The Lincoln Squirrel will be introducing readers to candidates on the March 27 town election ballot, starting with the two contested races, and the PTO is hosting a candidate forum as well. First up: the Planning Board, which has three candidates competing or two seats. Following are their lightly edited responses to questions posed via email in alphabetical order by last name:
- Lynn DeLisi (incumbent)
- Mark Levinson
- Craig Nicholson
Lynn DeLisi
What made you decide to run for re-election to the Planning Board at this time?
This is a crucial time for Lincoln, as we are facing new state regulations that have been designed to combat the affordable housing shortage throughout the Boston area and elsewhere. The Planning Board has been actively discussing the possibilities for change to the Zoning Bylaw that governs our town for some time. Within the next year, the board, in collaboration with a representative committee created by the Selects, will be considering whether to make specific changes that will comply with the new Housing Choice Act (HCA) and would allow for more affordable housing that meets town goals without irreversibly changing the natural beauty and open space that we all treasure.
The proposals on the table will require a carefully conducted, data-driven, thoughtful, and responsible planning process that will take place in open collaboration with residents. Zoning changes that allow for new development may be irreversible and have an impact on the quality of local life for town residents in decades to come. Since I have been intensely involved in these discussions as a member of the Planning Board for quite a while now, I feel it is my responsibility to the residents of Lincoln to stay on the Board and apply my knowledge and expertise to the decisions to be made as the town progresses into key next stages.
What would you bring to the table in terms of specific professional and/or personal experiences?
I have been a member of the Planning Board for nine years, and at first there was a steep learning curve for me to climb. I was quietly listening my first year, taking it all in and understanding what town planning and development were all about. I studied the Town Bylaw as my textbook. In fact, my Planning Board “education” involved more years than my formal training to become an MD and psychiatrist (seven years)! Regardless, I believe it is less about your professional background or experience that makes a good board member. Rather, it is more about a commitment to a process of well-researched planning and town engagement that ensures you are defining and pursuing town goals that represent the priorities of those who have elected you.
Since this is a contested seat, why should Lincolnites vote for you in particular? What past history or personal/political positions make you better qualified than one or more of the other candidates?
There are two characteristics that I have displayed in my career that are very relevant to this position.
(1) I have always sought ways to bring people together to collaborate. I co-founded two international professional societies, very successful today, and developed international multi-site research projects, all of which brought together diverse sets of individuals to work together and collaborate. This is what we need to do as members of the Planning Board.
(2) I have always gravitated toward finding ways to aid people more vulnerable than myself and have consistently shown empathy toward their needs. As a Planning Board member, I spoke out against rezoning the South Lincoln station area without consideration of the people who live there, the establishment of a residential treatment home for borderline personality disorder that was being “sold” to us erroneously as an educational institution, and the Minuteman HS with its high tower I thought unnecessary and then its athletic field with lighting I thought excessive for the neighborhood. I also worked hard on the marijuana study committee to keep it out of Lincoln and away from our children, knowing the psychiatric consequences. Thus, I have a record of representing the residents of each neighborhood in any controversy that interferes with their well-being. Going forward, I will fight against expansion of Hanscom Field, changes in zoning that put any current Lincoln residents at risk of losing their homes and any other issue that arises.
What do you think is the biggest issue facing the Planning Board over the next three years, and if elected, how do you plan to address it?
My experience on the Planning Board so far is that you cannot predict what the next important issue will be. As of today, I believe that whether we can or want to comply with the State’s Housing Choice Act (HCA) is one of the biggest challenges the Planning Board will need to address. To comply would require changing the zoning of South Lincoln within ½ mile of the commuter rail station to permit multifamily housing development at a density of 15 units per acre for at least eight acres. This would only be 20% of what full compliance with the HCA would require in total.
It will be essential to quantify and address the potential impacts of HCA compliance in advance, making sure that the town fully understands its benefits and costs and what happens if we do not comply. I need to see carefully constructed plans for how this might look, and how it would impact town finances, public utilities, traffic, and commercial activity both positively and negatively. I want to keep in mind that open spaces, trails, and wildlife in Lincoln are irreplaceable treasures.
I believe strongly that the residents who are most vulnerable to zoning changes must not be placed in jeopardy of losing their homes. How could that happen? Once zoning allows for significantly higher density, then there is an increased incentive for owners of some of our town’s key, lower-density, affordably priced rental units to sell to developers who would make money by replacing them with higher-density condos (85% of which would be market rate). Ironically, the net result would be the displacement of our most economically diverse residents and a decrease in our affordable housing options.
Who are your three biggest heroes in American history and why?
Eleanor Roosevelt, Elizabeth Blackwell, and Dorothy Dix are the first three who come to mind —all strong women who spoke up loudly for what they believed in and became a voice for equal opportunities for women, minorities and the most vulnerable members of our society. They are my role models and heroes.
Is there anything else you would like voters to know about you?
I was born in New York City and grew up in a small New Jersey town. I spent my childhood summers in overnight camp in rural Pennsylvania gaining an appreciation for the natural environment, open space and wildlife that would stay with me to the present. I graduated college with a major in zoology from the University of Wisconsin and medical school from The Medical College of Pennsylvania. Shortly afterwards, I spent time providing medical care to migrant chili farm workers in rural northern New Mexico and then became a psychiatrist by working at the only federally funded public psychiatric hospital in D.C., particularly because its mission was to serve the disadvantaged.
I was always challenging my mentors, wanting the evidence that didn’t exist at that time for the accepted practice of psychiatry. I became a fierce advocate for truth by gathering scientific data as a full-time researcher for several years at the National Institute of Mental Health in Bethesda. While doing that I raised two wonderful children, now well into adulthood and both strong advocates for social justice and environmental protection. Throughout my life I spoke out loudly for issues I believed in and diverted my efforts when there was need, such as by helping survivors of an earthquake in El Salvador, the 9/11 disaster in New York, and Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans.
My current day job is focused on working with mostly immigrant and disadvantaged communities in Cambridge/Somerville and individuals who need care for serious mental illness. My research is focused now on interventions that can reduce disparities that exist in the delivery of high-quality mental healthcare. Academically I mentor new generations who come after me.
I write all this above about me because it has relevance to how I serve on the Planning Board. I seek out the evidence from data supporting or refuting the issues as a scientist would. I focus on bringing people together in collaborative efforts and I have empathy for others in crises. Moreover, I have a deep desire to preserve land that is natural, with wide-open spaces, clear nighttime stars, fields of wildflowers, organic farms, and wildlife of all kinds roaming conservation land.
Hopefully this gives you some idea of who I am. I welcome your contacting me with issues that concern you and your neighborhood. If re-elected to the Planning Board, I will do my best to represent you. I can best be reached by email at lynn_delisi@hms.harvard.edu or delisi76@aol.com.
Mark Levinson
Mark Levinson
What made you decide to run for a seat on the Planning Board at this time?
Lincoln is facing a number of challenges that have the potential to greatly affect the future character of the town. The recently passed Massachusetts Housing Choice Act attempts to mandate much higher-density multifamily housing in Lincoln. For various reasons, this would apply not only to the Lincoln Station neighborhood but to other areas around town as well. I believe actions by the Planning Board can be a key factor in helping the town to navigate these challenges, while also promoting other goals, such as support for local businesses, diversity, affordable housing, and the environment.
What would you bring to the table in terms of specific professional and/or personal experiences?
I have lived near Lincoln Station for almost 25 years and have been active in issues affecting our neighborhood and the town. I have served as one of two neighborhood liaisons to the Planning Board and its South Lincoln Planning Advisory Committee (SLPAC). I have also been committed to environmental issues and volunteered for many years for the Sudbury Valley Trustees, a very active and successful land conservation organization.
As someone with both a scientific and business background, I know the value of thoroughly researching any proposed course of action to determine the likelihood of achieving its benefits as well as its potential downsides.
Since this is a contested seat, why should Lincolnites vote for you in particular? What past history or personal/political positions make you better qualified than one or more of the other candidates?
I believe I share the goals of many Lincolnites for our town: viability of local businesses, diversity, affordable housing, encouraging use of public transportation, and doing what we can to fight climate change while maintaining the rural character of the town. I also believe it’s very important to maintain a reasoned, fact-based approach to managing change where any new initiatives are evaluated for their likely real-world effects, both positive and negative.
If elected, I will represent the views and opinions of all Lincoln residents, not only those of my neighborhood. I will do my best to be open-minded, fiscally responsible, and always consider both sides of any issue.
What do you think is the biggest issue facing the Planning Board over the next three years, and if elected, how do you plan to address it?
The biggest issue is the Housing Choice Act and its potential to transform the character of the town through high-density housing. There are also major challenges from the proposed Hanscom Field expansion, and the proposed expansion at Lincoln Commons.
Who are your three biggest heroes in American history and why?
Abraham Lincoln — he was a modest, thoughtful man from humble origins who used his power as president for the benefit of the people, rather than himself and his associates. He doggedly persevered through the difficult and dispiriting trials of the Civil War, always keeping the end goal in mind.
Ruth Bader Ginsberg — she was a ground-breaking figure as the second woman justice of the Supreme Court. She used her prodigious intellect to further the causes of civil liberties and gender equality.
Rachel Carson — she was one of the founders of the modern environment movement. Her work spurred a transformation in public attitudes towards the environment, and led to the banning of many pesticides and the creation of the Environmental Protection Agency, among others.
Is there anything else you would like voters to know about you?
I grew up in the New York City area and first came to Boston as a freshman at MIT. After leaving MIT with a PhD, I spent two years doing physics research in Switzerland and then five years in the New York City area before returning to Boston. I worked for several startup companies and got an MBA working nights at BU. I’ve lived in Lincoln since 1998. My two adult sons graduated from Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School and live in the Boston area.
Craig Nicholson
Craig Nicholson
What made you decide to run for a seat on the Planning Board at this time?
I have been actively engaged in planning in Lincoln for a number of years. Although my role has varied over the years, I have continually been interested in the work that the board does and found ways to stay involved, including my current service as a non-voting associate member of the Planning Board, as well as my prior role on SLPIC [the South Lincoln Planning and Implementation Committee].
Although I have considered running in years past, I felt my commitment to the School Building Committee (SBC) and the time that entailed wouldn’t allow me to fully commit to the Planning Board. Now that our work on the SBC is winding down, and given my interest in the critical planning initiatives facing Lincoln both in the short term and long term, I made the decision to run. The timing is right, the challenges are there, and I see some really interesting opportunities ahead to put my skills in planning, collaboration, project management, and sustainability to work in a new and exciting way.
What would you bring to the table in terms of specific professional and/or personal experiences?
On the personal side, I grew up in a small town on the South Shore. It was a town with a strong agricultural past, primarily based around cranberries, with a tremendous amount of open space — trails out the back door, very much like Lincoln. What drew me to Lincoln was being able to see that same experience that I had as a child available here for our children.
I spent the early part of my career as an environmental consultant, traveling all over the U.S. working on projects small and large. It was through these experiences where I started to really focus on how our built environment shapes our lived experience. This is what ultimately brought me to Tufts University, where I received my master’s degree in urban and environmental policy and planning.
My work with Washington Gateway Main Street (WGMS) in the South End also served as a catalyst in my life. I see my experience with the Main Streets organization as a potential template for future resident and business engagement and participation in Lincoln. It was through WGMS where I gained experience working with a vast array of stakeholders including residents (of which I was one myself), retailers, restaurant owners, artists, landlords and developers to shape and implement the long-term planning vision aimed at creating a sustainable mix of housing, commercial and office uses within the neighborhood. We engaged in “leakage” studies in order to understand where residents were spending their money outside the community so that we could work with building owners to try to recruit those types of businesses to our community in order to keep that spending local. We would host community events to bring neighbors together in order to strengthen their community ties.
Lincoln is not Boston, I certainly understand that, but there are pieces from my experience that do overlap with some of the challenges that we are encountering here. I currently spend my days managing renovations of hotel properties throughout the country. Much of this work includes a focus on sustainability and carbon emissions reductions. I am actively involved in benchmarking large properties in Boston to develop a roadmap for our clients towards net zero emissions, and I am often called upon to support our clients in fulfilling their ESG [environmental, social, and governance] goals.
Here in Lincoln, I point to my experience on SLPIC and the SBC as highly influential in my growth and understanding of how to engage our community and build consensus from the ground up. My experience serving on various committees and organizations in town has provided me with opportunities to engage with residents from all over Lincoln in deep and meaningful ways. I don’t take that for granted, and if elected to the Planning Board will relish the opportunity to engage more deeply with our community as we collectively plot our path forward.
Since this is a contested seat, why should Lincolnites vote for you in particular? What past history or personal/political positions make you better qualified than one or more of the other candidates?
The diversity of my professional experiences (noted above), coupled with my previous community engagement in Lincoln, differentiates me from other candidates in the race. I know each of us brings a passion to planning, but I hope that my desire to involve and truly listen to the breadth of voices in our community to build a comprehensive, inclusive planning agenda for the future will set me apart on Election Day.
What do you think is the biggest issue facing the Planning Board over the next three years, and if elected, how do you plan to address it?
I struggle with this question as —depending on who you are, where you live, what your past or current experiences are — your biggest issue may not even be on the radar screen of someone else in town, perhaps not even your immediate neighbor. For instance, members of our town are currently faced with the Housing Choice Act, the proposed Hanscom expansion, affordability, and transportation challenges. In my mind, the single biggest issue is how the Planning Board balances all of these various matters. Addressing this needed balance will involve a multi-faceted approach that requires extensive communication, education, and outreach. Many of these issues cannot be adequately addressed around a conference table at the Planning Department — it will require Planning Board members to get out there in the community working with residents where they are.
Who are your three biggest heroes in American history and why?
It’s very difficult for me to select three individuals as my biggest heroes in America, given some of my personal and professional experiences. When I read this question, my initial thought was of first responders — anyone who rushes into a dangerous situation putting themselves at risk to help others. This stems from my own experience working on environmental cleanup at Ground Zero in 2001 and crossing the finish line of the Boston Marathon just ten minutes before the bombs went off in 2013.
I considered other individuals, but kept returning to yet another profession: educators. When I reflect on my childhood, there are several teachers who stand out as truly shaping who I am today. Every one of us likely has those individuals in our personal histories. And when I consider the challenges our country faces today, one of the most significant is faced by educators… yet despite what they endured through the pandemic and what they continue to endure with violence, limited resources, and so many more obstacles, teachers keep showing up for their students (including my own children) and inspiring them.