Lincoln Planning Board takes resident input on HCA zoning ahead of March 23 vote

LINCOLN — February 9, 2024 — Lincoln residents press Planning Board on retail protections and DPW inclusion in draft HCA zoning. At a Feb. 9 forum, Planning Board Co-Chair Margaret Olson and Select Board member Jennifer Glass walked attendees through the Option C bylaw, which caps the Village Center at 25 units per acre and 42 feet, requires 33 percent commercial use and 80 percent street-activating frontage along Lincoln Road, and allows a special permit to reduce the commercial requirement on a finding of unsupportive market conditions. Resident Lori Gray warned the permit could leave "a housing dump" if retail fails; Ben Schiller, an economics professor, called the finding mechanism easy to manipulate. David Quattrocchi argued the DPW and commuter lot should be excluded, citing the state's 50 percent contiguity threshold. Town Counsel Joel Bard said the finding standard prevents arbitrary decisions. The public hearing is Feb. 20; Town Meeting votes March 23.