Category Engagement   Show all

  • Public Comment Period Summary

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    On April 11, we released a draft version of Vision Lynn to the public, with a comment period that extended through May 15. In that time period:

    • 1,500 people visited the project page and 678 downloaded the plan
    • 10 people attended an office hours session, either in person or online
    • 9 people sent email comments regarding Vision Lynn
    • 1 person wrote a letter to the editor

    The comments we received touched on many different topics, including housing, taxes, transportation, safety, schools, and the environment. In general, we felt that the feedback was consistent with what we heard through the entire community engagement process.

    Thanks to these comments, we have made the following changes to the draft in advance of releasing the final plan:

    • Introduction:
      • We included a link to the infrastructure map, which highlights some key infrastructure projects the city is working on.
    • Land Use and Urban Form:
      • We emphasized in the transform and enhance districts that we want to protect and support existing assets.
    • Infrastructure and Implementation:
      • We added some additional detail about the Safe Routes to School program and what action items we could take.
      • We added a paragraph about water conservation policies and strategies.
      • We added some additional analysis about the number of students who live in new multifamily development in the "Infrastructure and Implementation" chapter.
      • We added a paragraph about heat island effect.
    • We made a variety of minor corrections and formatting changes throughout the document and re-worded a few sentences and paragraphs for clarity and accuracy.

    We are now pleased to share the final draft of the plan, which we will be presenting to the City Council and to the Planning Board on June 27.

  • Public Comment Period: Opportunities to Engage

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    We are pleased to share a draft of Vision Lynn with you! The Planning team will be accepting comments on the plan from April 10 to May 15, just email Lauren.Drago@LynnMA.gov. Throughout this period, we will be presenting the plan at different meetings and hosting office hours to answer any questions.

    Presentations

    Planning Board - Tuesday, April 11 | 5pm

    Human Rights Commission - Tuesday, April 18 | 6pm

    GALA Board - Thursday, April 20 | 7pm

    City Council - Tuesday, April 25 | 6pm

    Zoning Board of Appeals - Tuesday, May 2 | 7pm

    Office Hours

    Chat with the Planning Department about what’s in the plan and share your feedback.

    Office Hours: Land of a Thousand Hills
    Thursday, April 27 | 8:30-10:30 am
    Land of a Thousand Hills, 61 Munroe Street, Lynn, MA

    Office Hours: Online
    Tuesday, May 2 | 5-7pm
    Registration Link

    Office Hours: Brickyard Collaborative (English Only)
    Thursday, May 4 | 10-11am
    Brickyard Collaborative, 760 Western Ave, Lynn, MA

    Office Hours: Online
    Tuesday, May 9 | 1-3pm
    Registration Link

  • Lynnside Out Results

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    In Español

    There was music, free food, ice cream, and a bouncey house: it certainly didn't feel like a typical public meeting, but the Vision Lynn team used August 27th's Lynnside Out event to gather feedback from 750 attendees on the comprehensive plan.

    174 participants submitted comment cards about their vision for Lynn's future. Consistent with what we had heard in our earlier visioning surveys, the most common themes were wanting a clean and safe community and affordable housing.

    We asked participants to tell us where they lived, worked, and hung out in Lynn, but also where they would be interested in seeing more housing, jobs, and neighborhood services.

    Where do you live (orange), work (purple), and play (yellow)?
    Where would you like to see more housing (purple), jobs (blue), or neighborhood services (green)?


    We also asked participants to tell us what they thought was "good development" and what was "bad development". The statements people seemed most inclined to feel identified good development were "Development located to make the most of public transportation," "Housing that is affordable for Lynners who already live here," and "Development that minimizes the displacement of existing Lynners."

    Our friends at RAW Art Works hosted a community art project that asked youth to help create a vision of their ideal neighborhood and share their dreams for Lynn's future. The resulting public art piece is on display at the foyer of City Hall.

    The Vision Lynn team had a great time meeting everyone and hearing the different perspectives and ideas for Lynn. If you missed the event, you can still tell us what you think "good development" means or share where you think more housing, jobs, and neighborhood services should go.

  • Vision Survey Results

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    En Espanol

    To make sure we’re heading in the right direction, we recently asked the Lynn community for input on its vision for the future. What themes should a community vision address? What kinds of vision statements ring true to Lynners?

    We tried to reach as many people as we could:

    • We used an online survey in English and Spanish,
    • We went in-person to local events and neighborhood hotspots with activity boards, and
    • We conducted written surveys through Khmer and Haitian Creole interpreters.

    In total, an estimated 779 people gave their opinions! The online survey had 706 unique responses, an estimated 43 people interacted with our activity boards in person, and 30 people took the written survey through an interpreter.

    Vision Statements

    People were shown seven statements that emphasized different visions for Lynn’s future. Online and in-person participants could choose up to three statements that inspired them the most. From that process, some favorites emerged. The top three statements relate to safety and comfort; equitable access to resources; and strong, diverse, and connected communities.

    Table: Online and in-person vision statement selections

    Vision Statements

    Number of Selections

    Percent of online and in-person respondents making selection

    A city where people feel safe and comfortable where they live, work, learn, and play.

    316

    42%

    A city where all community members have the housing, transportation access, social connections, and educational or economic opportunities to live a fulfilling life.

    259

    35%

    A city to be proud of, with strong, diverse, and connected communities that take care of our shared spaces, natural resources, and each other.

    186

    25%

    A city where new development maximizes community benefits by providing good quality housing, economic opportunities and upgraded infrastructure.

    150

    20%

    A city where everyone feels valued, informed, and empowered to participate in the decision making that affects our community.

    128

    17%

    A city with neighborhoods that are vibrant, active, convenient, and provide a small town feel while offering amenities of a larger city.

    116

    15%

    A city that honors its history and plans for future generations by preparing for changes in the economy and climate.

    75

    10%


    Written survey participants got a slightly different question. They were asked to rate the statements with 1 (dislike), 2 (neutral), or 3 (like). The average score of each statement was 2.60 or above, meaning on average all statements were supported by respondents!

    Table: Written survey vision statement ratings

    Vision Statements

    Average rating by written survey respondents

    A city where all community members have the housing, transportation access, social connections, and educational or economic opportunities to live a fulfilling life.

    2.93

    A city where new development maximizes community benefits by providing good quality housing, economic opportunities and upgraded infrastructure.

    2.90

    A city where people feel safe and comfortable where they live, work, learn, and play.

    2.83

    A city where everyone feels valued, informed, and empowered to participate in the decision making that affects our community.

    2.83

    A city to be proud of, with strong, diverse, and connected communities that take care of our shared spaces, natural resources, and each other.

    2.83

    A city with neighborhoods that are vibrant, active, convenient, and provide a small town feel while offering amenities of a larger city.

    2.80

    A city that honors its history and plans for future generations by preparing for changes in the economy and climate.

    2.60


    Vision Themes

    We asked online and in-person participants “What central themes should Lynn consider when setting a long-term vision?” We gave them nine potential themes to choose from, and they could choose up to three. Online participants could select “Other,” and specify another theme if they wanted to.

    Chart: Visioning themes

    Housing affordability, economic opportunity, cultural diversity, and vibrant places were the top four themes identified by the public. 60% of participants selected housing affordability as a central theme the vision should address. It was the only theme selected by a majority of participants, though almost half (48%) selected economic opportunity. Of the 46 write-in responses online, 17 related to schools and education.

    Who responded?

    As part of the online and written surveys, participants could give some basic demographic information to help us understand who we are reaching in the community. (In-person participants weren’t asked to give demographic info.)

    Age

    Respondents were asked “What is your age range?” and given seven age categories to choose from.

    • Just over half (55%) were aged 35-54.
    • 21% were aged 25-34.
    • 14% were 55-64, 7% were 65-75, and 3% were 18-24.
    • 1% were over 75, and less than 1% were under 18.

    Chart: Age range

    Race and Ethnicity

    Participants were asked two questions related to race and ethnicity: “Are you of Hispanic, Latino, or of Spanish origin?,” and “How would you describe yourself?” when presented with five racial categories.

    • 38% of respondents said they were of Hispanic, Latino, or Spanish origin.
    • 52% of respondents would describe themselves as White, 13% as Black, 6% as Asian, and 1% as Indigenous American. 10% would describe themselves as two or more races.
    • 18% chose “Other,” with 7% specifying a response. 67% of the respondents who specified a response wrote a category related to Hispanic or Latino origin, or gave a specific ethnic origin typically associated with Hispanic or Latino origin.

    Chart: Hispanic, Latino, and Spanish Origin

    Chart: Racial Self-Descriptions

    Home Location

    Respondents were asked “What is your home ZIP code?” and given an open entry.

    • Almost half (47%) of respondents came 01902, the areas of eastern Lynn and near (but not including) Downtown. This includes neighborhoods around East Lynn, the Highlands, and the Diamond District.
    • 25% of respondents were from western Lynn (including neighborhoods like West Lynn, the Lynnway, and Pine Hill).
    • 24% of respondents came from the vicinity of Ward 1.
    • 3% of respondents came from Downtown proper.
    • 1% of respondents stated they lived outside Lynn.

    Table: Home ZIP Code

    Zip Code

    Description

    Count

    Percent

    01901

    Downtown Lynn

    22

    3%

    01902

    Eastern Lynn

    333

    47%

    01903

    PO Box

    1

    0%

    01904

    Ward 1

    174

    24%

    01905

    Western Lynn

    176

    25%

    Other

    Outside of Lynn

    9

    1%




  • Vision Lynn in the Community | Vision Lynn en la comunidad

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    Thanks to everyone who stopped by to say hi while we were out in the community! | ¡Gracias a todos los que pasaron a saludarnos mientras estábamos en la comunidad!

    DenCity Vibes Festival
    Sunday, May 1 1-3pm | Domingo, 1 de mayo 1-3pm
    Lynn Commons

    May Day Rally
    Sunday, May 1 2-5pm | Domingo, 1 de mayo 2-5pm
    City Hall Steps

    ARPA Workshop | Taller ARPA
    Saturday, May 14 9-12pm and 1-4pm | Sábado, 14 de mayo 9-12pm y 1-4pm
    Briarcliff Lodge 112 Kernwood Dr, Lynn, MA 01904

    ARPA Workshop | Taller ARPA
    Tuesday, May 17 5:30-8:30pm | Martes, 17 de mayo 5:30-8:30pm
    Lynn Auditorium

    Haitian Flag Raising
    Friday, May 20 10:30-11:30am | Viernes 20 de mayo 10:30-11:30 am
    City Hall Steps

    ARPA Workshop | Taller ARPA
    Sunday, May 22 9-12pm and 1-4pm | Domingo, 22 de mayo 9-12pm y 1-4pm
    YMCA

    The Art of Celebration: RAW Exhibit Opening + Block Party | El arte de la celebración: inauguración de la exposición RAW + fiesta en la calle
    Thursday, May 26 5-8pm | Jueves, 26 de mayo 5-8pm
    Central Square and RAW Art Works, 37 Central Square, Lynn, MA 01901

    Market Basket (in English y Español!)
    Saturday, May 28 10-12pm | Sábado, 28 de mayo 10-12pm
    Market Basket, 40 Federal St, Lynn, MA 01905

    Market Basket (in English and Khmer!)
    Saturday, June 11 10-12pm | Sábado, 11 de junio 10-12pm
    Market Basket, 40 Federal St, Lynn, MA 01905

    Lynn Museum: Final Fridays: Youth Pride
    Friday, June 24 6-9pm | Viernes, 24 de junio 6-9pm
    Lynn Museum, 590 Washington St, Lynn, MA 01901

    Grace United Methodist Church (in English y Español!)
    Saturday, June 25 9-12pm | Sábado, 25 de junio 9-12pm
    Grace United Methodist Church, 374 Broadway, Lynn, MA 01904

    Farmer's Market
    Thursday, July 7 11-1pm | Jueves, 7 de julio 11-1pm
    Exchange Street, Lynn, MA

  • Kickoff Survey Results

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    En Español

    To start the Vision Lynn planning process, we launched a survey with three simple questions: What do you love about Lynn? What concerns you about Lynn? And what is one thing you want your city government to fix? This is what we heard from the 906 people who responded in three different languages.

    What You Love About Lynn

    When asked “What do you love about Lynn?”, there were some clear favorites.

    • Natural Resources (423 respondents) - Lynn Woods, the waterfront and beach, green spaces and Gannon Golf Course were all beloved resources.
    • Diversity (361) - 40% of respondents mentioned Lynn’s diversity as a strength in their response.
    • People & Community (201) - This category includes respondents who spoke about their social networks in Lynn, about the general inclusiveness and friendliness of Lynners, and the pride people feel in community. Another recurring theme, cited specifically by 29 respondents, was the sense that Lynners take care of each other in times of need.
    • Convenience and Location (154) - Lynn’s proximity to the North Shore and Boston were commonly cited as assets.
    • Arts, Culture & History (152) - Whether it was the historic architecture, music scene, or murals, many respondents cited Lynn’s cultural assets as something they loved.
    • Business and Restaurants (115) - The unique businesses and particularly the food scene were often-cited favorites.

    Concerns and One Thing to Fix

    Many respondents had similar responses when asked “What are your concerns about Lynn?”

    • Schools (294) - Schools, particularly the state of school buildings and uncompetitive wages for teachers, was a top concern.
    • Safety & Crime (292) - There were many concerns related to crime and safety, including violence, drug trafficking and addiction, unsafe driving, and noise concerns.
    • Infrastructure (209) - Respondents were adamant about the need to improve the roads, fix the water and sewer system to clean up King’s Beach, and invest in public spaces and parks.
    • Housing & Development (203) - Many respondents discussed housing and development. Many respondents in this category were concerned about rising housing costs and gentrification or expressed a desire for more affordable housing. Some, in contrast, wanted gentrification. Others talked about concerns regarding development more broadly--that there were areas not being developed or being developed inappropriately, that development was not adequately benefiting the community, or that development was not happening in coordination with adequate planning regarding traffic or schools.
    • Trash & Litter (167) - Respondents talked about issues with cleanliness, including trash and litter, street sweeping, and general beautification.
    • City Government (106) - Respondents felt frustration about local governance. Some had specific areas of concern (perceived lack of enforcement for laws, poor management of parks, or giving developers too much power) or spoke generally about a lack of communication or transparency. Many expressed the feeling that the government does not seem to reflect the community, either in terms of acting on the will of the community or in terms of demographics. (Note: the survey was open from September 2021 through April 2022, so this would have covered an election and an inauguration.)

    When we asked respondents about what one thing they'd want the city government to fix, the biggest winners were schools (207), infrastructure (180), and city government (114).

    Who Responded

    Of the 906 people who responded, 96% responded in English while 3% responded in Spanish and 1% in Khmer. 97% of respondents had a home zip code in Lynn. We asked respondents to self-identify their race and ethnicity if they chose. Of the respondents who provided this information, 3% identified as being Asian or Asian-American, 5% identified as being Black or African-American, and 5% identified as being multi-racial. 11% of all respondents who shared demographic information identified as Latino/a/x or Hispanic.

    Next Steps

    We tried to distill what we heard in this survey into a variety of vision statements that could be used to set the priorities for the Vision Lynn plan. Now, we're asking people to weigh in on whether we got it right!

    • Take the Survey Online (English or Spanish)
    • Take the Survey by Text (Coming Soon in Arabic, English, Khmer, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, and Vietnamese)
    • Visit our boards around the community or at an upcoming event.

    This "Listening Tour" will continue through June, when we anticipate that we'll have our first major public meeting.