I’m writing to express my strong support for Lin Jensen for the Planning Board. Lin has regularly shown up at biweekly Planning Board meetings for the past 10 years, and has a vast and solid knowledge of zoning and planning. She supports housing affordability, well-planned growth and cares about residents’ concerns. 

Lin has co-authored 4 key zoning amendments: 2 last year which were adopted by the Planning Board and Town Meeting respectively, and 2 amendments to Article 33 and Article 34 in 2023 that would have reduced impacts on neighbors and given the Planning Board and the community the ability to shape projects in support of the town’s goals. 

Despite great pressure at the 2023 Town Meeting, Lin had the courage to vote No on Article 34 (MBTA Communities Act zoning) because she knew that 227 acres of “by-right” unlimited density multi-family housing could lead to rapid growth and limit the ability to provide thoughtful planning — and it did — 1,100 units were proposed a year after the passage of MBTA zoning! 

After hearing many residents’ concerns, Lin became an important supporter of Article 2 last year, which aimed to scale back MBTA zoning. She accumulated data and visuals of proposed developments and disseminated the information to Lexington residents, many of whom were unaware of Article 34 and the large-scale rezoning. Article 2 successfully passed through Town Meeting with 95% approval. 

Article 2 also removed historic Lexington Center from the “by-right,” unlimited density MBTA zoning. Despite an agreement between Article 2 petitioners and the Planning Board, a small group of Town Meeting members proposed an amendment to keep Lexington Center under MBTA zoning. 

Lin voted No on this Amendment, as did 67% of Town Meeting Members, to ensure that we could retain some control and thoughtful planning in Lexington Center. 

The Planning Board shapes how Lexington looks and feels for decades. Being an effective Planning Board member requires a major investment of thought, time and collaboration. Lin has shown up to do the work. Her voting record solidly and consistently backs up her words with actions. 

Lin understands that zoning should be done in a thoughtful manner with transparency and communication with the community. Lin’s style is not more and more housing at any cost: it’s a measured, common-sense approach. Please see www.linjensen.org and join me in voting for Lin Jensen for Planning Board on Monday, March 2.

Leave a comment

All commenters must be registered and logged in with a verified email address. To register for an account visit the registration page for our site. If you already have an account, you can login here or by clicking "My Account" on the upper right hand corner of any page on the site, right above the search icon.

Commenters must use their real first and last name and a real email address.
We do not allow profanity, racism, or misinformation.
We expect civility and good-faith engagement.

We cannot always fact check every comment, verify every name, or debate the finer points of what constitutes civility. We reserve the right to remove any comment we deem inappropriate, and we ask for your patience and understanding if something slips through that may violate our terms.

We are open to a wide range of opinions and perspectives. Criticism and debate are fundamental to community – but so is respect and honesty. Thank you.