Ten years ago, a well-attended Town Meeting voted to eliminate “Use Variances”. The vote was prompted by anger over a controversial housing project. Changes in state law passed this month now reinstate use variances for residential uses.
(Coincidentally, the timing of the change is during the month that a legal case stemming from the same 2015-2016 controversy is headed to trial.) Read the full article → from State guts Town’s ban on Use Variances
On Wednesday night, the Zoning Board of Appeals granted Costco’s request for variances to restricted property setbacks for retaining walls and height restrictions on light poles. The developer is now able to incorporate those into the plans it will “very shortly” submit to the Planning Board when it next seeks Major Site Plan Approval. Read the full article → from Costco gets zoning relief from ZBA
Here is a selection of the committee and board meetings for the week along with my selected highlights from the agendas. Read the full article → from The week in government
I’m correcting and updating on a recent post about the Town’s Declaration of Independence. I learned that at some point, the Town located the handwritten copy from 1776. The historic document is also part of the Town’s historical records that have been digitized and uploaded for the public to access.
I’m also sharing some more interesting history from the period that was captured in the records. Read the full article → from A look at Southborough’s Handwritten Declaration of Independence (Updated)
The Town asked me to alert readers to not fall prey to scammers who target applicants for municipal permits. The warning is based on a scam in which emailers notify that permits are approved and provide fraudulent payment links to proceed. Read the full article → from Town issues warning about municipal permits email scam
Here is a selection of the committee and board meetings for the week along with my selected highlights from the agendas. Read the full article → from The week in government
I’m sharing some news, and related history, that I wish I’d had in time to share last week. But for those still in the mood to celebrate the semiquincentennial . . Read the full article → from Town gifted handprinted replica of Declaration of Independence (Updated-Again)
On Tuesday night, the Stewardship Committee’s chair publicly expressed their frustration that the Select Board reneged on a promise to readdress this week an issue it created three weeks ago.
Apparently, the board plans to now wait until their August 11th meeting to discuss whether to adjust Stewardships charge to allow a longtime member to continue her service. Read the full article → from Select Board puts off dealing with Stewardship Committee problem it created (Updated)
Last night, the Select Board unanimously voted to increase the permit fees for the Transfer Station Stickers for the coming season, which starts on September 15th. The biggest percentage increase was to the still-steeply-discounted stickers for residents ages 65+. Read the full article → from Transfer Station fees going up and rules re-examined (Updated)
Southborough Youth & Family Services (SYFS) is moving from one historic, former school building in town, to another even older historic school building. The move is part of a shuffling use for the Town’s historic buildings. Read the full article → from SYFS relocating to historic Flagg School building
Here is a selection of the committee and board meetings for the week along with my selected highlights from the agendas. Read the full article → from The week in government (Updated)
A high-interest retail project is taking important steps and looking for key approvals this summer. That includes decisions by both Town and state officials. Read the full article → from Costco Update: ZBA Hearing opens this month
On Monday, the Board of Health announced that a sample of mosquitos from Southborough were tested positive for West Nile Virus. (The mosquitos were apparently collected last Friday, June 26th.)
Our town was the fifth Massachusetts towns to have positive findings this summer. But the entire commonwealth is still designated by health officials as “low risk” for contracting the arbovirus. (At this point, there have been no human, or even animal, cases reported in the state.) Read the full article → from BOH warns about avoiding West Nile Virus Risks
[Ed note: My Southborough accepts signed letters to the editor submitted by Southborough residents. Letters may be emailed to mysouthborough@gmail.com.
The following letter is from Carl Guyer.] Read the full article → from Letter: Commercial Development and Residential Tax Relief: Are They the Same Thing?