 Militia Drive 300 46 9 113 20 70 12 26 4
7 Hartwell Ave. 130 8 2 68 12 22 4 12 2
185, 187-189 Bedford St.25 13 1 7 2 2
Condominiums Approved
5-7 Piper Rd. 46 15 2 22 2 3 2
89 Bedford Rd.30 24 5 1
28 Meriam St.10 4 5 1
Condominium Pending
217-241 Mass. Ave.44 15 2 20 3 3 1
231 Bedford Rd.7 1 2 4
Totals 1,117 78 15 490 85 281 49 101 18
Approved and Pending Multi-family Projects in Lexington
10
Department Overviews
The Project Team met with key Lexington department heads to gain an understanding of current
condifions for each department, and to determine whether and to what extent each
department anficipates impacts associated with mulfi-family projects proposed and/or
approved under the Town’s MBTA Zoning.
Though not included in this analysis, the Project Team notes that several addifional town
offices, notably Finance and Town Clerk, may also be impacted by residenfial development in
the form of elecfion and mailing expenses and other foot traffic for the clerk. This will also add
to the volume and processing of tax bills, ufility bills and motor vehicle excise processing. The
Assessing may also see impacts as more complex properfies are developed. As with other
departments, there may be need addifional staff to manage the increase in volume.
Building and Inspecfional Services
The Project Team met with Mr. Jim Kelly, Building Commissioner. At this fime, Mr. Kelly oversees
five full-fime staff and one part-fime inspector. The department’s staff includes a full-fime
building inspector as well as electric and plumbing inspectors. The mechanical inspector is a
newer part-fime posifion which has been an issue recently and addifional hours are needed for
this posifion. The fiming of future MBTA projects will influence the need for added staffing. The
Department often uses per-diem personnel when demand for services increases. This cost is
borne by the town with a cost ranging from $40,000 to $50,000 annually. To address future
growth, the Commissioner believes the per-diem budget should be increased. The town charges
fees of $15 per $1,000 of construcfion costs that generate revenue for the Department. The
Commissioner also noted that an addifional vehicle may be needed for the Department to
accommodate increased inspecfions.
Public Works
The Project Team met with Mr. David Pinsonneault, Lexington’s Public Works Director. The
Director noted that most of the MBTA projects involve private streets and sidewalks, limifing
new service demands on the department. When applicafions are proposed, the department
reviews all plans to ensure consistency with town requirements, including reviewing water and
sewer department impacts. If a ufility is impacted because of increased demand, the applicant
is required to upgrade systems to ensure that service is not degraded. If new sidewalks are
constructed with public streets, the department would then be required to maintain these
areas. To date all MBTA projects have included private trash disposal, removing that impact.
Impact on the department may be seen in the future depending on project site locafion / size.
Conservafion
The Project Team met with Ms. Karen Mullins, Conservafion Director.Two posifions exist in this
Department, with one vacant land management posifion. The Department also has a per-diem
inspecfion posifion of 10 hours a week which is funded but not filled. They are aftempfing to fill
11
the posifion currently. The Department is involved in all aspects of development projects, from
applicafion phase through construcfion including inspecfions. If wetlands are present on a site,
their involvement increases significantly. In addifion, the Department oversees tree protecfion.
The Director believed a new full-fime posifion was needed before the MBTA zoning was in place,
and the MBTA projects will only added to the demand for this posifion. The Director believes an
annual salary of $60,000 to $70,000 is appropriate for this posifion. Revenue from NOI
applicafions may be a source for some of this cost, possibly $20,000 annually.
Planning
The Project Team met with Ms. Abby McCabe, Director of Planning for Lexington. The Planning
department has four full-fime posifions. The Director noted that a request was made but not
funded in the budget this year to add another posifion (salary esfimated at $72,000) to the
department to assist in meefing the demands placed on the department from MBTA project
oversight and ongoing development-related acfivity. Lexington has a complicated and
comprehensive regulatory framework which mandates significant oversight of all new
construcfion acfivifies. The Director noted the department has many oversight responsibilifies
from inifial project submission, processing, reviewing, public interacfion throughout the review
process, Planning Board interacfions, staff reports, approval lefters, regulatory agreements,
sfipulafion drafting and after approval oversight and inspecfions. The Department was under
strain prior to the adopfion of the MBTA zoning and the workload has only increased since its
adopfion.
The Planning Board’s applicafion fees have a ceiling of $10,000, regardless of the size of a
project; however, fees are set (and can be adjusted) by the Planning Board.
Recreafion
The Project Team met with the Town’s Director of Recreafion and Community Programs, Ms.
Melissa Baftite. The Director noted that residents of Lexington are very acfive and take full
advantage of programs offered by the department. As an Enterprise Fund, the department is
funded through public assets (the golf course is the largest source of funding) and user fees.
Their top 10 programs all have waifing lists, and indoor space is ufilized 80-90% of the fime
(town and school building spaces are used). Some field space will be impacted by the planned
construcfion of the high school and will not be returned to service unfil 2030 once the high
school project commences. As the community confinues to grow, space needs and user fees will
require confinued evaluafion.
Human Services
The Project Team met with Ms. Dana Bickelman, Lexington’s Director of Human Services. The
Director noted that the Department assists residents who have challenging financial needs,
which may include those who occupy the affordable housing units in MBTA developments.
Older residents often need more services including transportafion. Assisfing veterans is also a
12
prime responsibility of the Department. The Department plans on monitoring the progress of
the projects as they are constructed to properly evaluate potenfial increased service demands.
School Impacts
The Project Team met with Dr. Julie Hackeft, Superintendent, Mr. David Coelho, Assistant
Superintendent of Finance and Operafions and Dr. Maureen Kavanaugh, Director of Data and
Strategy for the Lexington Public Schools (LPS). Dr. Kavanaugh provided extensive data on LPS
enrollments, including address informafion by grade level K – 12 for the 6,678 students enrolled
on October 1, 2024.
In order to evaluate the potenfial impacts of the proposed projects on Lexington Public Schools,
the Project Team used a variety of data sources. These included:
Adjusfing Enrollment Projecfions Based on Known Housing Development: A Preliminary
Analysis, Lexington Public Schools Research, Planning & Data Services, October 2024;
Adjusfing Enrollment Projecfions Based on Historic Student Density & Known Housing
Development, Lexington Public Schools Research, Planning & Data Services, January
2025;
Lexington Public Schools 2020-2030 Master Planning Compendium (May 2021)
Detailed enrollment data provided by Lexington Public Schools, including student
addresses and grade level;
Town of Lexington property records provided by the Lexington Assessor’s Office;
Data on affordable housing units in Lexington administered by the Regional Housing
Services Office; and
Interviews with developers, owners and managers of mulfi-family housing properfies.
The Project Team’s approach used a mulfi-step process to esfimate the likely number of school-
aged children which could result from the proposed mulfi-family housing developments in
Lexington.
First, exisfing housing developments in Lexington which were considered comparable to the ten
proposed MBTA projects were idenfified for analysis. In general, these were selected from data
included in the Lexington Public Schools (LPS) October 1, 2024 K – 12 enrollment data file,
provides data on property type (condo or apartment), property age, a property’s school
assignment area (elementary and middle), number of bedrooms by type and enrollment for
each bedroom type. A sample LPS property summary is provided in Tabe 2 below.
13
Table 2 – Example Property Data Summary
From the universe of available data, specific apartment properfies, garden-style condominium
properfies, and townhouse-style condominiums were selected for analysis. These Lexington
properfies are considered similar to the projects which are proposed under the Lexington MBTA
mulfi-family zoning.
The Lexington Public Schools data does not disfinguish between market-rate and affordable
units. Since student density (enrollment per unit) is frequently different between market rate
and affordable units, the Project Team acquired data on affordable housing units from the
Regional Housing Services Office (RHSO). The RHSO data idenfified which units within specific
developments were affordable. Addresses for these affordable housing units were cross-
referenced against student enrollment addresses from LPS to idenfify student density in
affordable units.
This data was used to develop rafios for grade groupings (K-5, 6-8, 9-12) idenfifying the number
of students per unit in specific unit types, including:
Market rate studio and one-bedroom units;
Affordable studio and one-bedroom units;
Market rate two-bedroom units;
Affordable two-bedroom units;
Market rate three+-bedroom units; and
Affordable three+-bedroom units.
Once these student enrollment rafios were developed, they were applied to the proposed
mulfi-family projects in Lexington, based on the type of property proposed (apartments,
garden-style condos and townhomes), the distribufion of the number of bedrooms in each
project, and the number of affordable versus market rate homes in each property.
Comparable Properfies
The Project Team reviewed informafion on mulfi-family properfies in Lexington, including
apartments and condominiums. LPS provided detailed enrollment data on seven apartment
communifies and eighteen condominium projects. A subset of apartment and condominium
projects were ulfimately idenfified and used for analysis. This subset was selected based on
Year
Comp.Type
Elm Assign.
Area
MS
Assign.
Area
Developme
nt Name Location
Unit/
Bedroom
Count
K-12
Enroll Oct
1, 2024
Stud.
Density
Oct 1,
2024
1978 Condos Bowman Clarke April Ln 5-35 April Ln 46 20 0.435
1 BR 12 5 0.417
2 BR 23 11 0.478
3 BR 9 3 0.333
4+BR 2 1 0.500
14
development age, housing type (apartment, garden condo, townhome), and those properfies
which were considered most similar to the new developments planned in Lexington.
Among the apartment communifies, two (Emerson Gardens and Baftle Green) were eliminated
as being too old as they were built in the 1960s. Another was eliminated (Franklin School
Apartments) because it is a 100% affordable project, which is substanfially different from the
proposed mulfi-family apartments in Lexington. Another property (Katahdin Woods) was
eliminated due to a lack of detailed data in terms of specific addresses for units within the
development which limited the ability to disfinguish between bedroom types and affordable
versus market units. The remaining three comparable apartment projects are summarized in
Table 3 below.
Table 3
As shown above, the two larger apartment projects had overall student densifies of 0.65 and
0.76 respecfively, while the smaller project had a student density of just 0.07. This is aftributed
to the fact that the property has just one student in its thirteen one-bedroom units, as
compared to the student density of 0.25 and 0.21 in one-bedroom units for the two larger
properfies.
A similar approach was used to idenfify comparable townhome projects. Using property and
enrollment data provided by LPS, two newer townhome projects were idenfified as being
comparable to the townhome projects proposed as a result of the MBTA zoning in Lexington.
Year
Comp.Development Name Location
Unit/
Bedroom
Count
K-12
Enroll
Oct
2024
Student Density
Oct 2024
2006 Avalon at Lexington Hills 1000 Main Campus Dr 387 253 0.654
1 BR/Studio 109 27 0.248
2 BR 254 197 0.776
3 BR 24 29 1.208
4+BR 0 0 0.000
1994 Avalon Lexington Ridge Lexington Ridge Dr 198 152 0.768
1 BR/Studio 28 6 0.214
2 BR 114 89 0.781
3 BR 56 57 1.018
4+BR 0 0 0.000
2024 186 Bedford 186 Bedford 13 1 0.077
1 BR/Studio 13 1 0.077
2 BR 0 0 0.000
3 BR 0 0 0.000
4+BR 0 0 0.000
Comparable Lexington Apartment Properties
15
Table 4
These townhome projects have an overall student density of 0.62 and 0.64 respecfively, which is
slightly lower than the student density for the large apartment complexes discussed above.
A similar process was used to idenfify comparable garden-style condominium projects in
Lexington. Although garden-style condominiums are most similar to apartment projects, their
student densifies are generally lower.
Table 5
Year
Comp.Development Name Location
Unit/
Bedroom
Count
K-12
Enroll
Oct
2024
Student Density
Oct 2024
2020 Lexington Meadows/Lily Pond 840 Emerson Gardens Rd/Lily Pond Ln 21 13 0.619
1 BR 0 0 0.000
2 BR 10 4 0.400
3 BR 11 9 0.818
4+BR 0 0 0.000
2011 Lexington Courtyard 536 Lowell St/1-49 Courtyard Pl 36 23 0.639
1 BR 0 0 0.000
2 BR 1 0 0.000
3 BR 24 16 0.667
4+BR 11 7 0.636
Comparable Lexington Townhome Projects
Year
Comp.Development Name Location
Unit/
Bedroom
Count
K-12
Enroll
Oct
2024
Student Density
Oct 2024
2007 Jefferson Union 31 Fletcher Ave 13 6 0.462
1 BR 0 0 0.000
2 BR 10 5 0.500
3 BR 3 1 0.333
4+BR 0 0 0.000
2009 Lexington Place 50 Waltham Str 30 2 0.067
1 BR 2 0 0.000
2 BR 26 2 0.077
3 BR 2 0 0.000
4+BR 0 0 0.000
2017 Manor Terrace 509 Woburn St/2 Manor Ter 50 4 0.080
1 BR 2 0 0.000
2 BR 48 4 0.083
3 BR 0 0 0.000
4+BR 0 0 0.000
Comparable Lexington Garden-Style Condominium Projects
16
The 13-unit project had a student density of 0.46 students, while the two larger projects had
student densifies below 0.10.
Student Densifies by Bedroom Type
Once the comparable communifies had been idenfified, unit informafion by bedroom type and
whether units were classified as market rate or affordable was used in conjuncfion with student
address data to determine enrollments for each property.
The apartment communifies provided some interesfing informafion.In parficular, market rate
studio/one-bedroom units had 34 students living in 113 units – a student density for these units
of 0.30. Comparafively, affordable studio/one-bedroom units had no school-age children living
in them. Many greater Boston communifies see higher student densifies in affordable units than
in market-rate units. For example, in the city of Newton, a two-bedroom market rate unit has a
student rafio density of .214, while an affordable unit’s rafio density is 1.028.
Table 6
Similarly, student densifies in market-rate two- and three-plus bedroom units were higher than
the student densifies in affordable units. Overall, the student density in the comparable
apartments was 0.68 students per unit.
Student density data from the townhome communifies provided different results. Student
density in market-rate two-bedroom units was lower than student density rates in the
affordable two-bedroom units. In the case of two-bedroom units, student density in affordable
units was more than double the student density in market-rate units.
Development Name
Studio/
1BR
Market
Studio/
1BR
Affordable
2BR
Market
2BR
Affordable
3+ BR
Market
3+ BR
Affordable
Total
Market
Total
Affordable Total Units
Avalon at Lexington Hills 83 26 193 61 18 6 294 93 387 Units
27 0 174 23 25 4 226 27 253 Students
0.325 -0.902 0.377 1.389 0.667 0.769 0.290 0.654 Students/Unit
Avalon Lexington Ridge 18 10 85 29 39 17 142 56 198 Units
6 0 80 9 44 13 130 22 152 Students
0.333 -0.941 0.310 1.128 0.765 0.915 0.393 0.768 Students/Unit
186 Bedford 12 1 0 0 0 0 12 12 13 Units
1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 Students
0.0833 0.0000 0.0000 0.0000 0.0000 0.0000 0.0833 0.0000 0.0769 Students/Unit
Student Density Rates
Comparable Lexington Apartments
17
Table 7
Overall, garden-style condominiums had the lowest student density at just 0.13 per unit.
However, overall student density in affordable units was six fimes higher than in market rate
units (0.50 vs. 0.08).
Table 8
This informafion was used to develop average mulfipliers by bedroom type, affordability and
housing unit style as shown in Table 9 below.
Table 9
Development Name
Studio/
1BR
Market
Studio/
1BR
Affordable
2BR
Market
2BR
Affordable
3+ BR
Market
3+ BR
Affordable
Total
Market
Total
Affordable Total Units
Lexington Meadows/Lily Pond 0 0 9 1 11 0 20 1 21 Units
0 0 3 1 9 0 12 1 13 Students
--0.333 1.000 0.818 -0.600 1.000 0.619 Students/Unit
Lexington Courtyard 0 0 1 0 26 9 27 9 36 Units
0 0 0 0 16 7 16 7 23 Students
----0.615 0.778 0.593 0.778 0.639 Students/Unit
Student Density Rates
Comparable Lexington Townhome Projects
Development Name
Studio/
1BR
Market
Studio/
1BR
Affordable
2BR
Market
2BR
Affordable
3+ BR
Market
3+ BR
Affordable
Total
Market
Total
Affordable Total Units
Jefferson Union 0 0 9 1 3 0 12 1 13 Units
0 0 5 0 1 0 6 0 6 Students
--0.556 -0.333 -0.500 -0.462 Students/Unit
Lexington Place 1 1 24 2 2 0 27 3 30 Units
0 0 1 1 0 0 1 1 2 Students
--0.042 0.500 --0.037 0.333 0.067 Students/Unit
Manor Terrace 1 1 43 5 0 0 44 6 50 Units
0 0 0 4 0 0 0 4 4 Students
---0.800 ---0.667 0.080 Students/Unit
Student Density Rates
Comparable Lexington Garden Condo Projects
Studio/ 1BR
Market
Studio/ 1BR
Affordable
2BR
Market
2BR
Affordable 3+ BR Market
3+ BR
Affordable Total Units
Apartments 113 37 278 90 57 23 598 Units
34 0 255 31 69 17 406 Students
0.301 -0.917 0.344 1.211 0.739 0.679 Students/Unit
Townhomes 0 0 10 1 37 9 57 Units
0 0 3 1 24 8 36 Students
--0.300 1.000 0.649 0.889 0.632 Students/Unit
Garden Style 2 2 76 8 5 0 93 Units
0 0 6 5 1 0 12 Students
--0.079 0.625 0.200 -0.129 Students/Unit
Multipliers by Bedroom Type,
Affordability and Property Type
18
These mulfipliers were used to esfimate the number of students that could result from the
proposed mulfi-family projects in Lexington.
As shown below, the apartment projects that have been approved are expected to generate 255
students, and the pending apartment projects are expected to add an addifional 224 students.
The approved garden-style and townhouse condominium projects are expected to generate 14
students, while the pending garden-style condominium projects are anficipated to generate an
addifional 5 students.
Table 10
In total, the ten new mulfi-family projects used as the basis for this analysis are expected to
create an addifional 499 students in the Lexington Public Schools, as summarized in Table 11
below.
Apartments Approved Units Studio Market
Studio
Affordable
1BR
Market
1BR
Affordable
2BR
Market
2BR
Affordable 3+ BR Market
3+ BR
Affordable
331 Concord Ave.200 10 2 115 19 28 6 17 3
17 Hartwell Ave.312 14 2 141 25 82 15 28 5
186 Bedford St.13 9 4
Total 525 24 4 265 48 110 21 45 8
Multiplier 0.486 0.301 -0.301 -0.914 0.356 1.211 0.739
School-Age Children 255.31 7.22 -79.73 -100.50 7.47 54.47 5.91
Apartments Pending Units Studio Market
Studio
Affordable
1BR
Market
1BR
Affordable
2BR
Market
2BR
Affordable 3+ BR Market
3+ BR
Affordable
3-5 Militia Drive 300 46 9 113 20 70 12 26 4
7 Hartwell Ave. 130 8 2 68 12 22 4 12 2
185, 187-189 Bedford St.25 13 1 7 2 2
Total 455 54 11 194 33 99 18 40 6
Multiplier 0.493 0.301 -0.301 -0.914 0.356 1.211 0.739
School-Age Children 224.33 16.25 -58.37 -90.45 6.40 48.42 4.43
Garden Condominiums Approved Units Studio Market
Studio
Affordable
1BR
Market
1BR
Affordable
2BR
Market
2BR
Affordable 3+ BR Market
3+ BR
Affordable
5-7 Piper Rd. 46 15 2 22 2 3 2
89 Bedford Rd.30 24 5 1
Total 76 15 2 46 7 4 2
Multiplier 0.116 ----0.079 0.625 0.200 -
School-Age Children 8.81 ----3.632 4.375 0.800 -
Garden Condominiums Pending Units Studio Market
Studio
Affordable
1BR
Market
1BR
Affordable
2BR
Market
2BR
Affordable 3+ BR Market
3+ BR
Affordable
217-241 Mass. Ave.44 15 2 20 3 3 1
231 Bedford Rd.7 1 2 4
Total 51 16 2 22 3 7 1
Multiplier 0.098 ----0.079 0.625 0.200 -
School-Age Children 5.01 ----1.737 1.875 1.400 -
Townhouse Condominium Approved Units Studio Market
Studio
Affordable
1BR
Market
1BR
Affordable
2BR
Market
2BR
Affordable 3+ BR Market
3+ BR
Affordable
28 Meriam St.10 4 5 1
Multiplier 0.533 ----0.300 1.000 0.649 0.889
School-Age Children 5.33 ----1.200 -3.243 0.889
From Proposed Multi-Family Projects in Lexington
Generation of Additional Students
19
Table 11
Using enrollment and address data from LPS, a distribufion of students by grade cohort (K-5, 6–
8, 9-12) was developed for the comparable properfies. These figures were used to create a
percentage distribufion of students for each property type. As detailed in Table 12, all property
types had a similar percentage of students in grades 6 to 8, 22% to 25%. The percentage of
elementary school students was lower in the townhomes (35%) than either the apartments
(45%) or the garden-style condominiums (50%).
Table 12
Using these percentage distribufions with the proposed mulfi-family projects, it is esfimated
that approximately 217 new students will be generated at the K – 5 level,130 new students will
be generated at the 6 – 8 level, and 152 new students at the 9 – 12 level as a result of the
proposed and approved mulfi-family projects in Lexington.
One of the concerns for LPS is where students from these new mulfi-family developments might
aftend elementary and middle school. In order to esfimate the impacts on individual schools,
the Project Team obtained school assignment areas for each of the new mulfi-family projects.
Based on current School Assignment maps, LPS provided specific elementary schools (Bowman,
Estabrook, Fiske, Hasfings, Harrington) and middle schools (Diamond, Clarke) for each
development. Using the enrollment mulfipliers defined earlier in this analysis for each property
Development Category Units Studio Market
Studio
Affordable
1BR
Market
1BR
Affordable
2BR
Market
2BR
Affordable 3+ BR Market
3+ BR
Affordable TotalsApproved Apartments 525 7.2 -79.7 -100.5 7.5 54.5 5.9 255.3
Pending Apartments 455 16.2 -58.4 -90.5 6.4 48.4 4.4 224.3
Approved Garden Condominiums 76 ----3.6 4.4 0.8 -8.8
Pending Garden Condominiums 51 ----1.7 1.9 1.4 -5.0
Approved Townhouse Condominium 10 ----1.2 -3.2 0.9 5.3
Totals 1,117 23.5 -138.1 -197.5 20.1 108.3 11.2 498.8
Total School Age Children 498.8
Average Multiplier 0.45
Total Estimated Students From New Multi-Family Projects
Apartments Percentage MBTA Projects
K - 5 43%207.9
6 - 8 26%125.2
9 - 12 31%146.5
Total 100%479.6
Garden Condos Percentage
K - 5 50%6.9
6 - 8 25%3.5
9 - 12 25%3.5
Total 100%13.8
Townhomes Percentage
K - 5 33%1.8
6 - 8 23%1.2
9 - 12 44%2.3
Total 100%5.3
Distribution of New Students
by Grade Groupings
20
type, the elementary school and middle school students for each new mulfi-family project were
esfimated as summarized in Table 13.
Table 13
The most significant impact at the elementary school level is the Estabrook Elementary School,
which could see an esfimated 98 new students, assuming all of the new mulfi-family projects
are approved, constructed and occupied. The Diamond Middle School could also see an
esfimated 102 new students once all of the new mulfi-family projects are approved, constructed
and occupied. In total, there could be 217 new students at the elementary schools and 130 new
students at the middle schools. The high school would absorb the remaining 152 new students.
It should be noted that the Project Team reviewed a sample of newly built homes in Lexington
to determine the impact on school enrollments. While single-family homes are not part of the
mulfi-family zoning required by the State in support of the MBTA, understanding the extent to
which single-family homes contribute to the generafion of new students could be helpful to LPS.
Cross-referencing building permit data for new homes for new homes permifted between 2019
and 2022 against enrollment data provided by LPS, a total of 23 students were idenfified in 38
newly-built homes. This equates to a student density of 0.61 students per new single-family
home. This is above the student density rate of 0.447 for the new mulfi-family projects
discussed in this report.
Implicafions for LPS Enrollments
Since the Town of Lexington created zoning to support mulfi-family development (as required by
the State to support housing development in MBTA communifies), ten proposed projects
totaling 1,117 units have been received as of February 1, 2025. This analysis esfimates that if all
of these projects are permifted, constructed and occupied, 499 new K – 12 students may be
Bowman Estabrook Fiske Hastings Harrington Diamond Clarke Totals
Apartments Approved
331 Concord Ave.38.2 23.0 61.2
17 Hartwell Ave.71.3 42.9 114.2
186 Bedford St.1.2 0.8 2.0
Apartments Pending
3-5 Militia Drive 65.2 39.3 104.5
7 Hartwell Ave. 26.2 15.8 41.9
185, 187-189 Bedford St.5.8 3.5 9.3
Garden Condominiums Approved
5-7 Piper Rd. 1.8 0.9 2.7
89 Bedford Rd.2.6 1.3 3.9
Garden Condominiums Pending
217-241 Mass. Ave.2.0 1.0 3.0
231 Bedford Rd.0.5 0.2 0.7
Townhouse Approved
28 Meriam St.1.5 1.1 2.6
Totals by School 40.0 98.0 1.5 74.8 2.0 104.9 24.9 346.2
New Student Impacts on Elementary and Middle Schools
Elementary Schools Middle Schools
21
enrolled in Lexington Public Schools. This equates to a student density of 0.447 students per
unit.
Overall, the projects reviewed for this analysis are expected to add 217 students at the K – 5
level, 130 students at the 6 – 8 level, and 152 students at the 9 – 12 level. The Estabrook
Elementary School and Diamond Middle School are expected to see the largest number of new
students, 102 for each school.
It is important to note that total enrollment at LPS has fallen from 7,122 in 2019 to 6,678 in
2024, a loss of 444 students or 6.2%. While the addifion of 499 new students is significant, it is
anficipated that new student enrollments will be spread over the next five years as projects are
approved, built-out and sold or leased. Since this analysis does not account for complefion
dates associated with each project, it does not esfimate when specific projects housing might
impact LPS enrollments. The arrival of students to these housing developments will likely
happen over fime and not all at once.
The addifion of approximately 499 new students represents an increase of 7.4% over the 6,678
students (K-12) enrolled in LPS as of October 1, 2024. This addifion on top of LPS’ current
enrollment would put total enrollment at just under 7,200, just under the recent peak
experienced in 2019-2020 (7,259 K-12).
However, this analysis does not account for broader enrollment changes based on exisfing
projecfions. Based on current three-year projecfions, before accounfing for new housing
development, LPS is expecfing: K-5 enrollment around 2500-2550, declining 6-8 enrollment and
either stable or slightly declining 9-12 enrollment. In total, LPS esfimates its mid-range
enrollment in FY30 to be 6,359, more than 300 students less than the FY25 enrollment of 6,678,
before including enrollments from the MBTA mulfi-family projects.
Projecfing further out and incorporafing the incremental enrollment from the MBTA mulfi-
family projects for each grade cohort span, which specifically assumes all current proposed
MBTA mulfi-family are constructed, LPS could see:
Increasing elementary enrollment, though projected enrollment would sfill be below the
2017-18 recent peak elementary enrollment of 3,150;
Flat middle school enrollment relafive to current enrollment; and
Relafively flat high school enrollment compared to current enrollment.
Projected FY30 high school enrollment that factors in an adjustment for increased enrollment
associated with MBTA-related mulfi-family housing would be similar or slightly higher than
current enrollment.
22
Implicafions for Space Use and Capacity
LPS reviewed the Project Team’s esfimates of potenfial student enrollments associated with the
proposed MBTA mulfi-family projects and provided the remainder of this secfion on
Implicafions for Space Use and Capacity.
As noted in the LPS Master Planning Compendium (May 2021), elementary school enrollments in
Lexington were on the rise from 2008 through 2015. Overcrowding was parficularly acute at
Bowman, Bridge, and Fiske Elementary Schools and Clarke Middle School. Three of these schools
are situated in the south easterly porfions of Town. Elementary and middle school building projects
during this period of fime addressed deteriorafing facilifies and environmental issues, while
expanding district capacity to match the growth that had already occurred. Even after a new larger
27-secfion Estabrook Elementary School was completed in 2014 following the detecfion of
polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in the old school, K-8 student enrollments sfill outpaced classroom
space. Shortly thereafter, modular addifions were approved for the Fiske, Bridge, and Bowman
Elementary Schools, and they were completed for use in the 2016-2017 school year.
In 2017, the Town of Lexington completed addifional brick and mortar expansions on Diamond and
Clarke Middle Schools. In the fall of 2019, a new stand-alone facility, Lexington Children’s Place
(LCP), was opened to house the district’s pre-kindergarten students. The new LCP provides
sufficient space for the district’s preschool program, and it frees up space at Harrington Elementary
School and central administrafive offices. Finally, in February 2020, the new 30-secfion Hasfings
Elementary School opened, replacing a much smaller (21 secfion) deteriorafing elementary school
building.
Table 14 and 15 summarize the resulfing esfimated facilifies capacity at the elementary and middle
school level. An addifional note regarding these capacifies is that spaces across LPS’ K-8 buildings
have or will be temporarily repurposed in some cases. For example, while the central office is being
moved to a smaller facility, a number of individual staff and/or departments have been temporarily
relocated to spaces across LPS elementary and middle schools. Should this space be needed for
rising student enrollment, these staff and/or departments would need to be relocated.
IMPLICATIONS FOR SPACE USE AND CAPACITY
23
With that caveat in mind, given the informafion available regarding projected enrollments and
housing development, exisfing elementary and middle school facilifies should be able to
accommodate the adjusted midline projected enrollment for FY30 noted above (approximately
2,700 at K-5 and 1,725).
Table 14
Table 15
Should enrollment exceed the capacity of LPS’ elementary and middle school buildings, LPS has
idenfified other strategies that can be used to accommodate increasing enrollment as part of
their last Master Facilifies Plans (see LPS Master Planning Compendium). These include:
Redistricfing or flexible assignment; given the disproporfionate enrollment impacts
esfimated for Estabrook Elementary School and Diamond Middle School (around 100
addifional students for each school), some amount of redistricfing may be needed to
balance enrollments;
IMPLICATIONS FOR SPACE USE AND CAPACITY (CONTINUED)
24
Space-mining exercises, where exisfing spaces are re-purposed within schools (e.g.
conference rooms or other non-teacher spaces are converted to classrooms and other
needed instrucfional spaces; with more extreme enrollment changes, temporarily re-
purposes elementary art and music spaces to general educafion classroom and deliver art
and music in the general educafion classrooms);
Increase class sizes;
Changing the grade levels serviced by elementary and middle schools (e.g., moving fifth
grade to the middle schools); this would be dependent on enrollment at other grade spans
and might have to be used along with other strategies (e.g. temporary or permanent
building addifions); and
Portable or modular construcfion and/or the addifion of permanent classroom space.
At the high school level, current enrollment (2,405 as of October 1, 2024) confinues to far exceed
the exisfing building’s core capacity of approximately 1,850. As described in a recent memo from
LPS, the new high school’s “Bloom” design enrollment is 2,395. The Bloom design can also
accommodate an addifional 850 or more students in three ways.
Space Ufilizafion—By increasing class sizes from 23 to 25 and not impacfing the 85%
classroom ufilizafion rates, LPS could accommodate an addifional +192 students. By
increasing the class size to 25 and the ufilizafion to 90%, LPS could accommodate an
addifional 343 students.
Repurposed Central Office Space—By converfing the 11 classrooms reserved for the central
office unfil students need the space, LPS could free up space for an addifional 244 students.
Addifional Expansion—By adding on to the new high school, LPS could add enough space to
accommodate an addifional 256 students.
These three strategies yield enough space to accommodate just under 850 addifional students at
Lexington High School and would be able to accommodate the adjusted enrollment projecfion for
FY30 of approximately 2,430 to 2,480.
This secfion provided by LPS
IMPLICATIONS FOR SPACE USE AND CAPACITY (CONTINUED)
25
Cost Implicafions of New Students
Esfimafing the marginal or incremental cost of new students at the Lexington Public Schools
(LPS) is a complex task that must take into considerafion whether and to what extent addifional
students will generate addifional costs for LPS. This analysis esfimates that 499 students will be
generated when the proposed 1,117 mulfi-family units are constructed and occupied. However,
since the COVID pandemic, LPS indicates that enrollment fell by 444, while staffing increased by
almost 200 over the same period. This indicates that the proposed MBTA projects would result
in a net increase in enrollment of just 55 students when compared to COVID enrollments.
However, as noted elsewhere in this report, LPS data indicates that FY25 total enrollment is
6,678. LPS also developed enrollment projecfions through FY30. The in-house enrollment
esfimates for FY30 include a high, mid-range and low enrollment projecfion. In total, enrollment
for FY 30, excluding MBTA mulfi-family projects, is esfimated to be:
Low esfimate - 5,456 students (1,222 fewer students than FY25);
Mid-Range esfimate – 6,356 students (322 fewer students than FY25); and
High esfimate – 6,513 students (165 fewer students than FY25).
Based upon extensive discussions with school staff, three cost metrics were developed to
esfimate potenfial increased school costs: non-special ed general educafional costs based upon
DESE data4, average per pupil In-District Special Educafion5 cost and average Out of District
Special Educafional cost calculated by LPS. It should be noted here that these are gross cost
projecfions, which do not include any esfimate of potenfial Chapter 70 aid to LPS.
Table 16 summarizes potenfial increases in school costs of $7,913,517 assuming the esfimated
499 new students are added to the current enrollment of 6,678 and no decrease in future
enrollments occur (6,678 + 499 = 7,177).
Table 16 – Incremental New Student Costs of MBTA Mulfi-family Projects
As noted above, LPS has developed three future enrollment projecfions for FY30: Low esfimate,
Mid-Range esfimate and High esfimate. If the Mid-Range enrollment of 6,356 is applied, a net
4 Massachusefts Department of Elementary and Secondary Educafion, Base Foundafion Components, elementary-
middle-high school costs.
5 In District special educafional students account for 13.1% of the total school enrollment, while Out of District
Special Educafional students account for 1% of total student enrollment. Special educafion costs are extremely
complex involving many variables that are student specific. These esfimated costs take into account DESE circuit
breaker funding, Out of District placement can cost upwards of $400,000.
Estimated Enrollment 217 130 152
Elementary Cost Total Middle Cost Total High School Cost Total Total Cost
General 186 $10,455 $1,944,630 112 $10,042 $1,124,704 131 $12,093 $1,584,183
SPED 28 $44,000 $1,232,000 17 $44,000 $748,000 20 $44,000 $880,000
SPED Out/District 2 $80,000 $160,000 1 $80,000 $80,000 2 $80,000 $160,000
Total Estimated Cost $3,336,630 $1,952,704 $2,624,183 $7,913,517
26
increase of 177 students will be realized (6,356 +499 = 6,855). Applying the costs outlined in
Table 17 generates an esfimated cost of $2,889,946.
Table 17 – Incremental New Student Costs of MBTA Mulfi-Family Project Plus LPS Enrollment Projecfions
The level of excess capacity moving forward will influence potenfial new school costs. As noted
above, school cost variables are extremely complex and unfil students are actually enrolled
detailed costs will not be known.
Nevertheless, the Table below summarizes district enrollment vs. building capacity (including
the new LHS) against each of the three LPS enrollment models as well as current enrollment and
appears to indicate that building capacity is adequate to absorb some level of anficipated
growth based on this report’s analysis:
Table 18 – LPS Enrollment Projecfion
Furthermore, based on the Mid+ and Current+ enrollment projecfions discussed above, it
appears that the incremental school cost (above base) may range from $2.9 million to $7.9
million over the next five years. That headcount grew during a period (coming out of the
pandemic) of declining student enrollment may require further analysis as to what the drivers
were. In conversafions with school administrafion, it does sound like their ability to
maintain/grow headcount to address student need during this challenging period should
posifion LPS relafively well to absorb some level of growth as enrollment begins to grow again
(the peak in 2019-2020 was 7,259).
Estimated Enrollment 77 46 54
Elementary Cost Total Middle Cost Total High School Cost Total Total Cost
General 66 $10,455 $690,030 39 $10,042 $391,638 46 $12,093 $556,278
SPED 10 $44,000 $440,000 6 $44,000 $264,000 7 $44,000 $308,000
SPED Out/District 1 $80,000 $80,000 1 $80,000 $80,000 1 $80,000 $80,000
Total Estimated Cost $1,210,030 $735,638 $944,278 $2,889,946
27
Emergency Services Impacts
As part of the MBTA project review, the Project Team also reviewed potenfial increased demand
on services from the Police and Fire Departments.
To assess the degree of impact these projects may have on emergency departments,
comparable emergency call data from similar housing communifies was analyzed. Working with
the police and fire department staff, call data was collected for each noted housing community.
These calls were then totaled to derive an average call volume rafio per unit, which was then
used to generate projected emergency calls for each Department. Extrapolafing from the
comparable call data, increases are projected in the Town’s Police and Fire Department call
volume.
The Police Department responded to approximately 15,390 Calls for Service in 2023 (average
296 calls per week). The Fire Department reported a total of 5,207 calls in 2024 (average 93 calls
per week); the total includes 1,815 fire-related calls and 3,257 EMS calls. It should be noted that
the Fire Department generates revenue from EMS billing and in 2023 collected $1,728,905,
which equates to an average of $1,105 in revenue per call.
As detailed in Table 19 below, calls to 777 apartment units were analyzed, along with 110
garden style condominiums and 57 townhome units. Calls to all these property types were
averaged to generate a per unit call rafio for each housing type. Although MBTA projects will not
include single family homes, the Project Team also collected data from 38 newly constructed
single-family homes. The average call volume per residence is summarized in Table 19 below.
28
Table 19
Apartments # Units Fire Calls Call/Unit EMS Calls Call/Unit Police Calls Call/Unit
Avalon 1000 Main Campus 387 50.60 0.13 58.00 0.15 156.00 0.40
Avalon at Lex. 987 Waltham 198 24.95 0.13 35.00 0.18 82.00 0.41
Countryside Manor 425 Woburn 51 0.33 0.01 3.00 0.06 16.00 0.31
Katahdin Woods 128 3.00 0.02 --74.00 0.58
186 Bedford Street 13 3.00 0.23 1.00 0.08 19.00 1.46
Total Average/Calls per Unit 777 81.88 0.11 97.00 0.12 347.00 0.45
Condo - Garden # Units Fire Calls Call/Unit EMS Calls Call/Unit Police Calls Call/Unit
31 Fletcher Avenue 30 2.30 0.08 1.00 0.03 4.00 0.13
50 Waltham Street 30 4.30 0.14 6.00 0.20 10.00 0.33
250 Manor Terrace 50 6.60 0.13 8.00 0.16 21.00 0.42
Total Average/Calls per Unit 110 13.20 0.12 8.00 0.07 35.00 0.32
Condo - Townhome # Units Fire Calls Call/Unit EMS Calls Call/Unit Police Calls Call/Unit
Lexington Meadows- Lily Pond 21 2.00 0.10 3.00 0.14 6.00 0.29
Courtyard Place 36 3.30 0.09 2.00 0.06 9.00 0.25
Total Average/Calls per Unit 57 5.30 0.09 5.00 0.09 15.00 0.26
Single Family/Duplex Condo # Units Fire Calls Call/Unit EMS Calls Call/Unit Police Calls Call/Unit
Jefferson Drive 30 2.60 0.09 3.00 0.10 7.00 0.23
Single Family # Units Fire Calls Call/Unit EMS Calls Call/Unit Police Calls Call/Unit
Newly Constructed 38 7.00 0.18 --10.00 0.26
Apartments, Townhouses and Garden-Style Condominiums
Police, Fire and EMS Calls
29
Applying these emergency call rafios to the noted MBTA developments, as outlined in Table 20,
generates a set of findings nofing that fire calls may increase by 119 annually, 130 EMS calls may
be generated and 481 police calls can be expected. The esfimated EMS calls may generate
$143,650 in local revenue.
Table 20
The projected increase in call volume from the 1,117-units in the proposed mulfi-family housing
projects represents an increase of 3.1% in calls for service for the Lexington Police Department
over 2023 call volume. Fire Department calls for service are projected to increase by 7.6% over
2023 call volume, while EMS calls for service are esfimated to increase by 4.1% over 2023 call
volume.
Police
The Project Team met with Police Chief Michael McLean and Captain John Mazerall to discuss
police operafions and the planned MBTA development projects. Currently, the department has
50 sworn officers with a few open posifions they are acfively trying to fill. In total, the
department has 66 full-fime employees and 6 part-fime posifions; only 3 officers live in the
community. In 1995, there were 54 officers and due to budget cuts in 2005, nine posifions were
eliminated.
Calls for service can vary greatly, from minor issues to incidents that require significant fime for
an officer. Some calls for service require mulfiple officers to be present. For apartment
complexes, the quality of management is very important and can play a crucial role in
addressing issues. The Chief noted that the addifion of new housing, along with the associated
increase in populafion, will increase demands on the department. Chief McLean appreciated
the esfimated call data provided and believes the total of 481 calls is a reasonable esfimate of
what may occur, as discussed later in this report.
Apartments Approved # Units
Fire Calls Per
Unit
Total Fire
Calls
EMS Calls
Per Unit
Total EMS
Calls
Police Calls
Per Unit
Total Police
Calls
331 Concord Ave.200 0.1 21.0 0.1 24.6 0.4 89.4
17 Hartwell Ave.312 0.1 32.8 0.1 38.4 0.4 139.5
186 Bedford St.13 0.1 1.4 0.1 1.6 0.4 5.8
Apartments Pending
3-5 Militia Drive 300 0.1 31.5 0.1 36.9 0.4 134.1
7 Hartwell Ave. 130 0.1 13.7 0.1 16.0 0.4 58.1
185, 187-189 Bedford St.25 0.1 2.6 0.1 3.1 0.4 11.2
Condominiums Approved
5-7 Piper Rd. 46 0.1 5.5 0.1 3.4 0.3 14.6
89 Bedford Rd.30 0.1 3.6 0.1 2.2 0.3 9.5
Townhome 28 Meriam St. 32 Edgewood 10 0.1 0.9 0.1 0.7 0.3 2.6
Condominium Pending
217-241 Mass. Ave.44 0.1 5.3 0.1 3.2 0.3 14.0
231 Bedford Rd.7 0.1 0.8 0.1 0.5 0.3 2.2
Total Annual Emergency Calls 119.1 130.5 481.1
Projected Police, Fire and EMS Calls
Proposed/Approved Apartments, Townhouses and Garden-Style Condominiums
30
The current staffing at the LPD is equivalent to 1.4 officers per 1,000 populafion in Lexington.
The populafion increase from the 1,117 mulfi-family units is esfimated to be 2,670, which based
purely on an officer per capita metric would indicate a delta of 3.9 officers to maintain current
service levels. The FPD Team notes that the Town recently appropriated $120,000 to conduct a
public safety (police and fire) staffing study. It is expected that the staffing study will examine
not only current staffing levels to ensure that exisfing resources are being deployed efficiently
and effecfively but also whether changing demographics and/or increased populafion calls for
changes to current staffing levels.
In terms of cost, police officer with benefits costs approximately $115,000 annually. A new hire
will also inifially cost $10,000 for equipment and uniforms. The Chief also indicated that a new
cruiser may be necessary to support addifional staffing, at an esfimated cost of $60,000. Based
on these assumptions (and prior to the staffing study), the data would indicate a potential
annual cost of $497,000 and one-fime costs of $100,000 (cruiser and equipment for four new
officers).
Fire
The Project Team met with Chief Derek Sencabaugh and Assistant Chief Don Chisholm to review
current operafions and the anficipated impacts of the planned MBTA projects. The department
is presently served by 60 firefighters, most of whom are also trained EMTs. The department
runs four shifts of 15 fire fighters, with the average annual cost of a fire fighter with benefits
totaling approximately $100,000. The Bedford Street Headquarters is a new, four-bay facility
which houses most of the department’s staff and equipment. The East Lexington stafion is a
small, older facility that is presently being reviewed for replacement; a feasibility study is
underway to find a new locafion to upgrade and enlarge the facility for that area of the
community. In 2024, the department responded to over 5,000 calls, which is the first fime they
have reached that milestone. The department runs two Advanced Life Support (ALS)
ambulances, which have come under increased strain from rising call demand from residents, as
well as changes in the marketplace with private ambulance services less likely to provide non-
emergency transport. Requests for EMS mutual aid have also been increasing.
The increased calls to the department, in parficular EMS, has led to calls from the Chief to
community officials that a third ambulance may be necessary to maintain current service levels.
This need will only increase with the addifion of MBTA developments. It was also noted that
mulfi-family fire responses generate increased fime demands, especially if a building must be
evacuated. A third ambulance would require the addifion of 8 EMTs/firefighters, adding two per
shift for a total annual cost of $800,000. A new ambulance costs approximately $500,000.
As noted above, Fire will also be part of the upcoming staffing study. For the purposes of this
study, 4% (131 new calls / 3,257 exisfing EMS calls) of the new EMT cost is accounted for which
totals $32,000 in annual costs. One-fime costs for the new ambulance total $20,000 (4% x
31
$500,000). As noted above, EMS calls generate an average of $1,105 in revenue per call, with
potenfial annual revenue from MBTA projects totaling $143,000.
Revenue Potenfial
The proposed mulfi-family projects will also create incremental revenues for the Town of
Lexington, both from property taxes and from excise taxes.
Based upon discussions with Lexington Assessing Staff, as well as applicants involved with the
proposed MBTA condominium developments, Tables 21 and 22 esfimate a net increase in
property tax revenue of $4,644,800.
Table 21 - MBTA Apartments, Esfimated Annual New Property Taxes
Table 22 - MBTA Condominiums - Esfimated Annual New Property Taxes
Addifional annual revenue will be realized from vehicle excise taxes, Lexington collected $6,145,424 from
this local revenue source in FY2024 from 29,375 vehicles6. This translates into an average of $209 per
vehicle. Census data reports7 that there are 12,672 housing units in the community which translate to an
average of 2.3 vehicles per unit. Given the nature of the housing units proposed, an average of 1.4
vehicles per unit has been esfimated for the proposed MBTA development which generates an esfimated
1,563 vehicles. These vehicles would generate $326,667 in annual excise tax revenue to the community.
In addifion, revenues will be realized from ambulance services. Hundreds of thousands of dollars of one-
fime revenue will also be generated from building permit related fees.
Conclusions
The Project Team was retained to evaluate impacts to Lexington Public Schools resulfing from the
addifional residenfial development.In addifion, the Project Team was also charged with idenfifying
potenfial impacts to emergency services, including police, fire and emergency Medical Services (EMS),
along with other town departments including planning, building/inspecfional services, conservafion,
public works, public health & human services and recreafion/community programs.
6 Assistant Town Manager for Finance.
7 2023 ACS 5-year average.
Use Type Original Assessment Existing Taxes Apartments Approved # Units
Estimated New
Assessment
Net Increase Annual
Property Taxes
Mixed use $1,247,000 $20,242 331 Concord Ave.200 $62,000,000 $738,018
Office $12,830,000 $310,486 17 Hartwell Ave.312 $96,720,000 $872,400
Commercial Existing 186 Bedford St.13 $1,972,400 $24,122
Apartments Pending
Office $9,477,000 $229,343 3-5 Militia Drive 300 $93,000,000 $908,047
Office $1,834,000 $44,383 7 Hartwell Ave. 130 $40,300,000 $448,486
Commercial $1,575,000 $38,115 185, 187-189 Bedford St.25 $7,750,000 $56,668
Total Units 980 Total Est. Apart. Taxes $3,047,740
Use Type Original Assessment Existing Taxes Condominiums Approved Units
Estimated New
Assessment
Net Increase Annual
Property Taxes
Residential $1,381,000 $16,890 5-7 Piper Rd. 46 $53,386,480 $636,027
Residential $1,256,000 $15,361 89 Bedford Rd.32 $31,335,500 $367,872
Residential $3,825,000 $46,780 28 Meriam St. 32 Edgewood 8 $13,377,000 $116,821
Condominium Pending
Mixed use $3,468,000 $61,518 217-241 Mass. Ave.44 $40,323,080 $431,634
Commercial $728,000 $17,618 231 Bedford Rd.7 $5,096,000 $44,706
Total Units 137 Total Est. Condo Taxes $1,597,060
32
Schools and Emergency Services (Police, Fire, EMS) are likely to see the most significant impacts
associated with the development of these projects. Although some of the proposed projects may not be
developed, this analysis evaluates impacts associated with all 1,117 units.
The Project Team interviewed leadership at the Lexington Public Schools (LPS), the Lexington Police
Department (LPD) and the Lexington Fire Department (LFD) which provides EMS services for the Town. In
addifion, these departments provided data to support the Project Team’s analysis. LPS provided detailed
enrollment informafion and budget informafion, while LPD and LFD provided call history, staffing and
budgetary data.
Esfimated Costs
Based upon the Project Teams discussion with town and school staff members, Table 22 summarizes
esfimated costs should all MBTA development projects proceed and become occupied. Some
departments were able to esfimate costs at this fime and impacts of addifional demands for services will
have to be monitored moving forward.
Table 23 – Departmental Cost Impacts
Department Cost One-fime Costs
Conservafion $70,000 -
Planning $100,000 -
School Department $2,889,946 - $7,913,517 -
Police Department $497,000 One-fime cost $100,000
Fire Department $32,000 One-fime cost $20,000
Total Esfimated Cost Range $3,558,946 - $8,621,517 $120,000
Esfimated Revenue
The proposed mulfi-family projects will create incremental revenues for the Town of Lexington, both
from property taxes, excise taxes and ambulance revenue which is summarized in Table 22 and totals an
esfimated $5,114,467. In addifion, hundreds of thousands of dollars of one-fime revenue will also be
generated from building permit related fees. At this fime planning board applicafion fees are capped,
which should be evaluated to assist in offsefting increased budget costs to the planning department.
Table 24 – Projected Revenues
Source Annual Revenue
Net Increase in Property Taxes $4,644,800
Esfimated Annual Excise Taxes $326,667
Esfimated Annual Ambulance Fees $143,000
Total Esfimated Annual Revenue $5,114,467
33
Demand for Service Metrics
As new housing developments occur in the community, the following metrics may be applied to the
varying development proposals to provide departments with insights into potenfial increased service
demands.
Table 25 - Emergency Services Metrics
Fire Calls/Unit EMS Calls/Unit Police Calls/Unit
Apartments 0.105 0.123 0.447
Garden Condominiums 0.12 0.073 0.318
Townhomes 0.093 0.067 0.263
New Single Family8 0.184 0.00 0.263
Table 26 - School Age Children Rafios
Studio/1BR
Market
Studio/1BR
Affordable
2BR
Market
2BR
Affordable
3BR
Market
3BR
Affordable
Apartments 0.301 0.000 0.917 0.344 1.211 0.739
Garden Condominiums 0.000 0.000 0.079 0.625 0.200 0.000
Townhomes 0.000 0.000 0.300 1.000 0.649 0.632
New Single-Family Homes 0.610
8 This low rate of EMS calls is applicable to new units, over fime such calls will increase to these homes.
34
Project Team
Mr. Fougere is the President of Fougere Planning & Development, Inc. and is an AICP land use planner
with over 30 years of public and private sector experience. He has an extensive background in project
management dealing with a broad array of planning related issues including spearheading rezoning
efforts, managing development teams, site and land use planning, impact fees, fiscal impact analysis,
public presentafions, expert witness tesfimony, land use law analysis and consensus building challenges.
He has operated as a project manager overseeing development projects that required careful design to
minimize neighboring impacts. He has managed numerous rewrites and amendments to zoning
ordinances and site plan/subdivision regulafions. Mr. Fougere has also served on a municipal planning
board and as a Selectman.
Mr. Donohoe has more than 30 years’ experience in the financial analysis of real estate development
projects and small business operafions. Mr. Donohoe has completed numerous real estate market
studies, financial feasibility studies, redevelopment plans and real property appraisals. He has also
specialized in the analysis of land, buildings and ufility systems for several military base reuse projects
undertaken by the firm. Prior to forming Jeffrey Donohoe Associates LLC, Mr. Donohoe was a Vice
President and Principal for a nafional real estate, economics and planning firm. He was previously a self-
employed management consultant specializing in financial analysis, business planning, loan proposal
evaluafion and market research. He is also a former Management Consultant for the New Hampshire
Small Business Development Center and served as a Financial Markefing Analyst for Signal Capital.
AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY
LEXINGTON SELECT BOARD MEETING
AGENDA ITEM TITLE:
Review Select Board Report to Annual Town Meeting 2025
PRESENTER:
Board Discussion
ITEM
NUMBER:
I.3
SUMMARY:
Review draft Select Board Report to 2025 Annual Town Meeting.
SUGGESTED MOTION:
FOLLOW-UP:
DATE AND APPROXIMATE TIME ON AGENDA:
3/24/2025 6:40pm
ATTACHMENTS:
Description Type
DRAFT Select Board Report to 2025 ATM Backup Material
SELECT BOARD
TOWN OF LEXINGTON
SELECT BOARD REPORT TO THE
2025 ANNUAL TOWN MEETING
MARCH , 2025
Select Board:
Douglas M. Lucente, Chair; Jill I. Hai, Vice-Chair; Joseph N. Pato;
Mark D. Sandeen Vineeta Kumar;
Kim Katzenback, Executive Clerk
Table of Contents
Message from the Select Board Page 1
Town Manager Transition Page 3
Lexington High School Project Page 3
Affordable Housing Initiatives Page 4
Economic Development and Community Vitality Page 6
2025: The 250th Anniversary of the Battle of Lexington Page 8
1
March 2025
Message from the Select Board
As we present this report to the Annual Town Meeting of 2025, we reflect on a year marked by
meaningful progress and investment in Lexington’s infrastructure, community, and
sustainability initiatives. This report includes detailed sections on the Lexington High School
Project, the Town Manager transition, Affordable Housing Initiatives, and Economic
Development and Community Vitality.
Key Updates:
Infrastructure: Significant infrastructure improvements remained a key priority
throughout the past year. Notably, the Hartwell Avenue and Bedford Street Complete
Streets Reconstruction Project advanced considerably, incorporating enhancements
focused on safety, mobility, and accessibility, such as raised medians, sidewalks, and
shared-use paths. Continued community dialogue ensured attention to pedestrian and
cyclist safety concerns. The Board also prioritized sidewalk improvements, especially on
Burlington Street and North Street, recognizing their critical role in pedestrian safety and
connectivity. Recent major zoning changes related to MBTA Zoning have prompted
additional municipal planning efforts to meet increased infrastructure demands across
water, sewer, public safety, and transportation services. Further investments in sidewalk
expansions, town-wide traffic signal upgrades, public parking lot enhancements, and
intersection improvements—particularly at the Adams Street intersections with East and
Hancock Streets—underscore our ongoing commitment to enhancing town-wide safety
and accessibility.
ARPA: The American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds have now been fully allocated,
marking the completion of strategic investments designed to directly benefit the
community. Key initiatives included expanding free public Wi-Fi in the Town Center,
Center Fields, and Lincoln Field; implementing SeeClickFix to improve communication
between residents and town departments; installing a seasonal event tent to support
community events; funding a two-year mental health clinician position; and providing
ongoing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) training initiatives. Throughout the
allocation process, the Board maintained a careful and flexible approach, ensuring
compliance with federal guidelines and reserving funds for impactful projects. Notably,
consideration of an electric or hybrid trolley acquisition was deferred due to cost and
timing constraints.
2
Climate Leadership: The Select Board reviewed and approved updates to the Fleet
Electrification Roadmap and Policy, aligning Lexington’s vehicle acquisition goals with
the Massachusetts Climate Leaders Program. Zero waste initiatives, informed by a Tufts
University survey, focused discussions on expanding curbside composting, automated
waste collection, enhanced recycling, and continued community conversations on the
idea of a phased Pay-As-You-Throw program. The Board also considered a phased
Single-Use Plastic Bottle Phase-Out Policy, initially targeting municipal departments.
Further discussions included solar assessments for municipal parking lots and potential
future funding of a Sustainability Coordinator to leverage grant opportunities.
We would like to take a moment to warmly welcome our new Town Manager, Steve Bartha,
whose leadership and fresh perspective will undoubtedly help shape Lexington's continued
growth and prosperity. We also extend a heartfelt welcome to our newest Select Board member,
Vineeta Kumar, who joined us in March 2025. We look forward to her valuable contributions.
We also express our sincere gratitude to Suzie Barry, whose dedicated service and thoughtful
leadership on the Select Board concluded in March 2025. Her contributions have significantly
benefited our community, and we thank her for her years of commitment.
Should you have any questions or comments regarding this report, the Board encourages you to
get in touch with any member of the Board. Select Board meetings are generally held Monday
evenings at 6:30pm in the Select Board meeting room of the Town Office building, and via
Zoom. Board members’ office hours as well as the Select Board meeting packets are posted at
https://www.lexingtonma.gov/755/Select-Board. We can be reached via email (below) or by
calling the Select Board Office (781-698-4580) to schedule a phone conversation or meeting.
● Doug Lucente, Chair: dlucente@lexingtonma.gov
● Joe Pato: jpato@lexingtonma.gov
● Jill Hai, Vice Chair: jhai@lexingtonma.gov
● Mark Sandeen: msandeen@lexingtonma.gov
● Vineeta Kumar: vkumar@lexingtonma.gov
Respectfully submitted,
Lexington Select Board
Douglas M. Lucente, Chair
Joseph N. Pato
Jill I. Hai, Vice Chair
Mark D. Sandeen
Vineeta Kumar
3
Town Manager Transition
On March 21, 2024, Town Manager Jim Malloy announced his intention to retire at the end of his
then current contract, September 30, 2024. The Select Board then drafted a process and timeline
for recruitment and transition to a new Town Manager.
In April, the Select Board issued a Request for Quotations (RFQ) for an Executive Search firm to
run the recruitment for the next town manager. The Board received four responses to their RFQ
and interviewed three firms, eventually selecting GovHR as the Executive Recruiting Firm to lead
the search.
The Board also created a charge for a Town Manager Search Screening Committee (TMSSC),
seeking a diverse group of residents to assist the Search firm in screening applicants. The TMSSC
was to be comprised of two Select Board members (SB), a Planning Board (PB)member, a
representative of the business community and five at large residents, to be chosen to represent “a
diversity of lived experience, relevant expertise and community involvement”, as well as liaisons
from each of the two finance committees.
The members of the TMSSC were: Sarah Bothwell Allen; Bob Creech (PB); Jill Hai (SB); Heather
Hartshorn (Business Community): Vineeta Kumar; Charles Lamb (CEC liaison); Robert
Mandeville; Sean Osborne (AC liaison); Janet Perry; Mark Sandeen (SB); Helen Yang
The Select Board appointed Kelly Axtell as Acting Town Manager. Ms. Axtell served in that role
from October 1st through November 3, 2024.
Between May and August, the TMSSC created criteria, interview and essay questions, reviewed
two dozen applications and selected 11 candidates for further review. Second round submission
materials, including essay responses to TMSSC questions and work product examples were
reviewed and the committee held a full day of interviews with six semi-final candidates in
August. The committee recommended three applicants to the Select Board for final interviews.
The Select Board interviewed the three recommended candidates and on September 4, 2024, voted
to engage Steve Bartha, then Town Manager of Danvers, as Lexington’s next Town Manager. Mr.
Bartha began work in Lexington November 4, 2024. Since that date, Mr. Bartha has been meeting
with departments, individual staff, committees, and resident groups as he continues to integrate
into the community.
Lexington High School Project
The Lexington High School project is likely to be the most ambitious and expensive project
undertaken by the Town of Lexington. Plans for this project have been brewing for years leading
to the 2017 LHS Visioning process, the 2019 LPS Strategic Plan and the creation of the Master
Planning Advisory Committee during the 2018-2019 year. Beginning in 2019, Lexington
submitted Statement of Interest (SOI) applications each year to the Massachusetts School Building
Authority (MSBA) to evaluate LHS for insufficient educational capacity and system upgrades. In
2022 Lexington was invited into the MSBA Eligibility Period beginning the current process for
the project.
In November, 2024, the Lexington High School Building Committee (SBC) selected the Bloom
option after lengthy consideration of a wide range of alternatives. Bloom was deemed the
4
superior option due to several key advantages over other options which also met the minimum
requirements for satisfying the educational program and safety needs. These advantages include
cost-effectiveness, construction efficiency, and minimized disruption for students and
community users.
On February 26, 2025, the MSBA Board of Directors approved the Town of Lexington’s Preferred
Schematic Report submission. With this approval, the Lexington High School Building project
has successfully progressed into Module 4: Schematic Design phase of the MSBA process. The
proposed Bloom project includes a new building adjacent to the current LHS facility while
maintaining the existing field house with an addition and renovation.
During the schematic design phase, the project design team will refine the Bloom concept and
create a robust schematic design from which the MSBA will generate a scope, budget, schedule,
and MSBA financial grant award. This team is composed of Dore and Whittier, Owner’s Project
Manager; SMMA, Architects; and Turner Construction, Construction Manager at Risk. The team
has been guided by the SBC to produce a responsible design that avoids unnecessary expense.
The team is working with key stakeholders to adjust the Bloom concept to address community
concerns regarding building massing, site traffic, and facility use.
We anticipate that the project will be presented for approval to the MSBA during the summer of
2025 and will then come for community approval through a Special Town Meeting in the fall of
2025 followed by a debt exclusion vote at the end of the year. At the special town meeting we also
expect to seek authorization for an Article 97 land swap to be submitted to the state legislature.
This land swap would relocate some recreation fields to the footprint of the existing LHS and
parking areas while building the new structure on the former field locations. Occupancy in the
new or renovated facility is expected at the end of 2029.
Detailed information about the project is publicly available at:
https://lhsproject.lexingtonma.org
Affordable Housing Initiatives
One of the Select Board’s highest priority goals is to enhance community vibrancy by increasing
the diversity of housing stock in size, accessibility, and price including increasing the availability
of affordable housing.
Lexington has a serious affordable housing crisis that has been decades in the making. Housing
prices are rising much faster than household incomes. The average sale price of a Lexington home
rose to over $1.9 million in 2024, with the average price of a new construction home reaching $3
million. The Massachusetts Municipal Association data also shows that Lexington’s median gross
rents are the highest of any municipality in the Commonwealth. 24% of Lexington homeowners
and 44% of Lexington renters are housing cost burdened, spending at least 30% to 50% of their
income on housing.
Currently only 6% of Lexington’s housing stock is truly affordable, while 21% of Lexington
households qualify as low-income. The result is that the demand for affordable housing is quite
high, with 10 to 20 applicants per each newly available affordable home. That translates into
families waiting between 5 and 8 years to secure affordable housing in Lexington.
5
Between 2011 and June of 2023, Lexington had a net gain of zero affordable housing units on the
Subsidized Housing Inventory or SHI. Since that time Lexington has had a net gain of 11 truly
affordable units on the SHI, largely due to the creation of 21 units of affordable housing as part
of the Waterstone/Bridges project approved by 2018 Special Town Meeting.
The Select Board and Town Meeting have taken several recent actions to increase the availability
of affordable housing in Lexington. Special Town Meeting 2022-3 approved the creation of the
Affordable Housing Trust and the reorganization of LexHAB as an independent 501(c)3
organization.
The legislature approved the reorganization of LexHAB in September of 2024, which will allow
the reorganized LexHAB to access more diverse sources of funding, including private donations,
federal and state funding, in addition to local appropriations. The reorganization also enables
faster, more efficient, and lower cost housing production. Soon after the reorganization, LexHAB
received a donation of a property that LexHAB will convert to an affordable home for Lexington
residents in perpetuity.
The Affordable Housing Trust was formed to preserve and create affordable housing, with a
structure that provides the ability to respond to opportunities and funding requests from
Lexington housing partners like LexHAB and the Lexington Housing Authority in real time.
The Affordable Housing Trust funded two LexHAB property purchases in its first year of
operation, creating affordable housing for three families in response to highly time sensitive
opportunities.
2023 Annual Town Meeting overwhelmingly approved Article 33 authorizing the Select Board
and the Affordable Housing Trust to create 40 units of 100% truly affordable housing at an
average of 60% of Area Median Income on Town owned property located near Lowell and North
Street. The Town received 7 proposals and has signed a land disposition agreement with the
winning team. The developer has begun the community engagement and due diligence process
defined in the RFP.
The proposed design significantly exceeds the RFP requirements in many ways, including
providing housing that is well integrated with the neighborhood, designed to feel like 8
individual buildings, with a community meeting area and a common space walking area, dark
sky compliant lighting, thoughtfully designed landscaping that preserves as many existing native
trees as possible, supplemented with new native plants to enhance ecological systems, and almost
an acre of protected woodland area. Each home will have ample natural daylight, outdoor space,
in unit laundry, elevator accessibility, universally accessible design, communal storage space,
bike storage, and covered parking.
They will be all-electric, solar powered homes, built to Passive House standards. The economics
of building to these standards are excellent for both the residents and the developer.
The residents will live in a home with incredibly healthy indoor air quality, that is extremely
quiet, provides amazing thermal comfort, and exceptional resilience. Massachusetts Dept of
Energy Resources studies show that multi-family buildings built to Passive House standards have
such excellent thermal resilience that they can go a week without electric power on the coldest
week of the year, with indoor temperatures dropping only 6 or 7° F. No backup power
needed. The selected developer has built several affordable housing Passive House buildings and
has now made it their design standard.
6
That excellent thermal performance also lowers the cost of HVAC equipment, as the heating loads
for a Passive House building are roughly an order of magnitude lower than a standard building
code building. Because those heating and cooling loads are so low, a central heating and cooling
system for all of the units will be entirely powered by solar panels on the roof. That means the
residents will have zero cost for heating or cooling their homes.
And because that power is provided entirely by the sun, it will be insulated from the dramatic
energy price spikes we've seen over the last few years. This is especially important because low-
income households in the Boston area have the highest median energy burden in the country,
spending 14% of their income on energy.
Building affordable housing to Passive House standards is among the best ways the Town can
address both the housing cost burden and the energy cost burden of its low-income residents.
Perhaps most importantly the homes built on Lowell & North Street will be incredibly healthy,
comfortable, and resilient homes for the residents.
All affordable housing initiatives require significant sources of funding. The Community
Preservation Committee currently provides the majority of affordable housing funds to LexHAB
and is the only significant source of funding for the Affordable Housing Trust. The anticipated
requests from the Lexington Housing Authority, LexHAB, and the Affordable Housing Trust for
community housing initiatives are likely to exceed the amount of available Community
Preservation Act funds in the coming years.
Lexington 2021 Annual Town Meeting approved Article 36 to submit a home rule petition
requesting legislative authority to establish a surcharge on specific commercial development
activities for the purpose of funding affordable housing. The legislature recently approved that
home rule petition by passing H.2740 “An Act to establish a surcharge on specific commercial
development activities for the purpose of funding the creation of community housing.” The
Governor signed the bill on January 8, 2025.
The Select Board is now required to set a linkage fee rate within a year. The Select Board
authorized Town staff to commission a study funded under Article 36, to assess commercial
development and housing inventory trends before recommending an appropriate range of
linkage fee rates. Given that commercial development trends have slowed considerably since
2021, expectations for this source of funds are fairly modest. Any funds generated from the
linkage fee would be transferred to the Affordable Housing Trust.
Another potential source of funding was not approved by the legislature. Lexington 2020 Special
Town Meeting approved Article 6 to submit a home rule petition requesting legislative authority
to establish a surcharge on residential development for the purpose of funding affordable
housing. Unfortunately, the legislature took no action on that home rule petition during this or
the previous legislative session. For that reason, that Article 6 home rule petition failed and can
only be reconsidered by the legislature after another vote of Lexington Town Meeting.
Economic Development and Community Vitality Initiatives
In 2024-25 the Select Board continued to support initiatives which stimulate economic
development and commercial expansion within the town, including revitalizing the downtown.
Among the key strategies has been the formation of strong partnerships with local business
7
associations and individual businesses including through the Select Board’s advisory committees,
the Economic Development Advisory Committee and the Center Committee. Additionally, the
Select Board Chair and Vice Chair continue to participate in the Quarterly Roundtable discussions
organized by the Economic Development Department.
These are some highlights from economic development efforts in 2024-25.
Lex 250 and Tourism: The Visitor’s Center has seen 60,000 visitors come through our doors
since July 2024, compared to 51,000 travelers in the year prior. The increase in foot traffic
stems from Lex250th promotion, advertising and marketing efforts with National
Geographic, BBC, WCVB, and NYT which have reached at least 15 million people around
the world to promote the 250th Celebrations in Lexington. Furthermore, Tour
Lexington.us, Lexington’s main tourism website, which was launched in January 2024,
has hit over 100,000 users and over 300,000 page views. These efforts have led to
increases in foot traffic, merchandise revenue and a 56% increase in revenue through
online tour booking channels. The Lexington Visitors Center has received new
merchandise to accommodate the influx of tourists who will come for Patriots’ Day
Weekend.
Local Economic Policy Enhancements: 2024 ATM passed article 39 Home Rule Petition to
Adjust the Number of On-Premise Wine and Malt Alcohol Licenses. State Representative
Michelle Ciccolo brought forward House Bill HD.4384 requesting our home rule petition
which was filed with the House clerk on 2/25/2025 and is awaiting the next steps in the
State process. At their June 24, 2024 meeting the Select Board voted for a revised Alcohol
Beverage License Regulations updated to include the new zoning. This 2024 policy
expands the scope to include event spaces and craft beverage establishments, not just
restaurants, for eligibility for a License to serve Alcoholic Beverages. This includes
locations such as Pinot’s Palette, The Venue and Galaray House and Craft Foods who
could apply for a liquor license to serve liquor as part of their operations.
Wayfinding Signs: In East Lexington, Wayfinding Signs have been installed at Bow Street
to direct travelers to restaurants, coffee shops, and businesses. People who may not have
known these options exist can now go enjoy a cup of coffee, buy a bagel, or find a new
place to get their haircut. In addition to East Lexington, new signage is coming to
Lexington Center. The ED Office is bringing a large kiosk at the Grain Mill Alley Bike
Node next to the Solar bench to direct visitors and travelers to Lexington’s historic
amenities, businesses, and restaurants. Similar to East Lexington, these signs will appear
along the Minuteman Bikeway. In addition to this initiative, work is being done in
Lexington Center and in East Lexington to connect the Minuteman Bikeway to our
business community.
Art Installations and Vibrancy efforts: Later this year, travelers on the bikeway may see new
art installations at 55 Massachusetts Avenue, 131 Massachusetts Avenue, and the Shops
at 135-145 Massachusetts Avenue. This work was funded through the American Rescue
Plan Act and is part of the Rapid Recovery Plan that began during the COVID-19
pandemic. Finally, the ED Office is working with landscape Architects and the
Department of Public Works to landscape that area to open up the space and install new
benches. In addition to these signs, the ED Office is also working on bringing murals to
businesses along the bikeway.
8
Additionally, there is a collaborative effort from Lexington Economic Development, the
Lexington Center Committee, and the Lexington History Museum to bring art to
Lexington Depot.
Commercial Development: Lexington welcomed more than six small businesses including
new cafes in the Center and three large life sciences businesses in 2024. These cafés have
transformed Lexington Center into a breakfast destination for all. Major vacancies have
been filled including the former Starbucks which is now Revival Café, and the Bertucci’s
Pizza location which is now Tatte. Additionally, long-term vacancies in the Center and
across Town have seen increased interest. More cafes and restaurants are slated to open
their doors this summer and fall in Lexington Center. The current vacancy-rate for the
lab market in Lexington is close to 19% which is like Cambridge’s 18.8% vacancy.
Burlington with 29.4% and Waltham with 22.3% are at a higher vacancy rate.
Center Revitalization: On December 16, 2024 the Economic Development Advisory
Committee and Lexington Center Committee presented to the Select Board, a set of
recommendations based on Lexington Center: The Journey Forward. The recommendations
were the following:
1) Focus on ways to create more welcoming and inviting entryways from key access
points (parking lots, bike path, Visitor Center)
2) Convene a forum of relevant municipal bodies and committees to ensure alignment
around application of new bylaws
3) Evaluating options for supporting Lexington Center programming.
4) Prioritize decision(s) regarding use of town-owned land in Lexington Center.
The Select Board has made Center Revitalization a major goal to work on over the next two years.
2025: The 250th Anniversary of the Battle of Lexington
Preparations for Lexington’s landmark 250th Anniversary of the Battle have been extensive and
community-oriented, reflecting both historical reverence and inclusive celebration. Throughout the past
year, the Select Board has actively engaged in a range of discussions, projects, and events designed to
honor this momentous occasion thoughtfully and collaboratively.
Monument Project: Extensive deliberation occurred regarding the proposed 250th Anniversary
Monument at Belfry Hill Park. Community discussions provided valuable insights and raised
critical considerations about the monument's scale, symbolic design, ongoing maintenance, and
site suitability. Despite thorough evaluation and dialogue, the Historic Districts Commission
(HDC) ultimately denied the Certificate of Appropriateness, effectively concluding the project.
Inter Municipal Collaboration: Lexington continued strengthening historical and celebratory ties
with neighboring communities through an Inter Municipal Agreement (IMA) with Arlington,
Concord, and Lincoln, collectively allocating $200,000 towards collaborative planning and event
execution for the 250th celebration.
US Army Participation and Special Events: The Select Board received and considered a special
request from the US Army Military District of Washington DC, involving several prestigious
Army units, notably the Golden Knights Parachute Team, for participation in commemorative
activities on April 19, 2025. Recognizing the exceptional historical significance of the anniversary,
the Board granted a unique, one-time exemption to the Select Board’s Battle Green Regulation,
which typically prohibits parachuting onto the Battle Green. Careful consideration was given to
9
balancing the historical gravity and ceremonial appropriateness of these events against
established town regulations and historical site protections.
Invitation to Dignitaries: The Select Board voted to approve the Semiquincentennial Commission
(Lex250)’s recommendation to extend invitations to local, state, federal and international
dignitaries to attend the 250th Anniversary celebrations. Board discussions surrounding this vote
were comprehensive, underscoring an important consideration: ensuring the dignitary presence
does not overshadow the celebration’s primary focus—the Lexington community and its
heritage. The Board emphasized thoughtful selection to maintain the event’s community-centric
spirit.
International Engagement – Antony, France: Recognizing Lexington’s global historical connections,
the Select Board strongly supported inviting our longstanding sister city, Antony, France, to
participate in the anniversary celebrations. This international collaboration underscores our
town’s historical significance, celebrating longstanding international relationships and fostering
meaningful cultural exchange.
As we approach the commemorative date, we acknowledge with gratitude the numerous volunteers,
community groups, historical organizations, town staff, and regional partners working diligently toward
a meaningful and memorable celebration. The Select Board remains committed to ensuring the 250th
Anniversary of the Battle of Lexington is commemorated in a manner that honors our history, celebrates
our vibrant community, and fosters connections both local and global.
AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY
LEXINGTON SELECT BOARD MEETING
AGENDA ITEM TITLE:
2025 Annual Town Meeting - Select Board Article Presenters, Discussion and Positions
PRESENTER:
Board Discussion
ITEM
NUMBER:
I.4
SUMMARY:
Category: Informing
The Board may take up discussion on the 2025 Annual Town Meeting Articles and/or Select Board article
positions.
Town Website - 2025 Annual Town Meeting
2025 Annual Town Meeting
SUGGESTED MOTION:
n/a
FOLLOW-UP:
n/a
DATE AND APPROXIMATE TIME ON AGENDA:
3/24/2025 6:50pm
ATTACHMENTS:
Description Type
Select Board Working Document - Positions 2025 ATM Backup Material
Moderator's proposed schedule for 2025 Annual Town Meeting as of 3-19-
25 Backup Material
Select Board Positions
Working Document
#Article Name
PLACEHOLDER
FOR AN UPDATE
AT SELECT
BOARD MTG
SELECT
BOARD
PRSNTR
Proposed
CNSNT
(PC)
IP DL JP JH MS VK
1 Notice of Election
2 Election of Deputy Moderator and Reports of Town Boards, Officers and Committees
3 Appointments To Cary Lecture Series.Y Y Y Y Y
4 Appropriate FY2026 Operating Budget DL Y Y Y Y Y
5 Appropriate FY2026 Enterprise Funds Budgets TBD Y Y Y Y Y
6 Amend Fy2025 Operating, Enterprise And CPA Budgets MS Y Y Y Y Y
7 Sustainable Projects JP Y Y Y Y Y
8 Appropriate Funding To Construct a Playground In Fletcher Park (Citizen Petition)- IP 2/24/2025 PC IP Y Y Y Y Y
9 Establish and Continue Departmental Revolving Funds JH Y Y Y Y Y
Appropriate The FY2026 Community Preservation Committee Operating Budget And CPA Projects
a. Cotton Farm/Community Center Connector – $300,000
b. Simond’s Brook Conservation Area Trail Design & Engineering – $75,000
c. Document Conservation – $21,000 - Proposed Consent PC
d. Hancock-Clarke House Roof Replacement – $57,800
e. Affordable Housing Trust Funding– $3,000,000
f. LexHAB Affordable Housing Support, Restoration, Preservation, and Decarbonization – $494,140
g. Park and Playground Improvements – Center Playground – $1,490,000
h. Park Improvements – Athletic Fields - Harrington – $3,197,904*
i. Lincoln Park Field Improvements #3 – $1,950,000*
j. Administrative Budget – $150,000- Proposed Consent PC
11 Appropriate For Recreation Capital Projects JH PC Y Y Y Y Y
12 Appropriate For Municipal Capital Projects And Equipment
a) Transportation Mitigation PC Y Y Y Y
b) Fire Pumper Truck Y Y Y Y
c) Equipment Replacement PC Y Y Y Y
MS
Financial Articles
10 1/27/2025 Y Y Y Y Y
As of 3/17/2025 Select Board Meeting
Select Board Positions
Working Document
#Article Name
PLACEHOLDER
FOR AN UPDATE
AT SELECT
BOARD MTG
SELECT
BOARD
PRSNTR
Proposed
CNSNT
(PC)
IP DL JP JH MS VK
d) Sidewalk Improvements PC Y Y Y Y
e) Hydrant Replacement PC Y Y Y Y
f) Street Improvements PC Y Y Y Y
g) Stormwater Management Program PC Y Y Y Y
h) New Sidewalk Installations - Study and Design Y Y Y Y
i) Intersection Improvements - Adams St. at East St. & Hancock St.Y Y Y Y
j) DPW Building Improvements Y Y Y Y
k) Lincoln Park Parking Lot - Design Y Y Y Y
l) Municipal Technology Improvement Program PC Y Y Y Y
m) Network Redundancy & Improvement Plan PC Y Y Y Y
13 Appropriate For Water System Improvements.PC Y Y Y Y Y
14 Appropriate For Wastewater System Improvements PC Y Y Y Y Y
15 Appropriate For School Capital Projects And Equipment PC Y Y Y Y
Appropriate For Public Facilities Capital Projects
a) Public Facilities Bid Documents PC Y Y Y Y
b) Public Facilities Interior Finishes PC Y Y Y Y
c) School Paving and Sidewalks PC Y Y Y Y
d) Municipal Building Envelopes and Associated Systems PC Y Y Y Y
e) Central Administration Building Demolition Y Y Y Y
f) Estabrook Elementary School Nurse Bathroom Renovation Y Y Y Y
17 Appropriate To Post Employment Insurance Liability Fund JP PC Y Y Y Y
18 Rescind Prior Borrowing Authorizations PC Y Y Y Y
19 Establish, Amend, Dissolve And Appropriate To And From Specified Stabilization Funds TBD Y Y Y Y
20 Appropriate For Prior Years’ Unpaid Bills - IP PC IP Y Y Y Y Y
21 Appropriate For Authorized Capital Improvements. - IP PC IP Y Y Y Y Y
General Articles
JP16
12 (cont.)
JP
As of 3/17/2025 Select Board Meeting
Select Board Positions
Working Document
#Article Name
PLACEHOLDER
FOR AN UPDATE
AT SELECT
BOARD MTG
SELECT
BOARD
PRSNTR
Proposed
CNSNT
(PC)
IP DL JP JH MS VK
22 Select Board To Accept Easements PC Y Y Y Y Y
23 Dispose Of 116 Vine Street 3/10/2025 MS W Y Y Y W
24 Authorize The Town Of Lexington To Prohibit Or Restrict The Application Of Second Generation
Anticoagulant Rodenticides (Citizen Petition)2/3/2025 JH Y Y Y Y Y
25 Amendment To Town Meeting Management Provisions In Town Bylaws (Citizen Petition)DL W Y W Y W
26 Local Voting Rights For Lawful Permanent Residents (Citizen Petition) 2/14/2025 JH Y Y Y Y Y
27 Allow 16 Year Olds Voting Rights In Municipal Elections (Citizen Petition)2/24/2025 DL Y Y Y Y Y
28 Accurate Reporting On The Negative Aspects Of Lithium-Ion Batteries (Citizen Petition)1/27/2025 MS Y Y Y W W
29 Amend Zoning Bylaw - Bicycle Parking - REFER BACK TO PB 3/10/2025 MS PC Y Y Y Y Y
30 Amend Zoning Bylaw - Inclusionary Housing For Special Residential Developments 3/10/2025 JH W Y Y W Y
31 Amend Zoning Bylaw - National Flood Insurance (NFI) District 3/10/2025 DL Y Y Y Y Y
32 Amend Zoning Bylaw And Map - Technical Corrections 3/10/2025 TBD Y Y Y Y Y
33 Amend Zoning Bylaw - Accessory Uses 3/10/2025 JP Y Y Y Y Y
34 Amend Section 7.5 Of The Zoning Bylaw To Reduce Multi-Family Dwelling Unit Capacity (Citizen
Petition)W W W W W
Zoning Articles
As of 3/17/2025 Select Board Meeting
March 19, 2025
Hello Town Meeting members!
This email includes important information regarding:
(1) deadlines and instructions for submitting proposed amendments;
Best,
Deborah
The following proposed schedule is subject to change and will be updated after
each session of Town Meeting:
Monday, March 24, 2025 - deadline for proposed amendments: noon on Friday,
March 21
William Diamond Fife & Drum Corps
Article 2: Election of Deputy Moderator
Article 30: Amend Zoning Bylaw - Inclusionary Housing for Special Residential
Developments
Article 31: Amend Zoning Bylaw - National Flood Insurance (NFI) District
Article 32: Amend Zoning Bylaw and Map - Technical Corrections
Article 33: Amend Zoning Bylaw - Accessory Uses
Time permitting:
Article 3: Appointments to Cary Lecture Series
Article 25: Amendment to Town Meeting Management Provisions in Town Bylaws
Wed., March 26, 2025 - deadline for proposed amendments: noon on Monday,
March 24
Article 24: Authorize the Town of Lexington to Prohibit or Restrict the Application of
Second Generation Anticoagulant Rodenticides (Citizen Petition)
Article 26: Local Voting Rights for Lawful Permanent Residents (Citizen Petition)
Article 27: Allow 16 Year Olds Voting Rights in Municipal Elections (Citizen Petition)
Article 28: Accurate Reporting on the Negative Aspects of Lithium-Ion Batteries (Citizen
Petition)
Time permitting, continue unfinished business from March 24th.
Monday, March 31, 2025 No meeting; school holiday for Eid-al-Fitr
Wednesday, April 2, 2025 - deadline for proposed amendments: noon on Friday,
March 28
Brief recess: TMMA Recognition Awards
Article 2: Receive reports of Appropriation Committee; Capital Expenditures Committee;
Recreation Committee
Article 2: Report of the Community Preservation Committee
Consent Agenda (Pending SB approval):
Article 8: Appropriate funding to Construct a Playground at Fletcher Park - (IP)
Article 10: CPC - Funding “buckets”
Article 10c: CPC - Document Conservation
Article 10j: CPC - Administrative Budget
Article 11: Appropriate for Recreation Capital
Article 12a: Transportation Mitigation
Article 12c: Equipment Replacement
Article 12d: Sidewalk Improvements
Article 12e: Hydrant Replacement
Article 12f: Street Improvements
Article 12g: Stormwater Management Program
Article 12l: Municipal Technology Improvement Program
Article 12m: Network Redundancy & Improvement Program
Article 13: Appropriate for Water System Improvements
Article 14: Appropriate for Wastewater System Improvements
Article 15: Appropriate for School Capital Projects & Equipment
Article 16a: Public Facilities Bid Documents
Article 16b: Public Facilities Interior Finishes
Article 16c: School Paving & Sidewalks
Article 16d: Municipal Building Envelopes & Associated Systems
Article 17: Appropriate To Post Employment Insurance Liability Fund
Article 18: Rescind Prior Borrowing Authorizations
Article 20: Appropriate for Prior Years’ Unpaid Bills (IP)
Article 21: Appropriate for Authorized Capital Improvements (IP)
Article 22: Select Board to Accept Easements
Article 29: Amend Zoning Bylaw - Bicycle Parking Facilities (refer to Planning
Board)
Article 10: Appropriate for the FY2026 Community Preservation Committee Operating
Budget and CPA Projects (Items not on Consent Agenda; 10h separated out for
vote on April 9)
Monday, April 7, 2025 - deadline for proposed amendments: noon on Wednesday,
April 2
Recess: LPS/Minuteman Student Recognition
Article 2: Minuteman School Superintendent’s Report
Article 2: Town Manager’s Report
Article 2: LPS Superintendent’s Report
Article 4: Appropriate FY2026 Operating Budget
Article 5: Appropriate FY2026 Enterprise Funds Budgets
Article 7: Sustainable Projects
Article 9: Establish & Continue Departmental Revolving Funds
Article 23: Dispose of 116 Vine Street
Wed., April 9, 2025 - deadline for proposed amendments: noon on Wednesday,
April 2
Continue unfinished business from earlier session(s)
Article 12: (Items not on Consent Agenda)
Article 16: Appropriate for Public Facilities Capital Projects (Items not on Consent
Agenda)
Article 10h: Park Improvements - Athletic Fields - Harrington
Article 19: Establish, Amend, Dissolve and Appropriate to & From Specified Stabilization
Funds
Time permitting:
Article 34: Amend Section 7.5 of the Zoning Bylaw to Reduce Multi-Family Dwelling Unit
Capacity
Article 6: Amend FY2025 Operating, Enterprise and CPA Budgets
Monday, April 14, 2025
Hold for unfinished business from previous session(s)
Wednesday, April 16, 2025
Hold for unfinished business from previous session(s)