October 29, 2024

WEEKLY NEWS UPDATE- 10/29/24

PLANNING BOARD – MBTA COMMUNITIES ACT

Public feedback to zoning overlay district proposals. At a special hearing last night, the Planning Board reviewed three proposed zoning overlay districts that would comply with the state’s MBTA Communities Act, which requires towns that are adjacent to towns with public transportation stations to approve new zoning to allow multifamily housing. The Planning Board informed the public that non-compliance with the state’s statute would preclude the town from receiving state grants and potentially leave the town open to litigation by the state. The three options were pinpointed as locations that “are not likely to be developed ‘in the foreseeable future.’” Residents spoke out and gave feedback regarding these proposals. A fourth option was proposed at the end of the meeting (covering The Preserve and Walcott Valley areas) which will be discussed at the next Planning Board meeting on November 4th. The Planning Board hopes to narrow down the proposed options to submit to the warrant at the November 18th Special Town Meeting. ‘Pitting neighbors against neighbors’: Residents push back against MBTA Communities zoning proposals (Article by Mary Ellen Gambon, 10/29/24)

Watch HCAM coverage of the meeting.

Learn more about the MBTA Communities Act for multi-family zoning and the 3 options presented for compliance with the Act, as well as what grants Hopkinton will be precluded from for non-compliance: MBTA Communities Act Zoning Compliance

The state zoning requirement falls under Section 3A of M.G.L. c.40A.

SCHOOL COMMITTEE

School Safety. In light of ongoing “angst” in the community following the recent swatting incident at the High School, Superintendent Cavanaugh addressed the issue before the School Committee on Thursday. She described the district’s school safety training and crisis response teams. While the Police Department budgets for two school resource officers (SROs) to cover the five school buildings, a current staffing shortage has made only one SRO officer available for this coverage. Police understaffing underpins ‘angst’ over school safety (See Article, with link to HCAM video of meeting, by Susan Gonsalves, 10/25/24)

CONSERVATION COMMISSION

New conservation administrator. The Conservation Commission appointed a new conservation administrator, Judy Day, at its Tuesday meeting, to fill the role of Kim Ciaramicoli, who resigned from the role in August. The Commission also approved a plan to replace twice the number of trees cleared from a buffer area in the Elmwood Farms III subdivision. Conservation Commission welcomes new conservation administrator, accepts Elmwood Farms III remediation plan (Article by Mary Ellen Gambon, 10/23/24)

TRAIL COORDINATION & MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE

E-bike use and updates. At its meeting last Wednesday, the TCMC debated the use of electric bikes on trails under the Open Space Preservation Commission’s oversight. It also considered the possibility of having associate members on the new trails committee which will replace the TCMC and the former Upper Charles Trail Committee and incorporate the missions of both. Progress on current projects were discussed. The next trail volunteer day to work on the extension of Center Trains from Field 13 to Chamberlain St. will be on November 2nd. Trails Committee talks e-bike use on trails, ideas to carry forward to new committee (Article by Mary Ellen Gambon, 10/24/24)

MAIN STREET CORRIDOR PROJECT

Continuing Main Street work. Walkway work will resume and continue throughout the week, affecting addresses including 35, 36, and 77 Main Street, along with miscellaneous work along the corridor. Main Street Corridor Project update: Walkway work continues (Article by Mary Ellen Gambon 10/25/24)

See Construction Updates HERE