Selectmen back Ag Commission farmland mapping, advance Route 2 landscape plan

LINCOLN — October 21, 2013 — Lincoln Agricultural Commission unveils maps showing 1,435 acres of potential farmland and a Tufts-based farmer-matching partnership. Commission member Christy Smith and co-chair Lynn Bauer told the Board of Selectmen the town currently has 493 acres in agricultural production, with 1,072 acres available at a half-acre threshold and 332 acres at two acres. Jennifer Hashley, executive director of the New Entry Sustainable Farming Project at Tufts, described the matching process as "where eBay meets eHarmony" and pointed to prior matches in Groton, Boxborough, Carlisle and six other towns. A community forum is set for Nov. 5 at 7:30 p.m. at Bemis Hall. Separately, Town Administrator Tim Higgins told the board the Minuteman School Committee is expected to bring "pretty sweeping changes" to its 16-town regional agreement at spring town meeting, including a possible needs-based capital apportionment formula. The board also unanimously approved MPO seats for Somerville Mayor Joseph Curtatone and Framingham's Dennis Giombetti.