Planning Board endorses citizen petition on fossil-fuel hookups

LINCOLN — March 22, 2022 — Lincoln Planning Board endorses citizen petition seeking authority to restrict fossil-fuel hookups in new construction. The board voted 4-0 Tuesday to back Article 31, brought by resident Paul Shorb of 99 South Great Road and the Green Energy Committee, which asks the Legislature for a home-rule grant before any local bylaw is drafted. Co-Chair Gary Taylor said Lincoln would join Acton, Arlington, Brookline, Concord and Lexington in pressing the state, calling the move a signal that "the stretch code did not go far enough." Member Bob Domnitz called it "a worthy thing for town meeting to discuss" while withholding judgment on the eventual bylaw. Earlier, Town Counsel Joel Bard told the board the town has moved to dismiss a lawsuit over a 40-year-old covenant at 11 Brooks Hill Road, warning that Section 6.6 of the zoning bylaw may need revision to avoid a takings problem.