By Lynn DeLisi
Lincoln’s local election on Monday March 27 is going to have crucial implications for the long-term future of the town. You are not casting your vote for individual personalities and their backgrounds, but instead are making important choices about decisions that will impact the town for a long time to come.
One key topic is whether to comply with the Housing Choice Act (HCA) of the state of Massachusetts. It is not mandatory to do so, but there are some benefits that come with that compliance. The Planning Board currently has mixed views on how to pursue this important discussion. Some prefer to jump ahead now and create zoning for significantly more dense housing (a minimum of 15 units per acre for at least eight acres) that would comply with the HCA, even before the town’s HCA Committee studies it carefully and suggests how best to respond. I disagree.
I support a more logical approach to an unbiased examination of the risks and benefits that this significant (more than double) change in zoning will have on the town. (Currently, the target area allows approximately six residential units per acre). I believe collecting these basic data is a must to drive our decision-making:
• What all the residents of Lincoln want for the future of their town;
• What other towns like ours are doing;
• What our town’s infrastructure can support (septic, water, roads, fire/safety); and,
• What the financial implications of development are.
Only then can we make responsible decisions about the planning in the center of South Lincoln.
Thus, I am not biased toward or against development. Rather, I am biased toward fact-based, responsible planning for the long-term future of the town and, most importantly, taking the time to gather the input of the people who live within the region we want to change. I will not vote for new zoning that puts anyone who currently rents a home at risk of losing it. I currently do support Jennifer Glass’s leadership of a committee representing major town boards that will attempt to do this.
We do have some data on what the town wants. Last year, the Planning Board conducted a town-wide survey as a means of gathering input about the future of the Lincoln commuter rail area. Its scientific rigor was lacking, but even so, more than 800 responses were obtained, and many pointed comments indicated two priorities:
- Maintain Lincoln’s unique rural character; and
- Maintain viable commercial activities in Lincoln Center.
Significantly fewer respondents listed more housing as a priority.
We owe it to the town, its residents, and future residents to do our homework, to provide balanced information for solid decision-making, and not rush into decisions that will be difficult to reverse. We need to take time to understand what the people who now live in Lincoln would like to have as a town for future generations of residents. If you agree, then please vote for me in the March 27 election.
In summary, this is what I advocate for:
- Representing the interests of the people who currently live in Lincoln, both South and North Lincoln
- Preserving the unique character of the town of Lincoln with an historical and conservation perspective
- Creating an interesting and unique town center where people can have services they need and find an enticing place to gather
- Careful and responsible planning, with no preconceived bias toward development without understanding its long-term implications such as for noise, traffic, wildlife loss, and associated financial costs.
- Understanding what Lincoln specifically gets by complying with the HCA, and weighing the pros and cons of compliance carefully without any inherent bias.
- No expansion of the Hanscom airfield in any way. Any further noise and other environmental pollution would be beyond what should be allowed for North Lincoln, as well as Minuteman Park.
- Not supporting any zoning changes that put anyone at risk of losing their current housing.
I am committed to serving the Town of Lincoln and to representing you. As such, I am interested to know your views on all of these topics. I welcome speaking with you 1:1. You can email me at delisi76@aol.com or lynn_deLisi@hms.harvard.edu.
“My Turn” is a forum for readers to offer their letters to the editor or views on any subject of interest to other Lincolnites. Submissions must be signed with the writer’s name and street address and sent via email to lincolnsquirrelnews@gmail.com. Items will be edited for punctuation, spelling, style, etc., and will be published at the discretion of the editor. Submissions containing personal attacks, errors of fact, or other inappropriate material will not be published.