Editor’s note: This letter concerning a March 6 Zoning Board of Appeals hearing was also submitted by the author to the Zoning Board of Appeals. See the Lincoln Squirrel (March 2, 2014) for background information.
To the Editor:
My family and I have lived at 115 Winter St. since 1993. My property is a direct abutter to 121‐129 Winter St. I am writing to oppose the proposed zoning variation of 121-129 Winter St. for the development of a hospice facility that will occupy a footprint of 30,000 square feet , pave an illuminated parking lot for up to 85 cars, include a loading dock for truck deliveries, a septic field to accommodate the facility and an emergency access driveway for the Town of Lincoln’s emergency services accessible only by driving the wrong way down the one-way part of Winter Street.
As a Lincoln resident, I am against the proposed institutional use of a residentially zoned property. I am aware that 121-129 Winter Street has been considered an “at risk” property for some time now and that resolving the use of this parcel of land would be preferable to the town. I am also aware that when the parcel was up for sale there were other parties bidding on the property with intentions of building residential homes within the current zoning.
I ask why the town of Lincoln would grant a special permit for a residential parcel of land situated directly on its border to be nibbled away by commercial development?
The preservation of Lincoln’s rural character depends on retaining the natural landscape as best it can. This parcel of land was once a farm, as was the land now occupied by the Bay Colony Office facility. If the special permit is granted, trees will be removed, acres will be stripped to accommodate a septic system, a large paved parking lot and a 30,000-square-foot building. Supply vehicles will be making deliveries regularly. Hours of operation will be 24/7. This residential parcel of land will be forever rezoned as an institutional site. I implore the ZBA to carefully consider why the proposed hospice development would be in the best interests of our neighborhood and town.
Sincerely
Carol Ryan
115 Winter St.
Letters to the editor must be signed with the writer’s name and street address and sent via email to lincolnsquirrelnews@gmail.com. Letters must be about a Lincoln-specific topic. They may be edited for length, grammar/punctuation, etc., and will be published at the discretion of the editor.
correction: the permit request for the hospice development proposes a building footprint of 42,000 square feet.