My Turn: Postlethwait says thanks, lauds rezoning adjustments made before Town Meeting

By Sarah Postlethwait

I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate Gary Taylor on his victory. It was a huge turnout and you have a strong following! Thank you for the years of service you have given this town already and will continue to offer in the future.

I would also like to thank the nearly 700 of my neighbors, friends, and complete strangers who went out on a limb to vote for me. I am incredibly grateful for your support!

I know many of those people voted for me because they were also frustrated with the lack of community collaboration and transparency experienced in the past few months. I hope that Mr. Taylor will consider the voice of the 42% of residents who cast a vote in my favor and push for changes in the process going forward. Doing so will ensure 100% of the town wins.

I was moved by a group of seventh-graders who came over to speak to our crowd of sign holders Monday. Those children were very concerned about the Lincoln that may be awaiting them when they are adults, and they felt their voices were also unheard. I informed them of their ability to bring a citizen’s petition to town meeting on any topic that they felt passionate about, and had an idea of how to improve. They were intrigued and invigorated to learn that their voices could actually count. They could have a say in their future, too. I hope they feel compelled to actively participate in our town government, and I hope that is a theme we can see continuing in the adult population, as well. An active engaged community makes a better end product.

• I am incredibly grateful for the work that hundreds of my fellow residents who are associated with the LRHA accomplished in the past seven months to help protect our town. Due to their keen observations and unwavering persistence, the HCA rezoning that passed on Saturday was a vastly different article than what it was intended to be in September. They have also greatly contributed to democracy in our town at the same time.

• The total number of housing units that could be built was reduced from over 1,400 to 800. A 67% total housing increase within a half-mile radius would have been detrimental to our town.

• The state changed its model used by all towns to take into account wetlands, and allow for less density around them — helping preserve Lincoln’s environment, but also the environment of countless other towns in our state.

• They brought attention to the bylaw that allowed a developer to count any “street-activated use” as commercial — including lobbies, residential gyms, common spaces, and leasing offices — which could have been detrimental to retail business at the mall if left in the wrong hands.

• They brought attention to the lack of affordable housing being required, and as a result, the Planning Department promised to resubmit a new feasibility study that can support 15% affordable housing. This will help save our limited affordable housing trust funds, so it can be used to create a more diverse affordable housing stock.

• They helped shed light on the negative impact on our beloved businesses if a hundred housing units would have been allowed to be built on the mall, resulting in the amendment presented by the RLF at town meeting.

• They brought attention to the lack of environmental protections in both the HCA and general zoning bylaws, which will hopefully result in protections for open undeveloped space and mature trees in the near future.

• Their push for clickers at Town Meeting resulted in this article being brought to Town Meeting and approved. As a result, much smoother and shorter Town Meetings will hopefully be in our future, allowing even more residents the ability and desire to participate.

• They made residents aware of buses that helped many citizens have access to town meeting. Hopefully the town will continue the bus service in the future due to the limited parking available at the school for town meeting.

• They advocated for people with disabilities to be able to participate in town meetings remotely, resulting in a town policy change that will continue into the future.

• They advocated for the Town Meeting process to be reevaluated, including having a written set of Town Meeting rules, a policy for relevant town boards to be permitted to speak from the podium, and a request for more balanced presentations that include any dissenting voices of the presenting board to have equal podium time. As a result, the Select Board has promised to establish a committee that will address these concerns and look into making Town Meeting more fair and balanced, giving residents real choices rather than asking for a rubber stamp of approval.

While our work is not done, I can’t but help feel grateful for all that we have accomplished, and I hope that all of our fellow residents feel the same. I especially hope that all residents, no matter their view or age, will feel motivated to continue being active and engaged citizens, positively contributing to our beautiful town.

Thank you again for your support, Lincoln.

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“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.