Voices of Support for Melanie Thompson

Melanie has done an outstanding job as a member of the Planning Board. I have attended a number of Planning Board meetings and Melanie is always engaged and knowledgeable of the topics being discussed and asks the appropriate questions necessary to advance the issue being debated. I strongly endorse Melanie’s candidacy to be reelected to the Planning Board.

— Carolyn Britton

I was impressed when Melanie encouraged the Planning Board to hold open conversation sessions about the proposed state zoning mandates, so, in a truly democratic fashion, the Planning Board could listen to diverse community opinions about how Lexington could help the state solve the current housing crisis. Listening well and then taking bold action are excellent characteristics in a political leader. Now several communities have come to Melanie and others on the Planning Board to duplicate their community engagement process. Lexington has been in a leadership position throughout the state of Massachusetts thanks to Melanie and other Planning Board members. I enthusiastically support her for reelection.

— Kathleen Dalton

Thank you for your years of service. Your thoughtfulness make us better.

— Larry Freeman

I am grateful to Melanie for her tireless work on behalf of the Lexington community.

— Mary Haskell

Melanie Thompson brings her experience as a lifelong Lexington resident to the work of the Planning Board. She well understands that we need to end the town's longstanding exclusionary housing policies. She has helped craft and pass bylaws that create more housing options for people of all income levels, backgrounds, and life stages to live in Lexington. We need Melanie's continued service on the Planning Board.

— Margaret Heitz

Melanie Thompson was canvassing with me in NH, years ago. She always was bright, kind, and energetic. I am happy to give her my support for re-election to the Lexington Planning Board.

— Donna Jauvtis

A civic leader, an intellect, a good neighbor you can always count on—Melanie Thompson is all of these things and more. Every community needs leaders who lead by example and considers the best interests of everyone. These are just some of the reasons why I’m again casting my vote for Melanie Thompson.

— Jane Kramer

I am endorsing Melanie Thompson for Planning Board. Lexington needs our best people in this important function. Melanie has shown her competency, dedication and commitment to the town in fulfilling her duties on the Planning Board; we need to have her continue.

— Paul Linton

Melanie Thompson has been a tremendous asset to the Planning Board. She is committed to supporting affordable and diverse housing projects that come before the board and she continues to look for ways to improve housing opportunities for all residents. Please join me in voting for Melanie Thompson for Planning Board.

— Joyce Murphy

Melanie brings intelligence, rigorous analysis, positive community values, and compassion to the tough job of Planning Board member. I endorse her wholeheartedly.

— Valerie Overton

We support re-election of Melanie Thompson to the Planning Board. By her votes there and in Town Meeting, she has shown actual support of the Town’s housing goals, set forth in the 2020 Vision Statement and the Comprehensive Plan.

— Bob and Elizabeth Pressman

I am endorsing Melanie Thompson for re-election to the Lexington Planning Board because of her strong academic background, professional work experience, commitment to the town of Lexington as confirmed during her successful first term on the Planning Board. Melanie grew up in Lexington --her roots and experience are deep. I am also supporting Melanie because of her approach to legacy zoning which shapes her larger vision and her hopes and plans for this town.

— Eileen Zalisk

Read Why We're Supporting Melanie Thompson for the Planning Board

Please support and endorse Michael Schanbacher and Melanie Thompson, Carol Marine, February 4, 2024

Please join me in endorsing the candidacies of Michael Schanbacher and Melanie Thompson for re-election to the Planning Board. As current Planning Board members, Michael and Melanie, who are committed housing advocates, were critical of the recent passage of Lexington's MBTA Communities Zoning Bylaw, which sets the table for the creation of much-needed diverse, accessible, and affordable homes throughout Lexington in the future. In addition to championing sensible and sustainable housing policy, Michael and Melanie recognize the need for smart commercial economic development and are committed to the Hartwell Avenue upzoning, which is certainly important as residential taxpayers take on the financing of the new several hundred-million-dollar Lexington High School.

With Michael's architecture chops and Melanie’s community connections that ensure broad stakeholder involvement in our community process, Michael and Melanie are primed to continue Lexington's deliberative yet forward progress in the implementation phase of our new zoning policies.

Carol Marine

Oakmount Circle

This letter was submitted to the Committee to Elect Melanie Thompson on February 4, 2024.

Michael Schanbacher and Melanie Thompson for the Planning Board

Lexington Cluster Housing Study Group (Barbara Katzenberg, Jay Luker, Tom Shiple), January 30, 2024

The Lexington Cluster Housing Study Group endorses Michael Schanbacher and Melanie Thompson for Planning Board re-election because it is vital that we continue to advance the goal of making Lexington an equitable, sustainable, and welcoming place to live. As housing advocates and Town Meeting members, we have seen in detail how Melanie and Michael meet the challenge of creating and interpreting zoning policy. They have thoughtfully balanced Lexington’s overarching, progressive goals—as defined in our comprehensive plan—with the specific concerns residents raise about how policies might affect them. Most notably, they worked as Planning Board members to develop Lexington’s forward-thinking rezoning in compliance with the state’s MBTA Communities law. Through their participation in public hearings to refine the proposed bylaw and subsequent hearings to address regulations for multifamily housing more generally, they have worked to develop policies that are a good fit for Lexington. We need their continued leadership to support these policies’ implementation.

Both Michael and Melanie bring important experience to the table. Michael, a registered architect, is the only design professional on the Planning Board, which is an asset in interpreting site plans and other design documents. Melanie has a deep understanding of the importance of community engagement and inclusivity. She has been appointed or elected to many committees and task forces to further these aims, particularly in support of sensible housing policy.

While some refinement of zoning policies may eventually need to occur, we should all be skeptical of suggestions to dilute these policies in advance of any experience with their implementation. We believe the current composition of the Planning Board is well-suited to address the problems we face both locally and regionally. Re-electing Michael Schanbacher and Melanie Thompson will allow Lexington to be part of the solution, and to realize the values we as a town have consistently expressed.

Lexington Cluster Housing Study Group (Barbara Katzenberg, Jay Luker, Tom Shiple)

This letter appeared in the Lexington Observer on January 30, 2024.

Vote for Michael Schanbacher & Melanie Thompson

Michael Martignetti, January 30, 2024

Michael Schabacher and Melanie Thompson have a track record, from serving their first term on the Lexington Planning Board, of voting in favor of major zoning bylaws, which the Town Meeting approved. Their opponents (as Town Meeting Members) voted against these bylaws. It’s sort of simple: Vote for Schanbacher and Thompson if you support smart economic development, which brings in millions of dollars in tax revenue (Hartwell Avenue Area), if you want to encourage creative housing development (Special Permit Residential Developments), and if you are in favor of the MBTA Communities Districts & Multifamily Housing Bylaw, which promotes more housing options, including our best opportunity to create desperately needed affordable housing.

Please vote for Schanbacher and Thompson on March 5th.

Michael Martignetti

Barberry Road

Town Meeting Member Precinct 3

This letter was submitted to the Committee to Elect Melanie Thompson on January 30, 2024.