Re: [LincolnTalk] Possible to vote early today?

[Nicole Kaplan]

* But you do have to be present in the room when voting begins in order to cast your ballot. And, we don’t know exactly what time that will be….Sent from my iPhoneOn Dec 2, 2023, at 8:17 AM, Nicole Kaplan  wrote:Hi Sarah,I just spoke to a friend of mine who is doing voter check in today, and she confirmed you can show up anytime and collect your ballots. Nicole Sent from my iPhoneOn Dec 2, 2023, at 8:09 AM, ٍSarah Postlethwait  wrote:Sarah Cannon Holden,Just to clarify with those unfamiliar with the town meeting process. Can people show up anytime today and check in? Or is there a designated time period to check in to be given a ballot? Thank youSarah Postlethwait On Sat, Dec 2, 2023 at 7:40 AM Sarah Cannon Holden <sarahcannonhol...@gmail.com> wrote:When you check in this am you will be given two ballots. One is for Community Center ~ Article 2. The other is for Housing Choice Act ~ Article 4. Voting will take place for each article after the presentation and discussions of each article. There is no early voting. 

Sarah Cannon Holden
Town Moderator

> On Dec 2, 2023, at 7:06 AM, Pat Gray <patg...@oatbit.com> wrote:
> 
> Can someone confirm if a resident can register this morning and at the same time get a ballot and vote? I hope so, because it would allow many people to have their voices heard.
> Pat Gray 
> 
> Sent from my iPhone
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Re: [LincolnTalk] Antisemitism

[Nicole Kaplan]

I was wondering the same. Thanks for raising the issue, Garrick.  


Nicole 

Sent from my iPhone

> On Nov 7, 2023, at 5:52 PM, Garrick Niemiec  
> wrote:
> 
> 
> Why doesn't Lincoln officially declare we are against antisemitism?
> 
> 
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[LincolnTalk] House Cleaning

[Nicole Kaplan]

Hi All,

 

If someone is in search of a house cleaner, I enthusiastically endorse Rosie
Oliveira. She has been working for us for a while,  and her punctuality,
reliability, and exceptional attention to detail in her cleaning make her
the most thorough house cleaner we've ever had. We consider ourselves lucky
to have found her, and I wholeheartedly give her my highest recommendation. 

 

978-230-9149

rosimeirefl...@hotmail.com <mailto:rosimeirefl...@hotmail.com> 

 

-Nicole Kaplan

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Re: [LincolnTalk] HCA & Codman Road

[Nicole Kaplan]

I think eventually Lincoln will have to comply but I agree that we shouldn’t rush into it. Weston is not hot to trot to comply. There’s absolutely no reason why Lincoln shouldn’t do the same. NicoleSent from my iPhoneOn Oct 25, 2023, at 2:15 PM, maureen  wrote:

 
  
 
 
  
   I agree with including "Not Comply" as an option to vote on.  What do we gain by rushing to comply with the state's guidelines?  Has anyone done a real cost-benefit analysis for Lincoln residents if we increase census to these numbers--including increased costs for services such as fire,  police, ambulance, and roads?  What do we lose from the state regarding funding if we do not comply or delay compliance at this time?  
  
  
   What will be the costs of increased taxes to an already burdened town?  What do we lose in property values if we destroy what makes Lincoln special--the conservation land, hiking trails, wildlife, farmlands, less traffic, and lower housing density?  We still will not gain from affordable housing.
  
  
    
  
  
   My husband and I would vote "No Comply"!!
  
  
    
  
  
   Maureen Malin and Chuck Kaman
  
  
   
On 10/25/2023 9:08 AM EDT Robert Ahlert  wrote:
   
   
 
   
   
 
   
   
Thanks Carl, as always your intentions are noble. 

  


 And I think this is fundamentally what people need to decide for themselves and not have the HCAWG making decisions for the people.  I have been and am still advocating for 5-7 options at the Dec 'Sense of the Town'.  


  


 Here is how I personally would lay out the options (feel free to disagree, anyone, please) ...


  


 1. Full S. Lincoln - current Option C


 2. 80/20 S. Lincoln + other current Multi-family area


 3. 50/50 S. Lincoln + other current Multi-family area


 4. 20/80 S. Lincoln + other current Multi-family areas (what i have been proposing, not yet included in any Options by HCAWG including the "Ds")


 5. Full other current Multi-family areas


 6. No Comply


  


 I ask everyone to write to the Selects and discuss with their neighbors and friends to open this process back up and to let some other voices into the HCAWG!


  


 Also please start paying attention to the Max Units calculations as show in our town's submission to the State using Option C.  Once developer's get control 'by right', I'm not sure own town is prepared to defend itself.  More to come ...


  


 Rob

   
   
   

 On Wed, Oct 25, 2023 at 8:33 AM Carl Angiolillo  wrote:


 
  
   

 
  Rob, I'm glad we're in alignment about focusing on areas of existing density and infrastructure. Several of the options you and the group proposed seem promising. One remaining point of disagreement is how much to value walkability and proximity to transit when comparing options. I don't think we need to become Switzerland or turn back the clock 100 years or for anyone to live an environmentally-friendly car-free life for that to be worth prioritizing.
 
 
   
 
 
  > the Route 2 corridor by far makes the most sense
 
 
   
 
 
  Route 2 can certainly support much higher volumes of car traffic than Lincoln road but it's not an infinite traffic sink. Regional traffic including on Route 2 is increasing and Boston apparently now number four in the world for congestion ref https://inrix.com/scorecard/. Especially if neighboring towns similarly zone for car-dependent developments then driving commutes will continue to get worse -- not just on Lincoln Road but on Route 2 and elsewhere. I'm definitely not opposed to analyzing the impact on specific hotspots like five corners, just pointing out that if your goal is to minimize the inevitable increase in rush-hour car traffic that accompanies new housing then it seems paradoxical to support housing where people have no choice but to drive for every trip.
 
 
   
 
 
  In the short term, putting housing units in places that allow residents to walk to stores and take a bus or train to work reduces traffic even if it only starts off displacing 10% of car trips compared to a similar quantity of housing along Route 2. And in the longer term, even if you believe that the displacement will be negligible today, this provides a safety release valve that allows additional trips to shift to alternate modes as regional traffic gets worse (likely) or walkability/transit gets better (maybe).
 
 
   
 
 
  That's why resigning ourselves to car-dependent development in an attempt to minimize traffic in a specific neighborhood or intersection seems penny wise and pound foolish 

Re: [LincolnTalk] seeking recommendations for landscapers

[Nicole Kaplan]

Hi Cynthia and Ken,

We hired Jerson Ortiz of Jo Landscaping this year, and have been very pleased 
with his work. His prices are reasonable as well.

+1 (781) 290-7502

-Nicole

Sent from my iPhone

> On Oct 22, 2023, at 3:28 PM, Cynthia W Ritsher  wrote:
> 
> Hi Everybody,
> I’m looking for someone who can collect my leaves and provide ongoing 
> landscaping services. Please share your recommendations with me.  Thank you. 
> 
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Re: [LincolnTalk] Roof Repair

[Nicole Kaplan]

We used LGCW Construction to replace a section of roof and repair another 
areaui on a building we own  in Arlington.  Their work is great, their pricing 
is excellent and they are highly responsive. 

 

 

LGCW Construction- Luiz Campos 617-595-3531

 

Nicole

 

From: Lincoln  On Behalf Of David G
Sent: Monday, October 23, 2023 10:51 AM
To: Rob Haslinger 
Cc: Lincoln@lincolntalk.org
Subject: Re: [LincolnTalk] Roof Repair

 

Farina Roofing - Arlington

 

On Mon, Oct 23, 2023 at 10:41 AM Rob Haslinger mailto:rob.haslin...@gmail.com> > wrote:

I need someone as well. Thanks Rob

 

On Mon, Oct 23, 2023 at 10:27 AM sarah cannon holden 
mailto:sarahcannonhol...@gmail.com> > wrote:

Does anyone have a suggestion for roof repairs?  We have a couple of missing 
shingles and a leak.

 

Sarah

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Re: [LincolnTalk] Excellent story on the housing crisis, affordable housing & zoning

[Nicole Kaplan]

I was wondering the same thing. Or maybe make all of the units 55+?Sent from my iPhoneOn Oct 19, 2023, at 11:48 AM, Michael Dembowski  wrote:And taxes to offset additional servicesOn Oct 19, 2023, at 11:32 AM, Linda McMillan  wrote:Could we require the developer to build condos rather than rental units in Option C? Or any option for that matter. Don't we want more owner-occupied housing for young families, for seniors down- sizing, and to expand our diversity? Must all 625 units be rental?On Thu, Oct 19, 2023, 5:34 AM Robert Ahlert  wrote:Hi all -I don't think anyone is arguing whether or not to comply but rather HOW we comply.   Option C has some flaws ...1. Affordable Housing - it allows parcels like Lincoln Woods to be converted to 3A "HCA" zoning which means they can be redeveloped with mostly (90%) market rate housing which as you can see from Oriole Landing, is very expensive for a middle income resident2. Traffic - 635 units of residents (e.g 1200 people) in one area will likely have 1000+ cars and while a couple of their trips per month might be walking, most of them will not. We will 'likely' have a mess of cars in S. Lincoln, not just at rush hour, but all day and on weekends.  Maybe that is the 'lively' town center people are envisioning, but not me.3. Visual Appeal - we can have Planning Guidelines all day long but in the end, we are talking about big buildings and a lot of them all in one area.  Think in your mind as you read this about 21 Oriole Landing buildings all in S. Lincoln.  This is realistic because 635 has to be the modeled gross density (per the 3A downloadable model) which accounts for wetlands, septic, and parking).  I have a visual "Lego" site plan for this should anyone want to see how this could very realistically be laid out.4. Pace - Lincoln will be attractive to developers and they know the only thing that has stopped them in the past is 2/3 vote at Town meeting.  That will be gone once the "HCA Zoning" is enacted.  These parcels will be very attractive and as much as we are told this will take decades, i just don't believe it.  We need to be prepared for a lot of development in the next 5 to 10 years with Option C.5. Environment - this is where my understanding gets a little fuzzy but by putting wetlands into HCA zoning using the State maps with 50' buffer, we may even get more density that we are expecting because the State DEP can trump our local conservation laws if we try to block a developer from building in wetlands that were promised in HCA zoning.I think the HCAWG got pressed for time in August/September and felt they needed to submit something for review to the State which they have done, fine, no problem. Now they are considering new options.  But which options?  We will be sending in 10 alternatives to the HCAWG team today to get feedback before D1 and D2 get fully baked.  We hope they will be given time for consideration before the Oct 24 Planning board meeting (next week!).  Why the rush?Hopefully together, we can come up with a better solution.Thanks,RobOn Wed, Oct 18, 2023 at 8:06 PM Ken Hurd  wrote:Hello LincolnTalkers,I do not wish to rub salt in anybody’s wounds, and I certainly understand the anxiety around the possibility of change, but I’d like to remind everyone why the Housing Choice Act was enacted, not in the first place, but as a last resort.  In many of Boston’s surrounding suburbs, there have been decades of resistance to providing more housing using techniques such as local zoning restrictions, concerns about traffic counts, burgeoning school populations, declining property values, and increased taxes to support additional services, etc.  And now, I hear the argument that we won’t have enough affordable housing if we allow any new development.In full disclosure, when the Housing Choice Act first appeared, I was not a fan because it was such a blunt instrument.  However, I now believe its good intentions far exceed the cost of compliance if a community works in good faith to meet the challenges of providing more housing in the greater Boston area. As Bob Kupperstein stated, by the simple law of supply and demand, if all towns in the metropolitan area do their part, more housing will help take the pressure off the un-affordability of existing housing stock.   Furthermore, encouraging greater diversity in the types of housing will increase the diversity of people who can and will live in Lincoln.  This will include the gamut from younger households to aging seniors who no longer want to maintain their larger homes or multiple vehicles, from those who work here to those who share the desire to live in bucolic setting.  I do believe the Housing Choice Act Working Group has done an excellent job of parsing through the Act’s cumbersome formulas to arrive at an optimum solution that not only meets the legal requirements but also the spirit of the legislation.  As an added benefit, their recommendation comports 

Re: [LincolnTalk] Excellent story on the housing crisis, affordable housing & zoning

[Nicole Kaplan]

On a related note re: property values, there was an article in the Boston 
Business Journal yesterday “Greater Boston home prices are getting cheaper in 
these cities and towns” due to rising interest rates. 

 

 

- 
https://www.bizjournals.com/boston/news/2023/10/17/greater-boston-home-prices-falling-fastest.html?utm_source=st
 

 _medium=en_campaign=nch_content=BO

 

Lincoln topped the list (!) 

 

1. Lincoln

2023 median single-family sales price year-to-date: $1.44 million

2022 median single-family sales price year-to-date: $1.8 million

Change: -20%

Single-family homes sold in 2023 YTD: 34

Single-family homes sold in 2022 YTD: 31

 

I think we’ll be submitting a tax abatement application for 2024. 

 

As well, I’m still getting up to speed on the HCA, etc. but I hope that all 
this new housing would reduce our property taxes as well. 

 

 

From: Lincoln  On Behalf Of Bob Kupperstein
Sent: Wednesday, October 18, 2023 3:20 PM
To: John Mendelson 
Cc: Lincoln Talk 
Subject: Re: [LincolnTalk] Excellent story on the housing crisis, affordable 
housing & zoning

 

I agree, with the comment and the article's introduction - protecting property 
values has practically become a divine right, and it is in direct conflict with 
affordable housing.

 

I think, as the article suggests, a good test is whether the people who work in 
a town, who make it run, protect it, provide services, etc., can afford and 
have a reasonable opportunity to live where they serve.  How many of our 
police, firefighters, teachers, town employees, local business employees, etc. 
live here - or could - if they wanted to?  I think Lincoln, as well as many 
other suburban towns in the region, fails that test.

 

-Bob

 

On Wed, Oct 18, 2023 at 2:27 PM John Mendelson mailto:johntmendel...@gmail.com> > wrote:

I had a very different reaction to the article.  Nowhere in the piece did I 
discern that the Globe's Spotlight's team's thesis is that there is a housing 
crisis for those looking for single-family homes.  Rather, the crux of the 
article (and this is just the first in a series) is summed up in the 
introductory paragraphs below.

 

John

 

For Milton’s story is everywhere – it is the story of Boston’s pricey suburbs, 
cocooned by restrictive single-family zoning rules that make apartment and 
condo projects so hard to permit that they are rarely built.

It is the story of a town, and region, that has for half a century doubled down 
on the status quo, or made zoning even more restrictive, all but guaranteeing 
that single-family home prices — rising more steeply here than in any other 
state since 1980 — will remain shockingly high.

The fallout from these outrageous home prices is a sort of economic climate 
change, steadily making much of the region uninhabitable for those of modest 
incomes. Expensive housing acts as a golden gate, and there is a price to be 
paid for living in a gated community.

This is the price: Across this region, the dream of suburban life is largely 
foreclosed by lack of affordable options to the children of those who live in 
the suburbs now, to the town employees who keep municipalities humming, to 
newcomers who might bring new energies to town — and added diversity of class 
and race.

One fact became obvious in the course of this review: The sense of urgency here 
does not match this brewing crisis. Not even close.

One reason may be that swelling property values don’t feel like a crisis for 
those who bought into the market years or decades ago, they feel like a 
windfall. This region, Milton included, is awash in paper millionaires.

But standing pat will suffocate hope — the hope of many now trying to enter 
this mad housing market, from empty-nesters hoping to downsize in the town they 
know, to newcomers seeking to buy a first home as careers and prosperity grow.

 

On Wed, Oct 18, 2023 at 1:15 PM Sara Mattes mailto:samat...@gmail.com> > wrote:

Yes -very inserting article.

And very well written-very readable.

 

But what is of special  note is that the article calls it a crisis for those 
seeking  SINGLE FAMILY HOMES.

Those are the first examples they offer.

 

And, then the pivot is to apartment developments and condos, with no equivalent 
documentation of demand…just the assertion.

It is easy to document the demand for affordable units as there are waging 
lists.

On the other hand, we are not documenting demand for market rate, especially 
high end units.

It seems there is no discussion as to how to meet the noted demand for single 
family homes.

 

Also of note is the graph of where there are a lot of building permits being 
pulled  and where there are not, without also noting that lots of permits are 
being pulled where land is easier to come by, like the Denver area.

 

The real challenge will be how to meet 

[LincolnTalk] Snow Plowing Recomendations

[Nicole Kaplan]

Good morning Lincoln Neighbors!

I need to get a couple quotes for snow plow services (including some shoveling 
and salt application) Any recommendations for someone reliable would be 
appreciated! 

Thanks,
Nicole Kaplan

Sent from my iPhone
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