For larger projects it is traditional for the project proponent to hire an engineer to say traffic will be great and the project opponent to hire a different engineer to say traffic will be awful. Personally I don't care enough to chip in to hire an anti-rezoning engineer.
The conclusion of the study is plausible – the Codman Road intersection will be a mess and the other intersections will be fine. If a developer comes along the town should request $200,000 or so towards the cost of a new traffic signal or roundabout. This is a routine request for large projects. John Carr On Mon, Sep 18, 2023 at 9:17 AM ٍSarah Postlethwait <sa...@bayhas.com> wrote: > > Can we discuss how flawed this traffic study is? > > 1) It was conducted in December of 2020- at the height of the pandemic. > > 2) It assumes most employers will continue allowing employees to work from > home. > > 3) It only takes into account the roads between the police station and just > after Donelans at Lincoln Woods. The area by the school and Library are NOT > taken into consideration. > > 4) It’s assuming that only 10-76 additional vehicles will be added under > maximum build out conditions- which would be 240 units. But also states that > 70% of Lincoln residents commute to work alone, an additional 7% ride in 2 > person carpools, 8% use public transit, and only 11% work from home (again in > the middle of the pandemic). > How can we add 240 additional units and only add 10-76 additional vehicles? > It’s also worth noting that most units will likely need at least 2 incomes if > rent is similar to Oriole Landing which is currently priced at $3950- $4233 > per unit. > > Speaking from experience- We have 4, 2 bedroom units in the proposed zoning > area, and over the past 10 years only 1 resident has relied on the MBTA to > commute to work, and they still needed a vehicle since they found that the > MBTA is not a reliable source of transportation. > Currently our units average 2 cars per unit. > So assuming anything less than 1.5 vehicles per unit is naive, IMO. > > Sarah Postlethwait > > On Fri, Sep 8, 2023 at 9:14 AM Jennifer Glass via Lincoln > <lincoln@lincolntalk.org> wrote: >> >> Good morning! >> >> A new set of FAQs and answers related to Housing Choice Act Zoning are below >> this message and posted on the Housing Choice Act Working Group’s web page: >> https://www.lincolntown.org/1327/Housing-Choice-Act-Working-Group >> >> We look forward to seeing everyone at State of the Town on September 30th! >> http://www.lincolntown.org/1451/2023-State-of-the-Town-MeetingCommunity- >> >> - Gary Taylor, Kathleen Shepard, and Jennifer Glass for the Housing Choice >> Act Working Group (HCAWG) >> >> Housing Choice Act FAQs (updated August 16, 2023) >> >> What are the potential impacts on Town finances? >> >> In 2020, the South Lincoln Planning & Implementation Committee (SLPIC) >> commissioned the Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC) to do a study on >> the financial impact of increased housing in the Lincoln Station area. >> Based on a buildout of 240 net new units in the Village Center area, MAPC >> conducted a buildout and fiscal impact analyses. Although some of the >> parcels identified in the study may be different than the final Housing >> Choice Act parcels, the information remains relevant. The study used a >> variety of housing units including studio, one, two and three bedroom units. >> The analysis estimated the anticipated revenues generated by new >> development against the costs attributable to the increased demand for >> public services and forecasted the net cash flow and concluded that whether >> a project was mixed-use or purely residential, the fiscal impact to the Town >> including additional school costs, tax revenue, and other required services, >> would most likely be positive. To view the study, please click here. >> >> A similar fiscal impact study conducted before the development of Oriole >> Landing predicted a positive impact on town finances of approximately >> $100,000, which has proven to be true. >> >> What are the potential traffic impacts? >> >> Another question that has been raised is the impact of the traffic that may >> be generated by the creation of more housing. As part of the SLPIC planning >> process, a traffic analysis was conducted by an outside consultant based on >> the same proposed 240 net new housing units. The study compared a no-build >> scenario and two levels of buildout. The study concluded that the increase >> in traffic expected from the maximum buildout (240 units additional >> residential units) within the Lincoln Station area would not significantly >> alter traffic operations compared to the No-Build conditions. The study >> suggested that the Codman Road/Lincoln Road intersection be monitored for >> increased traffic and accidents which may necessitate a signal at this >> intersection. To view the traffic study, please click here. >> >> What is the potential impact on the Lincoln School population? >> >> Former Lincoln Public Schools Superintendent, Becky McFall, addressed the >> question of whether additional students from new housing would negatively >> impact the schools. She noted that enrollment in the Lincoln School K-8 >> was in the low 700’s in the years 2001 through 2004. Since then, there has >> been a gradual decline in enrollment resulting in the 2021 enrollment of 524 >> students as of October 1, 2021. She welcomed the opportunity for more >> school age children to attend the Lincoln Schools. To read her memorandum, >> please click here. The School Committee also issued a statement regarding >> the school population in their Fall 2022 newsletter. To read the letter, >> click here. >> >> Lincoln’s real world experience with concerns about increased costs, fiscal >> impact, traffic, and school children shows that the projections of the >> reports and studies above are likely accurate. As previously noted, Oriole >> Landing, completed in 2020, is a 60 unit rental property with 25% of the >> units being affordable to households earning 80% of Area Median Income >> (AMI). The analyses required by the Planning Board forecasted a net >> positive fiscal impact on the Town as it relates to municipal costs and an >> estimated 7 new school age children. Both of these projections proved >> accurate. To review Civico’s Financial Pro-Forma and Fiscal Impact Analysis >> for Oriole Landing, please click here. >> >> Will the Town have any control over projects developed in the Housing Choice >> district? >> >> Yes! >> >> Planning Board: Any development that is allowed under the Housing Choice >> Overlay District will require Site Plan approval. As part of the Site Plan >> Approval process, the Planning Board will review how an individual project >> complies with the zoning requirements, including design guidelines, parking, >> traffic, circulation, lighting, screening, and stormwater control. >> Historical Commission: Any proposed project that includes partial or total >> demolition of an existing building must comply with the Demolition Bylaw >> that is administered by the Historical Commission. Any proposed changes to >> the exterior of a building or structure that is in the Historic District >> must apply to the Historic District Commission for approval. >> Conservation Commission: All projects must comply with Lincoln’s wetlands >> protection bylaws. >> Sustainable Construction: All projects must comply with the Specialized >> Stretch building code adopted by residents at the March 2023 Annual Town >> Meeting: >> https://www.mass.gov/info-details/stretch-energy-code-development-2022. In >> addition, Lincoln has applied to be one of the 10 towns piloting a “no new >> fossil fuel hook-ups” policy for new construction and gut renovations. Once >> Lincoln’s application to the state is approved, proposed projects will need >> to comply. >> >> >> What about wastewater treatment capacity? >> >> The HCA does not require towns to have wastewater treatment facilities in >> place within the zoned areas. It is the responsibility of the developer to >> provide the necessary infrastructure. >> >> Currently, the Town is working with The Community Builders and the Rural >> Land Foundation (RLF) to design an updated and expanded wastewater treatment >> plant at Lincoln Woods. The Lincoln Woods plant services the Mall (which is >> owned by the RLF). An expanded facility would also service the redevelopment >> project being put forward by the RLF. The Town received a $400,000.00 grant >> from the State to pay for the engineering and design work going on now. The >> design will be completed by June 30, 2024. To enable the construction of >> the updated wastewater treatment plant, the Town would work with The >> Community Builders to submit a MassWorks grant application to help fund the >> upgrade. To review the studies that have been completed regarding the WWTP, >> please click here. >> >> MassWorks grants are the only available large money grants that help cities >> and towns with the costs of building infrastructure. To learn more about >> MassWorks grants, typical projects and awards, please click here. >> >> Do we have enough drinking water capacity? >> >> Yes. The Water Department issued a memo in August 2023 that outlines current >> and potential usage and capacity. Click hereto read the memo. >> >> Will additional housing jeopardize the Town’s Subsidized Housing Inventory >> (SHI)? >> >> No. The Town’s current SHI based on the 2020 Federal Census is 12.83%. >> >> The Town is currently doing a feasibility study to determine whether the 3A >> HCA District can support a 15% affordable housing requirement. If the study >> determines that it can, the zoning will require any project to include15% >> affordable residential units at 80% Area Median Income (AMI). If the study >> determines that a 15% requirement is too high and will make a multi-family >> project economically infeasible, the 3A regulations allow a 10% >> affordability requirement. In either case, the Town’s SHI will not be in >> jeopardy. >> >> To see the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities Chapter 40B >> Subsidized Housing Inventory (SHI) as of June 29, 2023, please click on this >> link: >> https://www.lincolntown.org/DocumentCenter/View/79217/LIncoln-SHI-as-of-July-2023--FINAL >> >> >> -- >> The LincolnTalk mailing list. >> To post, send mail to Lincoln@lincolntalk.org. >> Browse the archives at https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/private/lincoln/. >> Change your subscription settings at >> https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/lincoln. >> > -- > The LincolnTalk mailing list. > To post, send mail to Lincoln@lincolntalk.org. > Browse the archives at https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/private/lincoln/. > Change your subscription settings at > https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/lincoln. > -- The LincolnTalk mailing list. To post, send mail to Lincoln@lincolntalk.org. 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