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Town of Lexington
Lexington Center Committee
Submitted by Kat MacDonald
Minutes for the meeting held on February 13, 2025 beginning at 8:30 am in the Parker
Room, Town O>ice Building, Lexington, Massachusetts
Members present: Upasna Chhabra, Mike Harris, Katherine Huang, Je>rey Lyon, Kat
MacDonald, Innessa Manning, Jerold Michelson (Chair)
Liaisons present: Jay Abdella, EDC; Jill Hai, Select Board; Charles Hornig, Planning Board;
Sandhya Iyer, EDD; Dave Pinsonneault, DPW
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DPW Update
• DPW is removing winter lights this week (before Valentine’s Day)
• Monthly banners being hung
Parking Lots Re -design – Muzzey Street and Library
• Jerry talked to John Livsey (Town Engineer) and invited him to attend the next
Lexington Center Committee meeting to update us on parking lot re-designs.
• The feasibility of adding solar to the parking lots needs to be assessed before
making design plans. The Select Board requested a solar report, which has been
completed but has not yet been reviewed by the Town Engineer.
• Jill Hai communicated the Lexington Center Committee’s concerns regarding the
many uses of the parking lots to Steve Bartha, the new Town Manager.
Economic Development Department (EDD) Update
• Vacancy Update/New Businesses:
o Post 1917, a high-end steakhouse going into 25 Waltham Street (previously
Bulpan)
§ Proposed ADA entrance for rear. This requires a variance.
§ Increase in number of seats from previous restaurant in the same
space.
o 9 Meriam St #15 (Adams Building)
§ Studio Align, a boutique studio, is in negotiation regarding the space.
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o 25 Depot Square (previously Sanyo)
§ Russian School of Math considering moving from 7 Hartwell Avenue
(within the MBTA zone) to this space.
§ Members of the Lexington Center Committee expressed concerns
about the parking/drop-o> of so many students. Concern this may
interfere with LexPress and entrance/exit to parking lots.
§ Jay and Sandhya are aware of potential tra>ic issues and will continue
discussing with RSM.
• Request from EDD
o Jay and Sandhya requested a liaison from Lexington Center Committee to
develop a comprehensive list of businesses using the parking lot as their ADA
entrance.
o Upasna will act as liaison for this e>ort.
• Mural Project:
o The selected artist submitted plans for the columns.
o Lexington Bike Advisory Committee feedback was that columns were too
busy and distracting for cyclists. Suggested more muted colors and other
changes.
o Artist has already made some changes and design is now being reviewed
again by Lexington Bike Advisory Committee and HDC.
Wayfinding Signs and Grain Mill Alley Kiosk Update
• Wayfinding plans presented at an informal hearing of the HDC last week. Plans met
with favorable results.
• Applied to be included in March 6th HDC Meeting to take place on Zoom at 6:00p.
Interested parties can also submit correspondence in favor/opposition to the
wayfinding. Jerry will write a letter in support and submit it for the HDC meeting.
Lexington Center Committee voted unanimously (7-0) to support this
application for wayfinding.
Parklet Location for 2025 Discussion
• Innessa drafted a letter regarding the 2025 Parklet. It has not yet been submitted to
the Select Board. She will circulate and we will review at our March meeting.
• Possible spots for consideration:
o Outside Galaray House
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o On the restaurant side of Waltham Street
STM and ATM – Zoning Article regarding MFO
• Last night the first public hearing took place on the Citizen Proposal called Article 2.
More than 250 people logged into Zoom for the discussion.
• Article 2 requests limitations be put on the MBTA Zoning, as previously approved by
Town Meeting.
• Jerry led a discussion of leaving Lexington Center out of the changes put forth under
Article 2. Article 2, as it is currently written, includes Lexington Center in the
reduction of building allowed.
• Charles Hornig participated in the discussion with the Lexington Center Committee.
Charles clarified that Lexington Center is currently an MFO (Multi-Family Overlay
District). Article 2 would make residential building more di>icult if Lexington Center
is included, rather than left as its own MFO.
• Article 2 would be as permanent as any other zoning change. It is NOT a pause to
the current zoning. It is a permanent change.
• We will discuss this further at our March meeting.
Lexington Center Committee voted to accept the minutes of the
December 2024 and January 2025 meetings as written.
Meeting adjourned 10:00.
Next Meeting: Thursday, March 13th 8:30-10:00
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2025 Meeting Schedule:
March 13
April 10
May 8
June 12
July 10
August 14
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September 11
October 9
November 13
December 11