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special town meeting fall 2021

Special Town Meeting: New zoning created for a Downtown District (Updated)

by Beth Melo on

Last night, 3% of Southborough voters determined the fate of zoning for a district encompassing downtown Main Street. The motion that passed 182 to 65 was a bylaw revised by voters on Town Meeting floor. Read the full article → from Special Town Meeting: New zoning created for a Downtown District (Updated)

Special Town Meeting: All Articles passed (though two with amendments)

by Beth Melo on

Last night, Southborough voters quickly passed 9 Articles on the Special Town Meeting Warrant. They then spent hours discussing, debating, and amending the 10th before finally passing a version of the Downtown District zoning bylaw. Read the full article → from Special Town Meeting: All Articles passed (though two with amendments)

Downtown District: Official docs on what voters will approve; Answers to some public questions

by Beth Melo on

Following up with selectmen’s official documents on the Amended Article and zoning changes. Plus, I’m following up on questions/claims about Wastewater Treatment costs. Read the full article → from Downtown District: Official docs on what voters will approve; Answers to some public questions

Downtown District zoning: Compromise reached on the allowed mix in mixed-use

by Beth Melo on

Last night, selectmen voted to approve bringing a revised version of the Downtown District zoning bylaw to Town Meeting voters in less than two weeks. It accepts compromises reached between the Planning Board and the Economic Development Committee. Read the full article → from Downtown District zoning: Compromise reached on the allowed mix in mixed-use

BOS stood by its vote on Downtown zoning; Advisory warns voters wary of multi-family housing

by Beth Melo on

This week, the Economic Development Committee failed to convince the Board of Selectmen to walk back changes to the proposed Downtown District zoning bylaw. Later, an Advisory Committee member predicted that an aspect EDC, BOS and Planning haven’t been discussing will sink the Special Town Meeting Article. Read the full article → from BOS stood by its vote on Downtown zoning; Advisory warns voters wary of multi-family housing

Special Town Meeting: Draft Warrant, Mask Mandate, and Safety Precautions

by Beth Melo on

This week, the Board of Health discussed plans for making the November 1st Special Town Meeting a safe environment for participants. The main question they had was, could they legally require voters wear masks?

While I’m covering that, I’ll also provide a peek of what attending voters will be expect to decide. Read the full article → from Special Town Meeting: Draft Warrant, Mask Mandate, and Safety Precautions

Downtown District zoning: Planning’s changes please opponents but frustrate proponents; Article may be pulled

by Beth Melo on

After months of meetings, forums, and hearings, the Planning Board, Board of Selectmen, and vocal downtown residents and abutters came to apparent consensus on a proposed Downtown District Bylaw to present to Town Meeting voters. Unfortunately, that version is one that doesn’t pass muster with the group that initially spearheaded the initiative. Read the full article → from Downtown District zoning: Planning’s changes please opponents but frustrate proponents; Article may be pulled

Special Town Meeting: Date pushed; Downtown District zoning hearings to reopen (with same map)

by Beth Melo on

Last night the Board of Selectmen voted to delay the Special Town Meeting that had been scheduled for October 4th. The date is now tentatively reset to November 1st. Read the full article → from Special Town Meeting: Date pushed; Downtown District zoning hearings to reopen (with same map)

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