My Turn

By Lynn DeLisi

Lincoln’s local election on Monday March 27 is going to have crucial implications for the long-term future of the town. You are not casting your vote for individual personalities and their backgrounds, but instead are making important choices about decisions that will impact the town for a long time to come.

One key topic is whether to comply with the Housing Choice Act (HCA) of the state of Massachusetts. It is not mandatory to do so, but there are some benefits that come with that compliance. The Planning Board currently has mixed views on how to pursue this important discussion. Some prefer to jump ahead now and create zoning for significantly more dense housing (a minimum of 15 units per acre for at least eight acres) that would comply with the HCA, even before the town’s HCA Committee studies it carefully and suggests how best to respond. I disagree.

I support a more logical approach to an unbiased examination of the risks and benefits that this significant (more than double) change in zoning will have on the town. (Currently, the target area allows approximately six residential units per acre). I believe collecting these basic data is a must to drive our decision-making:

• What all the residents of Lincoln want for the future of their town;
• What other towns like ours are doing;
• What our town’s infrastructure can support (septic, water, roads, fire/safety); and,
• What the financial implications of development are.

Only then can we make responsible decisions about the planning in the center of South Lincoln.

Thus, I am not biased toward or against development. Rather, I am biased toward fact-based, responsible planning for the long-term future of the town and, most importantly, taking the time to gather the input of the people who live within the region we want to change. I will not vote for new zoning that puts anyone who currently rents a home at risk of losing it. I currently do support Jennifer Glass’s leadership of a committee representing major town boards that will attempt to do this.

We do have some data on what the town wants. Last year, the Planning Board conducted a town-wide survey as a means of gathering input about the future of the Lincoln commuter rail area. Its scientific rigor was lacking, but even so, more than 800 responses were obtained, and many pointed comments  indicated two priorities:

1. Maintain Lincoln’s unique rural character; and
2. Maintain viable commercial activities in Lincoln Center.

Significantly fewer respondents listed more housing as a priority.

We owe it to the town, its residents, and future residents to do our homework, to provide balanced information for solid decision-making, and not rush into decisions that will be difficult to reverse. We need to take time to understand what the people who now live in Lincoln would like to have as a town for future generations of residents. If you agree, then please vote for me in the March 27 election.

In summary, this is what I advocate for:

1. Representing the interests of the people who currently live in Lincoln, both South and North Lincoln
2. Preserving the unique character of the town of Lincoln with an historical and conservation perspective
3. Creating an interesting and unique town center where people can have services they need and find an enticing place to gather
4. Careful and responsible planning, with no preconceived bias toward development without understanding its long-term implications such as for noise, traffic, wildlife loss, and associated financial costs.
5. Understanding what Lincoln specifically gets by complying with the HCA, and weighing the pros and cons of compliance carefully without any inherent bias.
6. No expansion of the Hanscom airfield in any way. Any further noise and other environmental pollution would be beyond what should be allowed for North Lincoln, as well as Minuteman Park.
7. Not supporting any zoning changes that put anyone at risk of losing their current housing.

I am committed to serving the Town of Lincoln and to representing you. As such, I am interested to know your views on all of these topics. I welcome speaking with you 1:1. You can email me at delisi76@aol.com or lynn_deLisi@hms.harvard.edu.

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“My Turn” is a forum for readers to offer their letters to the editor or views on any subject of interest to other Lincolnites. Submissions must be signed with the writer’s name and street address and sent via email to lincolnsquirrelnews@gmail.com. Items will be edited for punctuation, spelling, style, etc., and will be published at the discretion of the editor. Submissions containing personal attacks, errors of fact, or other inappropriate material will not be published.

By Bob Domnitz

It has been my honor and privilege to have served on the Planning Board for 15 of the last 20 years. After many hundreds of meetings and countless hours spent on issues facing the town, I have decided to step back from the daily rigors of board membership. I am therefore withdrawing from this year’s race for Planning Board. I do look forward to continuing as an active voice in Town affairs.

My decision is made easier by the emergence of first-time candidate, Mark Levinson. Mark will bring new energy and focus to the important work of the Planning Board. Mark has been a regular attendee at board meetings for years. As a resident of the economically diverse Lincoln Station area for a quarter century, he has been an important voice in discussions regarding the area’s future. He has a strong conservation ethic and will help steer the town as it evolves while maintaining its rural character.

I also support the re-election of Lynn DeLisi. Lynn and I have been colleagues on the board for years. Lynn has an independent, fearless dedication to rational thinking about what is best for the town, and she is, above all, a uniquely empathic listener when residents ask to be heard. Many neighborhoods around Lincoln have benefited from Lynn’s support. Like Mark, she will continue her work to preserve the character of Lincoln that we all treasure.

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“My Turn” is a forum for readers to offer their letters to the editor or views on any subject of interest to other Lincolnites. Submissions must be signed with the writer’s name and street address and sent via email to lincolnsquirrelnews@gmail.com. Items will be edited for punctuation, spelling, style, etc., and will be published at the discretion of the editor. Submissions containing personal attacks, errors of fact, or other inappropriate material will not be published.

By Craig Nicholson

My name is Craig Nicholson, and I am a candidate for one of the two open seats on the Lincoln Planning Board in the upcoming election on March 27.  As a resident of Lincoln since 2013 along with my wife and three daughters, I would consider it a privilege to serve the town in this capacity.  

In my professional career as director of operations for a real estate development consultancy, I spend my days working closely with building owners, architects, designers, planners, and contractors in carrying out our clients’ vision for their projects. I am accustomed to working with a variety of stakeholders including abutters and municipal agencies, and I feel that this experience would serve me well in assisting the Town of Lincoln’s Planning Board in carrying out its mission and critically evaluating those proposals that come before it.

Additionally, as a member of the Lincoln School Building Committee and former lead of Washington Gateway Main Street (an organization that worked closely with residents, landowners, developers and businesses along the Washington Street corridor in Boston’s South End neighborhood), I understand the importance of hearing a range of community voices to inform planning direction within a community. Lincoln, in particular, has highly active residents who want to be heard, and I believe my experience in participatory community planning makes me an ideal candidate to join the Planning Board. My practical experience in development furthers my ability to support Lincoln in this capacity. 

I am excited by the opportunities Lincoln is faced with in strategic planning for our future. I see tremendous opportunities for our community to collectively roll up our sleeves and continue to work together on our path forward on the Housing Choice Act, the impacts of climate change, the changing dynamics in retail, the proposed expansion of Hanscom Field, improvements to our transportation network, and a desire for long-term affordable living in Lincoln.

I hope that you will find me uniquely qualified to work with you and on your behalf as a member of the Planning Board for the next three years as we carefully move our way forward preserving the Lincoln we know while thoughtfully planning the Lincoln of the future.

I welcome hearing from you to listen to your opinions and answer any questions you have about where I’d like to see the town head. I hope through my experience, knowledge of Lincoln, and passion for impactful planning to earn your support on March 27.

If you’re further interested in my experience, the following summarizes my background:

• I hold a master’s in urban and environmental policy and planning (UEP) from Tufts University, which I obtained in 2008. The UEP program is a hybrid planning program which combines traditional planning with a focus on social justice and sustainability — a focus I believe aligns well with the pulse of Lincoln.
• For over 15 years, I have worked in the development industry and currently manage the operations of Ajax Consulting Services, LLC, a real estate consultancy that oversees large renovation and construction projects across the country. As director of operations, I oversee project planning, scheduling, budgeting and implementation for the firm. Projects range in size from small tenant fit-out projects and mechanical projects with budgets starting in the $50K range to large renovation and ground up construction projects with budgets of $70M plus. Earlier in my career, I worked as an environmental consultant overseeing site assessments, soil testing and air quality investigations as well as longer term remediation projects.
• I currently serve as an associate member of the Lincoln Planning Board, where I was initially appointed by the Planning Board and Board of Selectmen in 2018. As an associate member, the chair of the Planning Board may designate me to sit on the board for the purpose of acting on a special permit application in the case of absence, inability to act, or conflict of interest on the part of any member of the Planning Board or in the event of a vacancy on the board. I was reappointed to this position in 2021. I also served as a member of the South Lincoln Planning Implementation Committee from 2017 to 2020 as a member of both the Placemaking and Village Planning and Zoning teams.
• I have served as a member of the Lincoln School Building Committee since 2017, demonstrating my deep commitment to serving the interests of our town, dedicating significant time and energy to ensure we were able to deliver on this complex multi-year effort. With the winding down of the School Building Committee in 2023, I am able to redirect this capacity to the Planning Board.
• In addition to service in Lincoln, my past municipal experience includes volunteer service on the Town of Hanson Conservation Commission and president of the board for Washington Gateway Main Street, an organization that worked closely with residents, landowners, developers and businesses, along the Washington Street corridor in Boston’s South End neighborhood, to implement the long-term planning vision aimed at creating a sustainable mix of housing, commercial, and office uses in the district.

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“My Turn” is a forum for readers to offer their letters to the editor or views on any subject of interest to other Lincolnites. Submissions must be signed with the writer’s name and street address and sent via email to lincolnsquirrelnews@gmail.com. Items will be edited for punctuation, spelling, style, etc., and will be published at the discretion of the editor. Submissions containing personal attacks, errors of fact, or other inappropriate material will not be published.

By Kevin J. Matthews

The members of the Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School are so appreciative to the residents of Lincoln for your consistent support year to year for our shared resource in L-S Regional High School.  As we find ourselves in search of new leadership, we again look to you all for your continued support.

We on the Lincoln-Sudbury Regional District School Committee are opening up our superintendent search survey again for the residents of Lincoln after hearing feedback of difficulties finding a way to participate the first time (click here to take the survey). The survey will remain open until January 30 and we urge all residents to participate. We know you share our sense of urgency about the importance of finding the best new leader for Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School. Thanks in advance for your participation in this.

Kevin J. Matthews
Lincoln-Sudbury Regional District School Committee
137 Haynes Rd., Sudbury

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“My Turn” is a forum for readers to offer their letters to the editor or views on any subject of interest to other Lincolnites. Submissions must be signed with the writer’s name and street address and sent via email to lincolnsquirrelnews@gmail.com. Items will be edited for punctuation, spelling, style, etc., and will be published at the discretion of the editor. Submissions containing personal attacks, errors of fact, or other inappropriate material will not be published.

By Robin Stuart

This is a letter to express appreciation to the Lincoln Cultural Council (LCC) for funding two Mass Audubon programs at the Lincoln Public Library this past fall. The LCC’s strong support of community events, as well as individual artists’ endeavors, helps build a stronger and more welcoming Lincoln.

Both library events focused on native birds, with one being specifically for families and the other intended for adults. We’re pleased to share that each event was followed by a bird walk in nature. Participants were able to test their observation skills with live birds, study bird adaptations, and discuss why birds look and act the way they do.

Mass Audubon’s Drumlin Farm is proud to be part of Lincoln and the wider community. We welcome residents to visit our farm, walk our fields and trails, see how a sustainable farm operates, and visit with our many animals. Our commitment to environmental and nature-based education would not be possible without the support of local foundations and organizations, and we are proud to consider the LCC both a partner and collaborator.

With great appreciation,

Robin Stuart
Senior Regional Education Manager, Mass Audubon’s Drumlin Farm

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“My Turn” is a forum for readers to offer their letters to the editor or views on any subject of interest to other Lincolnites. Submissions must be signed with the writer’s name and street address and sent via email to lincolnsquirrelnews@gmail.com. Items will be edited for punctuation, spelling, style, etc., and will be published at the discretion of the editor. Submissions containing personal attacks, errors of fact, or other inappropriate material will not be published.

By Jake Lehrhoff

Dear Lincoln neighbors,

I am writing to announce my candidacy for one of the two positions on the Lincoln School Committee for K-8, and ask for your support.

My family moved to Lincoln in 2020, but the move was a return for my wife, Philana, who grew up in town. We were drawn back to Lincoln for its wonderful schools, its strong community, and its wooded tranquility. Our five-year-old son is excited to go to the “big kids school” in the fall, though our six-month-old has a ways to go before he can enjoy Lincoln’s excellent new school facilities.

My passion for schools stems from my experience as an educator. I spent six years as the middle school English/language arts teacher at the Gifford School in Weston, including three years as the English department chair. In my role, I observed first-hand the transformative effect a school can have on a child. While my career has taken me in new directions, I hold onto the learnings from this phase: that empathy and honest communication unlocks collaboration, that collaboration is the key to real progress, and in all things, be curious.

Those learnings still serve me in my current role leading the data science and research organization that develops personalized listening experiences at Spotify. Every day, I work to drive decision-making by gathering data and generating insights, understanding the motivations of the company’s leaders and my peers, and influencing through clear communication to create a better product for listeners.

If elected, I will use these same skills to impartially represent the needs and interests of the students, staff, and town when making decisions. In making those decisions, I will create space for the voices and needs of those not in the room, ensuring our schools are not just inclusive and equitable, but a place where everyone belongs. I believe it is by listening and through empathy that we can make decisions that will benefit every child our schools serve.

Thank you for giving me the space to introduce myself. I look forward to meeting you and learning what is important to you about our schools, and I hope I can earn your support in the town election on March 27th, 2023.

Sincerely,

Jake Lehrhoff
11 Linway Road

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“My Turn” is a forum for readers to offer their letters to the editor or views on any subject of interest to other Lincolnites. Submissions must be signed with the writer’s name and street address and sent via email to lincolnsquirrelnews@gmail.com. Items will be edited for punctuation, spelling, style, etc., and will be published at the discretion of the editor. Submissions containing personal attacks, errors of fact, or other inappropriate material will not be published.

By Robert Domnitz

This is an exciting time to be on the Planning Board. After years of study and debate — and seismic shifts in our economic and cultural landscape — the board and other major town boards and committees have made progress towards a common vision for the village center area in South Lincoln. The vision is reinforced by the results of a town-wide survey in 2021 in which 800 respondents expressed a strong preference for enhancing the commercial viability of the area while also preserving the rural character that makes Lincoln so unique.

Ideas on the table include: modest development of multifamily housing in the mall area, rezoning for mixed commercial/residential development on Lewis Street, and increasing opportunities for accessory apartments in existing homes. In response to strong neighborhood input, the Ridge Road area is slated to remain residential with no change to its zoning. 

Lincoln has done an admirable job balancing and preserving its unique rural character with a modestly expanding population. Most residents would be surprised to learn that 30% of Lincoln’s housing stock is multifamily. That’s good planning! 

I treasure the beauty of Lincoln’s lands and our progressive culture, and I look forward to continuing to serve on the Planning Board as our community evolves. There will be much more to discuss as we get closer to the election at the end of March.

Bob Domnitz
Mill Street, Lincoln

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“My Turn” is a forum for readers to offer their letters to the editor or views on any subject of interest to other Lincolnites. Submissions must be signed with the writer’s name and street address and sent via email to lincolnsquirrelnews@gmail.com. Items will be edited for punctuation, spelling, style, etc., and will be published at the discretion of the editor. Submissions containing personal attacks, errors of fact, or other inappropriate material will not be published.

By Lynn DeLisi

I am announcing my bid for re-election to the Planning Board for the Town of Lincoln because we are facing important key issues that require a commitment to collaborative, responsible, and sensible planning. These issues could have an effect on Lincoln for many years to come.

During my years serving on the Planning Board I have learned a tremendous amount about how towns function and plan for the future. There have been several controversial issues that have come before our board, from renovations of an historic church, to new schools, a mental health residential facility, a new rental development, and the exclusion of marijuana establishments from our town. In each case I have listened carefully to abutters and people most affected and heard the views on all sides, researching the issues and possibilities, and most of all, voting responsibly to preserve the bylaw of our town and its unique environment. If re-elected, I will continue to dedicate the next three years to serve you in this way.

I would very much like to hear your views about current topics now being discussed, such as: how or if we can comply with the Housing Choice Act without losing the desirable rural character of Lincoln, and how we can come up with a sensible community center plan that serves our residents well without raising taxes, or any other I have not mentioned.

I can best be reached by personal email (delisi76@aol.com0 and I look forward to hearing from you.

Lynn DeLisi
South Great Road

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“My Turn” is a forum for readers to offer their letters to the editor or views on any subject of interest to other Lincolnites. Submissions must be signed with the writer’s name and street address and sent via email to lincolnsquirrelnews@gmail.com. Items will be edited for punctuation, spelling, style, etc., and will be published at the discretion of the editor. Submissions containing personal attacks, errors of fact, or other inappropriate material will not be published.