People of Lexington who use the center, East Lexington, South Lexington, West Lexington: our Planning Board is trying to push through a major change to our neighborhoods which will increase the effective area of current commercial zones, and allow buildings up to 60' high (plus ~8' utilities on top). Most of these proposed areas are currently 18-28' buildings.

Article 34 addresses a needed requirement to increase multi-family housing in town in response to state requirements relating to MBTA, but does so in a way that will dramatically transform our neighborhoods.

While the ambition of the State requirement and the Article is sound, we do not believe that it has been sufficiently well thought through, nor that the town has made sufficiently proactive outreach to community to inform and engage them in the process.

Since the state deadline requirements are to become compliant by end of 2024, there is still plenty of time to get this community-changing plan totally right and so we ask that Town Meeting reject article 34 and return to it once full and proper consideration has been given.