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

My Turn

My Turn: Misconceptions about the Housing Choice Act

By Bob Domnitz

It’s distressing to see the continuing confusion about the HCA and the town’s response to the HCA. From my perspective as a former member of the Planning Board and Housing Choice Act Working Group, I will address two of the most common misconceptions.

Misconception #1: The HCA falls particularly hard on Lincoln.

— No, the HCA does not fall hard on Lincoln. We can easily comply.

Misconception #2: The HCA is complex…too complex for residents to understand.

— No, the law is not complex. Town leadership’s response to the law is complex. Near the beginning of presentations made by town leadership, the following principle is stated: Rezone near public transportation and town amenities.

This is a policy decision made by our town that goes far beyond the requirements of state law. State law only requires that our town locate 20% of the rezoning near public transportation. At a webinar held in early 2022 that town staff and I attended, the state agency that administers the HCA recognized that some towns would be unduly burdened by the new law. To illustrate their point, they showed a map of one town’s neighborhood around its commuter rail station. The town had significant wetlands, conservation land, and other land that was not developable. That town was Lincoln. In recognition of this undue burden, the guidelines issued by the state agency in August 2022 allowed towns to place some rezoning anywhere in town if they didn’t have much developable land near public transportation. Lincoln was one such town. Under the state agency’s guidelines, Lincoln was given flexibility to put 80% of its rezoning anywhere in town.

The complexity of the town’s response to the HCA is, in large part, a consequence of the town’s decision to disregard the flexibility given us by the state. There is no undue burden imposed upon us by the state. We have created the undue burden.

I’ve stated above that we can easily comply with the HCA. We need eight acres of land rezoned near the train station and 34 acres rezoned at a suitable location, anywhere in town. There are myriad combinations of land parcels that would meet the criteria. It’s not worth debating whether we should comply with the HCA. It’s not worth debating whether the state’s requirements fall harshly on Lincoln. It’s not worth debating whether the state has properly accounted for housing at Hanscom Air Force Base. We can comply. We should comply. We can easily comply.

A sound approach to the HCA would adopt a simple plan that achieves compliance. We would then be free to pursue our goals for affordable housing and mall redevelopment outside the formulaic, rigid constraints of the HCA. For example, we could choose to rezone Lewis Street, the mall, the south side of Lincoln Road, Codman Road, etc., with zoning decisions made by Town Meeting in the traditional manner, without the arbitrary constraints of the HCA. Importantly, we would be able to invoke the town’s inclusionary housing requirement to provide more affordable housing than the HCA allows.

I wish town leadership would trust residents to make these decisions. Instead, town leadership has chosen to combine three elements — HCA compliance, housing, and mall redevelopment — into one omnibus package. Because the package includes HCA compliance, it spreads the coercive urgency of the HCA’s deadline onto the other two elements of the package: housing and mall redevelopment. That’s what has led to the rush for action on the entire package. That’s what has led to the complexity of the package. Residents might have wanted to deal with housing and the mall separately from HCA compliance, but town leadership did not give us that option in December and we are not being given that option now.

The town’s initial decision to locate all rezoning at Lincoln Station, disregarding the flexibility given to us by the state, has led to the complex hodgepodge of subdistricts that we’ll be voting on in March. It may have been hard to foresee that we’d end up here as a result of the simple choice to put the entire HCA district at Lincoln Station. But sometimes, when you get to the end of a design process, you realize that initial decisions need to be re-examined. We are at such a time. We should rethink the initial decision to comply with the HCA by rezoning only near public transportation and town amenities.

Several years ago, the state changed the Zoning Act to allow a simple majority at town meetings to approve multifamily housing-related zoning amendments. Under prior law, these zoning amendments required a two-thirds supermajority vote for adoption. At our December 2023 Town Meeting, a scaled-down zoning plan was presented by a group of residents. Their plan got 37% of the vote, even though they were denied the opportunity to give a cohesive presentation. If that vote is replicated at our March Annual Town Meeting, leadership’s omnibus zoning package may pass as the least popular, most divisive zoning amendment in Lincoln’s history.

I urge town leadership to withdraw their plan and work with residents to craft a simpler plan that we can all support.

Bob Domnitz (Lincoln Planning Board, 2003-2015; 2020-2023 Housing Choice Act Working Group, 2022-2023)
bobdom333@hotmail.com

If any residents would like to discuss this with me, please send me a private email with your phone number and I’ll call you back as soon as I’m able.

“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.

My Turn: Vander Meulen endorses Glass for reelection

By Allen Vander Meulen

As some might recall, I was Jennifer Glass’s challenger during her first campaign for Select Board in 2017.

I must say, I got royally stomped in that election, receiving about 10% of the vote. But the outcome was no surprise: Jennifer clearly had the experience, temperament, and talent needed for such a challenging position, while at the time I was still relatively unknown and unproven.

In that campaign, I came to deeply respect and admire Jennifer, and that respect and admiration have only grown since. Jennifer listens carefully to all of her constituents (and her opponents too, as I learned). She is not afraid to rethink her approach or path when new information is presented, or it is clear the current path is not workable. She is very clear and consistent in her determination to make Lincoln a more just, welcoming, and livable community for all. And she has proven herself to be adept at constantly educating herself about, and navigating, the extremely intricate and challenging legal, regulatory and political landscape within which Lincoln exists.

While I have great respect for one of the other candidates challenging her (I do not know the third candidate at all), it is clear to me that Jennifer Glass is by far the best choice for the position. This is not just because of her past record, but also because she continues to be a creative, knowledgable, deeply thoughtful, forward-thinking, and energetic leader. Such qualities are absolutely necessary for those who wish to lead our community in confronting the challenges we face.

Please join me in re-electing Jennifer Glass to the Select Board.

“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.

My Turn: Postlethwait announces candidacy for Planning Board

By Sarah Postlethwait

I am announcing my candidacy for Planning Board, and hope that my focus on critical thinking, thoroughly researched planning and inclusive dialogue will bring value to Lincoln and win your vote.

I have a background in education, and I enjoy comprehensively analyzing information and breaking it down so it can be explained to a large audience. As the marketing director for the Boston and Canadian branches of a global company, I have practice in navigating a constantly shifting commerce terrain while working with a team to achieve our diverse business goals.

When I moved to Lincoln with my husband 14 years ago, I was attracted to the open space and farmland that reminded me of my childhood in Ohio. Since then, we have welcomed three children who enjoy all the benefits of growing up in this beautiful town surrounded by a community with similar values. We love walking to Drumlin and Codman farms, visiting the fantastic children’s department at the library, and we have thoroughly enjoyed participating in the wonderful offerings of LincFam and the Recreation Department.

Although I have been an active voice at Planning Board and other housing meetings for a decade, I am growing increasingly concerned about the town’s future. Current leadership is rushing towards a response to the new Housing Choice Act (HCA) that goes far beyond what is required for our small town. Instead of rezoning for the HCA requirement of 42 acres of land and 635 units, they are backing a plan that rezones 72 acres of land and allows for 801 housing units, all in one concentrated half-mile radius of the train station. It is a mistake to rush. The likelihood of unintended consequences is too great.

I understand that the town must evolve. Expanding our housing stock will help address the housing needs of our state. At the same time, we need to protect the retail businesses that currently exist in Lincoln, and ideally find ways to attract more. We need to be smart and not race headlong into a plan that may endanger the town’s financial stability and the rural character that we love.

The goal of the HCA is to create housing for families; however, the bylaw we have created for the HCA district is unlikely to interest them. Most families don’t want to live in overpriced tiny apartments without any green space, surrounded by pavement. We need to consider ways to adjust our zoning to ensure that the kind of housing that appeals to families will actually be built. Furthermore, we need to maintain our attention on creating affordable housing units for all types of families. There is a desperate need for homes that are affordable for moderate and lower income individuals in the Boston area.

I am running for a seat on the Planning Board because I feel Lincoln can do better.  Lincoln has a long history of coming to consensus to build multifamily developments and to prioritize affordable housing. An enviable 40% of our current housing stock is multifamily. Nearly 13% of our housing is in the affordable housing inventory. We can continue on this admirable path by rezoning only for the HCA-required number of acres and units. Then, as a fully informed town, we (not the state, not developers) can plan for the reasoned and responsible fiscal, social, and environmental evolution of Lincoln.  

These same principles of thorough research and planning, measured implementation, inclusive dialogue, and collaborative problem-solving should apply to all of the key issues facing our town: the HCA, revitalization of the mall, the community center, and more.

This is a future of Lincoln that I would like to be part of, and if you agree, then I ask for your support at the March town election.

Questions or concerns? I listen and I respond. Please contact me at sarah@bayhas.com. 

Sincerely,

Sarah Postlethwait
Proud member of the Lincoln Residents for Housing Alternatives.

“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.

My Turn: A new dog in town

The following was included by Codman Community Farms farmer Pete Lowy in the February 2, 2024 e-newsletter to CCF members and is reprinted here with permission.

By Pete Lowy

This week we welcome our newest livestock guardian dog puppy to the farm! Introducing… POPPY the pup!

Why do we have a new puppy? I’m sure the next question is can folks pet it (no), and where is it (it’s a secret). Aww, that’s mean. It’s not meant to be! Our dogs are not pets, but rather working animals, so we try and give them the respect (and space) the need and deserve. But we do like folks to know the latest happenings on the farm so…read on!

We have a new pup, because our dearest, sweetest, most beautiful Sophie will soon be moving to South Carolina with Alyssa, our farm store manager. Yes, Alyssa will soon be leaving us too (her official goodbye letter will be coming soon), and yes she is adopting Sophie, much to her (and our) delight. They are best buds and while we are so happy for both of them — we are also simultaneously deeply saddened in our heart of hearts to see them leave us.

Poppy the puppy and Pete Lowy’s son Abe.

The short backstory on why we are saying goodbye to Sophie is that last year she developed a naughty habit. While always a great, and very sweet (if not a bit jumpy) livestock guardian dog, Sophie developed a habit of sneaking under the chicken fences and sometimes chasing down innocent dog walkers as they passed by the chickens on Codman South Field. This scared the bejesus out of many folks who were not expecting Sophie to dash through (or under) the fence line at full stride, while also barking like a raving lunatic at them. Now, Sophie is a sweetie and she never ever was aggressive in the biting sort of way and I’m sure she just felt she was doing her job – but these momentary outbursts of energy weren’t that fun for anyone to experience. We tried again and again to tighten up the fences and to train her to stop the antics but we were ultimately unsuccessful. The only way we found to keep her contained was by adding a single strand of very electrified fencing at the inside base of the fences. This works most of the time, but it’s much too time-consuming for us to manage daily and was only a stop-gap solution. In the end, we decided replacing Sophie was the best solution.

At the same time Sophie was displaying this maddening behavior, Alyssa also was starting to bond with her. Alyssa is an animal lover through and through and would often visit Sophie in the field — and they developed a strong love for one another. Alyssa was there for Sophie when she needed a little extra TLC for the occasional bug bite or other minor ailments from living outdoors, and Sophie learned to trust Alyssa deeply during these visits.

So, in the end, this is as good a resolution as one can find in this kind of circumstance. Livestock Co-Managers Aimee and Abby get to train a new livestock guardian dog – and Alyssa gets a new best friend to keep her company as she settles into her new farming life in South Carolina. And we couldn’t be happier that Sophie and Alyssa will have each other during their transition and that we also get to spread a little bit of our best peeps from Codman Farm down south. We will miss them so much!

“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.

My Turn: Updates on the town’s two solar energy projects

By Jim Hutchinson, Select Board

A number of folks have expressed interest in the status of the solar projects in progress at the transfer station and Lincoln School, so I thought I’d post an update. I am the Select overseeing the transfer station project and I was also a member of the PPA [power purchase agreement] subcommittee that advised the School Committee on the Lincoln School solar project. For this update I also got input from Buck Creel, the Lincoln School staff member overseeing the Lincoln School solar project.

What solar project is Lincoln doing at the transfer station?

After years of effort, careful negotiations with the National Park Service, discussions with neighbors on Mill Street, and a successful competitive bidding process, Lincoln is now finalizing final details of a Power Purchase Agreement (“PPA”) with the New Jersey-based firm HESP to construct and operate a 1.4MW solar PV system for our benefit on top of the capped landfill next to the transfer station, which we expect to generate enough green electricity to cover the amount of municipal electricity that has historically been used by the town net of the Lincoln School. As an added benefit to the town, while we are doing this construction work, with the input of the Conservation Commission and the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee, we will also construct a bikeable and walkable path connecting Mill Street to the transfer station access road.

What is the expected schedule for the transfer station solar project?

We are currently working our way through the local, state, and utility permitting processes. We received Conservation Commission approval for the project in November 2023 and hope to get Planning Board approval this March. We hope to get approval from the MassDEP by June, and from Eversource by the end of the summer. HESP will then order the equipment and begin installation, hopefully in the Fall of 2024, or Spring of 2025 at the latest. Construction is expected to take four months, and equipment startup one additional month. We hope to be generating electricity by the Fall of 2025.

What is the solar project at Lincoln School?

The School Committee signed a PPA Agreement with TotalEnergies (previously SunPower) back in 2022 to install 1.2MW of rooftop and parking lot canopy solar PV as well as 562KW of battery storage. We expect this system to generate enough electricity to cover the expected usage at Lincoln School and thereby make the school “net zero” overall. In addition, the battery system should help us minimize the dreaded “demand charges” from Eversource that occur if our generation plus battery supply doesn’t meet our spot demand and we have to draw power from the grid at peak times. The technical approach taken in this project was somewhat novel for municipal projects in that it is “behind the meter,” meaning that a good chunk of the solar power generated by the panels is used directly by the School and is not shipped out to Eversource, and thus we do not have to pay distribution charges on that amount.

I see the solar panels have been installed at Lincoln School rooftops and carport canopies. Are they live?

No. TotalEnergies has encountered a number of setbacks that have delayed the completion of this project, including supply chain issues, issues with Eversource needing to adopt new policies and procedures for our novel “behind the meter” situation, and most recently, an equipment compatibility issue between the inverters and rapid shutdown safety devices used on the project, which is the current holdup on energizing the system. None of these delays have been the fault of the Town of Lincoln, although we have done what we can to help resolve the issues quickly while protecting Lincoln’s interests.

When do we currently expect Lincoln School solar to be live?

We are working with TotalEnergies now to finalize the plan for them to replace the incompatible equipment, which will be done solely at their expense. They need snow and ice-free conditions to do this work, so the schedule is weather dependent, but we currently expect the work to be completed and the system to go live in May, and possibly sooner. TotalEnergies does not collect any revenue from Lincoln for this project until they go live, so they are just as eager as we are to do so.

Aren’t we paying more for electricity from Eversource while we wait for the Lincoln School solar PV system to go live?

Yes, although note that the cost to Lincoln for delays is not the full ~$500,000 per year we spend on electricity when sourcing solely from Eversource; it is the roughly $60,000–$100,000 per year we hope to save when we replace much of the Eversource usage with PPA usage. The exact savings we might have enjoyed are not possible to calculate since we do not know exactly how much power the panels would have produced over the period.

Can we recover that extra cost due to delays from TotalEnergies?

Possibly, for some amount related to the guaranteed production of the system, since we don’t have any actual production. We did negotiate for and got language in the PPA agreement that addresses costs associated with some delays in getting the system live. With town counsel’s help, we are reviewing the town’s rights, the expected dollar amount that might be recoverable, the likelihood such events will be judged to be force majeure and thus not be eligible for recovery, and the impact pursuing a recovery could have on what is the beginning of a 25-year relationship with this developer. Subsequently we will advise the School Committee, who will make the ultimate determination on whether the town pursues a recovery.

Once these two solar projects are live, will Lincoln be “net zero” regarding municipal electricity use?

Yes, these projects are expected to generate enough green electricity to cover our municipal electricity usage, although note that in the case of Lincoln School the sizing was done based on expected usage, and in the non-school case we are sizing while considering historical usage. Periodic reassessment of our “green coverage” will be needed. Also, new uses to the town, such as a possible community center or increased adoption of electric vehicles by the town, may require additional solar power in the future to keep the town “net zero.”

“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.

My Turn: Why I’m voting “no” twice on March 23

(Editor’s note: Lang is a member of the Green Energy Committee but is speaking in his capacity as a private citizen.)

By Ed Lang

I am distressed when I think of how a “yes” vote for a community center and a “yes” for HCA rezoning of the mall will:

  • Add hundreds of tons of greenhouse gas to the atmosphere, even though the new buildings would be net zero
  • Add at least $21,640 in property tax for median Lincoln homeowners over the next 30 years
  • Lose the chance for seniors to revitalize the existing mall with COA spaces for senior activities and private appointments within walking distance of grocery store, sandwich shop, walking trails and modest multifamily housing

Lincoln has done so much right over the years. I am encouraged that Lincoln has a long history of care for the environment, preserving the rural feel of the town with farming and undeveloped open space. Thanks to the 1955 establishment of the Rural Land Foundation (RLF), 40% of Lincoln is protected by conservation restrictions. Lincoln has also balanced conservation, open space and rural feeling with commitment to diversity and inclusion, adding 800 multi-family homes to the 1,200 single-family homes with mostly two-acre lots.

In the 21st century, Lincoln has shown a commitment to sustainability. We became a Massachusetts Green Community and committed to an Energy Stretch Code with 20% municipal energy reduction in 2008. In 2013, the town offices were renovated and designed for a 55% reduction in energy use. In 2019, the school renovation design specified reduced energy use to EUI23, net zero and zero carbon. In 2022, Lincoln specified no new gas hookups and encouraged increased adoption of green electricity through community choice. In 2023, Lincoln’s Climate Action Plan recognized the importance of reducing emissions in municipal buildings, homes and cars.

Now I want to avoid adding the emissions that come along with new buildings. As a member of the Green Energy Committee for over a decade, I have helped the town focus on reducing energy use and emissions in town buildings. But emissions generated by the construction of new buildings — manufacturing, processing, transportation, and use of materials — dwarf operating emissions. These emissions are called embodied carbon, and they are vast and measurable.

Lincoln has an abundance of municipal and residential building stock. I suggest we renovate as many existing buildings as we can for the community center and apply HCA rezoning in a way that avoids demolition and rebuilding. As a town, we could use the same common sense we apply to our personal decisions.

  • Repair and maintain buildings.
  • Renovate, recycle, and consider adaptive reuse of buildings as we did with town offices.
  • If a new building must be built, ensure that products with certified low (or negative!) embodied carbon are used in construction.
  • Add high-density zoning where no existing multifamily units or key town locations could be targeted for by-right demolition.

We don’t need to build new at the school campus and the mall. The town can rent available spaces or contract for the use of venues, supporting town institutions.

I prefer taking time this year to carefully rethink our choices. That’s why I’m voting “no” twice on March 23.

“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.

My Turn: A veteran tackled his blind spot and tells the story

By Lawrence Climo

I’m a retired psychiatrist. Sometimes I write. Many years ago, growing frustrated by the growing toxicity of civil discourse in our split nation, I wanted to find a way to stop it. Like everyone else, I complained but kept indulging it, but I also began gathering research material and playing with hypothetical ideas. I even began writing a book. Although my data and those ideas led nowhere, I kept trying. Eventually, out of ideas and frustrated, I gave up, and continued feeling sick about our nation. I continued seeing an illness here for which there was no treatment.

It was only after several years and downsizing and moving and making new friends that I had my breakthrough. Reflecting on America’s chronic split, I realized something I’d long ago pushed from my mind. Hadn’t I once been, myself, personally split? Yes, I had — in the military, when I refused to follow some orders and disobeyed others. From that awakening and those confessions, I realized I had overlooked and ignored something important. Instead of beginning with “us Americans now,” I should have begun with “me and America back then” and then followed where that led. What I had overlooked — that blind spot — was personal, but I knew that despite discomfort and confessions, the America issue was more important.

I fleshed out uncomfortable details of what my military behaviors back then had meant, not just how they made me feel. Dots connected. Memories were revisited that were not just personal and complicated; they were disconcerting and distressing as I had expected, but I also found an unexpected source of support. Reading a recently published book about ancient medicine and healing that was filled with Jewish commentary or midrash, I found that I was not so alone with my issues. Those ancients had their own ideas and some of them were tried and had effect, and it was in that literature that I found what I’d been looking for.

I re-wrote my book, gave it a name (From Toxic Civil Discourse To Saving a World: A Midrash-Guided Memoir of a Vietnam Vet), and found a publisher (Ktav Publishing House, Urim Publications). I’d finally tackled that wind. I’d finally found a treatment that provided the peace of mind I’d sought, along with an opportunity to share it. And what turned out to be the biggest surprise for me wasn’t that the solution (show respect for the other) was so simple and obvious. It was the rest of it. It was the fact that one needn’t feel that respect or even mean it. One had only to show it. Just show it. And, of course, our self-respect is the key.

“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.

My Turn: Updated website offers food for thought on HCA

By Lynne Smith

Lincoln residents expressed a nonbinding preference for Housing Choice Act (HCA) Option C in December, but it’s not yet a done deal. Option C deserves a closer look before the final vote in March. The updated website of the Lincoln Residents for Housing Alternatives (LRHA) is a great way to learn more.

First, a bit of background if you haven’t been closely following the HCA debate. The Commonwealth is requiring Lincoln to rezone 42 acres for multifamily housing to help solve the state housing crisis. In the rezoned areas, developers can build, on a by-right basis with no Town Meeting vote, 635 units of apartment/condo complexes. Lincoln’s Planning Board is working with an official committee called the HCA Working Group (HCAWG) to deal with compliance.

There are many others in town who have been following the process although they were not appointed to or allowed to be part of HCAWG. They coalesced informally as the LRHA in October and November 2023 as a grassroots organization to develop more options for HCA compliance. Some in the group are fairly new to Lincoln and others have lived here for decades. Many live close to the area that will be most affected by the rezoning.  Others, like me, live farther away. We are all united in our desire to be careful what we do, especially in the center of town.

LRHA offered Option E as one of the alternatives presented by HCAWG at the December 2, 2023 Special Town Meeting, where it received 38% of the vote while Option C received 55%. Since then, the LRHA folks, who are good at economic analysis, in-depth research, number crunching, website design and creative thinking, have updated their website to make it clear that Option C requires a second look, especially because all the rezoning occurs within a half mile of the train station, our village center.

Voting against Option C does not mean Lincoln will not comply with the Housing Choice Act. Instead, it means we need to spend more time developing the options. Lincoln has until December 2024 to submit a rezoning design to the state.

As a supporter of Option E and the LRHA, I reviewed the analysis offered on the website and I recommend that everyone who cares about Lincoln do the same. Your vote at Town Meeting is up to you, but I think you will find the analysis raises interesting questions and suggests possibilities you may not have considered. Nerds will love the analysis and detail on the website. Non-nerds will love the beautiful Lincoln photos on the banner headings, the helpful information, and the illustration of potential rezoned development. Everyone will benefit from a close look at the issues surrounding Option C.  Here are highlights from my review.

HCA and Lincoln

This section lays out what the Housing Choice Act has asked Lincoln to do, compares Lincoln to other nearby towns, and includes maps of the areas zoned under Option C. The affected properties are listed in greater detail than shown on the town’s official website.  A section called Picture This includes an eye-opening visualization of what large apartment blocks on the mall, Codman Road, and Lewis Street could look like. Myths vs. Facts corrects some of the erroneous impressions that have resulted from discussions of this complex issue.

Topics of Interest
  • The section on Taxes contains analysis of Lincoln’s cost per student and the potential tax increase if more than 100 children enter Lincoln’s primary and high school.
  • Retail Presence discusses the risk to our commercial center and focuses on the plans offered by the Rural Land Foundation (RLF). This topic has been discussed at length in committee meetings and the RLF is modifying plans in response to concerns.
  • Housing Costs addresses the affordability issue. We want to help solve the housing crisis but we don’t think hundreds of high-cost luxury condos or apartments will do that. The revised zoning bylaws give developers the option of reducing affordable unit quantities below even the HCA threshold of 10%.
  • Parking and Circulation issues include descriptions of past studies and a request for new ones to gauge the impact of potential development. These analytical sections will excite many who know that the devil is in the details of the numbers.
  • Neighborhood Perspectives describes the concerns of many who live in South Lincoln where Option C zoning is concentrated. We all need to hear these concerns.
Other information
  • Open Questions — This is an open-ended list of questions raised by many who want to understand such things as parking, setbacks, and the Subsidized Housing Inventory (SHI). Getting answers to these questions will help us understand the impact of what has been called a “zoning exercise.” It is an exercise now but could lead to legally binding decisions in the future.
  • A Calendar of committee meetings offers a good reminder of upcoming Planning Board and HCAWG discussions.
  • News includes summaries of meetings as well as Lincoln Squirrel and Lincoln Talk reprints.

The people behind the website are included in the LRHA Supporters list. I am proud to be named though I did not help create it. In my opinion, it is a highly professional response to the nuanced and complicated topic of HCA zoning and I hope you will take a look soon. Here is the LRHA homepage link.

Remember to come to Town Meeting on March 23 to vote on this important topic that will affect Lincoln for decades to come.

“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.

My Turn: Taylor seeks reelection to Planning Board

By Gary Taylor

Fellow Lincolnites,

I write to ask your support for reelection to the Planning Board for a three-year term. When I initially ran for the board six years ago, my objective was to reorient its attention from micromanaging what Lincoln residents hoped to do with their properties to more forward-looking thinking and planning. Implementation of that change and the addition of capable planning staff have significantly improved the experience of applicants before the board and allowed us to spend more time looking at what lies ahead for Lincoln.

I have considerable training and experience that are useful as a member of the board. I know how to analyze problems, communicate clearly, and manage teams. I hold degrees in law and management (finance and planning). I co-founded and served in the management of an economic consulting firm that grew from two people to 400 with 14 offices in the U.S., Europe, China and Australia. I was responsible for the design and construction of our offices in Cambridge, Boston, New York, and London.

For 30 years I have provided expert testimony in high-stakes energy-related litigation. I also have been involved in many aspects of Lincoln. During my nine years on the Finance Committee, we computerized the town’s accounting and integrated budgeting for the town and schools. While on the Housing Commission and Lincoln’s Affordable Housing Trust, I helped add 50 affordable housing units. In three terms as a Selectman, I played key roles in the development of The Groves (now the Commons) and in the conservation of large, key parcels for open space. All of this has taught me what Lincoln values, how Lincoln works, how to listen, build consensus and get things done.

As you likely know, Lincoln is going through an extraordinary period of challenges that will significantly influence the town’s future. Through the Housing Choice Act, the state has upped the ante regarding rezoning to allow denser “by right” housing near our commuter rail station — a big change for Lincoln that could help or hurt our small commercial center depending upon how any rezoning would treat the mall itself.

We must address the design and funding of a new Community Center. A proposed expansion of private jet services at Hanscom Field by Massport poses not only significant local noise and pollution problems, but it would also thwart broader efforts to slow climate change. The 250th celebration is coming to Minuteman National Park with its associated crowds, and Rte. 2A is supposedly due to be repaved. These matters and more give us a lot to prepare for and to do, and the Planning Board will be playing a significant role.

Lincoln has in the past strived successfully to strike a balance between preserving our cherished values and responding as needed to changes affecting not only our town, but also the world around us. I hope that we can continue to thread that needle effectively. I ask not only for your vote, but as well for your participation in the continuing dialogue that will shape Lincoln’s future.

“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.

My Turn: Hometown hero enchants a crowd

By Lynne Smith

Most of us watched the insurrection at the Capitol on January 6, 2021.and have read and seen details since that time, but hearing Lincoln native Winston Pingeon describe his long day — spent mostly in riot gear as a U.S. Capitol Police Officer — made the horror fresh again.

Pingeon described to a group at Bemis Hall on January 19 how he and fellow officers moved from one defensive position to another as the crowd surged forward from the base of the Capitol, up the steps, and finally into the Capitol building. While drafted to work early with his riot team, he was really only warned of the potential for violence on the morning of the sixth. Outnumbered by 58 to 1, the entire Capitol Police force of nearly 2,000 officers along with D.C. Metropolitan police officers soon became overrun, with the National Guard awaiting approval to go assist.

A self-portrait of Winston on Jan. 6, 2021 after he’d been in riot gear for 12 hours.

Pingeon grew up in Lincoln and graduated from American University in Washington, D.C. While art was his passion, he decided he wanted to get a “real job” in law enforcement and applied to the Capitol Police Force. After seven months of training, he joined as an officer in 2016, just in time for the Trump inauguration in 2017.

Describing his time as an officer, Pingeon said he found meaning by serving as the Ceremonial Honor Guard, memorably for Ruth Bader Ginsburgh as she lay in state in the Capitol Rotunda — the first woman to be so honored. Admitting that he had not been interested in politics before his service, he began to recognize and speak with the legislators. In the process, he learned more about what went on in the nation’s capital and found camaraderie with members of Congress, staffers, and of course his fellow officers.

After spending Christmas 2020 in Lincoln, Pingeon reported to his first day on duty in the new year just two days prior to January 6th. He was told to report at 8 a.m., hours before his usual shift time of 3 p.m. As he recounted the day, he remembered being glad he had eaten breakfast in the headquarters building before he went to the north side of the Capitol to gear up and await further orders. Instead of his normal patrol uniform, he donned his full riot gear including gas mask, armor, and a baton.

Hearing about the crowd on the ellipse and conversing on the police radios, Pingeon and the other officers were tensely waiting for a crowd but still not expecting what was about to happen. He showed photos of the outnumbered police force at the barricades, and of him and other officers being assaulted. As the mob surged forward, Winston’s gas mask was deliberately shoved to one side and he was punched in the face. As he was pushed to the ground, his baton was ripped out of his hands and stolen from him. He described how he feared that it would be even easier for someone to steal his holstered gun and turn it on him and others. Fortunately, fellow officers helped him up and he continued to push back the wave of angry protesters. He said it was impossible to even imagine the building would be so violently breached, but that was obviously the unfortunate reality of what happened. Photos taken that day showed Pingeon near the first window area that was initially breached. 

Winston Pingeon in his days as a Capitol Police Officer.

At one point, he responded to an “officer down” call on the radio and went to help but realized that others with emergency medical training were on the scene, so he returned again to the interior perimeter of the building. The siege continued for many hours and a precarious calm did not return until late in the evening when the legislators were finally able to return to certify the vote of the electoral representatives. He described how painful and devastating the events of January 6th and its aftermath were to him personally and to the Capitol Police force as a whole. 

As impressive as Pingeon’s story is, his demeanor after his presentation was a further demonstration of his character. Attendees at Bemis Hall asked many questions, some of which were personal and clearly brought back difficult memories of the day. He shared the self-portraits and drawings he has since created and said that art has helped him recover from this intense experience. He took time to answer us thoughtfully and introduced us to his proud father seated in the back of the room.

Lincoln is fortunate to be the hometown of such a man. We congratulate Pingeon and wish him success in his important new career developing technology for law enforcement.

Winston’s art can be seen on his website at winstonwatercolors.com.

“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.