HomeMy WebLinkAbout2026-01-05-HPB-min.pdfDec 18, 2025 1 M HPB Workgroup
Attendees: Joyce Murphy Ravneet Grewal Melanie Thompson Paul Linton
Zoom Join info:
https://Iexingtonma.zoom.us/j/87421870826?pwd=JJTyFBPRlflt6al fGBPQ51 dHFVP81P.1
Meeting Minutes:
Meeting summary
Quick recap
The Housing Partnership Board met to discuss their upcoming presentation to the Select Board,
scheduled for January. Ravneet proposed creating a template for the presentation, which would
include key points, visuals, and recommendations for next steps. The group agreed to focus on
benefits to Lexington's socioeconomic and ecological future rather than broader regional impacts.
Melanie shared her work on MLK Week events and mentioned she would be busy in early January.
The board discussed challenges around housing density, transportation options, and the need to
educate residents about affordable housing. They decided to meet on January 5th to review
individual contributions for the Select Board presentation.
Next steps
• Ravneet: Put together a template/outline for the Select Board presentation by end of January
• Melanie: Put her thoughts about linkage fees in the Google Doc
• Melanie: Send email about MLK Week events to Joyce. Paul, Ravneet, and others
• Ravneet: Create a Board Presentation tab in the shared document
• All members: Drop in what they want to present to the Select Board in the presentation tab
before the next meeting
• All members: Find at least one visual/image to illustrate their advocacy point for the
presentation
• All members: Prepare a small paragraph explaining their recommended direction to explore,
next steps for Housing Partnership Board to recommend to Select Board, and why it's
beneficial to Lexington
• Ravneet: Send out calendar invite for January 5th meeting at 10am with Zoom link
• Ravneet: Send email reminder to evervone about droppina content into the outline before the
January 5th meeting
• Ravneet: Go with town engineer to do water testing field work in January
• Melanie: Review and add links to her page in the shared document before next meeting
Summary
Housing Presentation and Community Engagement
The group discussed the status of their housing work and upcoming presentation to the Select
Board. They agreed to aim for a simple draft presentation by the end of January, with a final version
planned for March. Melanie shared updates about MLK week events in January, which will compete
for attention with other housing work. The group expressed concerns about housing opposition in the
community, particularly regarding ADUs, and discussed the need for better education and
communication about different types of housing. Paul shared information about lot size changes in
Houston that could provide real-world examples to support their housing initiatives.
Planning Board and Housing Developments
They also discussed recent housing developments in the town, including the Miriam Edgewood
project and new construction on Bedford Street, which Joyce and Melanie praised for providing
much-needed senior housing options. Ravneet raised concerns about bias against multi -family
housing and the challenges faced by moderate -income buyers compared to wealthier individuals in
the housing market.
Housing Affordability and Social Equity
The group discussed housing affordability and social equity issues, with Ravneet and Melanie
agreeing that while they benefit from systems fought for by African Americans in the 1960s, they
also have a responsibility to help fix and make the system more fair. Melanie highlighted the need for
better education about housing affordability, citing examples of increasing food pantry usage and the
diverse demographics of those in need. The discussion also touched on the impact of Al on jobs and
the poor working conditions at data centers in rural areas, with Melanie sharing concerns about
these developments.
Lexington Housing Affordability Concerns
The group discussed concerns about housing affordability and gentrification in Lexington, with
Ravneet sharing an article about luxury home development in Wellesley and Joyce recalling a similar
situation from 15 years ago. Paul expressed worry about the high median home price of $1.9 million
making residents reluctant to support changes that could reduce property values. Ravneet
concluded by highlighting the need for a comprehensive urbanization plan, emphasizing the
importance of creating a resilient community that balances growth with sustainability, while reducing
reliance on personal vehicles.
Lexington Transportation Infrastructure Challenges
The group discussed transportation infrastructure in Lexington, with Ravneet proposing the need for
better public transit options while acknowledging the town's current car -dependent nature. Melanie
and Joyce expressed concerns about the practicality of reducing car usage in Lexington due to its
suburban character and family demographics, particularly during winter. Ravneet agreed to create a
transportation tab in their documentation to gather thoughts on the issue, acknowledging that while
reducing car dependency is important, it's not the group's primary focus and requires broader state
and federal infrastructure investments.
Water Quality and Housing Development
Ravneet discussed the importance of water quality and preserving open spaces when considering
housing development in Lexington. She emphasized the need for climate modeling to determine
suitable building locations and suggested incentivizing better landscaping and site placement to
improve water quality. Ravneet also highlighted the importance of food supply, healthcare access,
and clean air in housing expansion decisions. Melanie expressed concerns about the scope of the
project and her ability to complete it within the given timeframe, stating her intention to focus on her
original goals.
Lexington Housing Presentation Planning
The group discussed preparing a presentation for the Lexington Select Board, focusing on
demonstrating the importance of proposed housing interventions for Lexington's future. Ravneet
suggested creating a tab for the presentation and requested each member to contribute at least one
visual to accompany their text. They agreed to meet on Monday, January 5th, to finalize the outline
and content, with Ravneet planning to send a calendar invite and email reminder. The team
emphasized the need to frame the benefits in terms of Lexington's socioeconomic and ecological
future, acknowledging that not all Select Board members are housing advocates.
Action items