New Assistant Planner Named, Succeeding One Who Came In June

Arlington MA

23 October, 2021

1:03 PM

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Your Arlington Last Updated: 20 October 2021 Written by Joan Roman, Bob Sprague Kelly Lynema, a senior town planner for three years, has been named assistant director of planning. "Kelly has already contributed much to the town," said Jennifer Raitt, the town director of planning and community development, in an Oct. 19 news release. "She has been instrumental in advancing several major projects in Arlington, including economic-recovery efforts. I am confident she will excel in this new role and look forward to our continued work for Arlington." Lynema fills the position held by Erin Moriarty, who was named assistant planner last June and whose last day with the town was Oct. 1, Caryn Molloy, town personnel director wrote, in response to a query from YourArlington. Lynema's annual salary is $93,322, she wrote. Excited about new capacity "I am excited to step into this new capacity with the Town of Arlington, especially as we begin to implement our new plans on housing, transportation, open space, and achieving net zero," said Lynema in the town release. "We have a talented and dedicated team at DPCD, and I am happy to be working with them, our boards, and committees to take action to meet the goals the Arlington community has established in these important plans." The release said Lynema will perform professional and technical work, including the drafting and implementing town land-use policies and managing community affairs. Serving as a senior planner since October 2018, she is the liaison to Envision Arlington, has helped guide the historic preservation survey master plan, Mill Brook Corridor Study, housing plan, residential design guidelines and conducted research into land use, housing and economic development for the department and the Redevelopment Board. Background Before her work in Arlington, Lynema worked at the Ashkenazy Acquisition Corp., where she assisted in implementing the Faneuil Hall Marketplace Master Plan and developed and put into effect the annual public-realm program for the marketplace. She was employed as an urban planner for two private-sector firms, Utile and NBBJ, where she worked on neighborhood and comprehensive plans for communities across the eastern United States. Lynema received her master's degree in urban planning from Harvard University and her bachelor's degree in sociology from Tufts University. The town Department of Planning and Community Development aims to improve access to housing and transportation, enhance the vitality of business districts, providing opportunities for low- and moderate-income households, and preserve and promote the town's natural, historic and cultural resources. The department oversees the master plan and administration of the Arlington Community Development Block Grant Program. Staffers support a range of town boards and committees, including the Redevelopment Board, and manage three properties: Jefferson Cutter House, Senior Center and 23 Maple St. The department has nine full-time staff members. For more, click here >> YourArlington.com has provided news and opinion about Arlington, Mass., since 2006. Publisher Bob Sprague is a former editor at The Boston Globe, Boston Herald and Arlington Advocate. Read more at https://www.yourarlington.com/about.