STOW — Town Administrator Denise Dembkoski would like to announce the Town of Stow will hold Special Town Meeting this Saturday, with several important warrant articles scheduled to come up for debate and action.
WHEN:
Saturday, Oct. 30; Check in begins at 9 a.m.; Meeting begins at 10 a.m.
WHERE:
Hale Middle School, 55 Hartley Road, Stow, MA
WHAT:
Special Town Meeting will be held Saturday in the auditorium at Hale Middle School, with several important matters that will affect the town’s future for years to come on the warrant.
Masks are required for anyone attending indoors, but there will also be a limited amount of outdoor seating and a live audio feed for those who want to remain outside. Those intending to sit outside should bring their own chairs and umbrellas, and should go inside to check in before the meeting begins. Anyone wishing to speak on warrant articles will also have to head into the auditorium to do so, and should have a mask with them. The Town will have a limited number of masks on hand for those who forget to bring them.
For those indoors, since masks are required there will not be any social distancing requirements in place. There will also be a section of indoor seating for the hearing impaired.
To view the Special Town Meeting warrant in full, click here.
Town Administrator Dembkoski would like to draw special attention to two warrant articles — Article 5, regarding the purchase of the North Course of Stow Acres, and Article 8, regarding a zoning bylaw change in the Industrial District.
Article 5 asks the Town to authorize the expenditure of up to $4 million to purchase the northern portion of the Stow Acres Golf Course on Randall Road for use as open space and recreation land. This article concerns only the portion of Stow Acres land that the Town is purchasing. That land includes 24 acres that will be controlled by the Conservation Commission and used for passive recreation and open space purposes, as well as 90 acres of land that will be controlled by the Recreation Commission for active recreation and use as a park. Funding for the purchase will come from Community Preservation Act funds, grants and fundraising. A maximum of $500,000 of the Town’s general fund budget may be used on the project, but only if needed to reach the $4 million total.
“This article is about the land the town is purchasing, and is completely separate from the portion of Stow Acres that a private developer is hoping to build houses on,” Town Administrator Dembkoski said. “There will be numerous opportunities for public input on the portion of the development being handled by a private developer once that developer applies for permits.”
For more information on the Stow Acres planning process, click here.
Article 8 asks the Town to amend zoning bylaws to allow for-profit schools to be built in industrial zones. Non-profit schools can already be built anywhere in town under Massachusetts law. The zoning change would open the door for for-profit schools to apply to build in town, but as part of the proposed zoning change proposals from for-profit schools would still be required to have a Development Agreement negotiated with the Select Board, as well as a Special Permit from the Planning Board.
“Allowing for-profit schools in industrial zones, but requiring them to negotiate with the Select Board and Planning Board will give the Town a significant amount of control over any proposed project,” Town Administrator Dembkoski said. “Masters Academy International is planning to apply for permits to build a for-profit school at the former Bose site in town, but passage of this article will not impact opportunities for public input when MAI applies for permits.”
For more information about the proposed zoning change and the proposal from Masters Academy International, click here.
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