Planning Board moves to ease Lincoln accessory apartment rules

LINCOLN — April 26, 2022 — Lincoln Planning Board signals push to liberalize accessory apartment bylaw. Member Margaret Olson presented a memo arguing only 13 of 200 single-family homes sold in town since 2019 traded for under $700,000, and just 51 for under $1 million, against a median household income of roughly $140,000. "A substantial portion of people who currently live in town couldn't afford to live here if they were buying their houses again," Olson said. Co-Chair Gary Taylor urged an incremental first step — by-right approval and a cap of 1,200 square feet or 35 percent of the principal dwelling, whichever is greater. The board separately voted 5-0 to approve a minor site plan change for the 11A Lewis Street ambulance facility, conditioned on a revised lighting plan, and renewed four wireless special permits for five-year terms covering installations at 131 Cambridge Turnpike, 169 Lincoln Road and 295 Cambridge Turnpike.