KUNAL P. BOTLA

KUNAL P. BOTLA

Name: Kunal Botla
Office Sought: Planning Board
Address: 40 Grapevine Avenue
Precinct: 4
E-mail address: kunal [at] votekunal.commichaelschanbacherlexpb [at] gmail.com (
)Phone number: 617-792-8685

Community Activities: 

  • Lexington Transportation Advisory Committee
    • Member (2022 — Present)
    • Chair (2024 — Present)
  • Lexington Town Meeting Member, Precinct 4 (2024 — Present)
    • Town Meeting Members Association, Precinct 4 Chair (2025 — Present)
  • Indians Getting Involved Group (iGIG)
    • Member (2024 — Present)
  • Lexington Democratic Town Committee
    • Associate Member (2024 — Present)
  • Tufts University Experimental College Board Member (2023 — Present)
  • TransitMatters Statewide Advocate (2022 — Present)
  • Organizer of volunteer computer donation program (2020 — Present)

What values will guide your decision making on new development proposals?

Transparency. Clear community engagement and consideration of diverse perspectives are key to our town’s continued success. I am committed to holding weekly office hours to support engagement with and communication from the Planning Board. I will advocate for adopting modern methods that allow the town to proactively plan the development of each neighborhood.

Affordability. I’m committed to a comprehensive housing solution that makes the town more affordable to live in for everyone. We can advance this goal by allowing for development of smaller units, “missing middle” housing, and modernizing Lexington’s ADU regulation to facilitate accessible homes. I am committed to a modern plan that balances our tax base by shifting the growing tax burden away from residents by attracting commercial activity, reducing the impact of ever-rising costs of living for residents.

Sustainability. We need robust environmental protections and well-planned fiscal strategy for long-term future planning. I will support policy to protect our tree canopy and environment, as well as our economic future. Our tree bylaw (§ 120-8) is focused on penalizing tree removal, but not incentivizing new tree planting. Development is not appropriate everywhere and I will work to ensure that areas that should be protected for environmental and historical reasons remain strongly protected under future zoning.

Measured Results. On the Transportation Advisory Committee, I have delivered on practical, resident-focused solutions, including the $20 Lexpress bus pass and improved MBTA bus service. As chair, I have led efforts to reduce the traffic impacts of new developments, resulting in agreements to fund Alewife shuttles, bus shelters, and contribute to the town’s transportation fund.

I’m committed to measuring our progress on housing and commercial development on the Planning Board. I will advocate for an annual evaluation of our housing stock, commercial spaces, and development proposals to create a complete picture of our opportunities and successes to reference in future decision making.

Equity and Diversity. Our zoning laws should seek to proactively promote diversity, and take matters like accessibility needs into account. Residents, especially seniors with fixed incomes and younger community members, do not have enough affordable housing options catered towards them and we are losing them to other towns, fracturing our community. Lexington employees should be able to live and participate in our community, and they shouldn’t have to drive multiple hours to do so.

Preservation. Growing up in Lexington, I know how important Lexington’s history is to its future. Lexington’s historic legacy deserves protection. I’m committed to working with the Historic Districts Commission and other boards to ensure that development works in conjunction with established historic preservation practices. I will advocate to create rules about what buildings look like, as well as how they interact with the environment and impact their neighbors.