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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2018-05-10-LCC-min Town of Lexington Lexington Center Committee Minutes for meeting of May 10, 2018 Parker Room, 1625 Massachusetts Avenue, 8:30 am. Center Committee Members: Michael Boudett, Katherine Huang, Howard Levin, Pamela Lyons, Jerold Michelson (Chair) and Pamela Shadley Liaisons: Joe Pato, Board of Selectmen, Frank Smith, Capital Expenditures Committee, Melisa Tintocalis, Economic Development Director Guest: David Tabeling Prior to the beginning of the formal meeting Jerry gave an update on center maintenance issues . All are urged to attend the important Center Streetscape meeting in Cary Hall at 7 pm. on June 11tH Howard and Pam Shadley discussed the current status of the Streetscape Project. A resident working group, appointed by the Town Manager to ensure that the engineering conforms to the plan approved by the Board of Selectmen, Beta and DPW are holding biweekly meetings and are preparing for the public presentation. The urgency of the project was underlined by the recent pedestrian/vehicle accident at the crosswalk in front of Lemon Grass . An assortment of traffic calming measures were floated including "carrot" signage on entering the center and increased LPD presence and enforcement, especially during rush and lunch hours (LPD currently has a manpower shortage . ) New crosswalk configurations and narrowing of the roadway by the Streetscape Project will improve pedestrian safety. The Center Committee voted 6-0 to urge the Board of Selectmen to look at welcome Center gateway signage to remind drivers about traffic safety. The Center Committee voted 6-0 to recommend the appointment of David Tabeling to the Center Committee. Melisa described business/arts/culture initiatives to activate the Center, using the Center as a stage . More outdoor seating, perhaps rooftop seating. How can we leverage the temporary Visitors Center? A subcommittee consisting of (so far) Pamela Lyons and Michael Boudett was formed to assist Melisa. Committee members are to email Pamela with their suggestions for projects for compilation and circulation. We need to review the LCC' s goal statement on the Town' s website and update it. Melisa noted that the parklett is going up. Grain Mill Alley is moving more slowly. Pam Shadley volunteered to look at the current design to determine what can be done using only the land that is now owned by the Town. Pamela Lyons urged a firm deadline for acquisition of the Historical Society land and moving forward with Pam Shadley' s alternate plan should no agreement be forthcoming. The Center Committee voted 6-0 to seek from the Town Manager the current status of the land swap for the GMA bike node with the Historical Society and urge the need to move ahead within a short reasonable time frame or the Town will move ahead with an alternate plan. There were assorted alerts that lights will be going up in the GMA soon, Discovery Day is coming up on the 26th, and there will be a concert in late June in Emery Park. Melisa also discussed the proposed Hartwell North rezoning effort which seeks mixed use development with higher density and some workforce housing. The Center Committee voted 6-0 to approve the minutes of the March 20th, 2018 meeting and the notes for the April 6th meeting.