Hi Lynn, Another way to look at the numbers from Saturday's vote is: *62% of the voters* on Saturday voted for a plan that includes rezoning the mall, the only area where there is currently a plan in the works to increase homes to help with the housing crisis. As a proponent for more housing NOW, I found this number very encouraging.
Way to go Lincoln. :) Best, Staci Montori 84 Codman Road On Thu, Dec 7, 2023 at 12:28 PM Lynne Smith <ly...@smith.net> wrote: > Below is my article published today in the Lincoln Squirrel. It is edited > slightly for Lincoln Talk. > > ------------------- > > My Turn: With measured success, officials grapple with HCA vote at > multi-board meeting > <https://lincolnsquirrel.com/2023/12/y-turn-with-measured-success-officials-grapple-with-hca-vote-at-multi-board-meeting/> > > December 7, 2023 By Lynne Smith > > > <https://lincolnsquirrel.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/myturn-sm-feb2021.jpg> > > On December 2, Lincoln residents voted with the recommendations of the > Planning Board (PB) and the Housing Choice Act Working Group (HCAWG) to > adopt Option C. On December 4 at a multi-board meeting, the two groups were > aware that the vote was not an overwhelming majority. In fact, Option C > received 55% of the votes while Option E, developed by the grassroots > organization Lincoln Residents for Housing Alternatives (LRHA), received > 38%. Select Chair Jim Hutchison expressed his view that he would like to > see a higher level of support for the proposed rezoning by the March 23 > Town Meeting, even though only a majority vote will be needed. > > To gain greater support, the PB and the HCAWG have work to do to create > Lincoln’s option for compliance with the Massachusetts Housing Choice Act. > The PB must develop the bylaws and the HCAWG must communicate them to > residents who are now more fully aware of the impact such development can > have on the Town. > Developer bylaws for 800+ units are key > > At the multi-board meeting, members focused on the best ways to adopt > bylaws to allow HCA development that will now be concentrated within half a > mile of the MBTA station. The HCA model for Option C gives the town credit > for 648 housing units, but the LRHA estimates that approximately 800 new > housing units could be developed on a by right basis within that small > area. The impact of this development on the town will depend in large part > on the content of the zoning bylaws to be proposed by the PB and presumably > adopted by the town. At Saturday’s Special Town Meeting, the Selects > presented a chart listing the types of “guardrails,” which the town can > impose on developments. It appears that the Planning Board and Selects > expect the members of the HCAWG to be part of this process. > > The content of these bylaws is extremely important and must be carefully > drafted to impose appropriate standards for by right development that will > win town support and pass HCA compliance requirements. > Outreach and input are important > > Select Kim Bodnar emphasized the importance of a steady stream of > communication to town residents, especially those most affected by the > rezoning in and near the Option C parcels: Codman Road, Lewis Street, > Lincoln Woods, Lincoln Road, and the mall. Margaret Olson, chair of the PB, > suggested that HCAWG should manage outreach while coordinating with PB and > the Selects. PB vice chair Lynn De Lisi said that just outreach is not > enough and that every meeting of the PB and HCAWG should allow public > input. HCAWG member Terri Perlmutter said that there had been a “loss of > trust” as residents felt that developers would be given a “free rein” > because details of the zoning were not fully communicated. She felt this > created a disconnect with residents. > > Communication with residents is a vital part of the work of the > town-appointed groups. > Meetings and topics need organized scheduling > > Between now and March 23, the PB plans to schedule weekly meetings to > write and deliberate on the proposed bylaws. Craig Nicholson of the HCAWG > suggested that the meetings could be organized by topic — for example, > height of the buildings, setbacks, energy efficiency and sustainability, > and overall design. This meeting format would help participants focus on > the key bylaw provisions, allow residents to tune in to the topics of > greatest interest, and help organizations such as the Green Energy > Committee, FOMA, and LRHA to contribute expertise in a timely manner. Susan > Hall Mygatt requested that draft guidelines be issued prior to the > scheduled meetings. > > All of these meeting suggestions would facilitate better discussions, > shorter meetings, and greater resident participation. > Outside expertise still needed > > Director of Planning and Land Use Paula Vaughn-MacKenzie said that Utile, > the consulting firm that helped develop the C and D options, could continue > its role up through the March Annual Town Meeting. If we run out of grant > money for this service, we might have to use town funds. Town counsel will > continue to be consulted for zoning bylaws. Officials at the multi-board > meeting said that the Rural Land Foundation (RLF) needs to provide more > information about the potential and proposed development at the mall. They > also pointed out that residents need to know what it will look like, what > the footprint will be, and the details of parking and traffic studies. > Susan Hall Mygatt suggested that several residents in town be invited to > sit on the HCAWG in an advisory capacity. Rather than commenting on the > draft language from “outside” the Planning Board, they could actually help > draft bylaws and develop models. This would increase participation in the > process and would likely lead to increased public support for the proposed > bylaws. > Voting tabulation at Town Meeting > > With over 800 people attending the December 2 Special Town Meeting, the > Select Board discussed the difficulty of tabulating ballots on the spot. As > many residents who stayed for the entire eight-hour meeting noted, about > three of those hours were spent wandering around while the votes were > tabulated. While it was fun to get coffee and snacks from the Girl Scouts > and eat sandwiches brought from home sitting in the hallways of the > sparkling new school, it would be better if the time were spent actually > discussing the issues at hand. More people could have participated if the > meeting were shorter. Select Jim Hutchinson bravely faced the topic head on > and said he would look into it. Good luck, Jim! > > > The multi-board meeting closed with 41 people attending on line and > several in the Donaldson Room. Many Lincoln residents will be paying close > attention to the Planning Board meetings where the drafts of bylaws will be > discussed. Planning Board meeting dates, agendas, and minutes can be found > here <http://www.lincolntown.org/147/Planning-Board>. > ------------------------------ > Lynne Smith > 5 Tabor Hill Road > Lincoln, MA 01773 > cell: 781-258-1175 > ly...@smith.net > > -- > 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. > >
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