It's a fair question - why housing when conservation is the focus? I address
this specific question in the QA I posted. Below for convenience, but the
entire document is here ( https://docsend.com/view/h33hxc7zvdstqa2d ).
---------------------------------------------------------------
*Q: Why can’t this be simpler if the focus is on conservation?*
---------------------------------------------------------------
*A:* At first glance, a straightforward deal - funding Farrington in exchange
for conservation - might seem like the easiest path. But the key to
understanding this proposal is recognizing *Farrington’s need for access to
Page Road* (see image below). Their current exit onto Route 2 is suboptimal,
and *without Page Road access, Farrington has made clear they are not
interested in this deal.*
(Rural Lincoln Foundation - Nature Link Presentation ) - orange line added by me
Farrington could sell their land outright for a higher price (that we may not
afford) and relocate outside of Lincoln; worse to a third party with
large-development intentions. The Panettas will move on and sell to someone
else, likely removing any chance for community-driven benefit. What brings the
cost down - and opens the door to permanent conservation - is *Farrington’s
willingness to stay in exchange for a second egress in combination with a
developer’s interest in purchasing Panetta’s land*.
*The only viable access to Page Road is through the Panetta property.* The
Panettas are willing to sell, but understandably, they want a certain price in
exchange, which they’ve set at $3.3M. Multiple developers engaged in
negotiation (based on my conversations with RLF), but only Civico was willing
to pay the price the Panettas set and participate in the process. While the
Panettas could sell independently, this is a rare chance for the community to
tie their sale to a broader community outcome: conservation, housing, and
infrastructure, all in one.
*Yes, other options may exist, but this opportunity has a shelf life.* If the
deal fails, each party will do what’s best for them. Farrington may sell,
opening the door to higher-impact development. The Panettas may move on, taking
the chance for a coordinated solution with them.
*Nature Link is a community-forged compromise* : it protects open space,
supports mixed-income housing, sustains a local nonprofit, and gives Lincoln
control over what happens next.
Joseph Kolchinsky
978-604-0827
On Sat, May 31, 2025 at 11:25 AM, Sara Mattes < [email protected] > wrote:
>
> Then let’s just talk “conservation”…why a large project of expensive
> homes!
>
>
>
>> On May 31, 2025, at 11:12 AM, RAandBOB < raandbob@ earthlink. net (
>> [email protected] ) > wrote:
>>
>> The difference between this project and the housing projects Sarah linked
>> in her email is that this project has a definite benefit to the town in
>> terms of 75 acres of conservation land in an area that has always been
>> designated as appropriate land for conservation. Therefore, you wouldn’t
>> necessarily expect the town to be neutral on this project.
>>
>> Ruth Ann
>> (She, her, hers)
>>
>>
>>> On May 31, 2025, at 10:44 AM, DJCP < djcp0219@ gmail. com (
>>> [email protected] ) > wrote:
>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>>
>>>
>>> Yes, it is incredibly frustrating to see the HCA play out again when this
>>> project satisfies the concerns about "too much density" by Lincoln Station
>>> by not being in Lincoln Station and being along Route 2, and yet
>>> unsubstantiated accusations of a developer being embedded in the PB are
>>> being lobbed even though TWO candidates who were vocal anti-HCAers are now
>>> on the PB!
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> What do people who oppose this project even stand for?? It's so easy to
>>> oppose everything.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Diana
>>>
>>> One resident who lives on Giles Rd and who is speaking for herself
>>>
>>>
>>> On Sat, May 31, 2025 at 10:29 AM ٍSarah Postlethwait < sarah@ bayhas.
>>> com
>>> ( [email protected] ) > wrote:
>>>
>>>
>>>>
>>>> It’s frustrating to see the same core issues from the HCA debate
>>>> resurface.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> I am completely on board with any unbiased information being posted to the
>>>> website that includes official documents submitted to the town, upcoming
>>>> meetings and/or public hearings that address the topic, without promoting
>>>> or discouraging the proposal in anyway- these are all great ways to ensure
>>>> residents are informed, but NOT influenced by the town website.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> The town website is funded by tax payer dollars and should not be used to
>>>> promote a private party’s interest by hosting unvetted FAQs, and
>>>> especially without allowing an opposing party to also submit their own
>>>> FAQs.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Here are some examples of how other towns handle similar proposals:
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> https:/ / sudbury. ma. us/ pcd/ 2017/ 02/ 06/
>>>> the-coolidge-phase-2-comprehensive-permit-application-2/
>>>> (
>>>> https://sudbury.ma.us/pcd/2017/02/06/the-coolidge-phase-2-comprehensive-permit-application-2/
>>>> )
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> https:/ / concordma. gov/ 3442/ Residences-at-Thoreau-Comp-Permit-Applic (
>>>> https://concordma.gov/3442/Residences-at-Thoreau-Comp-Permit-Applic )
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> https:/ / www. lexingtonma. gov/ 932/ Current-Projects (
>>>> https://www.lexingtonma.gov/932/Current-Projects )
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Sarah Postlethwait
>>>> --
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>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>>
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>>>
>>>
>>>
>>
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>>
>>
>
>
>
>
>
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> .
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> lincoln/
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> subscription settings at https:/ / pairlist9. pair. net/ mailman/ listinfo/
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