[{"_1":2,"_110":-5,"_111":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6308050,"mediaKeyId","2425416-247af9ab10f524ed86eef06f91cc5cc6","parentId",2425416,"title","Select Board signs release of age restriction on Linden Chambers, approves tax-exemption agreement and grant terms for redevelopment","audioSeconds",1279,"startMs",6286000,"endMs",7565000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2425416-247af9ab10f524ed86eef06f91cc5cc6&start=6286&end=7565","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2425416-247af9ab10f524ed86eef06f91cc5cc6/thumbnail_6286000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6308050/Town-of-Needham/Norfolk-County/Massachusetts/Select-Board-signs-release-of-age-restriction-on-Linden-Chambers-approves-tax-exemption-agreement-and-grant-terms-for-redevelopment","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6308050-3851a61159df50a088b777980757f60c/orig.mp4?Expires=1771205760&Signature=nzZ-XPQjjcP3JuB-vlzFB0ZIslS2dlNeYxWb6WvFK-loLDEcaGsJosBp6AdEqkz6qHhGHpOGrjJuagvHHp98pXBw7bNp0ym9wdDxIQbGUQT5vtvYCOWS00c6PuoJENbEH6k71y-C-rHzYCiHoulaEbTlIgm51-iD1gErpXWjjRdARSM4CguYdMslguoCw6RSAen-xAUa3fn2lI~bzHAqGDWD4PR2n42FctX854sdXOYVOkmM65GMJAtermPxJmv8cEEhxNIOFS28I0g~vkpPNb0L2g6~ZUZcWZ-YobURIyYudlIVmbIXnS772MZ2q1qZGFWH43XPvomsYELNCSzEUQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Town of Needham, MA","date","2025-02-26T00:00:00Z","article","The Select Board voted on Feb. 25 to sign three legal instruments needed for the Linden Chambers redevelopment, carrying out Town Meeting’s May 2024 decision to release a deed restriction that had limited the property to housing for the elderly.

Town Counsel K. Fitzpatrick explained the documents to the board: a recorded release of the age-restriction recites Town Meeting’s Article 41 vote to remove the limitation; a separate written agreement establishes that the property and specified affiliated entities (including the Needham Housing Authority’s development corporation and prospective ground lessees) will not be subject to local property or personal taxes so long as the site is used exclusively for affordable housing and owned by the authority; and a grant agreement governing town payments requires a recorded affordable-housing restriction and payment on a reimbursement basis after the housing authority submits paid invoices for eligible costs.

The tax-exemption agreement specifically ties the tax exemption to the property’s continued use as affordable housing and includes exhibits that break down the proposed unit mix and affordability tiers (units at or below 30 percent AMI, 50 percent AMI, and 60 percent AMI) for phase 1a and phase 1b of the project. Town counsel and the housing authority said the exhibits emerged from the housing authority’s financing plan.

Board members and housing authority representatives discussed a separate memorandum of agreement the town and the housing authority negotiated before Town Meeting that commits parties to “prioritize elderly tenants to the greatest extent practicable.” The parties agreed not to put the MOA language into the recorded release, because the housing authority and its financing partners preferred that commitments be captured in a binding contract signed by all operating parties rather than embedded in the recorded deed instrument. The housing authority and its related entities will sign the MOA so the prioritization pledge covers all parties involved in redevelopment, officials said.

The grant agreement requires the housing authority to provide a project budget and to record an affordable-housing restriction before the town disburses any funds. The agreement also contains a deadline provision: the first phase’s closing must occur by Sept. 2027, unless the CPC (or other applicable town authority) agrees to an extension for good cause, the documents state. Town counsel said town payments would be made only on a reimbursement basis after required financing closings and eligible costs are incurred and invoiced.

Select Board members voted to approve and sign the release of restriction, the tax agreement and the related grant terms. The motion passed unanimously on the record in open session.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Town of Needham: Select Board 02/25/2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Select Board voted Feb. 25 to sign documents implementing Town Meeting’s May 2024 decision to release Linden Chambers’ age-restriction, to formalize tax-exemption terms tied to ongoing affordable-housing use, and to set reimbursement-based grant conditions for town funding.","taxTitle","Town of Needham, Norfolk County, Massachusetts","taxId",54445,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6308055,"Needham Community Preservation Committee previews $3.98 million in CPA receipts and six project applications",426,3494000,3920000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2425416-247af9ab10f524ed86eef06f91cc5cc6&start=3494&end=3920","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2425416-247af9ab10f524ed86eef06f91cc5cc6/thumbnail_3494000.jpg","/articles/6308055/Town-of-Needham/Norfolk-County/Massachusetts/Needham-Community-Preservation-Committee-previews-398-million-in-CPA-receipts-and-six-project-applications","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6308055-781f2dcf481059bed8c398962334cc39/orig.mp4?Expires=1771205760&Signature=Ty2UO~ujw8GxVgSeVbSQD4OqarKHxvw0b9kmdkRWfM68Hyg~ApfPmoo2n9zC--fbxc4xer6ofmP2hDXNeOYGrGggbJjtB6PvIu-6dMH5i5Her0skGpuNP65OF-6Ej7wO3Y6MtYaiyzlOQ2kSKSAaGbl~tdMkodVceTfFzRP4x6m-Qd0rlyBKcUm~T6CI6he97Ggx~M4Jdb-UFRCB5lDU~qILDHec--z3GD5HvhGxH3Qj0Gde2Ef420jv9~ru1RsxwdfwR-qLU~Iez5JTQId~yDAlXhzHkpGwKc-H5vlNBtt4VRUU-zolNT0NNab~sKbUlgofmCbq0LnSPnOUliXejg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Community Preservation Committee (CPC) briefed the Select Board on Feb. 25 on anticipated FY2026 Community Preservation Act receipts, current reserve balances and six project applications under review ahead of a March 12 public hearing.

CPC members told the board they expect $3,637,000 in town local surcharge receipts plus an estimated $345,000 in state trust fund distributions, for a combined FY2026 total of approximately $3,982,000. The town must allocate each year’s receipts into CPA reserve funds (community housing, open space and historic resources), normally 10 percent each; the CPC said Needham has historically used 11 percent and, since FY2022, doubled the community-housing allocation to 22 percent in anticipation of significant housing needs.

Based on that approach, the CPC said it is likely to propose appropriating $876,000 to the Community Housing Reserve, $438,000 to the Open Space Reserve and $82,000 to administrative costs; the committee noted it may instead appropriate some FY2026 receipts directly to eligible projects rather than first putting the funds into reserve accounts.

CPC members reported existing reserve balances: community housing $872,545; historic resources $106,669; open space $2,838,167; annual/general reserve $87,215; and free cash $3,455,380. The committee said the annual reserve is lower than prior years because funds were used at the fall town meeting for high-school tennis-court work.

Project applications under consideration (summary):
- History Center archival storage and dehumidification, $67,000 request: new shelving sized for archival boxes and a humidity-control upgrade to preserve documents and artifacts.
- Townwide trail and park signage upgrade: multi-site signage and kiosk replacement to improve trail navigation and visibility of open-space assets; sample materials and kiosk plans to be shown at town meeting.
- Charles River Center, East Militia Heights affordable-housing redevelopment, originally requested $3,500,000 for construction of 86 units (about 50% set aside for residents with autism or intellectual/developmental disabilities). The CPC said the project will pursue Low-Income Housing Tax Credits and other state financing; any town funds would be issued on a reimbursement basis and only after the project reaches financial closing. The committee’s consultant is assisting with complex financing questions.
- Needham Housing Authority preservation (Seabeds Way and Captain Robert Cook Drive): the CPC reported the request was revised and the immediate phase under review is $3.2 million for preservation/rehabilitation work to extend building life and free up Faircloth subsidy units that would help other local projects.
- Action Sports Park and pickleball courts at Claxton Field: $300,000 requested for design work; estimated construction cost provided by Parks & Rec in the application is approximately $3,000,000 and the department expects to return for construction funding if design proceeds.
- Elliott School fields and playground design: $69,960 requested for design to resolve stormwater, playground surfacing and field improvements; the project has been on the athletic facilities capital plan for several years.

CPC members noted linkages among projects: in particular, preservation work at public-housing sites is intended to free up HUD Faircloth subsidy units that can cross-subsidize other housing redevelopment. The CPC has not yet voted formally on recommendations; members said the public hearing is scheduled for March 12 and the committee must complete deliberations before final recommendations to Town Meeting.","The Community Preservation Committee told the Select Board on Feb. 25 it expects about $3.98 million in FY2026 CPA receipts and reviewed six applications it will vet at a March 12 public hearing, including major housing preservation requests and recreation and signage projects.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6308059,"Needham survey shows declines in youth vaping and marijuana use but flags alcohol and mental-health risks",2758,667000,3425000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2425416-247af9ab10f524ed86eef06f91cc5cc6&start=667&end=3425","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2425416-247af9ab10f524ed86eef06f91cc5cc6/thumbnail_667000.jpg","/articles/6308059/Town-of-Needham/Norfolk-County/Massachusetts/Needham-survey-shows-declines-in-youth-vaping-and-marijuana-use-but-flags-alcohol-and-mental-health-risks","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6308059-52978e55e29553f514173dcd2ead0cda/orig.mp4?Expires=1771205760&Signature=msyNNR~pabVjrFSeD6jJnSY5MlE5CnwO4l0M0C4jFczSodCSoKEKj-Aut-0QgHibLfoD~IeOm7fxbtcEC7P5g2-0YPvmFzccQgg4L3McKVWYnYJXmRrnsBYC6yAb9G5NFMe2PNs69mbtSHNeTLGWWKcPlPoe64thC2TK-YC0Zq5HVUWhDMjbJreLTmzWL2hcxf64-vrOBP-6-Fal448M7t1KrcA-2c0MYi0AtLNg~jUj0XK73NcfgcsXK9bEeB3KGLXr3D6KNd~U~B6pjLR2TBal3xRXx3cE7M3XvKm72Zhof5vwnkMU-3v-ThJ~i70A26969WTnueCJwMMyKRRmhQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Needham public health officials and youth services leaders told the Select Board on Feb. 25 that results from the Metro West Adolescent Health Survey show declines in use of electronic vaping products and marijuana among Needham high school students, but sustained high alcohol rates and persistent mental-health concerns.

The survey, administered every other year and in which Needham has participated since 2006, had participation rates of about 90 percent in middle school and 85 percent in high school, presenters said. Julie McCarthy, epidemiologist in the Public Health Division, and Karen Shannon, the town’s substance use prevention coordinator, emphasized that the 2023 instrument added a question about prescription drug use for the first time, so there is no prior-year comparison for that measure.

The data show continuing decreases in current 30‑day use of marijuana and electronic vapor products among high school students, McCarthy said, and an increased perception among students that those substances are harmful. “We’re seeing a continuing decrease,” she said of marijuana and vaping trends. But alcohol remains the most commonly reported substance: Needham high school lifetime alcohol use in 2023 was about 8 percentage points higher than the Metro West regional average, presenters said.

Speakers warned that lifetime-use figures rise sharply from middle to high school in some categories, especially alcohol between eighth and ninth grades. The survey is administered to each grade every other year, so results are cross‑sectional rather than cohort-tracking; McCarthy said that pattern nevertheless appears consistently when the survey is run.

On mental health indicators, presenters reported that 31 percent of students said their life was “very stressful” in the past 30 days and that school was the most frequently named source of stress. The presentation noted that 2 percent of high school respondents reported a suicide attempt in the prior 12 months — roughly 28 students in the district based on the survey sample — and that, in this iteration, middle-school respondents reported suicidality at rates higher than high-school respondents.

Sarah Shine, director of Youth & Family Services, described recent local efforts to expand access to care: the department has increased clinical capacity by adding interns and grant-supported staff, launched more group and community programs, and provided teen mental health first-aid training to all 10th graders. Shine said Youth & Family Services aims to reduce stigma, speed access to evaluation and treatment, and expand parent education and community-based services.

Karen Shannon explained prevention work led by the Substance Prevention Alliance of Needham (SPAN), which uses the Strategic Prevention Framework and a coalition model to implement school and community strategies. SPAN runs alcohol compliance checks and responsible beverage-service training with the Police Department, organizes parent education and prescription drug take-back days, and mounts positive-norms campaigns to correct students’ overestimation of peer substance use.

Speakers and board members said they expect to use the survey to guide programming and outreach, and to bring targeted prevention efforts to schools and families. Presenters invited follow-up questions and offered to provide more-detailed cross-tabs on request.

The Select Board did not take formal action on the presentation; presenters noted the next survey administration will be 2025 and encouraged continued community prevention and clinical initiatives.","Public health staff and the Substance Prevention Alliance of Needham presented 2023 Metro West Adolescent Health Survey results to the Select Board, reporting decreases in vaping and marijuana use, continued high alcohol rates and troubling mental-health indicators including suicidal behavior among middle- and high-school students.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":46,"_47":104,"_49":105,"_51":106,"_53":107,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":108,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":109,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6308045,"Votes at a glance: Select Board actions, Feb. 25, 2025",7190,375000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2425416-247af9ab10f524ed86eef06f91cc5cc6&start=375&end=7565","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2425416-247af9ab10f524ed86eef06f91cc5cc6/thumbnail_375000.jpg","/articles/6308045/Town-of-Needham/Norfolk-County/Massachusetts/Votes-at-a-glance-Select-Board-actions-Feb-25-2025","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6308045-85d321b83b45d6d44c353a96488077c6/orig.mp4?Expires=1771205760&Signature=WOt0aWrKBFjvgtqozAHmnalm-xQSDUxt4Ej2~gVBaRJiEvGHrwYbWYq7LMDsML7F1L4VDRNvCNXwi3hN3a2jTqkWSavpzpK5B1Km6vY5xT9eAokGB-5uHmH76kEsLyIFC-YcbdU26CJ-MRsH7cv85zD-fXJZbvFx9-vmPf7BMUwNcDsNIMxvYOsfDazIFze4PQ8~ULK6SBV2L7Ru9VkuWhisRP9YbWWsHixedoPGQKX1oJovr9BahVQV3YryHzO3enWlIFGRc6DSVfO67TlfPviaF~RbsU5DCcVmCqwcLMSx9ltlPvkDDDiQkX4r6PKMJCgqvqjh4RzgS0ROJTYR4w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Select Board recorded several formal motions and approvals during its Feb. 25 meeting. Below is a concise summary of motions, outcomes and key details referenced on the record.

Votes at a glance

- Close Verizon Cable License ascertainment public hearing — Motion: “That the Select Board close the public hearing relative to the ascertainment process for the potential renewal of the Verizon New England Inc. Cable License.” Outcome: Approved. Next steps: staff advised the board the process moves to the license negotiation phase and a memo from cable counsel will follow.

- Approve appointments and consent agenda — Motion: move and second the appointments and consent agenda. Outcome: Approved.

- Approve Town of Needham template for West Metro Home Consortium FY2026 annual action plan — Motion: “I move that the board approve the Town of Needham template for West Metro Home Consortium FY '26 annual action plan.” Outcome: Approved.

- Approve and sign release of restrictions and agreement regarding taxes and grant terms for the Linden Street/Chambers Street redevelopment (Needham Housing Authority) — Motion: “That the Select Board approve and sign the release of restrictions on the agreement regarding taxes and payment in lieu of taxes, Linden Street and Chambers Street properties, Needham Housing Authority, to be provided to the Needham Housing Authority in connection with the Linden Street redevelopment project.” Outcome: Approved (signature taken on record). Notes: grant agreement conditions include a recorded affordable-housing restriction before any reimbursement; phase 1 closing required by Sept. 2027 unless extended by CPC for good cause.

- Approve amended community benefit agreement with Sierra Naturals, Inc. (medical marijuana operator) — Motion: Approve and sign the amended community-benefit agreement with Sierra Naturals, Inc. Outcome: Approved. Notes: amendment removes a clause disallowed by the Cannabis Control Commission that would have restricted the operator from challenging taxability; otherwise agreement unchanged.

- Adopt Stephen Palmer Development Review Committee charge and composition — Motion: Adopt committee composition and charge as presented. Outcome: Approved.

- Enter executive session for collective bargaining strategy (police union and other represented employees) — Motion to enter executive session under Open Meeting Law exception for collective bargaining negotiations. Outcome: Approved; board did not return to open session publicly after the executive-session vote.

Attributions and procedure notes
- Where motions were moved or seconded in open session, the transcript captured the motions and affirmative voice votes (aye) on the record; vote tallies and member-by-member roll calls were not transcribed for all items in the publicly available excerpt.

If readers need itemized warrant numbers, contract citations or recorded documents (for example, the signed release instrument for Linden Chambers), town staff said they will provide those records upon request.","Summary of motions the Select Board adopted on Feb. 25, including public‑hearing closure, consent agenda approval, town submissions and legal documents related to Linden redevelopment and a community-benefit agreement change for a medical cannabis operator.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Select Board signs release of age restriction on Linden Chambers, approves tax-exemption agreement and grant terms for redevelopment

Needham Community Preservation Committee previews $3.98 million in CPA receipts and six project applications

Needham survey shows declines in youth vaping and marijuana use but flags alcohol and mental-health risks

Votes at a glance: Select Board actions, Feb. 25, 2025