The Lincoln Squirrel – News, features and photos from Lincoln, Mass.

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COA activities in February

Want to try out your singing voice outside the shower?
February 2 at 12:30 p.m.
Come join the Lincoln Traditional Jazz Band at 12:30 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 2 at Bemis for an hour of old-time jazz. There will be tunes to try out your singing voice in the comfortable company of other seniors as you join them in singalongs and there will be tunes to just listen to and tap your feet. Either way it will be a fun way to spend a lunch hour as the regulars will tell you.

Lincoln Academy with Police Chief Kevin Kennedy and REACH Advocates Jyoti John and Pat Cooper: Update on safety and security issues in our community
February 5 at 12:30 p.m.
Come to Bemis Hall on Monday, Feb. 5 at 12:30 to hear Police Chief Kevin Kennedy and REACH Advocates Jyoti John and Pat Cooper discuss “An Update on Safety and Security Issues in Our Community.” Unfortunately, Lincoln is not immune to the problems of the world outside our borders, whether these be the opioid crisis, crime and scams, domestic violence and elder abuse, and more. Come hear our police chief discuss some of the issues facing our community and how the Lincoln Police Department is responding. We will also hear about a new project to combat elder abuse by REACH Beyond Domestic Violence from Elder Community Advocate Jyoti John and Project Coordinator Pat Cooper. The COA provides beverages and dessert. The lectures last about an hour, including a question and answer period. Participants are welcome to stay after the program to continue their discussion. All ages welcome.

[Read more…] about COA activities in February

Workshops focus on three main school project options

The Lincoln School today.

The SBC has narrowed the Lincoln School project options down to three, and architects presented them to residents at community workshops on January 23.

Attendees also heard detailed price estimates from another firm, as well as information on taxation and borrowing scenarios from Finance Committee Vice Chair Andrew Paine, who recapped some of the information from the presentation by FinCom Chair Jim Hutchinson at a multi-board meeting on January 9.

The first set of options considered by the SBC was for an “optimal program” of 178,041 square feet, as shown on pages 7-8 of SMMA architect Joel Seeley’s presentation. (The current building is 148,464 square feet.) Those options ranged in price from $115.6 million to $120.3 million, so the committee asked SMMA to return with some less expensive concepts. The resulting four “A” options retained the L-shaped school on the north and west sides of the ballfield, while the “B” options concentrated just on the north and “C” on the west.

The next round, the “essential program” (pg. 9-10) consisted of eight “A” and “B” concepts calling for 158,171 square feet and ranging from $73.6 million to $100.4 million. The SBC and the architects then added back some of the space cut from the “optimal” concepts to come up with five “essential–refined” options (pg. 11-12) of 160,971 square feet. At this week’s meeting, they presented three options (A1.1, A3.4, and B6) as well as estimates for repair-only and repair-and-renovation options.

  • Repair only – $48.7 million

Install new HVAC, plumbing and electrical systems, add a fire sprinkler system, do accessibility and building code upgrades, replace the roof and the older uninsulated windows, do minimal roadway improvement.

  • Repair plus basic renovation only – $59.2 million

Make the repairs above but replace all windows, do moderate roadway improvements, install new interior finishes (cabinetry, doors, etc), and replace the Smith boiler room.

The three newest options call for:

  • Demolishing some or all of the older Smith building (and more, for Option B6)
  • Adding central administration offices
  • Adding three pre-K classrooms currently located in the Hartwell building
  • Adding a central kitchen and a dining commons area that would also be used for grade-level gatherings, project-based learning or extra art/drama space as needed
  • Adding a connector between the Brooks building and the Reed gym

Two of those options (A3.4 and B6) include hubs for grades 3-8—“neighborhoods” with classrooms as well as breakout, small group, special education, and resource rooms surrounding “a collaboration space providing for flexible, differentiated learning,” SMMA architect Joel Seeley explained. Option B6 calls for demolishing everything except the two gyms, the auditorium section, and the 1994 media center portion. It would consolidate the footprint on the north side of campus, adding a second floor on the east side for grades 7 and 8.

  • Option A1.1 – $75 million (15,538 SF demolition, 29,700 SF new construction) – pg. 27-30 of the presentation
  • Option A3.4 – $88.3 million (10,937 SF demolition, 37,550 SF new construction) – pg. 32-36
  • Option B6 – $89.8 million (72,497 SF demolition, 77,125 SF new construction) – pg. 38-43

The latter three options are not optimal in terms of the number and size of classrooms and hubs—”this is a compromise as we think about the budgetary impact,” said Superintendent of Schools Becky McFall. However, they all represent an upgrade educationally, and Option B6 in particular “offers us a huge improvement in the way we can teach and the way in which kids have the opportunity to learn,” she said.

As teachers in the new Hanscom Middle School have discovered, hubs and spaces of varying sizes “have been a catalyst for thinking about the ways we teach,” McFall said. “We need spaces like this to give students the opportunity to work in teams, foster social and emotional interactions, be curious and problem-solve and debate. This allows us that flexibility to be creative.”

Option B6 may also offer the most flexibility for a future addition if there should be a spike in school enrollment, and Seeley said future refinements might indicate ground-level or vertical expansion possibilities. One resident worried that the town could outgrow the school more quickly than expected if 60 new units of mixed-income housing are approved.

Repair estimates have gone up

The estimated cost of a repair-only project has jumped from Dore and Whittier’s $29.2 million in 2015 to $48.9 million for a project beginning in the second quarter of 2020. However, the 2015 figure did not include any improvements to roads and parking, landscaping, stormwater management, or utility infrastructure, nor did it take into account the cost of phasing or temporary accommodations for students during construction.

The latest cost estimates were prepared by owner’s project manager Daedalus Projects using data from the Massachusetts School Building Authority, which tracks all school construction spending in the state. The cost of new construction has climbed from an average of $367 per square foot in 2015 to a projected $471 in 2019, said Shane Nolan, senior project manager at Daedalus. Contributing factors include a building boom in Boston’s Seaport district and construction of the casino in Everett, which are leading to labor shortages and high demand for materials and equipment, he said.

Borrowing limits

Echoing Finance Committee Chair Jim Hutchinson’s statements at a multi-board meeting on January 9, FinCom Vice Chair Andrew Payne said that Lincoln’s bond advisors have indicated that the town could borrow $100 million for the school and community center projects and perhaps more while still maintaining its AAA bond rating.

State guidelines set a bond debt limit for Lincoln of $106 million (the town currently has about $9 million in outstanding debt), but since the bonding would go toward a school and a community center, getting approval to go over that limit should be “straightforward,” he added.

Property tax impacts

What will this mean for property tax bills? If the town borrowed $100 million over a 30-year period, property tax bills could go up by as much as 20 percent, with the average single-family tax bill climbing from $15,185 in fiscal 2017 to $17,702, assuming a bond interest rate of 4 percent (pgs. 13 and 15 of the FinCom’s presentation). The committee’s scenarios use bond interest rates of 4 and 5 percent, though the current rate is just below 3 percent (pg. 18).

To cushion the blow, the FinCom recommends using some of the town’s debt stabilization fund (currently $4.7 million) to pay down some of the balance for the first two or three years of debt service, so a 15 percent tax hike could be “smoothed” to three years of 5 percent increases.

Comments from several residents indicated mixed feelings. While many cringed at the potential tax hike, most also dismissed the repair-only or repair-and-renovation options, and some even wondered whether classrooms could be added.

On Tuesday, Jan. 30, residents will hear about possible designs and costs for another major construction project: the community center. There will be identical sessions from 8–10 a.m. and 7–9 p.m in Hartwell pod B.

Lincoln women rally on one-year anniversary of 2017 event

(Editor’s note: Click here to see Lincoln Squirrel coverage of the 2017 women’s marches in Boston and Washington, D.C.)

To the editor:

Last Saturday, four women from Lincoln—Lucretia Giese, Julie Hibben, Suzy Karl and I—joined the throngs of marchers on the Cambridge Common to commemorate and advance the goals of the first anniversary of the extraordinary Women’s March of January 21, 2017.

It was an unexpectedly mild January afternoon, and the crowd was a cheerful and lively mix of families, students, women and men, young and old (though predominately young), and even pets. There was not an actual march. Rather, one might call it a rally or gathering featuring several speakers from diverse backgrounds, including Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey, Congresswoman Katherine Clark, and Cambridge Mayor Mark McGovern.

Two of the signs seen on Cambridge Common. (Photos courtesy Barbara Slayter)

We four Lincolnites largely milled around the Common with others trying to inch ever closer to the platform so we could hear the speeches and see Healey’s “The Future is Female” T-shirt. While we heard only parts of her speech praising activists for standing up for immigrants, safe communities, health care and civil rights, we had ample opportunity to marvel at the clever signs and posters and enjoy the presence of children clad in pink jackets, hats or mittens, and the many dogs with pink (even pink plaid) woolen coats. I had dusted off my pink “pussy hat” from last year’s march and joined the ranks of pink-hat-clad women!

Organizations touting their advocacy roles ranged from Jamaica Plain’s Grandmothers for a Brighter Future (of which there is an active contingent in Lincoln) to the Boston Mayday Coalition, which focuses on protecting undocumented immigrant workers from the threat of deportation. Issues were also well represented on numerous signs: “I March for 100% Renewable Energy,” “Save DACA Now,” “Resist Deportation,” and “Black Lives Matter.”

Left to right: Suzy Karl, Lucretia Giese, Julie Hibben, and Barbara Slayter.

The expansion of the continuing Women’s March agenda was reflected in the sign saying “We rise by lifting others, all genders, all abilities, all races, all religions.” Noteworthy was an emphasis on respect, dignity, and full equality for all people, which was reflected in speakers who represented not only women from minority groups but also those concerned about prison reform and violence.

Is last year’s Women’s March morphing into a movement? Is women’s activism, whether on specific issues or in seeking office, emerging into a significant political phenomenon? This remains to be seen, but the continuing energy exhibited by women activists is heartening. Posters such as “Grab ‘Em by the Polls,” “First We Marched, Now We Run,” and “See You at the Polls” suggest that we’ll be hearing more from the marchers of 2018.

Sincerely

Barbara Slayter
7 Trapelo Rd.

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.

Clark rallies the Democratic troops at Lincoln event

Rep. Katherine Clark addresses the crowd of close to 100 in Bemis Hall on January 14.

U.S. Rep. Katherine Clark (D-Mass. 5th) advocated for national Democratic candidates running for Congress  at a “Campaign 2018 Red to Blue Kickoff Rally” sponsored by the Lincoln Democratic Town Committee in Bemis Hall last Sunday,

Clark is now vice chair in charge of recruiting for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC), whose goal is to identify, train and encourage Democratic candidates in targeted congressional races across the nation. She described 18 new candidates that the DCCC has endorsed in 16 states from Arizona to New York, with more expected in upcoming primary elections.

These young candidates make up a group referred to as the Blue Wave that Democrats hope will retake control of the U.S. House of Representatives in the November elections. Twenty-four seats must “flip” from Republican to Democrat for Democrats to regain the majority.

So far, over 400 Democratic candidates have registered with the Federal Election Commission for Congressional races—almost seven times the previous high number in 2007. Democrats are encouraged by recent election results in Virginia, New Jersey, Alabama, Florida and Wisconsin, where this week a first-time Democratic candidate won a state senate seat that had been held by the opposition for over 17 years.

Clark also asked the audience to volunteer and support candidates running to replace retiring Congresswomen Niki Tsongas (D-Mass. 3rd) and Carol Shea Porter (D-N.H. 1st). Rep. Seth Moulton (D-Mass. 6th) has endorsed several candidates with military experience for a variety of offices including Congress on his ServeAmerica PAC. Emily’s List is likewise endorsing women for seats in state and local elections as well as for Congress and the Senate.

—Submitted by Gary Davis and Barbara Slayter, co-chairs of the Lincoln Democratic Town Committee

Developer seeks 60 units of mixed-income housing

A conceptual rendering of the interior courtyard at Oriole Landing.

If residents vote yes at Town Meeting in March, a proposed 60-unit mixed-income housing development would help meet Lincoln’s state-mandated affordable housing requirement for decades.

Civico Development is proposing to build 60 one- and two-bedroom units in two adjacent buildings on Mary’s Way abutting The Commons. Fifteen of the units in Oriole Landing will be deed-restricted as affordable; for prospective tenants to qualify, their household income may be no more than 80 percent of the area median income adjusted for family size. Seventy percent of the 15 affordable units will be set aside for town employees and others who work in Lincoln, current Lincoln residents, and those with children in the Lincoln Public Schools.

Civico is holding a series of open houses (see below) in advance of the March 25 Town Meeting, which will include two measures relating to the project. Voters will be asked to approve a zoning change to establish a North Lincoln Planning Development Overlay District and to approve a preliminary development and land use plan for the project. If it gets those approvals, Civico will later have to undergo a site plan review with details on traffic and environmental impacts and obtain a special permit from the Planning Board, Director of Planning and Land Use Jennifer Burney said.

Company representatives have been meeting since October with town officials including the Housing Options Working Group (HOW), the Planning Board, and the Affordable Housing Trust. The Planning Board has scheduled a February 13 public hearing on the preliminary plan. At its December 12 meeting, the board noted that “the timeline may be aggressive for March Town Meeting” but that Civico could always defer until the special town meeting scheduled for June.

On the affordable housing cusp

The fate of the project is important because if the town doesn’t create more affordable housing by the next census in 2020, it’s in danger of falling below the state-mandated minimum. In towns where affordable housing comprises less than 10 percent of the housing stock, developers are allowed to bypass a number of local zoning restrictions when proposing 40B housing projects (named after the relevant chapter of state law).

In 2017, the Housing Commission estimated that Lincoln’s subsidized housing inventory would fall from 10.9 percent to 9.75 by 2020. As of November 2016, 11.17 percent of the town’s housing units were classified as affordable, Burney said.

The Oriole Landing site just off Route 2 and directly south of The Commons.

When at least 25 percent of a given development’s units are affordable, the state allows all of the units to be counted in the town’s subsidized housing inventory. If Oriole Landing is approved, the additional 60 units will put the town “well above” the 10 percent benchmark, she noted.

“We need more multifamily housing in Lincoln. There are so many seniors who want to downsize, and a lot of young professionals can’t afford houses” in town, said HOW member and former Housing Commission chair Pamela Gallup.

In an effort to create more affordable units in town while avoiding a large single development, residents approved the Affordable Accessory Apartment Program in 2017. That program provides incentives for homeowners to offer affordable rental units attached to their single-family homes. However, the program is still awaiting legislative approval for the tax-exemption portion, Gallup said.

$1 million grant

The Affordable Housing Coalition is supporting the project with a $1 million grant with funds from Community Preservation Act appropriations, Phase 2 of The Commons, and a bequest from the late Florence Hollingsworth, whose will required that some of the proceeds from the sale of her Twin Pond Lane home be used for affordable housing in town, she said.

The six-acre parcel on Mary’s Way was formerly Oriole Farm, a working farm owned for decades by the Morrissey family. The property includes a house (part of which was built in 1865 and is on the Historic Register) plus several smaller buildings. Civico will go before the Historic District Commission tonight (January 16) to discuss demolition or other measures.

When the Morrissey property went on the market in 2016, several 40B developers inquired about the site in hopes of building anywhere from 125 to 250 housing units, “but we were able to say no to them” because the town was above the 10 percent affordable-housing threshold, Gallup said. Oriole Landing “is small in comparison with that a 40B developer would put there,” she added.

Civico’s plan has itself gotten smaller. The company initially proposed 72 units on four floors but scaled it back to 60 units on three floors (with a 40-foot height maximum) in two separate buildings after getting feedback from town officials. The current proposal also calls for underground parking for each unit with additional parking along the perimeter; a community building with a fitness center, office space and meeting area; and a community garden and public outdoor gathering space.

Public meetings

The Housing Coalition and Civico will hold an informational meeting on Wednesday, Jan. 31 at 7 p.m. in the town office building. The developer has also created a web page to solicit feedback and will hold open houses in the Lincoln Public Library where residents can drop and learn more about Oriole Landing on the following Thursdays:

  • January 25 from 2–4 p.m.
  • February 8 from 6:30–8:30 p.m.
  • February 15 from 1–3 p.m.
  • February 22 from 6:30–8:30 p.m.

“As developers, we want to work in communities that are creative and open to providing a diversity of housing types, and the town of Lincoln has a history of being resourceful in this aspect,” architect and Civico head Andrew Consigli said in an email to the Lincoln Squirrel.

If all goes as planned, construction could start as soon as fall 2018 and would take about 14–16 months, with occupancy beginning in the spring of 2020, Consigli said.

Officials at multi-board meeting mull campus project questions

Officials shared recent town financial data and outlined questions that will have to be answered about the two proposed campus projects at a joint meeting of four boards on January 9.

Some residents are feeling sticker shock after learning the projected costs for a school project, let alone a community center, but most agree that both are needed. “These projects are about key components of our community, and we need to navigate a complicated and nuanced cost-benefit analysis,” Selectman Jennifer Glass said.

There will be community forums on preliminary design options for the two projects later this month. The School Building Committee will host workshops on Tuesday, Jan. 23 from 8–10 a.m. and 7–9 p.m. in the Reed Gym, while the Community Center Planning and Preliminary Design Committee will host sessions on Tuesday, Jan. 30 from 8–10 a.m. and 7–9 p.m. in the Hartwell B pod.

The SBC learned late last year that a basic project to make repairs and bring the school building up to code would cost about $46 million, while a comprehensive project with more new construction could cost anywhere from $73 million to more than $90 million. A preliminary estimate in 2015 put the cost of a community center at about $13 million.

Selectmen this week presented a detailed list of questions and issues that officials and residents must tackle in advance of a special Town Meeting in June, when they will be asked to vote on a preferred design for the school. Among those questions:

  • How can the value of different project solutions be compared?
  • What are the implications of phasing the two projects vs. bonding and/or building both at the same time?
  • What are the short- and long-term cost implications of making the buildings as energy-efficient and sustainable as possible?
  • How well will the two project concepts “fit” the campus?
  • What are the data from other towns regarding finances?
  • How much can the town borrow and still keep its AAA bond rating, and what happens if it doesn’t?
Property tax impact

Finance Committee Chair Jim Hutchinson updated town property tax data and potential borrowing costs that the panel first presented last spring. A recent consultation with the town’s bond advisor revealed that the town could borrow up to $100 million without losing its AAA rating—up from an estimated $80 million last year, Hutchinson said.

The FinCom also learned that state law currently caps the town’s permissible debt at $106 million. The town currently has about $9 million in outstanding debt, leaving a $97 million new borrowing limit. However, the town can appeal for a higher amount and would probably have a strong case since the debt would fund a needed school project (as opposed to a sports stadium, for example) and MSBA funding is not in the mix.

The estimated median household tax increase—unchanged since last spring—is $275–$310 per $10 million borrowed, meaning a rise of about $3,100 if the town were to borrow $100 million and repay it over a 30-year period, Hutchinson said. The tax rate would rise from the current 13.7 mills (1 mill translates to $1 in tax for every $1,000 of a home’s assessed value) to somewhere between 16 and 17 mils—still lower than Carlisle, Sudbury and Wayland.

In fiscal 2017, the average assessed value of a single-family home in Lincoln was $1,108,423 and the average tax bill was $15,185. Depending on the amount borrowed ($60 million, $80 million or $100 million), the average tax bill would climb to roughly $17,733 to $18,900. However, the town would apply a chunk of its debt stabilization fund (currently at $4.7 million) to soften the impact of the first few years of repayment.

Right now, compared to seven surrounding towns, Lincoln has the second-highest average tax bill but the lowest debt-to-operating cost ratio, the second-lowest tax rate, and the lowest average annual growth rate in tax bills since 1999 (2.7 percent), Hutchinson said.

Borrowing costs

If the town’s bond rating were to drop from AAA to AA+ as a result of borrowing more than $100 million, future borrowing costs would rise, but “it wouldn’t make much of a dollar impact” on property tax bills, Hutchinson said. However, he added, “it takes years of hard work to raise your credit rating… it’s pretty easy to lose it and kind of hard to get it back.” Among the seven neighboring towns, all but Carlisle have a AAA rating.

The financial implications of borrowing one large sum all at once or in two segments a few years apart are fairly minor, Hutchinson said. Borrowing the whole amount at once could save about 0.15 percent in interest on the first $10–$15 million of the debt, but that affects only 10–15 percent of a $100 million bond, he noted.

When comparing construction costs to the lifetime costs of a project (including expected repairs and energy use), “I would put this in the no-brainer category,” Hutchinson said. The FinCom recommends making decisions based on the total lifetime cost of a project, meaning that (for example) it makes sense to spend more on energy-efficient features that will more than pay for themselves in future savings.

Future capital expenses

Looking ahead to future borrowing needs outside of the school and community center, the Hartwell building may need a new roof in 2020 at a cost of about $660,000, and as in past years, there will likely be multimillion-dollar land acquisitions that can’t be identified yet, said Audrey Kalmus, chair of the Capital Planning Committee.

Other possible expenses include a new roof for Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School in about 2021 (Lincoln’s share would be about $300,000), a new fire engine in 2023 ($575,000) and renovation of the Brooks athletic field at an undetermined date ($400,000).

The most recent big-ticket items for the town were $5.8 million in 2012 for the town office building renovation and $5.5 million for a road project in 2009. The next major road project won’t be needed until about 2035, Kalmus said.

News acorns

Presentation on anxiety in teens

According to the Metrowest Youth Health Survey, 41% of L-S students reported that life was very stressful. Lincoln-Sudbury Connections will host “The Yin and Yang of Adolescent Stress” on Thursday, Jan. 11 at 7:30 p.m. in the L-S lecture hall. Psychologists from McLean Hospital specializing in research and evidence-based treatments of anxiety disorders in youth will discuss ways in which anxiety and stress may present in high school students, and they’ll provide instruction in broad-based coping strategies to help manage stress. This seminar will also address how to differentiate normative anxiety from more impairing anxiety disorders, and will highlight treatment strategies and resources for those students and families struggling with elevated anxiety. There will be opportunity for questions after the presentation.

Democrats host 2018 kickoff rally in Lincoln

What happens now after a year of activism, marching, and the recent election results in Virginia, New Jersey, and Alabama? Learn how you can support new young Democratic congressional candidates in critical districts across the nation at the Campaign 2018 Red-to-Blue Kickoff Rally on Sunday, Jan. 14 at Bemis Hall (reception at 12:30 p.m., program from 1–3 p.m.).

Congresswoman Katherine Clark, now vice chair for recruiting for the national Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, will be on hand to discuss candidates and the national support program, as will Congressman Seth Moulton’s campaign director. Also invited: Democratic candidates Quentin Palfrey (lieutenant governor) and Donna Palatano (Middlesex district attorney). Light refreshments will be provided. Sponsored by the Lincoln Democratic Town Committee. Please RSVP to garyddavis04@gmail.com.

Blood drive at Lincoln School

The Lincoln School Student Council is hosting the first-ever blood drive on Wednesday, Jan. 24 from 1–6 p.m. in Reed Gym. Click here to sign up for a time slot (walk-ins are welcome, but preregistration is preferred) and read eligibility requirements. Child care will be provided while parents are donating blood. There will also be a bake sale and a used-book sale. Please donate used books in decent condition; boxes will be placed around the school to collect books before January 24. For additional information, email Jamie Moody (jmoody@lincnet.org) or Keith Johnson (kjohnson@lincnet.org).

Letter to the editor: Lincoln Dems sponsor 2018 kickoff rally

To the editor:

The Lincoln Democratic Town Committee is sponsoring a Campaign 2018 Red-to-Blue Kick Off Rally on Sunday, Jan. 14. A reception will be held from 12:30–1 p.m. and the program will follow from 1–3 p.m. in Bemis Hall. Massachusetts Reps. Katherine Clark and Seth Moulton have been invited to review new congressional candidate endorsements for contested and open seats across the nation, and to illustrate how attendees can learn how to support them.

For those who were fearful and critical of the election of Donald Trump as president, have your fears and criticisms been confirmed?  For those who voted for Donald Trump, do you feel betrayed and embarrassed? Red to Blue Democratic Campaign 2018 brings a rising wave in record numbers of fresh young and intelligent talent—but electing them will only happen with serious grassroots support.

Our own Rep. Clark is now vice chair in charge of recruiting for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) to identify, train, and encourage Democratic candidates in Congressional races from Maine to California. Rep. Moulton is endorsing several highly qualified candidates with military experience across the nation as well. Emily’s List is endorsing women for a full range of electoral seats for state and local offices, as well as for Congress, the Senate and state Governors.

The DCCC is encouraged by the elections in Virginia and New Jersey. They believe we can flip the House and turn red states blue. As of September 30, 391 Democratic challengers have filed with the Federal Election Commission—up from 209 in June. These new candidates are known and respected in their home districts for their devotion to their community values, honest dedicated government, and truthful democracy. They come from every walk of life to seek positive change and make a constructive contribution.

Gary Davis and Barbara Slayter
Co-Chairs, Lincoln Democratic Town Committee

Oxbow Meadow proposal to be decided by state court

The red oval shows the location of the proposed Oxbow Meadow playing field in Wayland, just south of the Lincoln town line in red (click to enlarge).

By Alice Waugh

Opponents of a new playing field at Oxbow Meadows in Wayland close to the Lincoln town line have filed suit in an attempt to halt the project, but “both sides are talking right now” about resolving some of issues outlined in the appeal, according to Sarkis Sarkisian, Wayland’s town planner.

​​The recreational field was proposed by the Wayland Parks and Recreation Department for the old Nike missile site on Trout Brook Road just south of Birchwood Lane in Lincoln. The site would include a soccer field, a 34-space parking lot, and a pathway connecting to the existing Farrar Pond trail network, but no lighting. The playing field is a permitted use, but the town needed Planning board approval to expand parking from the current 10 spaces.

The proposal is the subject of numerous “Save Oxbow Meadows” lawn signs in Wayland and Lincoln, and the issue was debated in an August 4 Boston Globe article

The federal government deactivated the site in 1974 and Wayland purchased some of the land for housing and recreation purposes, according to a Wayland Recreation Department website detailing the history of the site and the various studies that have been done over the years.

The Wayland Planning Board granted site plan approval with conditions on August 8. Abutters filed an appeal in August with the state Land Court and the Zoning Board of Appeals, taking issue with a traffic study and the project’s potential impact on pedestrians from overflow parking on nearby roads. The ZBA determined it had no standing in the case because there was no building permit involved, but the court litigation is still pending.

At a Lincoln Board of Selectmen meeting in July, some residents expressed concern about the possibility of increased traffic on Farrar Road as well as environmental impacts from digging up land that may have been polluted by the missile site. But selectmen and Town Administrator Tim Higgins noted that Lincoln has no legal jurisdiction to intervene, although the board sent a letter in June asking Wayland to minimize impacts from traffic, noise and light.

Other Wayland projects

Wayland and Lincoln share the problem of having too few public playing fields. Last spring, Lincoln approved purchase of some of the Wang property on Bedford Road and is building a playing field which will be shared with the Birches School.

Two more fields were recently built in Wayland close to the Lincoln town line on Old Sudbury Road by the Carroll School, which has relocated some of its students to renovated buildings on  the site. Lincoln officials explored the possibility of seeking field privileges there, “but we were advised by Carroll School that this would not be an option as they are attempting to limit impacts on the neighborhood,” Higgins said earlier this month. The town has not requested privileges for the proposed Oxbow playing field, he added.

A second set of protest lawn signs in Lincoln and Wayland saying “Stop the Monster” refers to another Wayland construction proposal. Developers are hoping to build a three-story residential building with 60 units (15 of which would be affordable housing) at 133-119 Boston Post Rd. on the site of the former Mahoney’s Garden Center, which has moved to expanded quarters at the company’s existing location at Nine Acre Corner in Concord. Yet another proposal for 188 apartments at 484-490 Boston Post Rd. near Wayland’s town line with Sudbury. At least 25 percent of those units will be affordable, and at least 25 percent age-restricted for older residents. Both proposals are in the public hearing process with the Wayland ZBA.

Community center draft designs expected in January

Preliminary designs for a community center on the Hartwell campus will be presented at public forums on Tuesday, Jan. 30 from 8–10 a.m. and 7–9 p.m. in the Hartwell B pod.

At the November 4 State of the Town Meeting and afterwards, the Community Center Planning and Preliminary Design Committee (CCPPDC) asked residents for feedback on a “character study” (a series of photos of other community centers) and a “wish list” with in-depth questions about what the facility should include to meet the town’s needs.

Lots of natural light and views, a place that’s interesting to go to architecturally, and a desire for a strong connection to the site and for the creation of outdoor gathering space were among the themes in the responses to the surveys. The architectural team has since met with Council on Aging and Parks and Recreation staff to discuss the two group’s program needs, and they also toured several facilities to gather ideas for further discussion.

“These meetings primarily gave us a greater understanding of how each group operates today, the breadth of their programs, what works in their current spaces that they want to maintain, and what doesn’t work. This understanding will help us greatly as we start to lay out the program and develop the designs,” an MTA representative said via email last week.

One of the biggest take-aways from the tours of other community centers was about storage—”these buildings had an amazing amount of storage distributed throughout the buildings, but it was not enough,” MTA reported. However, “all the centers that we visited were very active, and they had all seen a huge increase in participation in programs with their new spaces.”