To the editor:
I am writing to announce my candidacy for re-election to the Planning Board and to ask for your support. It has been an honor to serve for the past four years as a Planning Board member, as liaison to the Historic District Commission, and as Planning Board chair in 2015.
Over the past year, streamlining our administrative processes and the addition of an energetic new Director of Planning and Land Use, Jen Burney, have enabled a renewed focus on planning for the community, including the following important projects:
- Creating a South Lincoln Planning Implementation Committee (SLPIC) for actionable projects improving the sustainability of the Lincoln Station commercial area, fulfilling the vision of the Comprehensive Long Range Plan.
- Advocating for the creation of an Economic Development Advisory Committee (EDAC) supporting collaboration across Lincoln’s for-profit and nonprofit business community.
- Working with the Agricultural Commission to support Lincoln’s commitment to small-scale farming.
- Working with the Housing Commission to balance our housing stock with diverse housing options while maintaining its inventory to meet state affordable housing requirements.
- Mitigating the effects of the new Minuteman school project on the adjacent Lincoln neighborhood.
I look forward to working collaboratively on town-wide projects while continuing the important work of balancing the ideals of conservation and stewardship with thoughtful development to accomplish our shared vision of a vital town center, affordable housing and a new school project. I am happy to bring my experience and professional expertise to these endeavors.
I am a Massachusetts registered architect with over 30 years of experience in the building industry; a member of the American Institute of Architects; and hold credentials from the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB) and the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) program of the U.S. Green Building Council. I presently work in the software industry with Autodesk, where I lead innovation programs focused on the architecture, engineering and construction market. I hold a master’s degree in architecture from Harvard University and a B.A. in engineering science from Dartmouth College.
My wife Virginia and I came to Lincoln in 2012 with our two children and small flock of chickens, drawn by its unique character, connection to nature and the thoughtful planning of its beautiful neighborhoods. The children are now at college and the flock has flown—and meanwhile Virginia and I have become deeply committed to the community, serving on several local volunteer boards and organizations.
Between the engagement of our many involved citizens and the astute work of our predecessors, Lincoln has a powerful model for accommodating change in a thoughtful and deliberate way. I look forward to continuing to contribute in a meaningful way to our civic process. Please feel free to contact me at rrundell.lpb@verizon.net. Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
Richard L. (Rick) Rundell
76 Todd Pond Road
Letters to the editor must be signed with the writer’s name and street address and sent via email to lincolnsquirrelnews@gmail.com. Letters will be edited for punctuation, spelling, style, etc., and will be published at the discretion of the editor. Letters containing personal attacks, errors of fact or other inappropriate material will not be published.
