No one is “demonizing” any organization, just stating facts in response to the question as to whether there are developers circling Lincoln.
The fact is that the RLF is planning to sell to a developer to build a 125-unit building in the village area. If rezoning passes, the developer could build without going to town meeting. Good governance requires input from many different points of view and checks and balances. I do think there is a conflict of interest when members of the RLF sit on the group that will define rezoning, when the RLF has a vested interest in such rezoning. Another example of where we’re failing to truly listen to our residents is the meeting today. There will only be 15 minutes for public comment, but many times that to review what has already been presented many times in the past. This tactic of curtailing public comment has unfortunately been part of every step of the process. On Tue, Oct 10, 2023 at 7:18 PM Andy Wang <andyrw...@gmail.com> wrote: > I'm surprised at the demonization of the Rural Land Foundation (RLF) in > possible development efforts and at the same time touting the 'character' > of Lincoln with all of its natural beauty. Isn't the RLF and the Lincoln > Land Conservation Trust (LLCT) , both of which operate as separate > entities, but share the same Board, responsible for a lot of that natural > beauty and conservation in town? Are folks suggesting that the RLF would > suddenly do an about face and suggest a development plan that would go > against its long standing tradition of stewardship and conservation of > Lincoln? That seems unlikely to me. If we had to pick an organization that > would have a hand in guiding a large development near Lincoln Station, I > would think the RLF would be near the top of the list. Just something to > think about. > > - Andy > > > > On Tue, Oct 10, 2023 at 6:48 PM Karla Gravis <karlagra...@gmail.com> > wrote: > >> In response to the question of whether developers are knocking on our >> door, Lincoln’s own RLF has been working with a developer, Civico, on a >> 125-unit building in the mall area (slide 26 of the SOTT deck). Civico is >> the same developer that built Oriole Landing. >> >> It is very important to note that under the proposal, village center >> rezoning will allow developers to build simply by getting a building permit >> with no need to go to town meeting (slide 9 of the SOTT deck). >> >> Given that the Chair and the Executive Director of the RLF sit on the HCA >> working group, and that the RLF will benefit from the development, it’s >> reasonable to expect that this project will quickly follow any rezoning. >> >> The HCA allows for only 10% affordable housing, so we will end up with >> ~13 affordable units and 112 units at Oriole Landing prices (which seem to >> start at $4K per month). >> >> It’s naive to think that more developers will not follow Civico once we >> rezone. Existing Lincoln parcel owners will have a material financial >> incentive to sell to developers. >> >> >> >> >> >>> >>> >>> On Tue, Oct 10, 2023 at 5:19 PM Susanna Szeto <szeto...@gmail.com> >>> wrote: >>> >>>> If we look around town, the multi-family we have in town now are most >>>> tucked away. They do not hit you in the face as the proposal to the >>>> development on Codman Road. I doubt it will achieve the economic diversity >>>> people are looking for if the rent is as high as the Oriole Landing! I >>>> hope we can pause and study how the rezoning will affect the traffic in >>>> town before we jump into this! I have read on Lincoln Talk the developer >>>> is already knocking on our doorstep! Is that true? >>>> Susanna S >>>> Giles Road >>>> >>>> On Oct 10, 2023, at 5:06 PM, Margaret Olson <s...@margaretolson.com> >>>> wrote: >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> Greg, >>>> Conservation restrictions apply irrespective of zoning. The >>>> conservation restrictions on Codman and Drumlin (and elsewhere in town, >>>> including areas around South Lincoln) prevent those areas from being >>>> developed. State law makes it extremely difficult to remove land from >>>> conservation - it has to be replaced with equally valuable land. >>>> >>>> Margaret >>>> >>>> Margaret >>>> >>>> On Tue, Oct 10, 2023 at 5:00 PM Greg H. <gregory.r.hai...@gmail.com> >>>> wrote: >>>> >>>>> All, >>>>> >>>>> Thank you to everyone on the housing committee for your service. I'd >>>>> like to respectfully add my $0.02 from the peanut gallery in support of a >>>>> pause / step back in rezoning plans. >>>>> >>>>> It seems to me that there are three distinct philosophies/options we >>>>> could pursue, but that we are fully focused on #3. >>>>> >>>>> *Options* >>>>> 1. Drag our feet and/or consider noncompliance: favor Lincoln's rural >>>>> character above all else >>>>> 2. Comply in letter but not fully in spirit: where possible, overlay >>>>> new zoning on existing multi-family and/or commercial development to >>>>> mitigate the impact >>>>> 3. Wholeheartedly comply in both letter and spirit: build as much new >>>>> housing as possible near the commuter rail >>>>> >>>>> I understand that many believe we have a moral responsibility to build >>>>> more housing in Lincoln (and while I disagree, I respect that view) but I >>>>> believe as stewards we also have a moral responsibility to maintain as >>>>> much >>>>> "green" as possible and to preserve the rural character of our town for >>>>> future generations. I'm especially concerned that creating a Cold Brook >>>>> Crossing on Codman Rd will both a) unnecessarily cut down a lot of trees, >>>>> and b) materially change Codman Farm, Drumlin Farm, and the rest of South >>>>> Lincoln, forever. >>>>> >>>>> I support increasing Lincoln's diversity (including economic >>>>> diversity), and I realize that #3 might help us achieve that, but this >>>>> feels like a very big step that we might come to regret. I think Lincoln >>>>> is >>>>> special precisely because it is undeveloped - I'm not sure we can have it >>>>> both ways. >>>>> >>>>> Thank you for reading, >>>>> >>>>> Greg Haines >>>>> 41 Lincoln Rd >>>>> >>>>> (As an aside, I'm also not sure I'm prepared for the additional >>>>> traffic the development will spur. Traffic is already backed up almost a >>>>> mile on Lincoln Rd on Tuesday mornings; I assume we will need to add >>>>> traffic lights or rotaries at Lincoln Center and Lincoln Station?) >>>>> -- >>>>> The LincolnTalk mailing list. >>>>> To post, send mail to Lincoln@lincolntalk.org. >>>>> Browse the archives at >>>>> https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/private/lincoln/. >>>>> Change your subscription settings at >>>>> https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/lincoln. >>>> >>>> >>>>> >>>>> -- >>>> The LincolnTalk mailing list. >>>> To post, send mail to Lincoln@lincolntalk.org. >>>> Browse the archives at >>>> https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/private/lincoln/. >>>> Change your subscription settings at >>>> https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/lincoln. >>>> >>>> -- >>> The LincolnTalk mailing list. >>> To post, send mail to Lincoln@lincolntalk.org. >>> Browse the archives at >>> https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/private/lincoln/. >>> Change your subscription settings at >>> https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/lincoln. >>> >>> -- >> The LincolnTalk mailing list. >> To post, send mail to Lincoln@lincolntalk.org. >> Browse the archives at >> https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/private/lincoln/. >> Change your subscription settings at >> https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/lincoln. >> >>
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