Lexington Historical Commission continues 4 Trotting Horse Drive hearing over inconsistent drawings

LEXINGTON -- January 21, 2026, Lexington Historical Commission continues a Peacock Farm addition hearing and clashes with town administration over a stalled preservation award. The commission voted to continue the public hearing on a proposed garage addition and butterfly roofline at 4 Trotting Horse Drive, directing contractor Chris Chansey of Gold Beach Construction and owner-architect Arthur Chang to reconcile conflicting drawing sets, one dated November 2023, another January 2024, and to secure a fully updated approval letter from the Peacock Farm Association before the hearing resumes. The addition would rise roughly three feet above the existing 17-foot roofline at 32 degrees from the main structure due to wetland setback constraints. The commission also heard from the chair of the Historic Districts Commission, identified as Lee, who said a broader dispute between town administration and his commission had created a "scrutiny" environment that blocked the two bodies' joint preservation award proposal; land use director Carol Kowalski had cited workload concerns in rejecting the initiative. Commissioners debated forming an independent Lexington Preservation Alliance, pursuing a warrant article, or raising the award directly before the Select Board.