PETITION TO THE TOWN OF LINCOLN PLANNING BOARD

Regarding Site Plan Review: “The Mothership Residential Apartments”
Project Location: 278 Main Street (Tax Map 117, Lot 119)
Applicant: Andrew Goddard, Copley Properties, LLC

To: The Lincoln Planning Board, Chair Paul Beaudin II, and Town Planner Michael Nahmias

a taxpayer and property owner of the Town of Lincoln, New Hampshire, respectfully petition the Planning Board to exercise its full regulatory authority under the Town of Lincoln Land Use and Planning Ordinance (LUPO) and Site Plan Review Regulations to protect neighboring properties, traffic and pedestrian safety, adequate infrastructure, and the quality of life within our downtown corridor.

While we support orderly and responsible downtown development, we respectfully oppose approval of the proposed 31,706-square-foot residential apartment building, with a 152-foot by 66-foot footprint, three stories (47 feet, 6 inches) in height, including a rooftop deck. This proposed Restricted Multi-Family Residential Apartment complex presents excessive density for a 1.07-acre site, with 30 dwelling units, 60 bedrooms, an estimated 249 residents, and only 47 parking spaces.

Our Concerns

1. Overcrowding and Density – Housing an estimated 249 residents in a single development of this size is incompatible with the site’s limited acreage and raises concerns regarding safety, livability, and neighborhood compatibility.
2. Lack of Buffers – The proposal lacks adequate sound and visual buffering to protect neighboring properties from increased lighting, noise, and loss of privacy.
3. Inadequate Snow Storage – The site plan does not provide sufficient snow storage. Without a written, enforceable snow management plan, snow piles could reduce available parking, contribute to groundwater saturation and contamination, and damage buffers, fencing, and landscaping.
4. Failure to Meet Green Space Intent – The proposal does not meet the definition of a “green roof” or the Town of Lincoln’s stated intent to preserve and expand green space, as referenced in the Town’s 2020 Annual Report (pages 3–4).
5. Traffic and Pedestrian Safety – The project includes a high-volume driveway within setback areas, an incomplete traffic and pedestrian impact analysis, and questionable internal vehicle circulation within the parking area.
6. Parking Deficiency – With only 47 parking spaces proposed for an estimated 249 residents, the development is likely to create parking shortages, overflow parking, and associated public safety concerns.
7. Emergency Access Limitations – The site plan does not provide an adequate turnaround area for fire apparatus, ambulances, delivery vehicles, or loading and unloading operations.
8. Infrastructure Capacity – The proposal places additional demands on municipal infrastructure where water capacity is reportedly nearing its limit and sewer capacity is already fully committed. The project also requires a waiver from the Selectboard to create a dead-end condition within the water distribution system.

Our Requests

We respectfully request that the Planning Board:

• Deny approval of the project in its current form.
• Require a complete, independent traffic, pedestrian, and public safety impact study.
• Ensure compliance with the intent of Lincoln’s regulations regarding green space, buffering, and setbacks.
• Require an independent third-party parking study.
• Require off-site improvements, including sidewalks, crosswalks, traffic-calming measures, and reduced vehicle speeds.
• Fully evaluate water and sewer capacity and require appropriate infrastructure improvements or alternatives before any approval is granted to this project or any more in the Town of Lincoln. (see Joint Select & Planning Board meeting 6/29/26)

By signing below, we affirm our opposition to the proposed Restricted Multi-Family Housing project and request this petition be formally entered into the public record for the August 12, 2026 Planning Board hearing.