4/16/18 Democracytodaylex launches today
April 16, 2018 Patriots' Day
Dear Reader,
Keep our Lexington is announcing today the next step in the evolution of our citizen group. Keep Our Lexington will be joining DemocracyTodayLex, a local affiliate of a new civic project called DemocracyTodayUSA.
DemocracyTodayUSA and DemocracyTodayLex were developed in parallel with the Keep Our Lexington effort. Keep Our Lexington was initially formed in February 2018 to provide a rapid response to challenges presented by a zoning proposal for a neighborhood commercial district. The group achieved its goals by better informing residents of what was going on with zoning in their own Town and empowering them to have a voice in zoning decisions that affect them. It was, in short, about participatory democracy as well as transparency and accountability in our local government.
Thus, DemocracyTodayLex is the next logical step for our citizen group and the larger Lexington community we serve. We're expanding our focus beyond zoning and land use issues to include any and all issues impinging upon democracy in our Town.
The website DemocracyTodayLex.org launched this morning and is ready to serve you. The website is, like its predecessor, KEEPOURLEXINGTON.ORG, focused on providing you the information you need and actions you can take. We're particularly focused on doing that while keeping in mind that you have many other demands on your busy lives. So, we try to make learning and doing as quick and easy as possible.
Please check out DemocracyTodayLex.org today and, if you're interested in also doing your part to help defend our democracy at the state and national levels, please check out our parent website at DemocracyTodayUSA.org.
Dear Reader,
Keep our Lexington is announcing today the next step in the evolution of our citizen group. Keep Our Lexington will be joining DemocracyTodayLex, a local affiliate of a new civic project called DemocracyTodayUSA.
DemocracyTodayUSA and DemocracyTodayLex were developed in parallel with the Keep Our Lexington effort. Keep Our Lexington was initially formed in February 2018 to provide a rapid response to challenges presented by a zoning proposal for a neighborhood commercial district. The group achieved its goals by better informing residents of what was going on with zoning in their own Town and empowering them to have a voice in zoning decisions that affect them. It was, in short, about participatory democracy as well as transparency and accountability in our local government.
Thus, DemocracyTodayLex is the next logical step for our citizen group and the larger Lexington community we serve. We're expanding our focus beyond zoning and land use issues to include any and all issues impinging upon democracy in our Town.
The website DemocracyTodayLex.org launched this morning and is ready to serve you. The website is, like its predecessor, KEEPOURLEXINGTON.ORG, focused on providing you the information you need and actions you can take. We're particularly focused on doing that while keeping in mind that you have many other demands on your busy lives. So, we try to make learning and doing as quick and easy as possible.
Please check out DemocracyTodayLex.org today and, if you're interested in also doing your part to help defend our democracy at the state and national levels, please check out our parent website at DemocracyTodayUSA.org.
|
WHAT IS KEEP OUR LEXINGTON?
Preserving Our Town's Residential CharacterWe advocate for transparency and accountability in Lexington's zoning and other land use matters. We advocate planning that follows and builds upon the underlying framework in the Town's Comprehensive Plan, The Lexington We Want. This framework is intended to ensure that zoning and other land use policies provide sustainable economic development while preserving the residential character of our neighborhoods and Town.
|
|
|
WHAT ARE THE ISSUES?
Keeping The Lexington We WantWe support an open and transparent government in Lexington that provides all residents an opportunity to have a voice on zoning and other land use matters that affect them.
Unfortunately, the Historic Districts Commission (HDC) rushed through amendments to its enabling legislation without a full airing in public. No serious problem has been identified to have warranted such a rush. So, it's surprising and unsettling that the HDC fast-tracked this proposal largely out of the public's view. Fortunately, Town Meeting voted overwhelmingly on April 11, 2018 to refer 2018 ATM Article 45 back to the Board of Selectmen and HDC. The proposed amendments would have, among other changes:
Moreover, the HDC appears to have exceeded its authority by having submitted Article 45 to Town Meeting without having had a public vote and prior to a public report and approval by the Board of Selectmen. The Selectmen's charge of October 30, 2017 was for the HDC to deliver to the Selectmen "Proposed language for Lexington bylaw". It never charged the HDC with submitting amendments to the Warrant on its own and before public reporting and review. |
|
|
WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT?
Ensuring Our Voices as Citizens are HeardThe cases of 2018 ATM Article 38 (Marrett commercial re-zoning) and 2018 ATM Article 45 (Historic Districts Commission rulemaking) were similar in that they both were fast-tracked with little public input. That their momentum was challenged successfully demonstrated that residents can have a powerful voice in zoning and land use matters if we become informed and take action.
Democracy only works well when citizens are engaged with their public bodies. We encourage you to learn more about what's going on in Lexington's gpvernment and to find a public body that you're interested in supporting and helping to work better for residents. |
|
|
WHAT CAN YOU DO?
Let your voice be heard!Help keep The Lexington We Want
|
|
Don't live in or next to a historic district?
Every Lexington resident has an equal right to have her or his voice heard in this matter.
Every Lexington resident has an equal right to have her or his voice heard in this matter.
KEEP OUR LEXINGTON™
Lexington, MA
KEEPOURLEXINGTON.ORG
Copyright © 2018