Hi Bob, Pushback is always welcome.
New housing units will undoubtedly bring more cars throughout Lincoln, what number of cars is uncertain. I imagine at least a few new residents who choose living in the town center or in other locations may be 'car-free.' Even adding 125 new housing units in the town center would likely also add accompanying resident cars to the Lincoln Mall area with significant impact along Lincoln Road, Codman Road and perhaps on other streets as residents and others seek alternate routes during peak daily travel times. How do we create more housing and a town center that add more to our community than they take away? As for transport options, I agree that many people in many communities make public transport work. All the more reason to include housing options near both the commuter rail and the bus stop to plan ahead for transit-oriented options. We also need more investment in public transport system over the short and long terms to support improved reliability, safety, price points, and success on all sides. Using the land we have in smart ways to create housing while managing changes with consideration for long-held town values and offering an open-discussion process for residents matters a great deal (in my opinion.) Kathleen > On Oct 24, 2023, at 11:31 AM, Bob Kupperstein <[email protected]> wrote: > > Hi Kathleen, > > I agree that all are not able to live in Lincoln without a car (though > sometimes necessity is the mother of invention). And yes, the train is too > expensive and less reliable than we'd like, but many people in many > communities still manage to make it work. > > My comments were intended as pushback on the notion that all the units would > 'of course' bring cars and most likely multiple cars. > > Thanks, > > -Bob > > On Tue, Oct 24, 2023 at 10:29 AM Kathleen Lomatoski <[email protected] > <mailto:[email protected]>> wrote: > Bob, > > Appreciate your commitment to commute by bicycle to/from Boston. Since not > everyone has the courage or flexibility to get to work by bike, planning for > transit-oriented options in the future would be better served by including > housing near BOTH the commuter rail and the bus stop. > > Commuter rail operates less frequently, is more expensive, and the Fitchburg > line often has delays. A “quick” trip to Waltham or Concord is not currently > so quick since trains run ~ every 2-3 hours. Reliability is 86%, with clear > room for improvement. > > <image0.png> > Service Reliability | Performance Metrics | MBTA > mbta.com > <mbta-logo-t-180-d5470cd485cc2f7b41871621e151b1c1.png> > <https://www.mbta.com/performance-metrics/service-reliability>Service > Reliability | Performance Metrics | MBTA > <https://www.mbta.com/performance-metrics/service-reliability> > mbta.com <https://www.mbta.com/performance-metrics/service-reliability> > <mbta-logo-t-180-d5470cd485cc2f7b41871621e151b1c1.png> > <https://www.mbta.com/performance-metrics/service-reliability> > Re: “subsidized” passes, there are ‘reduced fare card’ options for those > 18-25 who qualify, and for those over 65. For the younger demographic, the > towns you mentioned: Concord, Lincoln, & Waltham, are not part of the reduced > fare program. Certain groups ride for FREE: uniformed military, > police/firefighters, government officials, and children 11 or under. Some > workplaces subsidize commuter rail passes. > > I enjoy taking the train into Boston yet the schedules can be challenging. If > I need to go to Back Bay or to Mission Hill, for example, taking commuter > rail usually requires hours of extra travel time which may rule out doing so > as a viable option. Pre-pandemic I commuted by train into Boston; I most > often walked to the rail stop closest to where I live, > 0.5 mile. > > As you are likely aware, the MBTA has been repeatedly plagued with a variety > of issues, many due to lack of adequate investments. While we are fortunate > to have MBTA & commuter rail transport services, and many rely on the > transport, much more work is needed to improve infrastructure, safety, and > reliability. I and many Lincoln neighbors support walkable communities and > walk often, yet the reality for many is we do still need access to cars and > driving. > > <blue-line-643f27f2c2885-scaled.jpg> > MBTA reliability drops, riders give agency low grades in latest BBJ poll > boston.com > > <https://www.boston.com/news/local-news/2023/04/18/mbta-reliability-drops-riders-low-grades-in-latest-bbj-poll/?amp=1>MBTA > reliability drops, riders give agency low grades in latest BBJ poll > <https://www.boston.com/news/local-news/2023/04/18/mbta-reliability-drops-riders-low-grades-in-latest-bbj-poll/?amp=1> > boston.com > <https://www.boston.com/news/local-news/2023/04/18/mbta-reliability-drops-riders-low-grades-in-latest-bbj-poll/?amp=1> > > > Kathleen Lomatoski > > [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]> > >> On Oct 23, 2023, at 3:18 PM, Scott Clary <[email protected] >> <mailto:[email protected]>> wrote: >> >> >> Housing Choice Act - Its not a law. It's an act. As far as I know, there has >> yet to be a judicial process regarding this act. I think it would be >> appropriate if town leadership stopped using the term "Spirit of the law." >> It is misleading. "Choice" is a critical term in it's title. >> >> Kind Regards, >> >> Scott Clary >> 617-968-5769 >> >> Sent from a mobile device - please excuse typos and errors >> >> On Mon, Oct 23, 2023, 2:41 PM Bob Kupperstein <[email protected] >> <mailto:[email protected]>> wrote: >> I think basing a significant amount of this zoning change around the Hanscom >> bus stop is not really in the spirit of the law. >> >> Living in/near town center, one can find just about anything necessary for >> day-to-day living, while there is literallynothing of the kind near the >> Hanscom bus stop. >> >> I've also heard a number of people speculate that new residents of the >> proposed town center will of course have cars and many of them. My >> question would be, how many of the people projecting the increased >> automobile count live without a car themselves? Since they have already >> chosen an automobile-centric lifestyle, it may be difficult for them to >> conceive how someone else could choose a different path? >> >> In a recent post, I believe someone suggested that no one would pay the >> train fare to go to Concord to get something from a hardware store. OTOH, >> if they had a monthly pass (and perhaps a subsidized one), it would >> essentially be a free 10-minute trip - quick and easy. And the same could >> be said for a trip to Waltham, which includes many employment opportunities, >> as well as cultural and shopping options that Lincoln doesn't provide. >> >> Not that long ago, I commuted to my job in downtown Boston by bike and loved >> how liberating it felt to not have to depend on a car (and not generate >> harmful emissions). >> >> And, it's also been suggested that the train service isn't up to standards >> that would make depending on it feasible, I would counter than many in >> Lincoln (and other towns that drive and park here) do and have been >> commuting to work on our train line for years. And, are we really that >> pessimistic that we believe that over the lifetime of these housing >> investments, train service will never improve? >> >> -Bob >> >> On Mon, Oct 23, 2023 at 1:46 PM Michael Dembowski <[email protected] >> <mailto:[email protected]>> wrote: >> Margaret- >> Reviewing the SOTT deck, I have to ask- >> Is the definition/interpretation of 'bus station' different now than when >> Options 1, 2, A and B were developed by the Working Group in tandem w/ UTILE? >> Is it the understanding of what constitutes a 'bus station' - and not the >> 'August Revised Guidelines' - that shifted focus to the town center only? >> It seems that 'bus station' becomes a predominant determinant in determining >> the validity of any scheme that distributes rezoning town-wide - whether >> developed by the 'community group' or the Working Group and UTILE which will >> be presented tom'w night. >> >> Michael Dembowski >> Conant Road >> >> >> >> On Fri, Oct 20, 2023 at 3:14 PM Margaret Olson <[email protected] >> <mailto:[email protected]>> wrote: >> From the guidelines: >> https://www.mass.gov/info-details/section-3a-guidelines >> <https://www.mass.gov/info-details/section-3a-guidelines> >> >> “Bus station” means a location with a passenger platform and other fixed >> infrastructure serving as a point of embarkation for the MBTA Silver Line. >> Upon the request of an MBTA community, EOHLC, in consultation with the MBTA, >> may determine that other locations qualify as a bus station if (i) such >> location has a sheltered platform or other fixed infrastructure serving a >> point of embarkation for a high-capacity MBTA bus line, and (ii) the area >> around such fixed infrastructure is highly suitable for multi-family housing. >> >> The Hanscom bus stops do not have a sheltered platform or fixed >> infrastructure. >> >> On Fri, Oct 20, 2023 at 2:29 PM Robert Ahlert <[email protected] >> <mailto:[email protected]>> wrote: >> Hi all - >> >> I had to look up the guideline. The definition of transit station is below, >> it can be any of them. I am not saying we should put 20% by the bus, I'm >> just saying we can if we want. There is no requirement to put 20% by the >> commuter rail. >> >> <image.png> >> >> Rob >> >> On Fri, Oct 20, 2023 at 1:39 PM Margaret Olson <[email protected] >> <mailto:[email protected]>> wrote: >> I believe it's 20% at the MBTA station: >> https://www.mass.gov/info-details/multi-family-zoning-requirement-for-mbta-communities >> >> <https://www.mass.gov/info-details/multi-family-zoning-requirement-for-mbta-communities> >> <Screenshot 2023-10-20 at 1.38.06 PM.png> >> >> On Fri, Oct 20, 2023 at 1:34 PM Robert Ahlert <[email protected] >> <mailto:[email protected]>> wrote: >> These are just ideas, any permutation and combination could be considered. >> Personally, I think the Village center should be redeveloped, but not >> everyone agrees. >> >> The regulation does not require the 20% to be near the commuter rail, it can >> be any mass transit. At least that is my understanding, correct me if I’m >> wrong? >> >> Rob >> >> On Fri, Oct 20, 2023 at 1:30 PM John Mendelson <[email protected] >> <mailto:[email protected]>> wrote: >> Am I reading this correctly in that only one of the new proposals (E11) >> includes the "Village Center" land owned by the RLF? >> >> Also, can you clarify how E1, E2, E7, E8, E9, and E10 meet the "20% within >> .5 mile of transit station" criteria? >> >> Finally, how do you arrive at the total Option C max units number of 1,347. >> >> Thank you, >> >> John >> >> On Fri, Oct 20, 2023 at 1:04 PM Robert Ahlert <[email protected] >> <mailto:[email protected]>> wrote: >> Hi all - >> >> We put together a list of alternatives that comply with the HCA but just do >> so in a way to attempt address the concerns I raised in my previous email. >> There are many combinations and permutations of parcels around town that >> would allow us to fully comply with the requirements, each with their own >> pros and cons which should be debated. >> >> This is a very difficult regulation to try to respond to so I sympathize >> with the Working Group, they are trying to hit a moving target. But let's >> slow down and not get to March town vote and then have an up/down vote on a >> bad solution (e.g. Option C). Hopefully D1 and D2 are good solutions >> however we have created E1 to E11 just in case. Please attend Tuesday >> Planning board meeting to see what Options D1 and D2 look like. >> >> Here is our list, happy to send as Excel if folks are interested. >> >> <image.png> >> >> >> >> I have sent this list to the HCA Working Group and hopefully at some time in >> the near future we'll get the chance to review these ideas with them. >> >> If you have similar concerns, please voice them in whatever way you are >> comfortable. If you would like more info on the HCA or Alternative >> solutions, please let us know by emailing >> [email protected] >> <mailto:[email protected]> >> >> Thanks, >> >> Rob Ahlert >> 185 Lincoln Rd >> >> -- >> Robert Ahlert | 781.738.1069 | [email protected] >> <mailto:[email protected]>-- >> The LincolnTalk mailing list. >> To post, send mail to [email protected] >> <mailto:[email protected]>. >> Browse the archives at https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/private/lincoln/ >> <https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/private/lincoln/>. >> Change your subscription settings at >> https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/lincoln >> <https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/lincoln>. >> >> -- >> The LincolnTalk mailing list. >> To post, send mail to [email protected] >> <mailto:[email protected]>. >> Browse the archives at https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/private/lincoln/ >> <https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/private/lincoln/>. >> Change your subscription settings at >> https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/lincoln >> <https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/lincoln>. >> >> >> >> -- >> Robert Ahlert | 781.738.1069 | [email protected] >> <mailto:[email protected]>-- >> The LincolnTalk mailing list. >> To post, send mail to [email protected] >> <mailto:[email protected]>. >> Browse the archives at https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/private/lincoln/ >> <https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/private/lincoln/>. >> Change your subscription settings at >> https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/lincoln >> <https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/lincoln>. >> >> -- >> The LincolnTalk mailing list. >> To post, send mail to [email protected] >> <mailto:[email protected]>. >> Browse the archives at https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/private/lincoln/ >> <https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/private/lincoln/>. >> Change your subscription settings at >> https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/lincoln >> <https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/lincoln>. >> >> -- >> The LincolnTalk mailing list. >> To post, send mail to [email protected] >> <mailto:[email protected]>. >> Browse the archives at https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/private/lincoln/ >> <https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/private/lincoln/>. >> Change your subscription settings at >> https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/lincoln >> <https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/lincoln>. >> >> -- >> The LincolnTalk mailing list. >> To post, send mail to [email protected] >> <mailto:[email protected]>. >> Browse the archives at https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/private/lincoln/ >> <https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/private/lincoln/>. >> Change your subscription settings at >> https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/lincoln >> <https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/lincoln>
-- The LincolnTalk mailing list. To post, send mail to [email protected]. Browse the archives at https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/private/lincoln/. Change your subscription settings at https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/lincoln.
