Belated Happy New Year everyone. Because the Special Town Meeting was set up to deal with a zoning re-write, we knew it was going to be very important. However, it has become somewhat complicated, and we, as a Town Meeting, need to keep our "eye on the ball" so to speak. The Special Town Meeting is now less than one month away. Last night's (February 12, 2008) selectmen's meeting dealt in large part with whether there would be one, two, or three articles. With the permission of the author, I am posting an article from today's online version of the The Daily Transcript. Thanks to Jeb Bobseine, and as you will see, his article captures some of the complexities that we, as Town Meeting, will be asked to deal with.
By Jeb Bobseine, Daily News staff
GateHouse News Service
Wed Feb 13, 2008, 01:17 AM EST
WALPOLE -
A special Town Meeting next month will vote on what businesses will be allowed in town.Last night, the Board of Selectmen voted unanimously to support articles 1 and 2 on the warrant.The special Town Meeting is scheduled for March 10, and will deal with the zoning bylaws rewrite that has taken place over the last six months.
The zoning work has been overseen by the Planning Board as well as the consulting firm Horsley Witten Group. The zoning bylaws in article 1 have been characterized as the first introduction between the town and businesses hoping to come here. Town Meeting will vote on whether to offer the ``welcome mat'' for businesses ranging from a restaurant to a power plant.Selectmen Chairman Al DeNapoli credited the time and energy the Planning Board put into the rewrite.
Town Meeting will also debate article 2, which would determine what businesses should be allowed in what zoning areas, if at all. This article would amend the table of uses to ban coal elevators, sawmills and bulk petroleum storage plants anyplace in Walpole, as well as giving the town control over ``any other lawful uses,'' according to Town Administrator Michael Boynton.
This article emerged from the debate over the proposed power plant in South Walpole.In December, the public outcry by hundreds of residents over certain ``noxious uses'' caused selectmen to work with the Planning Board to specify what types of business should be allowed in town.{ At the time, Boynton said the concern was that any lawful use that is not included specifically in the ``table of uses'' in a new zoning bylaw would be allowed in.}A final public forum on the zoning bylaw rewrite will be held tomorrow night in Town Hall.
The Planning Board and the Finance Committee will discuss both article 1 and 2, and make their final recommendations.Selectmen Vice Chairman Chris Timson hoped the two boards could come together on the two articles.
Planning Board member Nancy MacKenzie said this was not the case, yet.In a final move{ that even DeNapoli agreed was initially confusing}, selectmen voted to add a third article to the warrant.In the event that article 1 is not passed, the town would still be governed by the existing zoning bylaws, and not the rewrite, Boynton explained.If article 1 fails, article 3 would amend the current bylaw to include the specific disallowed uses in article 2. ``It's a Band-Aid, a good Band-Aid,'' DeNapoli said.
It would make it so that ``if it's not listed, it's not allowed,'' Boynton said.
Jeb Bobseine can be reached at jeb@walpoletimes.com or 508-668-0243, ext. 13.
