A public Hearing on the following warrant articles will be held by the Planning Board on Tuesday January 10, 2017

Recreational Marijuana

On November 8, 2016, Massachusetts voters approved Question 4 legalizing the recreational use of marijuana and the operation of certain types of marijuana establishments. The new law is generating many questions at state and local levels. We are hopeful that over the next few months the state offices with oversight of various issues will adopt regulations or provide formal guidance. We are aware of reports that the Legislature may amend certain aspects of the law. Until that occurs, however, the timetable and other provisions described in the attached guideline will apply. As you are aware, however, while recreational marijuana sales and related activities cannot begin for some time, personal use of marijuana will be lawful beginning December 15.

To read more from Town Counsel click here: https://www.dropbox.com/s/mkld09tl6uygly5/The%20Regulation%20and%20Taxation%20of%20Marijuana%20Act%20-%20A%20Guide%20to%20the%20New%20Law%20Legalizing%20Recreational%20Use%20of%20Marijuana.pdf?dl=0
The Town is currently working closely with Town Counsel on putting a moratorium in place for 1-year to allow the town time to a bylaw and/or regulations.

Solar

The Planning Board is working with the Energy Committee to update the Solar Bylaw for amendments for the annual town meeting.

Agricultural Bylaw
The Agricultural Committee is amending the bylaw that would allow small scale farming on lots fewer than 5 acres. They gave an overview of the proposed bylaw at the SOTT meeting on November 12, 2016.

Affordable Accessory Apartment Bylaw
The Housing Commission hired Consultant Pam Gallup to develop an Affordable Accessory Apartment Bylaw. Currently the Town of Lincoln has an Affordable Accessory Apartment Bylaw but it is not consistent with the State’s regulations for units to be counted on the Subsidized Housing Inventory (SHI). The major goal of the accessory apartment bylaw (both unrestricted and restricted (affordable) is to expand Lincoln’s housing diversity and to create more low to moderate priced housing opportunities, while also exploring what needs to be done to incentivize owners to consider creating accessory apartments that would qualify as affordable accessible apartments under the Commonwealth’s guidelines so units would be eligible to be included on the Town’s subsidized housing inventory, thus counting towards our 10% target under MGL, c. 40B.The Housing Commission will have a zoning amendment at the annual town meeting.