HomeMy WebLinkAbout2026-03-12-LCC-min.pdfPage 1 of 3
Town of Lexington
Lexington Center Committee
Submitted by Kat MacDonald
Minutes for the meeting held on Thursday, March 12, 2026 beginning at 8:45 am in the
Parker Room, Town OCice Building, Lexington, Massachusetts
Members present: Upasna Chhabra, Katherine Huang, Stephen Jackson, Kat MacDonald,
Innessa Manning, Jerold Michelson (Chair), Danit Netzer
Liaisons present: Jay Abdella, EDC; Capt. Christopher Barry, LPD; Doug Lucente, Select
Board; Sandhya Iyer, EDD; Olivia Kelley, Lex Chamber of Commerce; Tina McBride,
Planning Board; Dave Pinsonneault, DPW; Meghan Roche, Assistant Planning Director
Guests present: Fred Johnson, Jay Luker, TMM Precinct 1; Carol Sacerdote
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DPW Update (Dave)
• LCC thanked Dave for changing the street banners timely.
• Bricks in sidewalks will be evaluated in 2-3 weeks for maintenance.
• Holiday lights will be removed next week.
• Next winter, DPW will consider marking items on GIS map to minimize damage.
• Patriots Day work begins next week for DPW. Weekend trash collection will resume
around Patriots Day.
• Parklet will be reconstructed in May.
• GMA Kiosk has been delivered. Set-up depends on department scheduling and
weather.
Economic Development Update (Jay and Sandhya)
• No new vacancies this month.
Vacancy Updates:
• Old Webster Bank Space
o Current interested party would require a change of use permit.
• Giroux Building (Via Lago/Liberty Sweets)
o Electrical limitations continue to deter future businesses.
• Small Space behind Center Goods
o Slated to be a Maker Space for kids.
• Russian School of Math
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o RSM verbally requested additional “15 minute limit” parking spots. They
were advised to put this request in writing.
o Owner of RSM would like to attend LCC meeting in the future.
• Doug Lucente suggested once per quarter Select Board Member meet with building
owners to review any pressing issues; issues are complex.
• Both Cambridge and Arlington have policies to address empty storefronts. Citizens
complain on social media and to TM/SB about empty space in Lexington Center.
Citizens likely are unaware of the many issues involved with renting spaces (utilities,
building limitations, etc)
Liberty Ride Update
• 4 Select Board Members are ready to sunset the Liberty Ride
• Final Decision on future of Liberty Ride will be made at the June Select Board
meeting.
• Select Board needs to consider all marketing of the Town of Lexington – not just
marketing related to Liberty Ride.
• Many of the tickets sold for Liberty Ride is done by aggregators who sell package
tickets through Boston. This results in considerably less ticket revenue than tickets
sold directly to tourists in Lexington.
• Current contract goes through March 2027.
• Next Tourism Meeting is March 23rd at 3:30.
16 Clarke Street Development Update (Carole S)
• New design is now 3 story with a 4th story of community space for tenants only. The
March meeting with this presentation is available through LexMedia.
o 49 units; 50 resident parking spaces; 15 commercial parking spaces; special
drop-oC lane on Clarke Street
• A request has been made for a restaurant as one of the commercial residents.
Issues with electrical capacity/need for gas could be diCicult (although restaurants
are eligible to apply for waivers of the electrical-only requirement.)
Updates on Information Gathering on Committee Priority Items
Center Parking Management and Circulation (Innessa M and Meghan Roche, Planning
Dept)
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o Town Manager is waiting to re-start a joint committee to address these
issues.
§ Committee would include cars, trucks, bikes, and pedestrians using
the Center.
o Transportation Safety Group (TSG)
§ $180,000 study (25% for initial design) centered on movement to and
from Lexington High School. Would include all forms of
transportation.
§ Need to solve problem of connecting Lexington HS with bike path.
o Jerry will send a link to Meghan Roche with the memo from Center Parking
Management and Circulation Subcommittee.
o Grant for Circulation Study
§ Sandhya needs to further define the issue and identify the scope to be
covered by a future grant. Grant application deadline is June 1st.
Subcommittee should work with Sandhya on this grant application.
§ No reason to conduct the study if there is no intention to implement
findings.
Meeting adjourned 10:05
Next Meeting: April 9th 8:30-10:00