-----Original Message----- From: Lynn DeLisi, M.D. <[email protected]> To: [email protected] <[email protected]> Sent: Mon, Feb 20, 2023 8:43 am Subject: Re: [LincolnTalk] Bob Domnitz Withdraws from Planning Board Race, Supports Levinson and DeLisi for the 2 Open Seats
>From Lynn E DeLisi 2/20/2023 Dear Residents of Lincoln,I am sorry to see that Bob Domnitz has announced hiswithdrawal from serving another term on the Planning Board. Bob led the boardover the last year with intense dedication and devotion to getting thedecisions right for our town. He researched every item on the agenda to itsfullest, always asking highly knowledgeable and important questions to theapplicants. He will definitely be missed, but I hope he will still participate asa town resident to continue to help guide the board. Here is Why I Am Running for Re-election to the Planning Board and staying on the ballot Lincoln’s local election on Monday March 27 is going tohave crucial implications for the long-term future of the town. Youare NOT casting your vote for individual personalities and their backgrounds,but instead are making important choices about decisions that will impact the townfor a long time to come. One key topic is whether to comply with the HousingChoice Act (HCA) of the State of Massachusetts. It is not mandatory to doso, but there are some benefits that come with that compliance. The PlanningBoard currently has mixed views on how to pursue this important discussion. Some prefer to jump ahead now and createzoning for significantly more dense housing (a minimum of 15 units per acre forat least 8 acres) that would comply with the HCA, even before the town’s HCA Committeestudies it carefully and suggests how best to respond. I disagree. I support a more logical approach to an unbiased examination of therisks and benefits that this significant (more-than-double) change inzoning will have on the town. (Currently, the target area allows approximately6 residential units per acre). I believe collecting these basic data is a mustto drive our decision-making: 1) what ALL the residents of Lincoln want for thefuture of their town; 2) what other towns like ours are doing; 3) what ourtown’s infrastructure can support (septic, water, roads, fire/safety); and, 4) whatthe financial implications of development are. Only then can we make responsibledecisions about the planning in the center of South Lincoln.Thus, I am NOT BIASED toward or against development. RatherI AM BIASED toward fact-based, responsibleplanning for the long-term future of the town and most importantly taking thetime to gather the input of the people who live within the region we want tochange. I will not vote for new zoning that puts anyone who currently rents ahome at risk of losing it. I currently do support Jennifer Glass’s leadershipof a committee representing major town boards that will attempt to do this. We DO have some data on what the town wants. Lastyear, the Planning Board conducted a town-wide survey as a means of gathering inputabout the future of the Lincoln Commuter Rail area. Its scientific rigor waslacking, but even so, more than 800 responses were obtained– and MANY pointedcomments – indicating two priorities: 1) maintain Lincoln’s unique ruralcharacter; 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 futureresidents to do our homework, to provide balanced information for soliddecision-making, and not rush into decisions that will be difficult toreverse. We need to take time to understand what the people who now live inLincoln would like to have as a town for future generations of residents. Ifyou agree, then please vote for me in the March 27 election. In Summary, this iswhat I advocate for: 1. Representing the interests of the people whocurrently live in Lincoln, BOTH South and North Lincoln2. Preserving the unique character of the Town ofLincoln with an historical and conservation perspective3. Creating an interesting and unique Town Centerwhere people can have services they need and find an enticing place to gather4. Careful and responsible planning, with nopreconceived bias toward development without understanding its long-termimplications, such as for noise, traffic, wild-life loss – and associatedfinancial costs.5. Understanding what Lincoln specifically gets bycomplying with the HCA, and weighing the pro’s and con’s of compliancecarefully 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 shouldbe allowed for North Lincoln, as well as Minuteman Park.7. Not supporting any zoning changes that putanyone at risk of losing their current housing. I am committed to serving the Town ofLincoln and to representing YOU. As such, I am interested to know your views onall of these topics. I welcome speaking with you 1:1. You can email me at [email protected] or [email protected] Thank you, -----Original Message----- From: Robert Domnitz <[email protected]> To: [email protected] <[email protected]> Sent: Fri, Feb 17, 2023 10:48 am Subject: [LincolnTalk] Bob Domnitz Withdraws from Planning Board Race, Supports Levinson and DeLisi for the 2 Open Seats #yiv7867057315 P {margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;} 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. Best regards,Bob Domnitz -- The LincolnTalk mailing list. To post, send mail to [email protected]. 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