Sean Robinson
Background
My name is Sean Robinson and I am running for a two-year term on the Planning Board. I am a lifelong Massachusetts resident who grew up in a South Shore town of similar size and character to Canton, earned my bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Accounting from UMass Amherst, and lived in Boston for ten years before moving to Canton in 2015 with my wife. Since moving to Canton, we have lived in three different homes, got engaged, got married, had children, and have formed many new friendships - mostly through the Ponkapoag Civic Association, the Canton Moms Club, and our children’s preschool friends. We love the community here, and always try to make the most of what the town has to offer.
I began my career in public accounting, but after a few years decided to pursue my interest in the built environment by pivoting into the commercial real estate industry, where I have been focused since 2009. Over the last 15 years, I have worked for a small commercial real estate owner/operator/developer, a mid-size real estate investment firm with properties throughout the U.S., and a Boston-based development firm that specializes in master-planned mixed-use development. I also completed a dual master’s degree in Real Estate Development and City Planning at MIT.
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Qualifications
My professional experience in the real estate sector has provided me with a deep understanding of various property types, including office, industrial, retail, multifamily, and hotel. I have also worked on two large-scale mixed-use development projects that have involved not only individual buildings, but also planning for infrastructure improvements, pedestrian and bike paths, public open space, and the creation of unique retail and restaurant experiences for the people who will live and work there. Additionally, I have become knowledgeable about numerous federal, state, and local incentive programs that can be used to finance public infrastructure projects, some of which may be worth exploring for Canton.
My formal education in both Real Estate Development and City Planning has provided me with a deep understanding of both perspectives, and a sense of how planners and developers can work together to achieve the best possible outcomes for the community. I am fortunate to have had the opportunity to learn from amazing instructors through my coursework in real estate finance and economics, real estate law, design and development, community growth and land use planning, economic development tools and techniques, and mixed-income housing. I feel that I will be able to draw on much of what I’ve learned through my professional and educational experience when addressing planning issues in Canton.
Regarding my civic participation in Canton, I previously served as a member and Vice Chair of Canton’s Master Plan Implementation Committee, and as such, I am familiar with the details of our town’s Master Plan that is meant to guide our actions to achieve our shared goals and objectives from 2020-2035.
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Why I am running for Planning Board
Winston Churchill once said “We shape our buildings; thereafter they shape us”. There is much truth to this statement, and I believe the same can be said about communities as a whole. As my own children continue to grow up in Canton, I want to ensure that the community that shapes them is a welcoming and inclusive one, where everyone has the opportunity to thrive, regardless of age, income level, race, ethnicity, religion, gender, etc.
I decided to run for the Planning Board now because we have reached a critical inflection point in the U.S., in which the two largest age demographic waves in the nations’s history - Baby Boomers and Millennials - are navigating their way through new phases of life, and many communities are not properly prepared for the shift that will continue to happen over the next 10-20 years. As Baby Boomers (currently age 60-78) continue to age, it is important for Canton to remain a suitable place for long-time residents of this generation to age in place, where they have the opportunity to downsize to smaller homes while staying close to family and friends, have access to expanded housing and transportation options, and live in a town where ADA accessibility standards sufficiently meet their needs. As for Millennials (now age 28-43) and the Gen Zers right behind them - they are more likely than their parents’ generations to live in the city in their 20s and 30s, but are increasingly forming new families and moving to the suburbs to raise their children. While this is great for the vitality of the community and for the opportunities afforded to future generations, it is important for the town to be strategic and pragmatic in managing growth in a sustainable manner that protects our open space, as well as our environmental and historic resources, provides better connectivity and expanded transportation options to mitigate traffic congestion, and rationally considers the impact on town resources.
Lastly, regarding economic development, Canton is blessed with a robust business community that provides amenities and job opportunities for local residents, as well as a substantial commercial and industrial tax base that helps to keep our residential tax rates low. I appreciate the significance of our economic base, as well as the importance of working to support and retain existing businesses of all sizes, while also continuing to expand and diversify.
In short, I am a big picture thinker, who is not afraid to roll up my sleeves and get into the details. I take a methodical approach, I make rational informed decisions based on facts and data, and I act with the purpose of planning for the long-term well-being of our town, region, and nation.
During my term, I hope to work with other members of the Planning Board, as well as representatives from other boards and committees, on the day-to-day duties and the advancement of the goals and objectives stated in Canton’s long-range Master Plan, and I am committed to working in the best interest of the Canton community as a whole.
While I am running unopposed, I would certainly appreciate your vote as a sign of support!
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