After 10 months of debate and 23 meetings, a narrow majority of the Lexington Selectmen on Monday, March 19, voted in favor of a community farm on the Busa property instead of a recreation field.

By a 3-2 vote, the board approved the use of the eight acres of town-owned land as a community farm and the drafting of a request for proposals seeking an organization to run the operation. A small portion of the land will also be used for affordable housing.

For more, see Boston.com >>

LexFarm, the group that pushed for a communuty farm at the site, also reported the news >>

Ellen McDonald, a Lexington Town Meeting member who has favored a community farm, reported to the Lexington email list March 20 that she think LexHAB is planning to ask for eight units of housing at this location.

In January, LexHAB (Lexington Housing Assistance Board) presented plans for how it might build eight units of affordable housing along the viewscape of Busa Farm on Lowell Street, at the Arlington border.

The much-anticipated decision about the use of the Busa Farm property for a community farm was delayed again on March 5, when Lexington selectmen took public comment, which included many thoughtful citizens speaking for a community farm.

They then formally voted to place an undetermined amount of affordable housing on the site off Lowell Street. They voted to designate the rest of the property for open space, but deferred on what the open space use will be -- whether there will be a community farm, recreation fields or both.

If you would like to see the Board of Selectmen's meeting for yourself, follow this link to LexMedia onDemand.

From there, select "Board of Selectmen" from the categories, then select the top meeting from 3/5/2012.

On Monday, Feb. 27, about 150 people attended Lexington selectmen meeting to hear LexFarm's Janet Kern and architect Carl Oldenburg present alternatives for affordable housing that would preserve the farmland and views for the community.

They urged the selectmen to approve the use of the land as a community farm and then engage in a collaborative process before deciding on specific siting for any affordable housing.

The board indicated it will decide the week of March 5 about what the use(s) will be for the Busa Farm property.

In anticipation of a large turnout, the selectmen's meeting was moved to Cary Memorial Hall, 1605 Mass. Ave. 

On Monday, Feb. 13, Lexington selectmen were to begin the final decision-making process to determine the fate of Busa Farm, but too many people showed up, and the item was removed from the agenda.

Selectman Hank Manz wrote in an email at 10 that night:

"The agenda for the BOS meeting tonight listed a discussion of affordable housing options for the Busa parcel. Unfortunately, many more people than expected showed up.

"Based on a discussion with the Town Clerk some months ago, and noting that we had a full room with more than 15 people still in the hallway and blocking the passage, which would be a violation of the fire code, I reluctantly took the item off the agenda.

"My apologies to all who showed up for the meeting. I had based my estimates of how many would attend on the number who showed up for a similar discussion last week. As it turned out, that estimate was wrong.

"I also apologize for making the decision late in the game. Two previous presentations ran a bit longer than expected and one had to be taken out of order which meant the housing discussion started late.

"My thanks to Dawn McKenna for alerting me to the number of people in the hallway."

LexFarm members said before the meeting that they believed there is cause for cautious optimism. The members of the group that supports preserving farmland believe selectmen will choose to embrace a community farm along with a small number of housing units, much as their own Busa Land Use committee recommended last March.

Board of Selectmen meetings usually begin at 7 p.m. in the selectmen's meeting room, Town Office Building.

The selectmen's meeting room was filled Monday, Jan. 30, as LexHAB presented its plans for affordable housing.

Selectman Peter Kelley expressed his concern that the plans presented would effectively destroy the "gateway effect" of Lexington. Several neighbors spoke in response to Selectman Cohen's assertion that there are only "rocks" and no productive farmland in the area proposed for the housing.

Selectman Burnell asked about placing two to four units of housing near or in place of the farm stand. Selectmen Chairman Hank noted that housing in that area might remove necessary infrastructure for other uses such as a farm.

LexFarm Treasurer Derek Moody asked the selectmen to consider alternatives for affordable housing that include mixed use. 

Others echoed that sentiment, asking for consideration of ideas such as a barn with attached apartments.

Manz indicated that they will begin the final decision-making process about use of the land at the board's next meeting, Monday, Feb. 13.

On Nov. 21, Lexington selectmen heard from LexHab about its preliminary plans for siting housing on Busa Farm. LexFarm's Janet Kern asked the board to seriously consider all options for how housing and farm interests might collaborate before making any final decisions about housing.

If you are interested in following this particular issue or want to know how you might help, contact Janet Kern at  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

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