MINUTES
Board of Selectmen’s Meeting
June 12, 2006 -7:30 p.m.
PRESENT: Sarah Cannon- Holden (Chairman), Sara Mattes, Gary Taylor,
STAFF: Debra Parkhurst (Adm. Asst.)
Welcome & Introductions: The meeting opened at 7:30 PM. The Chairman welcomed the public, reviewed the agenda and action items for the meeting.
Announcements- Ms. Mattes announced that there will be a HATS meeting in the Lincoln Town Offices on June 22. This meeting is intended to kick off planning for the coming year. Representative Jay Kaufman will be present to update the Towns on pending issues.
Appointments
7:30 p.m. Rural Land Foundation Re: Mall Planning
PRESENT: Geoff McGean (executive Director, Rural Land Foundation), Bill Jackson (Jackson Associates), Ed Nardi (Cresset Development), Dave Albrecht (Rizzo Associates ), Steven Peabody (Rizzo Associates)
The meeting opened with Mr. McGean presenting an update of the Mall redevelopment and introducing members of the development team. RLF has had a preliminary meeting with the Planning Board and they plan to go forward with a formal request for a permit for this project under the South Lincoln Overlay District beginning in July. This would lead to a Special Town meeting in the fall to present the Preliminary Development and Use Plan. The project would then go back to the Planning Board for Site Plan Review. Mr. McGean especially noted that they have signed a lease with the Post Office that is contingent upon breaking ground in early 2007. Ms. Mattes asked if the month of August could be used for internal review so that much of the public process might occur in September. She also asked
about the RLF usage of the Lincoln Wood’s septic system. Mr. McGean confirmed that they have a written understanding with Lincoln Woods that was presented to the Planning Board last week. They also have communicated with the Chairman of the Zoning Board of Appeals regarding their past approval. The RLF discussed their schedule with the Planning Board leading to a special Fall Town Meeting. Following a request by the Selectmen, members of the Team described their past work and accomplishments with other development projects. Mr. Albrecht then presented the Existing Conditions Plan and described the Proposed Plan. The proposal included 186 parking spaces, meeting the 4.2 spaces per thousand as set forward by the Board of Appeals, and further described the parking, landscaping, traffic flow and drainage systems. He discussed improved storm water management (water quality, groundwater, water recharge). He noted very shallow groundwater
conditions on the site. The plan includes the same retail and office space as the plan that was presented to and approved by the ZBA last year. It does not include a housing component. The new post office and café building will be added; old buildings will have facelifts in keeping with the new buildings. In response to queries from the Selectmen, Mr. McGean said they have had conversations with the Boyntons, owners of 160 Lincoln Road, about a proposed re-use and development plan as well as their interest in additional sewage capacity. The question still remains if Lincoln Woods has sufficient capacity and if Lincoln Woods wants to entertain additional septic use on their system. Mr. Taylor noted that the infrastructure situation in the South Lincoln business area is larger than the three entities under discussion. He suggested that the Planning Board and the Selectmen should be informed of septic capacity issues that might affect
future development options. Mr. McGean commented that timing is a priority for the RLF. Discussion continued on the sewage treatment plant. Mr. Albrecht said that the treatment plan has additional capacity. Questions remain regarding the dispersal field. Presently the RLF pays its pro rata share for use of the plant to Lincoln Woods. Dames and Moore will be looking at the actual flows and will discuss this with the DEP and all parties will review the permit. RLF engineers believe that there is room for additional fields. They expect a response from DEP in approximately three weeks. Mr. Taylor said the Board is interested in knowing the constraints on the infrastructure. Discussion turned to the tenants. Mr. Jackson explained that for the time being the situation is status quo; there will be changes as the Post Office and Donelan’s begin re-construction. Planning Board member Bryce Wolfe
said that the Planning Board has gone over much of this with the RLF and they have expressed their additional concerns with lighting and signage which is still in the development stage. The Board of Selectmen propose a meeting following the DEP outcome with the RLF and Lincoln Woods to discuss septic use as well as the Town owned parking.
Town Administrator’s Report – Mr. Higgins was not present.
Discussion - Liaison Reports
Mrs. Holden reported that she had attended the most recent Route 2 meeting where she learned that the money for property takings is in the State budget. Construction costs come from the Federal budget. Ms. Mattes spoke about a conversation with Gordon Feltman, Bedford Selectmen and region representative to the MPO, who believed there may not be funding for the takings. Mrs. Holden said the MPO will meet next week for further discussion.
The Board commended the Town website, noting that according to Common Cause, only 6% of communities nationwide put their records on a website. The Board also thanked the League of Women Voters for their work towards this end.
The Board discussed inviting the local representatives Senator Fargo and Representative Pope in for a regular meeting.
Ms. Mattes will meet with representatives of Lincoln Woods.
Ms. Mattes reported on a well attended First Parish meeting regarding how the Parish can address their programmatic and population changes. They were sensitive to zoning and Historic District issues, but there was no discussion of parking. Funding was approved for plans, and these should come forward in the fall. She noted that one option was to do nothing.
The Board noted upcoming meetings of the Deaconess Steering Committee and the master Planning Committee.
Ms. Mattes reported that the Planning Board will take up the issue of institutional use of property in Lincoln this summer.
The Question was raised of whether any of the houses to be taken in the route 2 construction project could be moved to other sites in Lincoln. Mr. Taylor will bring this to the attention of the Housing Commission.
Action Items
· Reauthorize Bond Anticipation Notes
Ms. Mattes made a MOTION and Mr. Taylor seconded to authorize the Bond Anticipation Note for 625,000 for the library roof and land acquisition (Harrington land) as approved at Town meeting. The MOTION passed unanimously.
· Confirm BOS meeting schedule – The Board confirmed their schedule through the fall of 2006.
· Correspondence- The Board of Health has submitted an informational letter to the Lincoln Journal. The Board discussed ways to keep the public informed. They would like to have the Board of Health and the Conservation Commission in during the month of July for discussion on this and other issues. The Board also discussed the timing of the Mall re-development process. Ms. Mattes will talk about this with the Town Planner.
· Mr. Taylor will circulate the draft of the At-Risk Properties Committee (II)
· Approve Warrants – Warrants were approved and signed.
The meeting adjourned at 9:30 PM.
Submitted by Debra Parkhurst
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