
Protect What Makes Lincoln Special: Vote NO on Articles 3 & 4 — Say YES to Rewilding
A Special Town Meeting will be held on Wednesday, June 25 at 6:30 PM in the Lincoln School Auditorium, where voters will decide whether to approve or deny a 20-home luxury development by Civico on just 6 acres of land, disrupting conservation land and impacting surrounding neighborhoods.
Before we rush into a permanent decision, residents deserve transparency, alternatives, and a real say in the future of our town. Here’s what you need to know before voting:
Why This Deal Falls Short
❌ No Real Public Process or Community Voice
Abutters were only officially notified in June, just weeks before the vote. There was no public forum, no town-wide dialogue, and no transparency before the June notifications. Rushed planning with limited notice and no public input is not how Lincoln makes smart decisions.
❌ Public Dollars, Private Profits
The proposal asks for $950,000 of Lincoln’s Community Preservation Act (CPC) funds, intended to protect at-risk land—not to subsidize luxury development.
- Civico contributes no funds to the conservation side of the proposal.
- One acre of Farrington land is clear-cut and used for homes.
- Half an acre of Farrington land—in the middle of conservation land—will be clear-cut for the septic system.
- 14 more acres of taxpayer-funded conservation land will be repurposed as “nitrogen restricted land” to support an 80-bedroom septic system.
- This is not land preservation—it’s land leveraged for profit.
❌ Conservation Should Not Be Held Hostage to Development
We’ve been told that to conserve Farrington’s land, we must accept this dense development. That’s a false choice.
- Conservation does not require rezoning or development.
- The land can be conserved without Civico—and without putting sensitive wildlife and wetlands at risk.
- Tying conservation to development is a pressure tactic, not a necessity.
❌ No Alternatives, No Choices
This “package deal” gives voters a binary: approve it all or lose everything. But what about residents who want conservation without dense development? What about those who support housing—but not this housing? Lincoln deserves a choice—not a rush job with no public debate or viable options.
❓ But isn’t Lincoln in a housing crisis—Why turn down 20 new homes?
- Lincoln already made major housing commitments. The town recently rezoned the Mall area, allowing over 650 units to be built by right—with no additional Town Meeting vote required. The proposed Civico development adds little value and is unnecessary to meet our housing goals.
- Only 3 of the 20 proposed homes will be affordable. This barely meets the 15% affordable housing threshold and offers no additional benefit to residents seeking meaningful affordability. Worse, these units come with HOA fees that make them less accessible to lower-income buyers.
- The remaining 17 units will start at ~$1 million, despite being marketed as “starter homes.” This translates to around $7,000–$8,000 a month in mortgage, property taxes, and HOA fees if the family can afford a $100,000 down payment.
- This project doesn’t solve Lincoln’s housing challenges. It doesn’t increase meaningful affordability or meet the needs of young families, seniors, or workers. Instead, it prioritizes profit over community.
🍃 There Is a Better Way: Rewild the Panetta Property
Two months ago, neighbors of the Nature Link/Civico project were caught off guard by the Nature Link/Civico proposal, raising serious concerns. The scale of the development threatened homes, the mission of a longstanding nonprofit, and the fragile ecosystem surrounding the site. Jeff and Arline Sutherland, longtime Lincoln residents and founders of Tending Your Yard, Tending the Earth, stepped forward with a powerful alternative. They offered to purchase the Panetta property at full asking price, with a vision to restore nature and preserve it as protected open space.
🌿This proposal ensures the Panetta parcel remains wild and undeveloped, safeguarding local wildlife and honoring Lincoln’s conservation values. Simultaneously, the Nature Link Conservation can move forward, supported by the Rural Land Foundation.
This is not a new mission for the Sutherlands—it’s one they’ve championed for years. Their own property at 100 Page Road serves as a thriving example of rewilding in action, drawing a remarkable array of species, from butterflies and pollinators to owls and even bald eagles.
The Sutherlands are ready to extend this rewilding vision across Page Road to the Panetta property. Their offer is real, it is funded, and they are ready to work collaboratively with the Town, Farrington, and other stakeholders. All they need is the opportunity—and your NO vote can provide that chance!
🌿 The Rewilding Plan: Smart, Sustainable, Fully Funded
✔ Protects Land & Water
- The entire proposed conservation deal of the Panetta Wetlands and the Farrington property can move forward!
- No septic system adjacent to wetlands or Cambridge’s drinking water supply.
- No construction runoff, blasting, or long-term disturbance of delicate ecosystems.
- Preserves biodiversity and enhances climate resilience with native plants and pollinator corridors.
✔ Preserves Lincoln’s Rural Character
- No high-density cluster housing or HOA-driven development.
- Maintains open space, scenic views, and a peaceful landscape consistent with Lincoln’s identity.
- Honors the legacy of stewardship that defines our community.
✔ Fully Funded
- $3.3 M for the purchase of the ~6 acres of Panetta property (100% of the asking price) is secured and ready to be transferred.
- TendingYourYard.org, a nonprofit created by Arline Sutherland’s Irrevocable Trust (a major Tesla Investment Holdings LLC shareholder), has requested that Tesla Investment Holdings LLC allocate $3.3 M to hold the Panetta property for rewilding, similar to the successful site at 100 Page Road, Lincoln.
- On June 10, 2025, the Tesla Investment Holdings LLC Board approved a $3.3 M distribution from its Schwab Brokerage Account, payable immediately, to replace Civico’s $3.3 M in the Nature Link plan, and secure the Panetta land deed from the RLF.
- The 14 acres of Panetta wetlands can be placed under conservation with the City of Cambridge.
- Simultaneously, the $3.1 M Farrington/Nature Link conservation can move forward, supported by the Rural Land Foundation:
- Lincoln CPC: $950,000
- City of Cambridge: $800,000
- The RLF: $500,000
- Private Donations: $850,000
✔ Thoughtful Public Access & Education
- Simple free nature trail to connect to the Farrington property and the previously proposed public trail.
- Repurposing existing structure(s) as a rewilding education center.
- Garden tours to teach landowners how to rewild their own property and build ecological resilience.
- All free to the public, just as the Page Road gardens are now and always have been.
✔ Provides Page Road Access for Farrington
- A low-impact gravel path through the rewilded Panetta property has been offered to accommodate buses and other Farrington vehicles.
✔ The proposed rezoning of the Panetta Family Farm stand, Gerard’s, can still move forward.
🌿 Why Rewilding Wins
- Protects wetlands, groundwater, and native ecosystems
- Prevents construction impacts on surrounding wildlife
- Strengthens climate resilience and supports pollinators
- Preserves rural character and community values
- Provides public benefits without environmental costs
- Delivers conservation now—with no development strings attached
🌿 A Vision for the Future
Rewilding isn’t just about stopping development—it’s about building something better. A legacy of ecological health, public education, and quiet open space that reflects who we are as a town.
We can protect what matters without compromising. Let’s choose a plan that reflects our values and vision.
This true win-win for our town, our residents, and our natural environment is only possible with a NO vote on Articles 3 & 4 at the Special Town Meeting, this Wednesday at 6:30 PM.
Let’s protect Lincoln’s land, water, and legacy—together.
For more information, visit our website at www.tendingyouryard.org
For information on free babysitting being provided throughout the duration of town meeting, click here.