Thursday, November 1, 2012
We have the low down on some cheap candy and housing in the city plus another three things you must know today.
1. Let the post-Halloween candy rush begin. If it is orange or bat-shaped odds are it is on sale today. So now is your chance to run to Target, Walgreens or CVS to satisfy your sweet tooth in the discount aisle. 2. Did you get all dressed up last night? Did your children? Did someone you know? Well now is the chance to enter our Halloween Costume Contest. There is $5,000 on the line and I know Marlborough has a winner among us. That is a lot of discount candy people! 3. The brakes have been put on the "Brookview Village" 40B project. The vote came after a heated discussion with talk of work behind the scenes and the project being pushed through. Catch the fireworks here. 4. Does that pesky daylight savings time have you scratching your …
Wednesday, October 31, 2012
The final vote on the proposed 40B development was postponed Tuesday.
The final decision on the "Brookview Village" 40B development has been postponed until December as the Zoning Board of Appeals seeks out additional information. The ZBA is looking for information from the school district on the potential impact of the 225 unit apartment complex. They also will be seeking final numbers on mitigation being requested by various department heads based on the estimated impact the project would have on those departments. Brookview Village is a 225 unit "friendly 40B" apartment complex that is planned to be located off of Ames Street. It is being developed by the Gutierrez Company. The ZBA and representatives from the Gutierrez Company discussed $675,000 as a figure for mitigation. This works out to roughly $3,…
Tuesday, October 16, 2012
A new fire station to serve western Marlborough was discussed at Monday's meeting of the City Council.
During a discussion of a proposed zoning change that would allow for 350 units of housing, City Councilor Matt Elder raised the possibility of an additional fire station to serve the growing area of the city. "Now we are really, really starting to develop the west side of the city," he said during Monday's council meeting. He said the need for a new fire station had been raised previously. With the addition of 225 units from the Brookview Village 40B and now this potential increase in residential units, the need is heightened. In September, the council took a vote listing concerns around the Brookview Village development. Among them was a quoted 6.5 minute fire department response time to the area. "Forest Park" developers are seeking to …
Friday, October 12, 2012
Marlborough's rolling landscape has come under threat from development.
Development patterns have placed New England's rolling landscape at risk according to a new study that has come out of Clark University and examined Marlborough. "New England is renowned for the beauty of its landscapes and the fall color we all enjoy so much," said Clark University geography researcher Deborah Woodcock. "It certainly won’t be the same if we flatten all our hills.” The drumlin — the low rolling hills that were formed by glaciers and have come to characterize New England — have been greatly impacted by development, according to the study. Marlborough has a 40B project in the works and another development on 100 acres of land that is set to appear before the City Council. “(Drumlins) are being leveled in some cases and …
Thursday, October 11, 2012
The contested "Brookview Village" 40B continues to change and we have the associated numbers right here.
The "Brookview Village" 40B development continues to be debated by the Zoning Board of Appeals as the numbers change. The latest iteration of the development off of Ames Street has dropped down to 225 units. We had previously compiled information on the complex, but some of those numbers have changed as well. Listed below are some of the new numbers that you need to know as the conversation about this development continues. The developers have refined the plans and are now only looking for seven waivers. These waivers include green space conditions as well as set back requirements. Let Patch save you time. Get great local stories like this delivered right to your inbox or smartphone everyday with our free newsletter. Simple, fast sign-up …
Thursday, October 4, 2012
From planning out your especially long weekend to Brookview Village numbers; we have what you need today right here.
1. Planning for next week? Remember that while Marlborough schools get Columbus Day off, there is a teacher workshop day the next day so students will have Tuesday off as well. 2. The School Committee will review three proposals from companies that specialize in helping districts to hire superintendents next week. This is one of the first steps towards selecting a permanent superintendent. The company could be chosen at Tuesday's meeting. 3. The number of units at the "Brookview Village" proposed 40B project has been cut down to 225. This would still ensure Marlborough meets the 10 percent affordable housing requirements until 2029, according to developers. 4. Two Southborough teens have been arrested on charges of posessing marijuana with…
Wednesday, October 3, 2012
The developers have cut the numbers but the controversy remains around Marlborough's proposed "friendly" 40B.
The developers of the "Brookview Village" 40B have cut the number of units at the complex down to 225 following a request by a Zoning Board of Appeals member. "I think that would remedy some of the issues that you have," said Board Member Paul Giunta in reference to drainage and wetlands at a meeting with the developers last month. The developers responded with a plan that cut the development down from the proposed 243 units to 225. The portion of affordable units remains the same although the number drops to 56. This would continue to ensure that Marlborough would not go below it's 10 percent affordable housing requirement until 2029, according to representatives from the developer. Brookview Village is a 225 unit "friendly 40B" apartment…
Thursday, September 27, 2012
From emerging support for Brookview Village and local outrage at the NFL referees; we have what you need to know right here.
1. Have you or a loved one been yelling at your TV more than usual? Are your Sunday and Monday nights an increasing source of stress in your life? Well, you may just be among the many stressed out over the referees of the NFL. A local blogger put their thoughts to keyboard and you might take this opportunity to vent in the comments. 2. In a previous interview with Mayor Arthur Vigeant, he supported the idea of a friendly 40B like "Brookview Village." He voiced his official support in a letter to the Zoning Board of Appeals on Tuesday night. This is in addition to members of the Planning Board Voicing their support. 3. Want to pay your city bills online? Look no further than the city's own website. 4. The negotiation committee of the School…
Wednesday, September 26, 2012
The Planning Board has taken a positive stance on the "Brookview Village" 40B development following a presentation of a revised proposal.
The "Brookview Village" 40B development would bring the kind of housing Marlborough needs to support area businesses said members of the Planning Board to the Zoning Board of Appeals Tuesday. "In general; we think this is a good idea," said Planning Board Member Philip Hodge. "In terms of the development of our city and in terms of planning for the long term it really looks beneficial." Brookview Village is a 225 unit "friendly 40B" apartment complex that is planned to be located off of Ames Street. The board's support centered around bringing more housing alternatives to the traditional single family homes of the area. "This is an idea that I was advocating ten years ago and I am really pleased to see someone proposing a specific project…
Tuesday, September 25, 2012
Governor Deval Patrick recently paid a visit to a nearby apple orchard while the ZBA prepares to delve back into the proposed "Brookview Village" 40B development.
1. Governor Deval Patrick paid a visit to nearby Northborough at Tougas Farm last Friday and Northborough Editor Charlene Arsenault was there to capture the visit. They spoke farming, policy and toured the farm. Sounds like a grand time to us. 2. The Zoning Board of Appeals is set to continue its discussion of the Brookview Village 40B affordable housing development tonight at 7 p.m. The mayor and City Council have already voiced their opinions on the issue. Where do you stand? 3. The traffic commission will meet today at 10 a.m. Among their items for discussion is a communication from City Councilor Jenkins regarding the Framingham Road and Walker Street intersection. Christian Dumais has chosen to take this opporunity to voice concerns …
arnold
9:10 am on Thursday, November 1, 2012
The ZBA and representatives from the Gutierrez Company discussed $675,000 as a figure for mitigation. This works out to roughly $3,000 per unit, said the representatives. The company would rather work out a figure and let the city work out the details of how it is distributed. "MITIGATION" what a joke this is nothing but a legalized form of extortion. The $675,000 will be used by the city as soon… more ›