Lincoln Planning Board endorses Dark Skies bylaw 3-1, sends to Town Meeting

LINCOLN -- March 24, 2026, Lincoln Planning Board endorses Dark Skies zoning bylaw 3-1 ahead of Town Meeting. Members Susan Hall Mygatt, Rob Ahlert and associate Craig Nicholson voted to endorse the amendment; Co-Chair Gary Taylor dissented, calling the 10 p.m. shutoff and fixture-replacement requirements an enforcement headache that would "depend upon somebody calling in and complaining about their neighbor." Dark Skies Subcommittee Chair Sherry Haydock said the proposal has been endorsed by five town commissions and conservation groups and that a lighting survey drew more than 170 responses, with 88 percent saying outdoor lighting harms wildlife. Separately, the board continued a sign permit hearing for Ally Veterinary Specialty Center at 16 Mill Street to April 14 after neighbors Maria O'Brien and Bob Domnitz questioned both the proposed 90-inch building sign and whether the clinic's educational tie to Minuteman Regional satisfies the Dover Amendment. Planning Director Paula Vaughn-MacKenzie said a Comprehensive Plan update could cost $150,000 to $300,000.