HomeMy WebLinkAbout2018-07-12-LCC-min Town of Lexington
Lexington Center Committee
Minutes for the meeting of July 12"', 2018
Parker Room, 1625 Massachusetts Avenue, 8:30 am to 10:00 am.
Center Committee Members: Michael Boudett, Frederic Johnson, Howard Levin, Pamela Lyons, Jerold
Michelson (Chair), Pamela Shadley, David Tabeling
Liaisons and others: Melisa Tintocalis, Economic Development Director, David Pinsonneault,
Department of Public Works, Dawn McKenna, Tourism Committee, Casey Haggerty (covering for
Megan Zammuto)
The meeting began with an intense discussion of traffic calming in the Center. Members and others
discussed both temporary solutions (while waiting for the Streetscape Project) and permanent solutions
including: moving and enlarging the traffic island at the Woburn Street/Mass Ave intersection; entry
welcoming signs (must go to TSG for these); and electronic PD signs.
Dave Pinsonneault noted that the Board of Selectmen has never voted on the two lane restrictions
suggested by the Center Streetscape Ad Hoc Committee. DPW is going to Fall Town Meeting for
design funding and Spring Town Meeting for construction funds. We are on a tight timeline for these
dates. Construction will take multiple construction seasons.
Grain Mill Alley lights are going up the week of July 16". Jerry has the lights! The checkerboard is no
longer usable and only one umbrella is functioning. But we have HDC approval for these items so
Melisa might be able to buy replacements.
The Center Committee voted 7-0 in support of the elimination of the right turn lane from Mass
Ave to Waltham Street as recommended by the Streetscape Plan Ad Hoc Committee.
The Center Committee voted 7-0 in support of having no parking from lam to 10 am on Mass
Ave from Grant Street to Edison Way so that it functions as a turning lane, and then allowing
parking for the remainder of the day as suggested by the Streetscape Plan Ad Hoc Committee.
Dawn McKenna gave us an update on the Battle Green Master Plan. The Hayes Fountain(at the base of
the Minuteman Statute) will be restored. Monuments will have crushed granite pathways around them,
and the Battle Green will have its own unique lighting, not the same as the Center Streetscape.
The Bikeshare seems to have somewhat less usage than was hoped. General discussion of different
models of bikeshares. 19 Muzzey has Partner Therapeutics as a new tenant.
We touched on the perennial topic of Center Code enforcement—signs in the Great Harvest window—
Sanyo coming into the Yangtzee space, Love at First Bite at the Lemon Grass space
Some members of the Committee thought it would be helpful to have a conversation with the new
Building Commissioner and whoever is in charge of zoning enforcement. The Committee will provide
questions in advance and we hope to do this in September.
Three locations are in play for the temporary Visitors Center.A trailer on the current site, temporary
space in the library and the Masonic Temple.
The Center Committee voted 7-0 to support a trailer on the current site.
Multiple Committee members expressed strong concern that the Town had not come to an agreement
with the Historical Society over the small parcel of land needed for the Grain Mill Alley bike node.
Although there was no vote the consensus was that Pamela Shadley go forward with development of an
alternate bike node plan that does not need the Historical Society parcel.