The Lincoln Squirrel is gathering statements from the candidates in the town election that takes place March 30. First up: the three candidates who are running for two seats on the Planning Board, which is the only contested race this year: incumbent Lynn DeLisi, challenger and former board member Robert Domnitz, and incumbent Rick Rundell.
Lynn DeLisi
South Great Road
Lynn DeLisi
I am running for re-election to the Planning Board of our town and I would like to tell you why.
Like so many other people, we decided to purchase a home in Lincoln several years ago because we fell in love with the picturesque vistas of wide-open spaces with nighttime stars in the sky, fields of wildflowers, organic farms and wild-life of all kinds safely roaming conservation land. The zoning for one residential home per two acres appealed to us, along with the many mapped walking paths and scenic ponds. We were amazed that we could carry our canoe to the Sudbury River and see blue herons, and yet attend a concert at the BSO only a 30-minute drive from our house.
Not even a month after we moved into our new home, however, we received a letter by registered mail from a neighbor whose property we abutted on three sides. He included a diagram of a dozen dense structures on the acreage surrounding our lot with a letter informing us that a developer in Concord was interested in buying his land and placing several groups of condos in an L shape surrounding our new home. The letter further stated that “The Planning Board was very interested in having this done.” I cried a lot after receiving that letter and the stress of this crisis was tremendous. We had just purchased a house we loved with a beautiful view in a town we thought was unique for the reasons I mentioned, and now we were about to be surrounded by dense dwellings and more people, cars, and noise than we thought could be possible in this quiet, environmentally sensitive community.
Not long after receiving this letter, I saw there was a vacancy on the Planning Board, expressed my interest, and was appointed. Once on the board, I became aware that what my neighbor wanted would need to go through zoning changes and site plan reviews and be approved by Town Meeting. It still could have happened, but this neighbor’s plan never came to fruition simply because we managed to purchase that extra lot surrounding us to preserve our view, our favorite wildlife, and quiet.
I realize, however, that not everyone in town can stop the development around them as we did. If someone convinces the Planning Board and the town of the need to rezone a neighborhood for new housing or something else, what almost happened to us could be reality for others. They need someone on the Planning Board who will listen to them and look out for their interests.
Currently there is a controversy about whether or not significantly more dense housing units are needed in South Lincoln near the train station. Some people think we need to do our share as a town to alleviate the housing problem in Boston. Others do not agree and predict the changes to the town would be dramatic. Those most affected are those living there already and are the most vulnerable to the changes.
It’s difficult to know what the majority of people truly want for this district. I don’t think that gets answered by early-morning or late-weekday-evening public forums and meetings. Can all those who care attend these meetings and speak up to voice an opinion? Are these opinions being counted in some way? Do we need a scientifically and carefully constructed survey of the town to determine what the residents want? This may be the best way to hear all the views.
I know very well what the negative consequences of not carefully listening could be. I will always be questioning why, where, and what, and looking for ways to preserve neighborhoods and the interests of abutters while maintaining the uniqueness of Lincoln.
One of my past accomplishments on the Planning Board was my service on the Selectman’s fact-finding committee on the implications of the legalization of recreational marijuana businesses in the Lincoln. As a committee, we were very cognizant that we needed to put our personal views aside and recommend to the Selectmen a path to follow that the people of the town truly wanted.
In order to do that, I took the lead in conducting a survey of residents to hear their views on having marijuana grown, manufactured, and/or sold within our town. Based on that survey, a public forum, and extensive research on the facts, we brought to a Special Town Meeting a bylaw amendment to ban marijuana establishments in Lincoln, and this was passed by two-thirds vote and by subsequent ballot. I am proud to have contributed to this, knowing as I do (someone working with young adults addicted to marijuana) that we have taken a small step not to promote easy access to a harmful substance by the youth of our town. If, in the future, carefully controlled treatment trials show positive effects of cannabis products on an array of medical ailments, I will be happy to help reverse this town vote.
Another campaign of mine has been to help the residents of North Lincoln, who in my mind have suffered more than their share for the town. The Route 2 changes occurred before my time on the Planning Board and I have been dismayed with how they were handled and how residents of our town have suffered. I tried hard to minimize the effects of Minuteman Vocational High School on the residents of Mill Street. I believe it is a disgrace how the school officials handled this project, not collaborating with the neighborhood. They did not need the high tower for theater classes, or to clear out so many trees, or to build a highly lit stadium with a loud speaker system.
In addition, as a Harvard-affiliated psychiatrist who treats people with borderline personality disorder frequently, I knew that what McLean was doing to claim they were an educational facility was wrong. I spoke out against it orally and in writing. Unfortunately, this ultimately did not go in favor of the North Lincoln residents. Nevertheless, I will continue to speak out forcefully against anything that has a negative impact on the neighborhoods of North Lincoln and will of course rigorously support the positive.
In summary, I am for responsible planning, always in collaboration with the people in neighborhoods. I am for keeping the South Lincoln commercial district successful but not dense with new housing unless that is truly what the majority of residents want. I am for keeping North Lincoln residents free from any more adversity, which means keeping a DPW site out of North Lincoln.
I am for regulations that preserve Lincoln’s unique atmosphere, with nighttime stars and early morning wildlife grazing in open fields. I am for preserving the historical significance of some of Lincoln’s neighborhoods and the designated Historical Districts, the highest quality education available to our children in modernized facilities, a community center that serves our residents well, safe and supportive facilities for senior residents, keeping the availability of harmful substances away from our young generation, and most of all, keeping Lincoln safe.
If these are your interests and you want to be assured that you will have someone representing them, then vote in Lincoln’s election on March 30. I always have time to listen to people’s concerns and suggestions. You can email me at DeLisi76@aol.com or phone me at 781-257-5046.
Robert Domnitz
Mill Street
Robert Domnitz
(Editor’s note: Domnitz is a former member of the Planning Board who narrowly lost his bid for reelection in 2015.)
What is your previous experience in town government?
I served on the Hanscom Field Advisory Commission from 1985–1991. In Lexington, I was member/chair of the Lexington Planning Board from 1990–1995 and a Town Meeting Representative from 1986–1995. I was member/chair of the Lincoln Planning Board from 2003–2015
In the next few years, what do you think are the most important issue(s) facing the Planning Board, and how would you tackle them if elected?
The Planning Board has given top priority to promotion of increased business activity and housing in the Lincoln Station area. They are developing a complex revision to the town’s zoning bylaw which they believe will foster this development. A key feature of their proposal is that they — and they alone — will have authority to approve large-scale development proposals without review by Town Meeting. This is a dramatic departure from our traditional reliance on Town Meeting for major decisions.
I revere our Town Meeting form of government. As a member of the Planning Board, I will work to ensure that Town Meeting continues to play a central role in Lincoln’s decisions about land use. I believe that the Planning Board’s effort to foster revitalization of Lincoln Station without meaningful participation of Town Meeting will be divisive and will fail. Conversely, with Town Meeting’s participation, we have the opportunity to welcome projects that appeal to neighbors, business owners, and the town at large. Again and again, we have proven that our Town Meeting can take decisive action when it’s needed. I will do my best to make sure that Town Meeting gets the balanced information it needs to make those bold, prudent decisions.
Why did you decide to run for the Planning Board again?
In recent years, many residents have become increasingly concerned as our Annual Town Meeting has turned into a mostly routine exercise that “rubber stamps” the proposals that are presented. Our boards and committees almost invariably present unanimous, seamless recommendations. If there is another side to the issue, it is rarely presented for our consideration.
The Planning Board’s current zoning proposal accelerates this worrisome trend. It authorizes the board to approve major projects in Lincoln Station without Town Meeting’s participation in the decision-making process. These projects can have profound impacts on virtually every aspect of Lincoln: finances, services, school population, traffic, and Lincoln’s overall character. I feel we should not rely on five future Planning Board members to make these important decisions. As a member of the Planning Board, I would work to preserve the vitality and relevance of our Town Meeting.
Rick Rundell
Todd Pond Road
Rick Rundell
What background and experience do you offer?
I am a Massachusetts registered architect with over three decades experience in the building industry and a member of the American Institute of Architects. I hold credentials from the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards and the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) program of the U.S. Green Building Council. I presently work in the software industry, where I lead innovation programs focused on architecture, engineering, and construction. 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 in 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.
I was recruited to the Planning Board shortly after arriving in Lincoln by then-member Bob Domnitz because he felt the board lacked a professional architect. I agreed, and since then I have brought the energetic perspective of an active, engaged professional to the board. I am a registered architect in the state of Massachusetts and the sole candidate for the board with an architectural background. I’ve served on the Planning Board since 2012, including as chair in 2015, and have been one of two Board members appointed to the Historic District Commission since 2013. I have also been president of the Todd Pond Residents Association since 2013.
Why are you excited about serving on the Planning Board?
We’ve seen tremendous changes in the Planning Board over the last few years. I am especially proud of the amendments to the Zoning By-Law passed by Town Meeting in 2018 as Article 27. This measure, by putting a five-year sunset on site plan review requirements, finally put limits on the creeping power of the Planning Board as property after property had become permanently encumbered under site plan review, with the obligation to bring even the most trivial improvements before the board. Changes that many residents could make as of right were closed off to property owners once they had fallen under site plan review. Though the article was opposed by a former board member at that Town Meeting, the measure passed resoundingly. That today’s board proposed a measure to so limit its own power made me proud to be a member, and proud of our Town Meeting process. It is also evidence of the change represented by today’s board that has benefited the citizens of Lincoln.
The challenges to Lincoln come largely from the world around us—changes to demographics, the economics of retail, the cost of public infrastructure, development in towns around us that impact our residents without benefiting them, and even the legalization of marijuana. With the newly professionalized board and Planning Department that is bringing hundreds of thousands of grant dollars to Lincoln for civic improvements, and with the level of civic engagement in the town, I see a tremendous opportunities to respond to these challenges in ways that continue to preserve and increase the health and character of the town.
The opportunities presented by having our own rail station, world-class cultural facilities, and spectacular rural landscapes in conservation allow Lincoln to punch well above its weight as a vibrant, diverse, and engaging community. My experience with Town Meeting since first attending on our arrival in 2012 leaves me with nothing but respect for direct democracy, and I have seen time and time again where authentic discourse has led to great results.
Lincoln voters have affirmed a ban on cannabis retail businesses in Lincoln that was first passed at a Special Town Meeting in October 2018.
