About

Following the unsuccessful OSRD vote at STM 2021, a few of us realized we needed to better understand the details of zoning proposals. We wanted to make informed decisions at Town Meeting and to provide constructive feedback to authors of zoning articles. However, zoning law is complicated, and we knew it would be difficult to predict outcomes of a law without better know-how.

To that end, in November 2021 we started an informal study group to learn about residential zoning. We call ourselves the Lexington Cluster Housing Study Group.  We want a Lexington future with diverse housing options supporting a diverse population, and we see that zoning law is the main tool at the Town’s disposal to improve the balance of housing types.

Our first focus was the OSRD article that came back to ATM 2022; this passed with 70% approval.  We followed that with extensive analysis of the OSRD regulations promulgated by the Planning Board in October 2022.   

Following the passage of the state's MBTA Communities housing law, we actively worked to help shape Lexington's bylaw to comply. This included participation in the Amendment Working Group that sought to refine the bylaw to contain more than the minimum required to comply but less than the Planning Board's eventual proposal.

Since passage of the bylaw, we have regularly attended all Planning Board meetings with the goal of providing feedback on proposed projects.

Members:

Jay Luker, Town Meeting Member, Precinct 1

Barbara Katzenberg, Town Meeting Member, Precinct 2 

Tom Shiple, Town Meeting Member, Precinct 9