WARRANT FOR FALL ANNUAL TOWN MEETING
TRANSACTION OF TOWN BUSINESS
TUESDAY, OCTOB ER 23, 2007 - 7:00 P.M.
To any Constable of the Town of
GREETINGS:
In
the name of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, you are hereby directed to
notify the Inhabitants of the Town of Northbridge, qualified to vote in Town
elections and Town affairs, to meet in the Northbridge Middle School Auditorium
on Linwood Avenue, in Whitinsville, in said Northbridge, Massachusetts, on
Tuesday, October 23, 2007 at 7:00 o'clock P.M., then and there to act on the
following articles:
ARTICLE 1: (Board of Selectmen)
To
see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate or transfer from available
funds in the Treasury (free cash) a sum of money for the High School Fields and
Linwood Avenue detention pond restoration projects, said funds to be expended
under the direction of the Building, Planning & Construction Committee; or
take any other action relative thereto.
ARTICLE 2: (Board of Selectmen)
To
see if the Town will vote to accept the provisions of Section 5K of Chapter 59
of the Massachusetts General Laws in order to allow the Selectmen to establish
a program whereby property owners over the age of 60 on July 1st of
any given year may provide volunteer service to the Town, at the State minimum
wage, in exchange for a reduction in their real estate tax bills of up to $750
per Fiscal Year, in addition to any other exemptions or abatements for which
they may be eligible; or take any other action relative thereto.
ARTICLE 3: (Board
of Selectmen)
To
see if the Town will vote to amend the vote taken under Article 3 of the 2007
Spring Session of the Annual Town Meeting (June 12, 2007), appropriations and
transfers under the Omnibus Budget Article, as follows:
NON-DEPARTMENTAL:
By transferring from Line 40 (Employee
Insurance Benefits)
to new
Line 40A (Life Insurance) the sum of $15,000
or take any
other action relative thereto.
ARTICLE 4: (Board of Selectmen)
To
see if the Town will vote to amend the vote taken under Article 3 of the 2007
Spring Session of the Annual Town Meeting (June 12, 2007), appropriations and
transfers under the Omnibus Budget Article, as follows:
NON-DEPARTMENTAL:
Line
40: Employee Insurance Benefits
By decreasing the amount previously raised
and appropriated by a certain sum of money;
or take
any other action relative thereto.
ARTICLE 5: (Board
of Selectmen)
To
see if the Town will vote to amend the vote taken under Article 3 of the 2007
Spring Session of the Annual Town Meeting (June 12, 2007), appropriations and
transfers under the Omnibus Budget Article, as follows:
NON-DEPARTMENTAL:
By transferring from Line 40 (Employee
Insurance Benefits) and/or raising and
appropriating a certain sum of money to Line 43 (Stabilization Fund);
or take
any other action relative thereto.
ARTICLE 6: (Board
of Selectmen)
To
see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate or transfer from available
funds in the Treasury (free cash) or transfer from the proceeds of the sale of
surplus property account a sum not to exceed $10,000 for the purpose of
purchasing mechanic’s tools for use by the Department of Public Works for
maintenance and repair of departmental vehicles; or take any other action
relative thereto.
ARTICLE 7: (Board
of Selectmen)
To
see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate or transfer from available
funds in the Treasury (free cash) a sum of money to fund Town Hall security and/or
ADA accessibility projects, said funds to be expended under the direction of
the Town Manager; or take any other action relative thereto.
ARTICLE 8: (Board
of Health)
To see if the Town will vote
to accept the second paragraph of MGL C.129 §15 regarding the annual nomination
of inspectors of animals; or take any other action relative thereto.
ARTICLE 9: (Board
of Health)
To
see if the Town will vote to amend § 4-403 (B) of the Code of the Town of
Northbridge by deleting the words "Town Manager" in the first
sentence and replacing them with the words "Board of Health" so that
the section reads as follows:
B. Mode of appointment; term of office. The Board of
Health shall annually, in March, nominate one or more Inspectors of Animals,
and before April first, shall send to the Director of Animal Health of the
commonwealth the name, address and occupation of each nominee. Such nominee shall not be appointed until
approved by the Director of Animal Health of the commonwealth (MGL C.129, §15).
or take any other
action relative thereto.
ARTICLE 10: (Planning
Board)
To
see if the Town will vote to AMEND the Town of Northbridge Zoning By-Law Chapter 173 as follows:
A.
Revising Article VII, Section 173-23 [Signs permitted in any business district]
as follows:
1) By deleting the comma after the words "automotive
service establishment" in paragraph A and adding after said words and
before the word "provided" the following: "within a Business Two
(B-2) and/or a Business Three (B-3) district shall be permitted,"; and
2) By adding the following new paragraph D:
"D. Freestanding signs within the Business One
(B-1) and Heritage (H) zoning districts shall be limited to monument-style,
externally lit, wood-carved or suitable alternative. Such signage shall not exceed six (6) feet in
height and twenty (20) square-feet in area.
Freestanding pylon type or pole signs shall not be permitted within the
Business One (B-1) and Heritage (H) zoning districts."
B. Revising Article II, Section 173-2B [Terms
defined] by ADDING the following definition for a "monument sign"
after the definition for "SIGN, BUSINESS" and before the definition
for "SIGN, IDENTIFICATION";
SIGN, MONUMENT-STYLE – A monument-style sign is a ground
sign with low overall height. This type
of signage does not have a visible pole and generally has a decorative
base. Monument-style signage shall be
wood-carved or suitable substitute, externally lit, not exceeding six (6) feet
in height and twenty (20) square feet in area in the Business One (B-1) and
Heritage (H) zoning district.
or take any other action relative thereto.
ARTICLE 11: (Planning Board)
To
see if the Town will vote to AMEND the Town of Northbridge Zoning By-Law
Chapter 173, Article II, Section 173-2B [Terms defined], "lot width"
definition, by deleting the text indicated below by strikethrough and
adding the text indicated below by underline:
which may or may not coincide
with the actual front setback line. The
lot width between the front lot line and the required front setback shall be
measured with a circle having the diameter of the required lot width. The diameter of the circle shall pass from
the front lot line through the required front setback. The circle shall be contained entirely within
the lot lines.
So
that the definition reads as follows:
or take any other
action relative thereto.
ARTICLE 12: (Planning
Board)
To
see if the Town will vote to AMEND the Town of Northbridge Zoning By-Law
Chapter 173 Section 173-12 [Table of Use Regulations], by adding permitted use
provisions in the Industrial – One (I-1) and Industrial – Two (I-2) Zoning
District columns for the following Agricultural and Retail and Services use
categories so that the entries in those columns for those categories read as
follows:
|
Use |
Industrial
–One (I-1) |
Industrial
–Two (I-2) |
|
Agricultural: |
|
|
|
Year round greenhouse or
stand for wholesale and retail sale of agricultural or farm products |
S3 |
S3 |
|
|
|
|
|
Temporary (not to exceed
erection or use for a period exceeding 3 months in an 1 year) greenhouse or
stand for retail sale of agricultural or farm products raised primarily on
the same premises |
S |
S |
|
|
|
|
|
Retail and services: |
|
|
|
Stores usually selling a
combination of 2 or more of the following: dry goods, apparel and
accessories, furniture and home furnishings, small wares, hardware and food |
S3 |
S3 |
|
|
|
|
|
Establishments primary
selling food and drink for home preparation and consumption or on its
premises |
S3 |
S3 |
|
|
|
|
|
Establishment selling new
automobiles or new and used automobiles and trucks, new automobile tires and
other accessories, aircraft, boats, motorcycles and household trailers |
S |
S |
|
|
|
|
|
Hotel and motels |
S3 |
S3 |
|
|
|
|
|
Personal service establishment
|
S3 |
S3 |
|
|
|
|
|
Miscellaneous business
offices and services |
S3 |
S3 |
|
|
|
|
|
Motion-picture
establishment |
S3 |
S3 |
|
|
|
|
|
Planned business
development |
S |
S |
|
|
|
|
[Text
to be added is indicated by underline.]
[NOTE: In the Table of Use Regulations, the uses permitted by
right in the district are designated by the letter
P. Those uses that may be permitted by
special permit in the district, in accordance with §173-47, are designated by
the letter S. Uses designated "-"
are not permitted in the district. Footnote
3 states- "Use shall only be allowed if part of a Planned Business
Development."]
or take
any other action relative thereto.
ARTICLE 13: (Planning
Board)
To see if the Town will vote
to AMEND the Town of Northbridge Zoning By-Law Chapter 173, Section 173-16
[Permitted uses in Limited Industrial District (I-2)], to provide for permitted
uses in the Industrial-One (I-1) Zoning District by inserting in the Section
heading, and in the first sentence, before the words "Limited Industrial
District (I-2)" the words "Industrial-One (I-1) District and";
or take any other action relative thereto.
ARTICLE 14: (Planning
Board)
To see if the Town will vote
to AMEND the Town of Northbridge Zoning By-Law Chapter 173, Subsection 173-47B
(2) [Planned Business Development], by ADDING provision(s) for the
Industrial-One (I-1) Zoning District in clauses a, e, h and k so that
subsection B(2) reads as follows (with deletions shown by strikethrough
and additions shown by underline):
(2) Planned Business Development. [Amended
6-11-2002 ATM, Art. 24]
Purpose.
A Planned Business Development (PBD) allows for the comprehensive and
integrated development of a plot of land by permitting a mixture of open space,
commercial and light industrial uses, which can be combined in a compatible
relationship with each other. Multiple buildings may be allowed on an
individual lot and multiple uses may be allowed in each building. The PBD
provides greater flexibility in the design and layout of buildings, parking
areas, and open space.
Applicability. The Planning Board may issue a special permit for a Planned Business
Development, if the development application is determined to be sufficiently
advantageous to render it appropriate to depart from the normal requirements of
the district to the extent authorized by the Zoning Bylaw and the development
meets the following requirements:
(a) Said
development shall be located in a Business District (B-1, B-2, B-3) and/or the
an Industrial District (I-1, I-2) Industrial-Two District (1-2);
(b) Said
lot shall be at least three acres in size;
(c) A
development plan shall be presented for the entire area described in the
application and applicants must file a site plan under § 173-49;
(d) Uses
allowed in a Planned Business Development located in any B District shall be
any use permitted by right or by special permit in any B District;
(e) Uses
allowed in a Planned Business Development located in an I-2 District any
I District shall only be any use permitted by right or by special permit in
the I-2 District any I District;
(f) Multiple
buildings may be allowed on individual lots and multiple uses may be allowed in
each building;
(g) The
development area shall be served by common parking areas and have common exits
and entrances;
(h) Developments
are subject to a maximum building coverage of 80% of the lot in any Business
District and 60% of the lot in the Industrial-2 District any
Industrial District.
(i) Parking:
The number of parking and loading spaces required shall be determined by using
the standards for each use as provided elsewhere in this Zoning Bylaw. The
Planning Board may allow a reduction of the required number of spaces by up to
25% if it can be demonstrated that two or more uses within a single development
can share parking areas due to different hours of normal activity. A change in
use of one of the businesses shall require the construction of the full amount
of parking otherwise required unless the Planning Board grants a special permit
to allow the parking reductions to remain in effect.
(j)
Said development
shall be in harmony with the general purpose and intent of this provision of
the Zoning Bylaw.
(k)
For Planned
Business Developments in the I-2 District any Industrial District,
developments shall comply with § 173-101, Design standards, of Article XVI, the
Route 146 Overlay District Bylaw.
or take any other action relative thereto.
ARTICLE 15: (Conservation
Commission)
To
see if the Town will vote to amend Section 4-307, Conservation Commission, of
Chapter 4 and Section 7-700, Wetlands Protection Bylaw, of Chapter 7 of the
Code of the Town of Northbridge as proposed by the Conservation Commission, a
copy of said proposed amendments being on file with the Town Clerk; or take any
other action relative thereto.
ARTICLE 16: (Petition)
Move that the Town of
ARTICLE 17: (Petition)
Move that the Town of
ARTICLE 18: (Petition)
To see if the
Town will vote to accept as a public way, Forsythe Farm Road (Quaker Ridge
Development), as heretofore laid out by the Board of Selectmen, a copy of which
layout is on file with the Town Clerk, and further authorize the Board of
Selectmen, in the name and behalf of the Town, to acquire by purchase, eminent
domain, gift or otherwise, easements in said way for the purpose for which public
ways are used in Town; or take any other action relative thereto.
ARTICLE 19: (Petition)
To see if the
Town will vote to accept as a public way, the alteration and extension of Ash
Street as heretofore laid out by the Board of Selectmen, a copy of which is on
file with the Town Clerk, and further authorize the Board of Selectmen, in the
name and behalf of the Town, to acquire by purchase, eminent domain, gift or
otherwise, easements in said way for the purpose for which public ways are used
in Town; or take any other action relative thereto.
ARTICLE 20: (Petition)
To see if the
Town will vote to accept as a public way, a portion of Brookway Drive
(Graystone at Northbridge Subdivision), from Allyn Road to the end of the
cul-de-sac, as heretofore laid out by the Board of Selectmen, a copy of which layout
is on file with the Town Clerk, and which is shown as "Brookway Drive, 50'
Wide Area = 36,481 SF" on a Plan of Land entitled "Graystone at Northbridge Acceptance Plan
of a Portion of Brookway Drive in Northbridge, MA, Owner: Howe Development
Corporation & Colman Construction Co., Inc., Scale: 1" = 40', Date: January 28, 2005, prepared by Guerard Survey
Co. & Assoc. Inc.," and to vote to accept the "Existing Drain and
Detention Area Easement Area = 17,778 SF" and the two easements shown as
"Existing Temporary Roadway Easement Area = 3,468 SF" and further
authorize the Board of Selectmen, in the name and behalf of the Town, to
acquire by purchase, eminent domain, gift or otherwise, easements in said way
for the purpose for which public ways and easements are used in the Town of
Northbridge; or take any other action relative thereto.
ARTICLE 21: (Petition)
To see if the
Town will vote to accept the Open Space, with the improvements thereon, located
in the Graystone at Northbridge Subdivision, shown as "Open Space 14.03 Acres" on a Plan
of Land entitled, "Plan of Land in Northbridge, MA, Owner: Howe
Development Corp., Prepared For: Colman construction Co., Scale:1" = 80',
Date: September 7, 2001, Prepared by: Guerard Survey Co. & Assoc. Inc., 11
Summer Street, Westborough, MA
01581," which Plan is recorded with the Worcester South District
Registry of Deeds as Plan 117 in Plan Book 772, together with the permanent
right and easement to use the "Proposed 25 Ft Wide Right of Way to Open
Space" as shown on said Plan for the purpose of access to and egress from
said Open Space, for use as a playground and Open Space for the Town of
Northbridge, and further to authorize the Board of Selectmen, in the name and
behalf of the Town, to acquire by purchase, eminent domain, gift or otherwise,
the fee interest in the Open Space and easement rights over the Right of Way
for playground and Open Space purposes, or take any other action relative
thereto.
ARTICLE 22: (Petition)
To see if the
Town will vote to authorize the Board of Selectmen to acquire, on behalf of the
Town, by purchase, gift, eminent domain or otherwise, sewer pump stations, any
and all infrastructure related thereto, and easements appurtenant to and serving
said sewer pump stations and related infrastructure, on land located off
Marston Road, shown on Assessors' Map 15, Parcel 137, and land located off
Hillview Lane, shown on Assessors' Map 15, Parcel 116; and to appropriate a sum
of money therefore; or take any other action relative thereto.
ARTICLE 23: (Petition)
To
see if the Town will vote to amend the zoning map incorporated into its Zoning
By-law rezoning from Residential 2 and R-3 to Business One (B-1) the following
parcel of land:
Assessors
Map 25
Beginning at the corner formed by the intersection of
the northeasterly line of said
Thence
West Three hundred and thirty feet and 79/100 (330.70) feet to a highway bound.
Thence
North eleven and 57/100 (11.57) feet
Thence
North three hundred and nine 02/100 (309.62) feet
Thence
East two hundred (200) feet
Thence
East ninety-three and 48/100 feet
Thence
three hundred feet
Thence Southwesterly on a curved line having a radius
of one thousand one hundred and twenty-seven and 13/100 (1127.13) feet, one
hundred seventy-six and 93/100 feet.
Thence
two hundred forty-five and 18/100 (245.81) feet to the beginning the last two
lines by said
or take
any other action relating thereto.
And
you are directed to serve this warrant by posting attested copies thereof at
the Whitinsville Post Office, Town Clerk's Office, and Brian's Restaurant in
Linwood, all in Precinct 1; Office of Polyfoam Corp., and Gary's Variety in
Northbridge in Precinct 2; North Main
Variety in said Whitinsville in Precinct 3; and Northbridge Post Office, and
Northbridge Center Congregational Church Bulletin Board in Precinct 4; twenty-eight (28) days at least before the time
and place of meeting aforesaid.
WHEREOF FAIL NOT,
and make due return of the warrant, with your doings thereon, to the Town Clerk
at the time and place of said meeting.
GIVEN under our hand this 24th day of September in the year
Two Thousand Seven.
SELECTMEN OF NORTHBRIDGE
William
J. Audette, Chairman
Joseph J. Montecalvo Charles
Ampagoomian, Jr.
John A. Davis James R. Marzec