I would like to announce that I am seeking re-election to The Planning Board. This would be my fourth and final 3-year term.
The Planning Board continues to be the focal point of helping to solve our housing shortage and, if elected, I will contribute institutional knowledge to the process including multi-family housing via both MBTA Communities (MBTA-C) and Special Residential Development (SRD) bylaws.
I am in support of Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs). Lexington has had a good ADU bylaw in place for several years. I disagree with some changes now being required by the State (EOHLC) but I will work with my colleagues to craft ADU changes that will satisfy the EOHLC and retain essential controls.
My first seven years on the Board were occupied mostly by projects via Special Permits. We had control but they took too long. Now, with By Right development and Site Plan Review, things move quickly but control is dependent on the Applicant’s willingness to work with us. The Board should consider proposing new rules for SRD projects by Special Permit.
The zoning proposals produced by the Planning Board are often not clear enough for residents and sometimes not clear enough for Town Meeting members. Going forward, I would like to see the following procedural change that promotes transparency through clarity.
All zoning changes must begin with a plain English description/specification. This would include desired outcomes, and it would anticipate outcomes that the Board does not want. The document would be written at the HOW level and not just at the WHAT level. The hard details are at the HOW level. This will give the following advantages that do not exist today:
- Town Counsel will be able to verify that the bylaw text matches the plain English description of the bylaw
- Town Meeting members will understand what the Board proposes prior to Town Meeting
- Town Meeting members will be able to vote with confidence on a zoning change
- Residents will understand a proposed zoning change
A seat on the Planning Board is a very active, demanding role, but I think that we need to ensure there is time for data-driven long-range planning. We always need to write clear, research-based bylaws.
In 1991, following eight years working in Europe, my family moved to Lexington; we raised our children here.
To learn more, please visit: www.CreechforLexington.org
Bob has consistently been considerate and respectful of residents’ input and concerns. He does his homework and devotes the time and effort necessary to thoroughly review proposals before the board. I especially appreciate that, as both a Planning Board member and a Town Meeting member, Bob voted in favor of Article 2 to reduce the acreage of by-right MBTA zoning.
I support Bob for the Planning Board. His institutional knowledge will be vital, and we need both a steady voice of reason and a strong advocate for residents.
I started watching Planning Board hearings about 2 years ago when proposals under the “MBTA Communities Act” zoning first started to come forward to the Planning Board. I’ve always been impressed with how thorough Bob Creech’s process has been – he often visits proposal sites independent of the group site visit, takes photos, overlays graphics, and creates his own slides. At last week’s Planning Board hearing for 475 Bedford Street (the old Boston Sports Club), Bob had researched and compiled several condo. buildings, some from the developer, and many from other developers. He presented these other examples from a slide show which he created, and discussed the need to avoid making the buildings at 475 Bedford Street look “cookie cutter” and pointed out that the cost of these units will most likely cost more than what the developer reported when asked based on the research he presented.
Being a member on the Planning Board takes a lot of time and preparation, as it should. Bob consistently goes over and above what I would consider typical of any volunteer in any position for the town of Lexington.
Bob also voted “Yes” on Article 2 in 2025 to scale back the acreage Town Meeting passed for the “MBTA Communities Act” because he values thoughtful planning, not just zoning. There are 3 candidates for 2 Planning Board positions. Please do your research – what does thoughtful planning mean to you in how it shapes a community? Who listens to residents? Who supported Article 2? Who can balance the housing needs of the community and state while also considering infrastructure needs and resident input? If you haven’t watched a Planning Board hearing, I suggest you do, the meetings are usually pretty interesting and you can see first hand how the process works; they are held virtually every other Wednesday. Please vote on March 2nd, this is the only contested town-wide board position, and your vote matters!
Mr Creech favors communication, transparency and inclusion of residents. He supported 2025’s Article 2 to reduce MBTA zoned acreage to manageable levels, and he honored the compromise reached with Article 2 proponents by refraining from adding the Lexington Center acreage back in. He has acknowledged residents’ concerns across multiple Planning Board hearings for multiple of the MBTA developments, while also supporting the need for additional housing.
Mr Creech was also the only Planning Board member to support the 2023 McKenna Amendment to Article 34 which would have lowered the MBTA zoned acreage. I support Mr Creech’s re-election – his depth of knowledge, ability to consider different stakeholders’ viewpoints and ability to balance competing priorities would be assets for the Planning Board.
I have gotten to know Bob Creech over the past few years when I have spoken with him on various planning issues. His years on the Planning Board have given him a deep knowledge about the intricacies of zoning regulations, as well as the need to describe those regulations in clear, understandable language.
As a former Town Meeting member, I absolutely agree with his desire to make proposed zoning changes clearer not only to Town Meeting members, who have to vote on them, but also to the citizens of Lexington.
Several years ago, I was part of a neighborhood group which opposed the construction of a biolab at 475 Bedford Street. In my dealings with members of the Planning Board, Bob stood out in his willingness to listen to our concerns, and talk with us about them.
Because of his knowledge of Planning Board processes and regulations, and his concern to do what’s best for Lexington and its citizens, I urge voters to elect Bob Creech to another term on the Planning Board.
Mary Hamilton
I support Bob’s reelection to the Planning Board. Bob was not only supportive starting early in the process, he offered help and advice to our citizen team as we brought Article 2 to the Special Town Meeting last March. That article partially limited the excessively permissive MBTA zoning that had been approved in 2023. While Article 2 reduced the scope of the MBTA zoning, it did not repeal it altogether – Lexington’s MBTA zoning still goes beyond State requirements. Several MBTA projects are under construction and more are likely to proceed to construction before long. Lexington will soon have many new units of multifamily housing that will include many affordable units. The approval of Article 2 is very important for our town in a number of respects. Bob deserves some of the credit for that success.
Bob seeks to understand issues from more than one point of view. He seeks deep rather than superficial understanding. He asks good questions. He should also be applauded for his advocacy in favor of giving the Planning Board the tools it needs to limit undesirable aspects of new developments. We need his experience, knowledge, and outlook on the Planning Board.