Neighbor to neighbor... This is sad to read. Respectfully, I am not aware of
any laws passed "to control the movement of people who look like you or with
more Melanin" especially by residents of Lincoln. I always welcome educating
myself on State laws as I will be the first to admit... I did NOT attend law
school. With regards to the 2 acre zoning.... perhaps you should invite the
planning board to give us all a historical perspective of the zoning of
Lincoln. Hopefully, they can enlighten us all so we can remind each other that
we are ALL on the same side.
Warmly,Terri KafinaGiles
On Monday, November 27, 2023 at 10:15:54 AM EST, DJCP <djcp0...@gmail.com>
wrote:
It is ridiculous to keep relying on past laurels as if Lincoln is some sort of
beacon of affordable housing. Look around. It is not. It is not diverse, and
certainly not as diverse as it could be if 2-acre zoning was not instituted. I
am frequently in all-white spaces. When residents say they want to "control"
development - well, that smacks to me as exclusionary. Many laws have been
passed to control the rights and movement of people who look like me - not to
mention those with much more melanin. Regardless of the wholesome intent of
those who instituted the zoning in the first place, the effect it has had is to
keep generational wealth (i.e., home ownership) mostly with white people. At
the very least acknowledge the disparate effect of this type of zoning, even if
you insist on keeping the founders on a pedestal.
Diana
Giles Rd
On Sun, Nov 26, 2023 at 11:32 PM Sara Mattes <samat...@gmail.com> wrote:
It is interesting and disappointing to read this.Lincoln stood out for creating
affordable housing/ mixed income housing long before others. Lincoln Woods, a
cooperative mixed income development led the way in the 1970s.
Development of new types of multi- family housing, rental and home-ownership,
have continued.Today, 40% of our housing units are multi-family, and 13% of all
housing is state- certified “affordable.”So, I am not sure what data this
report relies on.
Certainly, most of our single family homes prices have made us discriminatory…
by income.It would be great to come up with a program to address that.But the
HCA is not such a program.In fact, HCA rezoning creates further economic
discrimination by capping affordability and promoting 90% of all units as “
market rate” and often luxury.This would undercut Lincoln’s history of
inclusionary zoning, requiring all developments offer a minimum of 15%
affordable units.
To me, that makes HCA zoning discriminatory, by Lincoln standards.
So much for AI!
Sent from my iPhone
On Nov 26, 2023, at 10:09 PM, Ray Shepard <kathleenshep...@verizon.net> wrote:
From the perspective of ChatGPT....
What towns in Massachusetts are known for exclusionary zoning?
ChatGPTSeveral towns in Massachusetts have been identified for their practices
of exclusionary zoning. These towns often use zoning laws to limit the
development of affordable housing, resulting in a lack of diversity in housing
types and prices. Some notable examples include: Weston: Known for its large
lot zoning, which requires a significant amount of land per housing unit,
making it difficult for smaller, more affordable homes to be built. Dover:
Similar to Weston, Dover also employs large lot zoning, which effectively
limits the availability of affordable housing options. Lincoln: This town is
known for its strict zoning regulations that limit the types and densities of
allowable housing, often pricing out lower-income families. Wellesley:
Wellesley has been cited for using zoning laws to restrict the development of
multi-family housing, which tends to be more affordable. Lexington: Known for
its high property values and zoning practices that favor single-family homes,
limiting more affordable housing options.These towns, among others in
Massachusetts, often use zoning as a tool to maintain a certain demographic and
economic status quo, leading to criticism regarding social equity and
inclusiveness.
On Sunday, November 26, 2023 at 09:28:56 PM EST, Sara Mattes
<samat...@gmail.com> wrote:
It had absolutely NOTHING to do with preventing “undesirable” people moving
in.It had to do with land preservation and conservation and concern over the
inability of the town finances to support a rapid growth in population.We had
no commercial base, except a few small business along Rt.2A and 117.
Racial and ethnic (antisemitism) was an issue a bit later-it was near
impossible to buy a house in Lincoln if you were Black or Jewish.Story goes
that a seller was present at the tour and always expressed interest in who
would be the buyer.If a Jew managed to get a showing, the seller would take
their time and then turn down the offer.If you were black, it was next to
impossible to get a showing.I moved here in 1976, and told that was the case,
even then.
It had nothing to do with zoning.
------
Sara Mattes
On Nov 26, 2023, at 8:36 PM, DJCP <djcp0...@gmail.com> wrote:
Two acre zoning was meant as a means of "control" (a word currently bandied
about without any shame) after WWII housing booms to prevent too much housing
being built and "undesirable" people moving in. Anyone who has given an ounce
of attention to the anti racism reckoning we are currently going thru shouldn't
have a problem seeing through any other rationale given for such zoning.
Diana Giles Rd
On Sun, Nov 26, 2023, 7:55 PM Sara Mattes <samat...@gmail.com> wrote:
Two acre zoning was to protect wetlands and open space and encourage land
conservation.It bought time to allow for creative planning and development
efforts.I recommend reading A Rich Harvest to better understand the arc of our
history and the role land protection has played.Also, Bob Lemire’s book,
Creative Land Development has been leading light not just in Lincoln, but
nationally.
There is such to be proud of and to be thankful for- for the wisdom of those
who did big picture thinking in the past, and made wise investments to ensure
most of the plans were realized.The environment thanks us for the tree cover
and the carbon sink our land provides.The environment thanks us for wetlands
protection.Folks in our forward-thinking affordable housing developments thank
us.Seniors who now have multiple housing choices for down-sizing thank us.Those
seeking respite from the city to walk our trails and fields thank us.
We need to build on that-move forward, and add to it-esp. with more housing
choices,-but to do it in cautious, thoughtful and deliberate ways.
------
Sara Mattes
On Nov 26, 2023, at 12:18 PM, Louis Zipes <louiszi...@gmail.com> wrote:
And our emergency services are quite familiar with our part of 117 since there
are so many accidents due to our bucolic scenery and other historical roadways.
I especially find it fascinating that Lincoln was the first town in
Massachusetts to adopt two acre housing. So much history to be proud of!
On Sun, Nov 26, 2023 at 12:01 PM Ken Hurd <kenh...@keha.com> wrote:
Sara,
Your comment is very misleading.
Cold Brook Crossing is not at all what one might see in Lincoln Station because
of the controls that the Planning Board would have over any complex with the
Site Plan Review section of Lincoln’s Zoning Bylaws that are already in place.
Cold Brook Crossing is an example of Chapter 40B housing in which developers
are allowed to bypass zoning when the SHI (Subsidized Housing Inventory) is
under 10%. These are two different animals.
I’m sorry you felt you needed to resort to such a scare tactic in this
discussion.
Ken Hurd
Lifting the Human Spirit by Design
781-259-3300
781-259-8900 cell
www.keha.com
On Nov 26, 2023, at 11:27 AM, Sara Mattes <samat...@gmail.com> wrote:
117 offers a lovely drive from Lincoln to Leominster, and a history lesson as
you see the landscape and the towns change as you head west.
Nearby, is a starling lesson.
Just past Nine Acre Corner in Concord, and over the Sudbury line, on your right
as you head west, you will see Cold Brook Crossing.It is a new housing
development, many units completed and more under construction.It is a model for
what we might see on Lincoln, esp. at the mall.
Take a drive and see.Is that what we want?You be the judge.
------
Sara Mattes
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