Name: Melanie Thompson
Office Sought: Planning Board
e-mail address: melaniethompson2020 [at] gmail.commichaelschanbacherlexpb [at] gmail.com (
)phone number: 781-254-7073

Community Activities: 

I’ve been a member of Town Meeting, Precinct 5 since 2019 and am currently a member and clerk of the Planning Board. Additionally I have actively engaged with various town committees including the Housing Partnership Board, Comprehensive Plan - Lexington Next, Transportation Advisory Committee and Ad Hoc Diversity Advisory Task Force.

If elected, what would be your three top goals to work towards during your term on the Planning Board?

Since we were the first town to comply with the state mandated MBTA Communities bylaw,

I think it’s especially important how we develop the initial projects in the Village Overlay districts. Many communities reached out to review how we achieved passage of the bylaw, and all eyes will be on Lexington to see the manner in which the first projects are developed.

I hope to be re-elected to the Planning Board to help ensure that the projects are completed to the high standards that we wrote in the bylaws and expect for our town.

The Planning Board will likely be spending a lot of time dealing with the first and the second developments, and with experience we’ll continue to refine our regulations, and builders will continue to refine their designs. Two other top goals that we must continue to work towards are advancing zoning improvements and creating diverse housing options that include both affordable as well as missing middle housing. All of these goals align with the Comprehensive Plan as issues that Lexington residents want to see in their town.