The HLS Study began three months ago and is expected to last seven to eight months altogether, Tsoi said.

By the end of the summer, he said he hopes to present Harvard with a set of guidelines for developers to use when they plan specific construction projects.

Key issues include creating openings to the campus along Mass. Ave., establishing a “front door” for HLS and providing new connections between the 19 separate buildings.

A representative of the Agassiz Committee on the Impacts of Development (ACID), a neighborhood activist group, praised Harvard’s recent efforts to involve the community and encouraged residents to approach the discussions with HLS with an open mind.

ACID is currently engaged in a “tough but productive series of conversations with Harvard,” member William Bloomstein said.

In recent months, neighbors have tried to improve the historically difficult relations between the University and local residents and have agreed to negotiate with Harvard on a “wish list” of concessions they hope to receive in exchange for support of development projects.

“So far I think the signs are positive and I would like to impart that spirit tonight,” he said.

But some residents and local politicians questioned the timing of the HLS plans since University officials have said a decision on Allston is just months away.

State Representative Alice K. Wolf, D-Cambridge, said she wanted to see HLS conduct a study of the current use of its buildings before it decided to proceed with expansion.

“We still would like to hear, from the community’s point of view, whether development is really needed,” she said after last night’s meeting.

ACID members, too, said they wanted input on development projects.

They identified key issues including traffic, parking, pedestrian safety, as well as keeping a mix of residential, business, and institutional use in the area.

Residents also mentioned the need to look at the height and density of buildings and to preserve open space.

“Agassiz has the least amount of open space of any neighborhood within the city,” said Carol Weinhaus, a member of ACID who has been involved in discussions with HLS.

Weinhaus, along with fellow ACID member Adriane Bishko, said they have spent nine months studying the Mass. Ave. area, and presented a “walk-through” at the meeting using a series of photographs taken by Weinhaus.