WEEKLY NEWS UPDATE – 08/19/26

SPECIAL TOWN MEETING – SAVE THE DATE

A Special Town Meeting will be held on Monday, October 26, 2026 at 7:00 PM. 

• The warrant is open and all proposed articles must be received by the Town Manager’s Office by Friday, August 28, 2026. 
• Articles may be submitted via email as a shared Google Doc, Microsoft Word or PDF format to ldelpriore@hopkintonma.gov or on paper by mail or delivery to Town Manager’s Office, 18 Main St., Hopkinton MA 01748.  

PLANNING BOARD

At its Monday meeting, the Planning Board voted 7-0-1 against a proposal by the Charter Review Committee to reduce its membership from nine to seven. Member Rob Benson abstained from the vote. Information gathered by the CRC showed that the Planning Board was larger than planning boards in other towns. Board members opposed this membership reduction, discussing its potential impact on cases where a supermajority is needed for approval and highlighting the importance of member diversity and perspectives from different parts of town in its decision making. The CRC also proposed eliminating the town planner position, which has not been filled for some time. It was noted that none of these proposed town charter changes are firm and a public forum will be held in the near future. 

Following significant discussion, the board also voted 6-2 to require an applicant seeking a minor site plan amendment for 87 Hayden Rowe Street, a previously approved two-phase project, to go through the major site plan amendment process due to the expansion of phase two, which seeks to add 1,200 square feet to the existing 2,000 square-foot building, change the use from service/storage to office space, and increase the parking by 8 additional spaces. The board also unanimously approved stormwater and earth removal permits for the Eversource LNG facility at 55 Wilson Street, and elected members Elyse Mihajloski and Brian Johnson as board representatives to the Zoning Advisory Board and Economic Development Advisory Committee, respectively. 

Planning Board opposes proposed membership change (Article by Mary Ellen Gambon, 08/18/26) 

In other business, the board heard concerns raised by abutters regarding a proposed 13-unit mixed-use development in the downtown business district, encompassing BoMain Pizza Bar & Grill at 14 Main Street, the land behind the restaurant, and a single family home at 10 Walcott Street. The plan proposes 13 condominiums, split between two buildings, with one unit being affordable. No changes are to be made to BoMain’s restaurant or parking area, or the Walcott Street home. Concerns were voiced by residents and board members regarding traffic, drainage, access, and affordable-housing requirements. A site walk is planned for September 13th at 9AM, and the proposal will be revisited at the board’s September 14th meeting. 

Proposed mixed-use development at BoMain property draws concerns from abutters (Article by Mary Ellen Gambon, 08/18/26) 

ELEMENTARY SCHOOL BUILDING COMMITTEE

At its Tuesday meeting, the Elementary School Building Committee heard Charleswood School budget and construction updates. The project is seeing good progress, with 77% of the $158.4 million budget committed and only modest change orders expected as construction continues. The project remains on track for a July 2027 completion.  

Change orders minimal for Charleswood School project (Article by Susan Gonsalves, 08/19/26) 

MAIN STREET CORRIDOR PROJECT

Check out the latest Main Street Corridor Project Update for work continuing through the rest of the week. Road paving from the Fire Station to the east end of the project has been delayed to Thursday 8/20 and Friday 8/21.