Planning Board closes accessory apartment hearing, sets March 14 vote

LINCOLN — February 28, 2023 — Lincoln Planning Board closes accessory apartment hearing and delays 200 Old County Road decision. The board agreed to allow accessory apartments inside a principal dwelling by right and to drop the Planning Board's recommendation step for apartments in detached structures, sending the amendment to Town Meeting after final wording review by town counsel. Member Rob Ahlert said the current dual-board process "needlessly duplicates effort." Member Margaret Olson urged dropping "diversity" for "housing options," saying the term "always triggers people's concerns." Town Planner Paula confirmed accessory apartments are not counted in the state SHI denominator. The board then continued site plan review for Shen Ren's proposed 8,978-square-foot home at 200 Old County Road to March 14 at 6:45 p.m., with a site walk planned; the project would remove 42 mature trees and is the first reviewed under Lincoln's 2021 stormwater bylaw.