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

How will you vote on Saturday? Take a Lincoln Squirrel poll

How do you plan to vote on the three issues at the Special Town Meeting on Saturday, Dec. 2? Or if you don’t plan to attend, how would you have voted? If you aren’t a Lincoln Squirrel subscriber, see the item between the red stripes near the top of the right-hand sidebar on this page. The polls will close at 8 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 29 and the results will be reported in a Squirrel post and on LincolnTalk shortly thereafter. There is also a link to the polls on the public right-hand sidebar of the Lincoln Squirrel website for those who aren’t Lincoln Squirrel subscribers — please do not take any of the polls twice. Thanks.

Community center poll

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HCA rezoning poll

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The Commons rezoning poll

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My Turn: In support of Option C and more housing at the mall

By Ruth Ann Hendrickson

I support new and more affordable housing in Lincoln, and I’d like to see most of it in the area of the train station and the Lincoln Mall. I will therefore be supporting option C at the Special Town Meeting on December 2.

1. Option C is the best hope for retaining the retail businesses at the mall. I remember when the roof caved in and Donelan’s was out of business for over a year. We missed them terribly. If we even needed a pint of cream, we had to go out of town.

Retail is struggling all over the country, but I notice that West Concord (population 7,003 per census data: ACS 2021), which developed a large apartment complex near the Nashoba Brook a few years ago, has managed to retain real retail, not just banks and restaurants. I am hoping that with enough new housing in the mall area, we also could have a thriving retail center.

2. History shows that adding new housing enriches the town. Yes, change is always worrisome. When Farrar Pond Village near where I live was proposed, the neighbors were violently against it because of traffic fears. The traffic has not materialized, and Farrar Pond Village has turned out to be a wonderful place for Lincoln people to retire. Recently, because of the cost of housing, it has also attracted families with children, to the extent that they have built a playground.

When the town developed Lincoln Woods, people were aghast — a much denser than Farrar Pond Village, and right there in the middle of town! And yet I know someone who works at Donelan’s who is able to live there, and a friend of mine who has MS is also able to live there to be near her mother. This complex has definitely given living options to Lincoln people who needed it. The proposed new housing would again add housing for our children and those who work here.

3. Our agricultural heritage is safe. Remember, 40% of the Lincoln is permanently in conservation. Forty percent! Those fields will continue to be farmed by local farmers. Codman Community Farms belong to the town and will also remain in perpetuity. The trails we love to walk will always be there. Adding some higher density housing near the train station will not affect that.

4. Do not be fooled by Option E. Some think that, if we chose Option E, we can slow down and develop housing at our own pace under the Town Meeting process. Most of the towns around us, however, will have designated large areas as multifamily by right. What developer in his right mind would risk thousands of dollars to take a proposal to Town Meeting only to see it voted down, when he could easily go to the next town and develop something by right?

The RLF will be unable to replenish their endowment and revitalize the mall in this new housing development environment. Please vote to allow the RLF to develop the mall/housing complex by right. The RLF is a nonprofit whose mission is to assist the town of Lincoln in shaping its land-use destiny. History has show that they can be trusted to work to the town’s benefit.

“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 community center for Lincoln

By Dilla Tingley

I hope everyone was able to review the community center options recently published in the Lincoln Squirrel and the Special Town Meeting mailing that went to all households in Lincoln.

The Special Town Meeting on December 2 is an opportunity for us to greatly improve the inadequate facilities occupied by our very special and hard-working COA&HS and PRD [Council on Aging & Human Services, and the Parks and Recreation Department] and the excellent LEAP after school program. All three are extremely valuable resources in our special community. They deserve proper accommodation.

The 100% option provides a space that would comfortably house existing programs for COA&HS, PRD, LEAP and also accommodate activities of a number of other town organizations, with some room for modest growth. It would demolish all existing ancient pods and provide green, new construction with some architectural amenity that would be a lasting legacy for our special town.

The 75% option is a pared-down version with reduced space, just adequate for current programming and little opportunity for use by other organizations. It tears down pods B and C but just renovates pod A for the LEAP program.

The 50% option, which we will present as required by the Town Meeting in November 2022, does not even provide for current programming. It basically gives COA&HS and PRD the space equivalent to two of our current pods and leaves LEAP in an unrenovated pod C which will require further appropriation at a later, less convenient time.

Our wonderful town deserves and will benefit greatly from a handsome new and spacious facility for community gathering. Please come on December 2 and support a needed and meaningful new building for generations to come.

Dilla Tingley represents the COA&HS on the Community Center Building Committee.

“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.

Correction

In the November 22 article headlined “Panel adds fifth rezoning option after pressure from citizen group,” the Housing Choice Act Working Group vote on whether to recommend that the Select Board add Option E to the December 2 ballot was reported incorrectly. HCAWG member Kathy Shepard changed her initial vote from “abstain” to “no.” In favor were Michelle Barnes, Jennifer Glass, Andrew Glass, Darin LaFalam, Tim Higgins, Geoff McGean, and Terry Perlmutter. Gary Taylor and Shepard voted no, while Rachel Drew, Steve Gladstone, and Paula Vaughn-MacKenzie abstained. The article has been updated.

News acorns

Nov. 27 session on rezoning options

Mothers Out Front – Lincoln invites residents to a virtual meeting about HCA rezoning on Monday, Nov. 27 at noon. Select Board member Jennifer Glass will review how the process has unfolded, talk through the five options, and review the voting process to be used at the December 2 Town Meeting. This will be followed by a discussion by Mothers Out Front members regarding the climate and environmental justice considerations of the various options. Click here for the Zoom link (passcode: 593789

L-S school panel listening session on Nov. 27

The Lincoln-Sudbury School Committee will hold a listening session for students, families, and community members on Monday, Nov. 27 from 6:30–8 p.m. in the Goodnow Library conference room where attendees can raise items with members of the Committee. In attendance will be committee members Ravi Simon and Kevin Matthews. Future listening sessions will take place in Lincoln and virtually with up to two committee members at each. These sessions are not public meetings with an agenda, but rather a casual opportunity to meet with School Committee members.

Scouts are selling Christmas trees

Lincoln Boy Scout Troop 127 is now holding their annual Christmas tree sale at the corner of Lincoln and Codman roads. This year’s batch of balsam firs come from Novia Scotia and range from four to 10 feet tall. Scouts will be selling trees on Saturdays from 9 a.m.–6 p.m., Sundays from noon–6 p.m., and Wednesday evenings from 6:30–8 p.m. Cash only, please.

Wreath-making workshop at deCordova

Decorate your door with a holiday wreath you made yourself at a deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum class on Saturday, Dec. 2 at 1 p.m. or 3 p.m. You’ll learn a simple technique for making your wreath with evergreen boughs and then decorate it with a variety of natural materials such as berries, pinecones and dried materials. Recommended for ages 13+. We will provide a 12” wreath frame, wire, evergreens, and decorating materials (fee includes $85 for supplies). Please bring a pair of garden pruners, garden scissors, or shears. Also recommended are a pair of gardening gloves and an apron. Tickets required in advance; click here to purchase.

Sulinha’s Trio plays for kids

Sulinha’s Trio will perform songs for children and families on Wednesday, Dec. 6 from 10:30-11:15 a.m. in the Lincoln Public Library’s Tarbell Room. You will hear songs in the style of bossa nova and baiao using Brazilian instruments like berimbau and bandolin. No registration necessary.

Session on the Boston Tea Party

This year marks the 250th anniversary of the Boston Tea Party. In a virtual session on Thursday, Dec. 7 from 7-8 p.m., Prof. Benjamin L. Carp will bring to life the diverse array of people and places that the Tea Party brought together, from Chinese tea-pickers to English businessmen, Native American tribes, sugar plantation slaves, and Boston’s ladies of leisure, and he’ll show how a determined group of New Englanders shook the founders of the British Empire and what this has meant for Americans since. Registration required; click here.

Geoff Goodhue & Friends at next LOMA

Geoff Goodhue & Friends are the featured performers at the next Lincoln Open-Mic Night (LOMA) on Tuesday, Dec. 12 from 7–10 p.m. in the Lincoln Public Library’s Tarbell Room. Perform or just come listen to acoustic music and spoken word. Admission is free and refreshments are provided.  Goodhue performs in genres including bluegrass, traditional folk, country, jazz and rock (a la Grateful Dead) and sings in the bluegrass band Beg, Steal or Borrow.

For a slot at this monthly event, performers should email Rich Eilbert at loma3re@gmail.com before noon of the open-mic day) or (space permitting) sign up at the event. Names of those who are signed up by 7 p.m. will be drawn at random. We have a sound system with mikes and instrumental pickups suitable for individuals or small groups playing acoustic-style. Coming to LOMA in 2024:

  • January 9 — Zion Rodman
  • February 13 — Lorraine & Bennett Hammond
  • March 12 — Rob Seigel
  • April 9 — Erin Ash Sullivan
  • May 14 — Crowes Pasture
  • June 11 — Secret Sauce

AgCom newsletter showcases how farms help supply food pantry

The Agricultural Commission’s fall newsletter profiles how Lincoln farms — with funding from the commission — produce eggs and vegetables for Lincoln’s St. Vincent de Paul Food Pantry with funding from the commission. Those farmers include, Matlock Farm, Codman Community Farms, Drumlin Farm, Hannan Healthy Foods, Kanner Orchard, and Waltzing Matilda Farm. Go to the Ag Comm website to learn more about its activities or click here for the fall newsletter.

Police log for November 8–19, 2023

November 8

South Great Road (5:24 p.m.) — A caller reported an unknown party walking near the railroad tracks. Police were unable to locate anyone.

November 9

South Great Road (9:09 p.m.) — A caller reported the railroad gates were stuck down on South Great Road but were in the “up” position on Old Sudbury Road. An officer remained on scene until a Keolis representative responded.

Lincoln Road (12:26 p.m.) — A parking citation was issued to an illegally parked motor vehicle.

Hanscom Drive (2:52 p.m.) — Hanscom Security Forces called for assistance with an individual with an active arrest warrant. Steven Agnew, 43, from Mattapan was taken into custody, booked, and transported to Concord District Court.

North Great Road (3:15 p.m.) — A motor vehicle crash was reported at the intersection with Hanscom Drive. One operator was transported to Emerson Hospital. MMNHP rangers booked the crash.

Wells Road (8:13 p.m.) — Police and fire units responded for a well-being check. The individual in question was OK.

November 10

Lincoln Road (1:25 p.m.) — A caller reported a vehicle had been running while parked for several hours. The owner was notified.

Tower Road (2:58 p.m.) — A caller requested assistance with an on-going situation.

South Great Road (7:52 p.m.) — A motorist reported their vehicle had been struck by an egg thrown from another vehicle. Police checked the area and contacted area departments.

November 11

Aspen Circle (7:15 a.m.) — A caller reported a deer with an arrow in its body was walking in their yard. The deer eventually wandered into the woods.

North Great Road (8:19 a.m.) — A caller reported hearing three loud explosions, one after the other. Concord Police confirmed that the noise was cannon fire for a town event.

Mill Street (10:31 a.m.) — The Cambridge Water Department called reporting an illegal deer stand on municipal property.

Indian Camp Lane (1:43 p.m.) — A caller reported being the victim of a scam

Merriam Street, Weston (9:19 p.m.) — Lincoln officers checked the north end of Merriam Street for the sound of gunfire. The officers reported nothing out of the ordinary.

November 12

Old Sudbury Road (10:02 am.) — A caller reported a past damage to their mailbox.

Birchwood Lane (4:23 p.m.) — A second caller reported seeing the deer with the arrow lodged in its body. Animal Control was notified.

November 13

Nothing of note.

November 14

Hanscom Drive (3:28 p.m.) — Hanscom Security Forces called requesting assistance with an individual with an active arrest warrant. Dante Adams, 35, of Boston was taken into custody, booked, and then later released on bail.

Greenridge Lane (5:39 p.m.) — A caller reported their vehicle was possibly stolen, then later realized it was being serviced for maintenance.

Concord Road (10:05 p.m.) — A caller reported a cyclist appeared to need help. Police arrived in the area but found no one in need of assistance.

November 15

Bedford Road (3:29 p.m.) — A two-vehicle crash occurred when a truck traveling through the five-way intersection was struck by a vehicle entering the intersection from Trapelo Road. There were no injuries reported.

Granville Road (4:42 p.m.) — A caller asked to speak with an officer regarding unwanted phone calls.

November 16

Cambridge Turnpike eastbound (2:46 p.m.) — A citizen found a purse and wallet and turned them in to the police.

North Great Road (3:40 p.m.) — A two-vehicle crash was reported near Lexington Road. MMNHP rangers assisted the operators in exchanging information before clearing the scene.

Giles Road (4:09 p.m.) — A caller reported possible theft of mail. An officer was dispatched and an investigation is ongoing.

Oxbow Road, Wayland (8:40 p.m.) — The Lincoln ambulance responded to the town of Wayland for mutual aid.

November 17

Weston Road (12:04 a.m.) — Police responded to Weston Road for a vehicle on its side. The operator had lost control of the vehicle after striking a fire hydrant. The vehicle had to be towed from the scene. The operator was uninjured.

Concord Road (11:07 am.) — Officers were called to the area for a disturbance between two individuals. Officers spoke to all involved parties.

Lincoln MBTA station (12:12 p.m.) — A parked vehicle in the commuter lot was cited for nonpayment.

Indian Camp Lane (1:30 p.m.) — The Fire Department extinguished a brush fire.

Lincoln Road (3:00 p.m.) — An officer spoke to two operators involved in a possible road rage incident.

Blackburnian Road (5:37 p.m.) — An automatic crash detection system contacted the police. Police arrived and discovered an operator had fallen from a slow-speed scooter. There were no injuries reported.

Wells Road (5:54 p.m.) —An officer spoke to two individuals regarding an ongoing situation.

Battle Road Farm (8:57 p.m.) — A caller reported a water main break. Property maintenance was notified.

November 18

Deer Run Road (12:38 p.m.) — A caller reported a missing delivery item.

Main Street, Concord (2:14 p.m.) — The Lincoln Fire Department responded to the town of Concord for a mutual aid response.

Concord Road (7:33 p.m.) — Concord Police called regarding a vehicle travelling toward Lincoln without their lights on. Officers checked the area but did not find the vehicle.

Wells Road (11:58 p.m.) — Police responded to a residence and spoke to the occupants regarding a noise complaint.

November 19

Lexington Road (12:21 a.m.) — Waltham police asked the Lincoln police to make contact with an individual. The party in question no longer resides in Lincoln.

Overflow parking lot, South Great Road (12:58 a.m.) — An occupied vehicle was discovered in the overflow lot. The occupants were sent on their way.

Bedford Road (9:50 a.m.) — A caller reported a leaf blower bylaw violation. An officer spoke to the landscapers.

Wells Road (11:05 a.m.) — An officer spoke to a party regarding a civil matter.

Cambridge Turnpike eastbound (12:42 p.m.) — An officer stopped to check on a possible disabled motor vehicle. The vehicle was on its way a short time later.

South Great Road (2:40 p.m.) —A dog was reported running on conservation trails unattended. Animal Control was notified.

Concord Road (6:14 p.m.) — An officer checked on an unattended parked car.

My Turn: Option E and more new housing

By Lynne Smith

I support new and more affordable housing in Lincoln and I’d like to see some of it developed as the town has always done it, especially at the Lincoln Mall owned by the Rural Land Foundation. I would also like to see the preservation of our small retail area and a more vibrant commercial center.

At the Special Town Meeting on December 2, using ranked choice voting, Lincoln will select one option to be rezoned as required by the state’s Housing Choice Act (HCA). Lincoln’s HCA Working Group (HCAWG) will likely present five options, one of which was created by the recently formed Lincoln Residents for Housing Alternatives (LRHA) and is called Option E.

The Lincoln Process: ~ 800 multifamily units over 60 years

Over the last 60 years, Lincoln has added almost 800 multifamily homes — 40% of our total number of housing units.* During this time, the town process allowed us to hold on to the rural character of our town while welcoming new families to moderately priced homes, accommodating older people in age-restricted developments, and insuring that over 15% of homes were “affordable.”

The Housing Choice Act: 635+ new units allowed

The HCA requires that Lincoln rezone to allow a minimum of 635 units and gives developers “by right” zoning, which means they can bypass approvals by the Planning Board, Zoning Board, and Town Meeting (editor’s note: as long as they adhere to some preexisting requirements concerning height, wetlands, etc.). A maximum of just 10% may be zoned as affordable. At 635 units, Lincoln is the only MBTA community in the state asked to zone for an amount of units over 25% of its existing housing.  The reason is that the state model includes Hanscom housing in its calculation of Lincoln’s units although the town is not allowed to rezone any areas there.

My Conundrum

I have been struggling with this conundrum: I want new multifamily housing at market rate or below. I want to get credit for our many existing units. While I want some units developed soon, especially at the mall, I don’t want more than we can absorb and plan for all at once. Among many concerns, the following stand out for me.

  • Lincoln Mall: This precious part of town near Donelan’s and the MBTA commuter rail stop is the logical place for new housing. The Rural Land Foundation has asked to have it rezoned to allow for mixed-use residential and commercial buildings. Recently, the HCAWG and the Selects have proposed that a new warrant article in March could ensure that traffic studies, parking, affordability, retail spaces, and other considerations would follow the Lincoln approval process. Option E is the only option that excludes the mall from HCA rezoning and would allow the town to shape the outcome collaboratively with a developer.
  • Affordability: Lincoln is an expensive town, made more so by property taxes, which are not offset by commercial development, and by our wonderful conservation land, which increases land value. Because of today’s high construction costs, “luxury” condos and apartments are now the norm for developers who want to make a profit. HCA allows towns to require only 10% affordable units. If Lincoln wants more, this means the town must subsidize affordability as we did for Oriole Landing—or look for developers who have a good track record for building low-cost, high-quality, sustainable projects.The nonprofit Community Builders, current owners and operators of Lincoln Woods, are committed to that mission. Because Option E excludes the mall from HCA development, the town would be able to negotiate higher affordability while still actively allowing new housing and commercial spaces.
  • Compliance and existing multifamily areas: Lincoln should get recognition for its existing multifamily developments. Rezoning some of these areas is a reasonable way to gain compliance with HCA requirements, which would make Lincoln eligible for state funds for infrastructure improvements such as our badly needed replacement water mains. Option E includes Lincoln Woods, Battle Road Farm, and areas along Lincoln Road as part of HCA rezoning.
Informed decision on December 2

I believe we can find a way to comply with HCA rules and also develop new housing units, especially at the Lincoln Mall, without sacrificing our Lincoln process. Option E will help us do just that. It would divide redevelopment evenly between the village center (45.7%) and North Lincoln (54.3%), would fully comply with HCA requirements, would avoid allowing for a greater number of units than called for, and would exempt Lincoln Mall development from HCA requirements. I hope everyone will review Option E here and be prepared to make an informed decision at the Special Town Meeting on December 2.

*~800 multifamily housing units developed over the last 60 years:

  • 1966: 21 condos, Todd Pond
  • 1970: 125 apartments, Lincoln Woods
  • 1977: 80 condos, Farrar Pond
  • 1979: 58 condos, Lincoln Ridge
  • 1981: 25 condos, Green Ridge
  • 1990: 120 town homes, Battle Road Farm
  • 1991: 25 age-restricted condos, Ryan Estate
  • 2000: ~262 age-restricted condos, The Commons
  • 2006: 32 age-restricted condos, Minuteman Commons
  • 2022: 60 apartments, Oriole Landing

Source caveat: Various online sites for each of the areas named may not have the exact number of units and dates are approximate based on available information.

“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.

Panel adds fifth rezoning option after pressure from citizen group

A map of Lincoln showing the town’s commuter rail stop (purple) and two bus stops (yellow).

(Editor’s note: this article was updated on November 26 with the correct vote totals.)

Residents will have a fifth Housing Choice Act option to choose from in the vote at the Special Town Meeting on December 2 — an option that adds allowed-by-right multifamily housing in various parts of town but removes them from the mall.

On November 14, the Select Board (on the recommendation of the Housing Choice Working Group) voted to allow residents to submit proposals in addition to the four they already agreed on (Options C, D1, D2, and D3). if they did so by noon on November 20. Lincoln Residents for Housing Alternatives (LRHA) submitted Option E, which town officials have sent to consultant Utile to review. The plan calls for adding allowed units around the Ryan Estate, Lincoln Woods, and Battle Road Farm. It also excludes the Doherty’s parcel and the north side of Lewis Street, which has some structures that are historically significant although they are not in an official historic district.

They argue that the mall’s commercial and housing redevelopment should not be included in the HCA planning because it would surrender residents’ ability to vote yes or no on a developer’s proposal at Town Meeting. Mall rezoning should be drawn up and voted on separately at Town Meeting in March, they say.

“This optimizes the town of Lincoln’s control of how we meet the HCA requirements — it meets the spirit and the letter,” Frank Clark of LHRA said at the HCAWG’s November 21 morning meeting. “Our option absolutely preserves the best flavor of Lincoln… this is probably the simplest and most low-impact method of meeting the requirements.”

“To me, the spirit of the law means a chance for more housing,” Select Board member Jennifer Glass said, noting that even if were to be technically allowed, more multifamily housing is very unlikely to be built around the Ryan Estate, Lincoln Woods, and Battle Road Farm. Option E triples the allowed density of housing at Battle Road Farm, but it’s a condo community in which every single condo owner would have to agree to a proposal by a developer.

“We’re trying to avoid actively talking about the spirit of law because it has no real meaning when you think about it profoundly,” responded LRHA member David Cuetos, who added, “Every one of us has a different interpretation of what the spirit of the law is.”

The goal of the HCA was “to create a likelihood of meaningful housing near MBTA stations,” committee member John MacLachlan said. “To ask us to vote for [Option] E is demeaning and belittling what we have done for a year…. Option E is essentially a vote to say no to the HCA.”

The future of the mall

“From a planning perspective, it seems to make sense to think about [rezoning] holistically, as the [HCAWG] has tried to do,” said Michelle Barnes, chair of the RLF Board of Trustees, which owns the mall. There has been speculation that the RLF intends to reduce the amount of commercial square footage (presumably because a greater concentration of housing would be more profitable for developers).

“It’s definitely not our intention to reduce any commercial footprint at the mall,” she said. 

In a November 20 email to the Lincoln Squirrel, Barnes elaborated: “All of our plans to date are conceptual so we do not yet know how much commercial space will be provided. Some of our current tenants may want less space, some may want more space and some may not want to continue operating at the Mall at Lincoln Station. We also would anticipate that any redevelopment may involve new tenants locating to the mall. As part of any redevelopment scenario, RLF’s goal will be to work with all of our existing tenants to accommodate their needs consistent with the economic viability of the mall. We are hoping to achieve more flexibility than we currently have to respond to tenants’ needs and market forces, while still maintaining a significant and meaningful footprint of retail and commercial space at the mall.”

Barnes also responded in her email to fears that Donelan’s was at risk of leaving the mall. “RLF feels it is critical for both the social and financial fabric of the Mall to have a well-appointed grocery store. As demonstrated when the roof collapsed in 2011 and Donelan’s was at serious risk of leaving, RLF is fully committed to trying to maintain a grocery option at Lincoln Station,” she wrote.

No other supermarket chain has expressed interest in the space, she added. “We are hopeful that increased density around the mall, along with the changing risk-return profile from new mixed-use development at the mall, would provide support to Donelan’s and other retail businesses. Ultimately, Lincoln residents control the future of a grocery store and other retailers at the mall by either shopping there in sufficient numbers or not.”

Barnes has said in the past that the RLF hopes to work with Civico (which built Oriole Landing) to design a mutually acceptable mall project, with the possibility of Civico eventually buying the property from the RLF. At the Wednesday meeting, she said “a sale is one of the potential results… but the person who purchases it isn’t necessarily the partner we’ve had this historical relationship with.” However, “we are predicating” any future sales agreement on inclusion of deed restrictions that would mandating a certain proportion of commercial use in perpetuity.

If rezoning the mall to allow some housing were brought to a Town Meeting as a separate issue, “you’d be asking the town to approve a number of units above and beyond what the HCA requires” in addition to Option E, said HCAWG member Rachel Drew. “Including the mall in the HCA is efficient because it tries to accommodate both of these objectives at the same time.”

Split vote by working group

The working group subsequently voted to recommend that the Select Board add Option E to the December 2 ballot when that board meets on November 21. Seven voted in favor: Barnes, Jennifer Glass, Andrew Glass, Darin LaFalam, Tim Higgins, Geoff McGean, and Terry Perlmutter. Gary Taylor and Kathy Shepard voted no, while the others at the meeting (Rachel Drew, Steve Gladstone, and Paula Vaughn-MacKenzie) abstained.

Glass also shot down previous requests that “none of the above” should be a choice on December 2. “The time to say ‘none of the above’ is in March when it’s an up-and-down vote,” she said.

Three community center schemes finalized for December vote

From top: the 100% option, the 75% option, and the 50% option.

The Community Center Building Committee on November 15 eliminated one of the two 75% options that had been under consideration and will present the three final plans (100%, 75% and 50%) for a “preferred option” vote at the Special Town Meeting on December 2. 

Whichever option wins will be sent on for developing more detailed plans and cost estimates ahead of an Annual Town Meeting and ballot box vote in March to approve bonding to fund construction.

Until last month, there were two options priced at about $18.75 million (75% of the maximum price of the earlier $25 million estimate), one with two stories and the other with just one. The committee voted to discard the two-story 75% option and asked ICON architects to develop a second 75% option that would include renovation of the LEAP pod.

On November 14, architects presented the latest versions of the four options, and the following night, they removed what was being called the “75% B” option from consideration. That scheme was eliminated largely because it would have moved the play area that’s now behind the pods farther northeast into the hillside. The architects and committee members agreed that the “75% A” option was better because it allowed for more green space. 

The 100% and 50% design schemes are essentially unchanged from earlier meetings. The 50% option has no activity room, and the multipurpose and fitness rooms are smaller than in other options while the mechanical room is larger because there isn’t any attic space.

“When I look at the 50% plan I kind of cringe — the square footage for the community center is so shrunk. I don’t see how anybody can truly enjoy the space because everybody would be tripping over each other,” Lori Leo said at the November 14 presentation. Leo is the director of Magic Garden but is not on the CCBC.

On December 2, the option that wins a majority after a ranked-choice voting procedure (first by ballot then by standing vote) will advance. The vote to fund the project in March must win a two-thirds majority at Town Meeting and a simple majority at the ballot box a few days later.

Anne deLone Plukas, 1946–2023

Anne deLone lukas

Anne “Annie” deLone Plukas (nee Nolan), 77, of Lincoln passed away on November 13, 2023. She valiantly fought her disease for ten years and passed peacefully in the presence of her immediate family after a short stay in the hospital. Annie will be forever missed; she was a treasured wife, a heroic mother, and an affectionate grandmother.   

Annie was born on January 16, 1946, in Boston, Massachusetts, and was raised in the towns of Milton and Wellesley. Annie is survived by her loving husband of 44 years, John Michael Plukas; her devoted children, Amy deLone Hutter and husband Dr. Matthew Hutter; Erikas deLone, Hans Plukas and wife Cassandra, and Alexis Plukas and partner Richard Goodenow. She is also survived by six adoring grandchildren and many friends.

Annie attended Stoneleigh Burnham and Wellesley High School. She graduated from Boston University in the class of 1967 with a major in English. Annie had a passion for the English language, instilling a love of reading and writing and an appreciation for proper grammar to her children and grandchildren. 

She began her career as an editor in publishing and transitioned into the field of social work for the state of Massachusetts, where she spent the majority of her professional career.  She later retired from social work and devoted her time to raising her children, as well as coaching them in tennis at the junior, collegiate, and professional levels. 

Annie’s unfailing generosity, sharp wit, tenacity, and love of life are her defining qualities. She was a fiercely loyal person and an unflinching supporter of the people who were close to her, both friends and family. Annie’s energy and commitment to fight for the people in whom she believed was a distinguishing attribute. Her interests were highly varied—including playing and watching tennis, public market investing, adventure travel, sun-seeking, and the pursuit of knowledge. Whether she was eating a Boston cream donut, walking to the gym or the tennis court, driving in the car, or enjoying a dip in the hot tub, she would always have her family and a cup of warm coffee by her side. 

Annie’s happiest moments were when she helped bring people together; she seized every opportunity to celebrate life and her community.  Animals were central to her life, and she was a longtime advocate for and supporter of animal welfare.  Her cooking talent was a constant throughout and until the very end; “Annie’s meatballs” and “Annie’s macaroni and cheese” will be sorely missed. 

A private memorial service will be held to celebrate Annie’s life.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Nantucket Island Safe Harbor for Animals (P.O. Box 2844, Nantucket, MA 02584), the Mass General Cancer Center (125 Nashua St., Suite 540, Boston MA 02114), or a charity of your choice. Please join us in honoring and remembering Annie Plukas, a remarkable woman who touched the lives of many. May her soul rest in eternal peace.

Arrangements are under the care of Concord Funeral Home, which provided this obituary. To share a memory or offer a condolence, click here.