Planning Board creates official lighting subcommittee, defers tree bylaw to June

LINCOLN — May 28, 2024 — Lincoln Planning Board forms lighting subcommittee, postpones tree bylaw question. The board voted unanimously to absorb an informal dark-sky working group convened by resident Louise Bergeron as a formal Planning Board subcommittee, charged with reviewing the town's 2015 outdoor-lighting bylaw against updated International Dark-Sky Association guidance, including a recommended shift from 3,000K to 2,700K color temperature. Member Margaret Olson said the panel must also address grandfathered fixtures, decorative tree uplighting and commercial lighting at the mall and Oriole Landing. Co-Chair Lynn DeLisi insisted on a single public-process body: "It's very difficult if there are two groups doing the same thing, one of which is following the public process and the other one is not." The subcommittee includes Lincoln Land Conservation Trust, Agricultural Commission and Rural Land Foundation representatives and meets June 12. Tree-bylaw discussion was held for member Susan Hall Mygatt's return; resident Vicky said she had documented roughly 70 mature trees cut in her neighborhood with no permit required.