THANK YOU Lexington voters for electing Tina McBride in a landslide victory by 998 more votes!
Our newest Planning Board member was sworn in on 3/4/2025.
Independent voice for residents
Supported zoning 50 acres for by-right multifamily housing as required by the state under the MBTA Communities Act
Voted "No" on Article 34 in 2023, which zoned 253 acres with a unit capacity of 13,421 units for by-right multifamily housing
Anticipated and warned of the impact and consequences of rash zoning changes, and asked the Planning Board to revised the proposal in the 1 1/2 years remaining before the deadline
Experience: Co-authored bylaws on sustainability and land use for a decade
Demolition Delay (2015)
Turning Mill Neighborhood Conservation District (2018)
Plastic reduction bylaw (2019)
Home rule for Clean Heat (2021)
Amendments to Articles 33 & 34 (2023)
Volunteered 20 years in her hometown
For a thriving, sustainable, equitable and welcoming community that we can all be proud to call home
Will plan for and require win-win results
Engage residents with respect and transparency
Prioritize Lexington’s goals on affordable housing, economic viability, sustainability and livability
"I am passionate about making positive changes in my hometown."
"My goal is to carefully assess all proposals, listen to constituents, and work with my colleagues and the Planning Staff to realize a thriving, sustainable, equitable and welcoming community that we are all proud to call home."
"Sustainability is our key to the future - good planning incorporates development & green practices - sustainability is the incorporation of both."
Good Planning Practices:
Looking across systems
Plan for and require win-win results
The Planning Board is responsible for guiding successful development in Lexington through bylaws and the careful consideration of planning principles.
Streetscape planning should benefit the community through addressing housing needs and sustainability. We want to create denser development that appeals and benefits those who live inside and nearby.
Mixed use and multi-family housing along bus routes, incorporating wide sidewalks to allow for tables, benches, and invites and activates community interaction and may reduce vehicle trips.
We should not underestimate the efficacy of mature trees, shrubs and leaf litter in managing flood events and storm runoff, recharging groundwater, and the rate of water infiltration.
Human scale buildings with treed green spaces to mitigate heat gain, eat carbon dioxide and exhale oxygen and influence human chemistry should be a priority.
Prioritizing natural light and expanding the Urban Tree Canopy for privacy, health and better neuro aesthetics.
Modern, sustainable buildings with a focus of functionality, natural light and spaciousness, ranging in size from 700 - 2200 sq ft for 1 -3 bedrooms for more affordability.
As a Planning Board Member I will help accomplish:
Facilitate safe, senior friendly developments in commercial corridors around town that can tie into public transportation and enable seniors to stay in their community
Facilitate more affordable, inclusionary and work-force housing
Require reasonable set backs for privacy, healthy living, and allowing space for trees to mitigate flooding, heat island effect and improve air quality
Meet and exceed our expressed sustainability goals
Promote transparency and value neighbors's concerns
Enable economic growth and development in mixed-use housing to reduce the need for car trips
Encourage the development of smaller units to provide a wider range of economic diversity and downsizing
Currently Lexington's MBTA Community zoning bylaw does not allow us to regulate any of these attributes.
We need better tools.
We need better tools
Zoning changes with the goal to allow diverse and affordable housing require holistic planning. We must consider:
Timing and speed
Quantity and density
Height
Setbacks and urban tree canopy
Impact on town infrastructure and budget
Choosing the responsible approach
The Comprehensive Plan is the map that guides the actions of the Planning Board - the stated wishes of what Lexingtonians want from planning decisions. Most Lexingtonians agree, we need to enable more diverse and affordable housing.
HOW is the best way to achieve our goals?
We need better tools.
Relevant Experience
Parent - Three children through Lexington Public Schools
Lexington Town Meeting Member Precinct 7 since 2018
Regularly attending Planning Board meetings since 2013
Town of Lexington Bedford/Hartwell 25% Design Working Group
Turning Mill Neighborhood Conservation District (TM-NCD) co-author 2018 and currently serves as one of its commissioners
Proposed Demolition Delay Extension Citizen's Article 2015 - a similar article was passed in 2023 by another citizens group
Clean Heat Alliance volunteer
LexCan/GWAC member - Lexington Climate Action Network/Global Warming Action Committee
LPS Green Teams cofounder
Lexington ZeroWaste Collaborative Board Member
Co-authored multiple articles regarding sustainability, preservation and zoning since 2013
Association of Black Citizens of Lexington (ABCL) member
REACH, Mass Movement Inc. Board Member, since 2005
Co-Founder LPS Food Share Program 2023
Co-Founder LPS Food Rescue Program 2020
www.lexingtongreenteams.org/volunteer/food-rescue
Co-Founder LHS Composting Program 2019
Co-Founder Diamond Composting Program 2018
LHS PTO Volunteer since 2012
Diamond PTA Volunteer since 2015
Estabrook PTA Volunteer 2004-2017
Estabrook Estafest Cafe Fundraiser, Co-Director 2005-2017
Estabrook Family Friends Coordinator & Host
Holy Name, First grade Primary Teacher, NY, NY
Belk Mignogna Graphic Design, Associate, NY, NY
Boston Initiative for Young CinEmatic Performers (BIYCEP) 501c3 (Founder, Director, Instructor & Editor - South Bronx NY, Harlem NY, Detroit MI, Mattapan MA)
Aldrich, Eastman & Waltch (Coordinator)
Education
Columbia University, BA in Anthropology
Lexington High School
In Tina's words
"I was born and raised in Lexington. I left after my LHS graduation and in 2000, after an eighteen year absence, I returned to raise my own family.
"I love Lexington and have come full circle. I grew up on the edge of the Great Meadow, spending many hours of my youth there and I raised my children at the edge of the Land Locked Forest.
"I consider planning for the future of Lexington as vitally important - looking at development with a wide lens including sustainability, quality of life and pursuing the desires and expectations of Lexington residents as stated in the Comprehensive Plan.
"We need to be thoughtful, creative and thorough in writing bylaws that positively affect all of us for the long-term."
