Here’s a list of when our municipal facilities will be closed over the Christmas and New Year’s holidays. Read the full article → from What’s open and closed over the holidays
What’s open and closed over the holidays
Government
Town exploring building affordable homes on Atwood St
Town officials are exploring a 1.8 acre lot on Atwood Street as a location for an affordable housing project. At this point, the focus is on a small project rather than a dense development. Read the full article → from Town exploring building affordable homes on Atwood St
The week in government
Planning session on MBTA zoning districts, Select Board on Public Safety Dispatch and process for hiring Fire Chief, Regional School Committee, ZBA, and more
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
Update on 120 Turnpike Road 40B
Last night, the Zoning Board of Appeals held the opening hearing for the proposed 40B Project at 120 Turnpike Road. Much of the discussion focused on disputes about the legality of the proposal and the process for proceeding with the application. Here are my highlights and an update on the next steps. Read the full article → from Update on 120 Turnpike Road 40B
Planning Board prioritizing sections of Town to overlay MBTA Communities zoning
The board is working on evaluating and ranking multiple areas of town for proposed allowance of higher density housing
This week, the Planning Board discussed over 20 areas of town that residents had highlighted in mapping sessions might be good areas to overlay at least 50 acres of MBTA Communities zoning. They are working to determine which parcels to recommend be included in the overlay map. If passed by voters, the zoning would allow developers to build up to 15 housing units per acre in the mapped areas. Read the full article → from Planning Board prioritizing sections of Town to overlay MBTA Communities zoning
The week in government
Planning on MBTA Zoning districts, ZBA Hearings on 120 Turnpike Rd, and more
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
Fire Chief resigning
Chief Achilles will take a position for a theme park in Orlando
Southborough’s Fire Chief, Steven Achilles, will be moving south this winter. According to his announcement, after 38 years working in fire and emergency services (4½ of those in Southbrough), he’ll be taking an administrative position. Read the full article → from Fire Chief resigning
Next year’s NSBORO Wellness Days still to be determined
NSBORO’s superintendent wants to work with teachers, students, and the community before recommending when to use Wellness Days next year. He noted that, based on the high school’s feedback, aligning them with religious holidays next year “might not be the best option for us to consider”. Read the full article → from Next year’s NSBORO Wellness Days still to be determined
Correction on 250 Turnpike Road Hearing (not for a 40B use)
The ZBA Hearing on Dec 20th is for a Contractor Yard Building on "lot A" of the property.
This week, I posted that the ZBA would be opening its hearing on the 40B residential housing project proposed for 250 Turnpike Road. I was wrong. Read the full article → from Correction on 250 Turnpike Road Hearing (not for a 40B use)
Tree trimming this month
NGrid bucket crews will be at work in town this month. Read the full article → from Tree trimming this month
Historical documents project and website
A project headed by the Town Clerk to digitize and organize historical records can be accessed by the public on a searchable website. Funding requests are coming for old records that can't be scanned in house.
The Town Clerk’s office has been overseeing a project to preserve and digitize the Town’s historical records. As part of the project the digital records are being uploaded to a dedicated, searchable public website that describes each document and why it is significant. Read the full article → from Historical documents project and website
Winter parking ban is in effect through March 15th
No parking on the street overnight (or during snowstorms or "ice events").
The annual winter parking ban was approved last night. Read the full article → from Winter parking ban is in effect through March 15th
Correction – 40B Update: ZBA Hearing on the 13th and unrelated hearing on the 20th
The Zoning Board of Appeals will have to juggle 40B housing development applications this winter. (But an application hasn’t been submitted for the project at 250 Turnpike Road yet.) Read the full article → from Correction – 40B Update: ZBA Hearing on the 13th and unrelated hearing on the 20th
Park Central on hold while developer considers options
ZBA is against considering current application as written due to Covenant agreement with neighbors. Hearing continued to Jan 10th to discuss next steps.
The course the board and the applicant will take on the Park Central 40B application will be discussed at the continued hearing on January 10th. Read the full article → from Park Central on hold while developer considers options