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A neighborhood conservation district (NCD) is a tool used to preserve, protect, and enhance significant areas within a community beyond what is specified in the zoning bylaw. The conservation regulations are applied in addition to standard zoning regulations and will usually take precedence. NCD regulations will differ from neighborhood to neighborhood depending on the area’s character and needs. Because they do not regulate as strictly as historic districts, NCDs are typically used as an alternative to them in areas where alterations have already occurred but protection of the overall scale, streetscape, and significant buildings is necessary.

Neighbors in the Turning Mill neighborhood determined why we might want to form an NCD and what exactly it is we want to try to preserve; i.e. What is so special about the Turning Mill Neighborhood?

Here are the characteristics neighbors identified:
·       Woodland setting and feeling
·       Architectural style
·       Nature
·    Responsible Homes
·    Privacy

The Turning Mill NCD is approved April 2018 through a vote in the Annual Town Meeting via the bylaw Chapter78A.

Below is an outline of the process to establish our NCD.

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November 15th - Joint committee meeting of the Historic Commission and the Planning Board

Diane Purley presented an excellent executive summary of the NCD Study Committee report.

The boards discussed the purpose and process for establishing the NCD and listened to public comment.

November 15 is the new date for the Joint Public Hearing to begin the opt-out period.

November 22 remains the opt-out deadline.

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At the Nov 1 meeting Diane Pursley presented the outline for the NCD. Unfortunately the Historic Commission did not have a quorum to complete the vote to start the opt-out/in period and so the dates have shifted forward slightly.

November 15 is the new date for the Joint Public Hearing to begin the opt-out period.

November 22 remains the opt-out deadline.

We hope you will carefully consider this option to protect our neighborhood particularly in light of the recent decision to allow the 29 unit Zero Grove Street development proceed. This dense development involves the destruction of a seven acre forest, will considerably increase traffic, increase pressure on many of our town services in addition to the obvious destruction of vital habitat for woodland animals.

In a favorable light it makes our neighborhood even more of a gem in an ever increasingly over-developed town. Join with us to maintain the values of our homes and protect our neighborhood. Sign on to the NCD ahead of time and proudly display your TMN sticker on your mailbox!

Sept. 19. 2017 The NCD Study Committee voted to approve the Study Committee Report.

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In Early September the TMNCD Study Committee will send the draft bylaw to Town Council for review

September 19 at 7pm in the Parker Room at the Town Offices. There will be a final study committee meeting and a vote to accept the final report. The committee dissolves.

October 15 the certified mailing will be completed and mailed to all property owners in the NCD area. It will include an opt-out form (red) and Opt-in form (green) and proposed bylaw to all . The upcoming Public Hearing will be publicized.

November 1 there will be a Joint Public Hearing to begin the opt-out period.

November 22 is the opt-out deadline.

November 29 is the deadline to redraw the NCD area (per the enabling bylaw) if required to get %75 of the properties in the NCD area

A link to the DRAFT Turning Mill NCD bylaw can be found under "Resources" then "links".

"We must indeed all hang together or we most assuredly will all hang separately." Ben Franklin

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Aug 1 - Slow but steady progress. We have a team of about ten neighbors who have been doing door-to-door outreach to inform people about the bylaw. If you haven't been reached and have any questions, please ask Tina, Diane or Bob

Support for the NCD

A draft of the NCD is now available. Please read if carefully and give us feedback. There will be six meetings coming up at which you can do that.

Tuesday, May 2 at 7pm in the Parker Room in Cary Hall

Wed., May 3 at 9AM at 2 Grimes Road

Saturday, May 6 at 2pm at 2 Grimes Road

Sunday May 7 at 2pm at 2 Grimes Rd

Tues., May 9 at 7pm at 45 Turning Mill Rd

Thurs. May 11 at 21 Turning Mill Rd

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Jan 10, 2017 Meeting at Cary Hall's Ellen Stone room

A number of long-time residents will speak about the specialness of the Turning Mill neighborhood and the importance of taking action to slow development.

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Since January, 2016, several get-togethers have been held by over 100 neighbors to determine why we might want to form an NCD and what exactly it is we want to try to preserve; i.e. What is so special about the Turning Mill Neighborhood?

Here are the characteristics neighbors identified:
·       Woodland setting and feeling
·       Architectural style
·       Nature
·    Responsible Homes
·    Privacy

We have collected signatures from a group of neighbors to petition the Historical Commission at their next meeting on June 15 to begin the process to consider forming an NCD in Turning Mill. We need to act now because:

o The Historical Commission needs time to study the request so that they can decide if our neighborhood qualifies for NCD status

o After the study period, there will be a series of public meetings that will take months to complete. NOTE: The final decision to actually form an NCD rests with the neighborhood and not with the Historical Commission. We are targeting March 2017 Town Meeting for the approval of our NCD.

Continue to reach out to neighbors to help them understand what an NCD is and whether they would like to support it in our neighborhood.

o An NCD cannot be formed unless 75% of households in the defined area want to do so and only these households would be subject to whatever NCD rules that they decide to implement. At this time, any rules and/or guidelines would be based upon the neighborhood characteristics mentioned above. Please consider the possibility carefully and voice any concerns you have now so we can work together to preserve this very special neighborhood.

Link to enabling NCD bylaw:
https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B-0DDeFII0GKeVM5TGREOGhsREE

Please contact us at turningmillncd@gmail.com or call Bob at 781-674-2481, Tina at 617-875-4888 or Diane at 781-266-7679 with any questions. We are available to meet with you individually or in small groups. Check out www.turningmill.org. Contact us with content ideas for the website to showcase our unique neighborhood!

Saturday, January 28th, 2017 1-3PM LEXINGTON CENTER - DEPOT SQ MID-CENTURY LANDSCAPE DAY 50TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION
Live music, cake and guest speakers
NCD meeting, Tuesday, January 10th 7pm
Where: Ellen Stone Room, Cary Hall

Turning Mill Neighborhood Gathering
Sunday, November 6, 2016 from 5 to 7 P.M.
Where: Glenn Bartolini and Kim Brown's house, 26 Partridge Rd.

Gathering to meet neighbors and discuss the formation of a Neighborhood Conservation District for the Turning Mill Neighborhood.