Planning Board approves first stormwater permit under town bylaw

LINCOLN — May 14, 2024 — Lincoln Planning Board issues first permit under its Stormwater Management Bylaw and rewrites comment policy. The board voted unanimously Tuesday to approve a stormwater permit for 64 Baker Bridge Road, allowing the owner to clear 1.4 acres on a 10.1-acre parcel for a horse meadow, a 36-by-36-foot barn and a gravel parking area set 720 feet back from the road. Planner Jennifer told members the only new impervious surface is the barn roof, draining to an underground infiltration system; engineer Zoltan Johansson said the design provides more than two feet of separation from estimated seasonal high groundwater. Member Rob Ahlert pressed on the loss of more than 100 trees but was redirected by acting chair Margaret Olson: "I'm just going to bring us back to where we're here for stormwater." The board then unanimously adopted a revised public comment policy giving residents a second comment opportunity, at the chair's discretion, after deliberation and before votes on non-application items, and agreed to put member Susan Hall Mygatt on the next agenda to lead a possible tree bylaw discussion.