HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025-10-09-LCC-min.pdfLexington Center Committee Meeting Minutes
October 9, 2025
In attendance:
Center Committee Members: Eric, Upsana, Katherine, Jeffrey, Innessa, Jerold, Danit, Jon
Liaisons: Doug Lucente, Tina McBride, Sandya Iyer, Jay Abdella
Visitors: Sandra Hackman, Fred Johnson, Olivia Kelley, Carol Sacerdote
Updates
Parklet will be removed in Oct. by DPW
Members agreed the parklet looked great and ready Day 1, tenants did a nice job decorating
and maintaining.
Discussion on postponing removing parklet to November and keep thru Halloween for the
center Halloween Walk. Removal is based on weather readiness.
Jerry read list of items & requests he mentioned to DPW
The Bike Committee did an initial survey on parking during school half days and observed the
need for more parking on Waltham Street, near Ranc’s, Omar’s, Upper Crust. Possibility of
using a parking spot in front of Omar’s was raised for future discussion.
Events
Artwalk reception tonight (Oct 9) 5:30 - 7:30 with reception at Galaray House.
Halloween Walk on October 31, 2-5 p.m.
Free for businesses to participate but some businesses don't want to.
Diwali October 15, 5-9p.m.:
Tea lights will be hung, music at Emory Park, backdrops for photos, several businesses will
offer specials for the holiday: Royal India, Pinot Pallette, Venue, Ranc’s, Maxine’s Bookstore
etc.
Taste of Lexington - Thursday, December 4
Holiday lighting on Friday after Thanksgiving, lights up before Thanksgiving, Menorah lighting
on Thursday the 11th or maybe the 18th (Hannukah mid Dec)
EDD updates from Sandhya:
Location of kiosk will move closer to the bike racks.
Highway will be putting concrete down into the footing. Kiosk will be installed in winter. By then
design work will be done
The Governor assigned 10 new liquor licenses to Lexington. Went through zoning changes to
restaurants. Heard from business owners who aren't restaurants that wanted liquor licenses.
Now have 10 liquor licenses → have 3 years to make sure in use.
Gallery House decided not to apply because they prefer to ask for individual days because it is
more economical for them: $25 per day for a total of $750 as opposed to $2500 for a year.
The liquor license stays with the location, not the business.
New businesses: Penguin Coding, Interest in Via Lago & Abbot’s, small space on Waltham
Street (Grant Cole Property). RSM is a done deal.
Center Committee Priorities
Innessa explained the process to decide on the committee’s three top priorities.
Methodology:
All members submitted up to three priorities by email to Jerry prior to this meeting.
Those were synthesized and grouped into broader categories by Jerry & Innessa.
First, we voted on the top 3 goal areas.
Then, we voted for 5 specific priorities within those 3 goal areas.
Each center committee member voted with a unique color sticker and his/her initials
Each liaison and visitor voted with an orange sticker and his/her initials
All stickers were tallied.
Before began, tools we have as members when deciding priorities were listed as:
Volunteer time, capacity or interest for sub-committee, regulation to propose to town meeting,
recommendation for funding to select board. Act in an advisory capacity.
Results:
Initial Results just by Broad Categories
#1 Retail & Business Mix (11 votes)
#2 Urban Design & Beautification (10 votes)
#2 Traffic and Transportation Study (10 votes)
#3 Parking Lots (9 votes)
Final Results on Specific Priorities
Top Three based on center committee member votes
#1 Traffic & Transportation - "understanding current / future traffic patterns” (7 votes)
#2 Parking Lots - CVS lot/ Depot lot redesign (5 votes)
#2 Parking Lots - Muzzey Street redesign (5 votes)
#3 Parking Lots - “explore the possibility of underground parking in both lots” (4 votes)
Retail & Business Mix - “pop up shops & youth oriented business” and “attract a more diverse
mix of retail” got a total of 5 committee member votes when combined.
Top Three based on total votes (includes liaisons & visitors)
#1 Traffic & Transportation - "understanding current / future traffic patterns” (11 votes)
#2 Parking Lots - CVS lot/ Depot lot redesign (9 votes)
#3 Retail & Business Mix - “pop up shops & youth oriented business” (7 votes)
#3 Retail & Business Mix - “attract more diverse mix of retail” (7 votes)