[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-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",6582247,"mediaKeyId","3141538-95b5abc8abded610c19f8eecc8a97255","parentId",3141538,"title","Select Board authorizes town manager to negotiate sewer agreement for proposed Primrose child-care center","audioSeconds",1857,"startMs",7167000,"endMs",9024000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3141538-95b5abc8abded610c19f8eecc8a97255&start=7167&end=9024","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3141538-95b5abc8abded610c19f8eecc8a97255/thumbnail_7167000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6582247/Town-of-Acton/Middlesex-County/Massachusetts/Select-Board-authorizes-town-manager-to-negotiate-sewer-agreement-for-proposed-Primrose-child-care-center","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6582247-01d16f58d20d70ea013ab29a361d65c1/orig.mp4?Expires=1771157160&Signature=ciFO9G8-C9LzNCrtVk6ebs7MMt-K-rrevanpZW2IUkFMPpC6PyOWmYuNVY1Fh~zuhFtl90pMCueQIkfd~i6xHzC0HMflkkmtPeZ7maJDrtaP6RKqSW-2TFyAWM-HPN7DBQQRdrcBsKA9JPuH37tvH9EPHQXYc9qOx1gZh7Jgk3e6PC7umdmnTkUG4f0hHPsLVO5Bztx7ZPtC63y0Ppj4S8Fdcf~0OqYN~sfY37Fqz92eEsc8V7ta8I3bdG3K9hGtHEAr9WvmDSo-RY91KTL5BDxxLttot0yclrKnE8W2~DUvARmIbXL3IsRHOoki2NBBtxaVVErKTFDLcDSIliyo1w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Acton","date","2025-04-29T02:06:44.177Z","article","A Primrose Schools proposal for a child-care center at 457 Massachusetts Ave moved forward on Monday after the Select Board authorized the town manager to negotiate an \"ability to serve\" or memorandum of agreement confirming sewer capacity for the project.

Project and sewer request: Primrose Schools — a national child-care chain — applied for a sewer connection for a proposed two-story child-care facility at 457 Massachusetts Ave. Town staff reported the site currently has one sewer unit assigned for the single-family home on the parcel and the applicant requested an additional six sewer units (bringing total demand to seven SBUs). Town consulting engineers had evaluated sewer availability and the staff memo noted other previously reserved allocations; Select Board approval will support a formal agreement that allows the applicant to continue engineering and permitting work.

Board direction and conditions sought: after discussion about site layout, parking and historic-home impacts, the Select Board voted unanimously to direct the town manager to negotiate an agreement to serve and return it to the Board for approval. Board members and staff asked the applicant to consider design revisions to reduce play areas exposed to Massachusetts Avenue and to explore options such as cross-access with the adjacent school driveway. Several board members also asked the applicant to consider subsidized child-care slots coordinated with town human services; Primrose representatives said the company has a charitable arm and would discuss options.

Historic and siting matters: the property includes a house that may be subject to a demonstration-delay review by the Historic Commission. Staff said a demo-delay application from 2019 had previously expired and the applicant planned HDC review in mid-May. The board heard comments urging reuse of the house where feasible and said the project will need State and local permitting, stormwater review, MassDOT driveway permits and a traffic review during site-plan review.

Why it matters: the Select Board and residents raised child-care availability as a community need, and the project would add local capacity while using sewer resources that the board regulates. The town charges a sewer-connection fee per sewer unit; consultants indicated an approximate fee of $30,000 per unit but staff said the town would confirm the precise figure through engineering staff.

Next steps: the town manager will draft the memorandum of agreement/ability-to-serve document and return it to the Select Board for formal authorization prior to final firm commitments. The applicant will proceed with site-plan and historic-review processes and return materials needed for permitting.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Acton Select Board Meeting - April 28th, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","A Primrose Schools proposal for a child-care center at 457 Massachusetts Ave moved forward on Monday after the Select Board authorized the town manager to negotiate an \"ability to serve\" or memorandum of agreement confirming sewer capacity for the project.","taxTitle","Town of Acton, Middlesex County, Massachusetts","taxId",56888,"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},6582251,"Select Board authorizes negotiation on proposal to redevelop 3 and 13 School Street with mixed-use plan",1618,5520000,7138000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3141538-95b5abc8abded610c19f8eecc8a97255&start=5520&end=7138","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3141538-95b5abc8abded610c19f8eecc8a97255/thumbnail_5520000.jpg","/articles/6582251/Town-of-Acton/Middlesex-County/Massachusetts/Select-Board-authorizes-negotiation-on-proposal-to-redevelop-3-and-13-School-Street-with-mixed-use-plan","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6582251-0e90080d19a21985638a40d06487cd68/orig.mp4?Expires=1771157160&Signature=b~aYOTgHfE4NhmktvITnLV~4YMWtYPdpJ32u4xgBky019DLEbJBKpCQNkPhSdFG~CzXCN7GmITTtZF~cMFxjiUbDKWW~pvW71Ab7Q7Dg5lVFaIU4sAzt~VgkNojpm~OWuA0-qovJwz~4nWPQaN7kKS8Vhw9U7kXV4M8VmXo4vvn-cYMkYoMpd0AElPRkCI5QS9oonQXp9fzjirprIujkHhlS~pzWocFnZ6VxZFfo4H4xDeLxkyD9G6fv4UeqECjDKirhHa4OdyOBhz0Vzf~~yBgW0jC2Kt2kMosjZ2-H8dyHqcp8DyHWJBKDM3ZavCeZ1oXNJBNF7Qb~QmhZzYtKuA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Select Board on Monday authorized the town manager to negotiate terms of a purchase-and-sale agreement for two surplus town parcels at 3 and 13 School Street after town staff said the request met the evaluation criteria in the town's request for proposals.

Background and proposal: the parcels consist of the old fire station at 3 School Street (declared surplus) and a small municipal parking lot at 13 School Street. The single responsive proposal came from Soma Builders, owned by Alex Mata. The firm proposed preserving the exterior of the former fire station for commercial use (the applicant suggested a coffee shop among possible uses) and constructing a mixed-use building on the parking-lot parcel with four commercial units on the ground floor and eight residential units above (proposal documents indicated two of the residential units would be two-bedroom).

Parking and public features: the proposer committed to reserving seven public parking spaces for general public use and retaining some on-site landscaping features. He also proposed to leverage nearby privately owned parking he controls at the adjacent property to meet demand. Select Board members and public commenters raised questions about total parking counts, configuration, and whether the developer could cooperate with nearby owners (including the owner of 9 School Street) to improve site design.

Purchase price and next steps: the developer proposed a purchase price of $600,000 for both parcels. The board voted unanimously to authorize the town manager to proceed with drafting and negotiating a purchase-and-sale agreement that would include contingencies such as town meeting approval for disposition of the town-owned parcel and required permitting. The negotiated draft would be returned to the Select Board for review and approval before execution.

Historic and permitting notes: the proposal will require review by the Historic District Commission and other town permitting processes. Select Board members reminded the developer that the proposal and public materials are part of the public record and said those materials would inform the town meeting presentation of any disposition article.

Ending: the Select Board vote was unanimous and the manager will return with a draft purchase-and-sale agreement for approval and town-meeting briefing if negotiations succeed.","The Select Board authorized the town manager to negotiate a purchase-and-sale agreement with Soma Builders for surplus town parcels at 3 and 13 School Street. The developer proposes to renovate the former fire station for commercial use and build mixed-use housing on the municipal parking lot; purchase price offered is $600,000 for both parcels.",{"_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},6582256,"Acton officials and consultants make case for new DPW facility as public raises tax, timing concerns",2350,75000,2425000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3141538-95b5abc8abded610c19f8eecc8a97255&start=75&end=2425","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3141538-95b5abc8abded610c19f8eecc8a97255/thumbnail_75000.jpg","/articles/6582256/Town-of-Acton/Middlesex-County/Massachusetts/Acton-officials-and-consultants-make-case-for-new-DPW-facility-as-public-raises-tax-timing-concerns","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6582256-bce020f6f6b114230401c2f501ed8120/orig.mp4?Expires=1771157160&Signature=V3h4ZY8wsfVE0-k~wC9ZkmkMIaLx7pKSHZ7vpCOd7sbPwdHDQ61KrcGHizyFxC~QBhi1q29ozm~rqMicMSjWvDS0W~f~LDgmljrztkZVoHbS8fCVAaSNm1ISKw3LQ1ZRm99-5CnZW1ET3BPFt~fq47ka3n5Hj6XfYwo2zTkmwIOOu-2Qb8kRta68PzZHHa2NDALKAAmkQMZUrm8dAW6Q~8J4oWdElEqAIXjZja~JBkcEB98M-sRyzt3Fk0gK6QaDkEkfGBvD61j3q4S~1Pv0UURSbTtEseftn6LYg-oRUIAiV9x5PK8quK4F0WdltBXJ6p8c3GK3V-0hHb94Levj7g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Town of Acton consultants and project team members presented updated plans and revised costs Monday evening for a proposed new Department of Public Works facility on Forest Road, saying the current garage — built in 1970 — fails code, presents safety risks to staff and cannot house modern vehicles.

The public forum presentation came from Weston & Sampson architects and PMA Associates, the owner's project manager. John Como, the Weston & Sampson architect on the project, summarized the design work and timeline and said the base building has been reduced to about 42,530 square feet after value-engineering, with the vehicle storage garage accounting for roughly 23,900 square feet of that footprint. \"We're the architect and the engineers for the design of the new DPW for the Town of Acton,\" Como said.

The presentation emphasized operational, safety and code reasons for replacing the existing DPW building. The consultants said the Forest Road facility was built in 1970 as a roughly 19,000-square-foot structure; it is undersized for current fleets and lacks adequate ventilation, structural reinforcement and locker-room space. Della Donahue of Weston & Sampson told the board the town has adopted a specialized stretch energy code and a fossil-fuel-free municipal bylaw, and the proposed design is all-electric and geothermal-ready. \"The Town of Acton has adopted the specialized stretch energy code as well as a by law for, fossil fuel free municipal buildings,\" Donahue said.

Why it matters: the DPW is a first responder for winter road clearing, debris removal and other emergency support tasks, the team said. The project team argued that indoor storage extends equipment life and reduces maintenance costs; a wash bay and organized fluid-containment systems would protect waterways and public health. Project materials included photos of current overcrowded and structurally compromised storage, seepage and makeshift mezzanines that the designers called unsafe.

Costs and next steps: the consultants said the total project estimate has been brought down via value engineering from earlier estimates to a current total project cost of $37,900,000. The town has previously appropriated $1,225,000 for design; the presenters said the board would request $1,500,000 from the capital stabilization account at town meeting to offset borrowing, leaving a proposed borrowing request of $35,220,690. The team told attendees a debt-exclusion ballot question appears on the May 5 election; if approved by voters the borrowing would be presented as Article 7 at town meeting for final action.

Public reaction and concerns: dozens of residents asked questions after the presentation. Several commenters said the project is too expensive given recent overrides and household tax pressure. Tom Pills of Willow Street told the Select Board the finance committee had not voted to approve the project and raised questions about labor time spent each day moving vehicles in and out of the current garage. \"I'm just wondering if the — other DPW departments, other towns going to start looking at Acton employees?\" Pills asked, urging the board to consider turnover and training costs if the project fails to pass. Other commenters proposed lower-cost alternatives including pre-engineered metal buildings, phased work, or using off-site leased storage during construction.

Operational impact if the project fails: Select Board member Dean Charter, who chairs the Public Works Facility Building Committee, told the room the town would need a plan B if voters reject the debt exclusion. He said that temporary relocation of operations would be likely and that rented space would be used while construction proceeds if the project is approved. \"If this project is not approved, we will have to continue attempting to find solutions to an inadequate building,\" Charter said, adding the town does not have an alternate final plan at this time.

What was not decided: Monday's forum provided information and public comment; there was no final Select Board vote on construction funding at the meeting. Town voters will decide the debt-exclusion ballot on May 5; if it passes, the project will proceed to town meeting for authorization of the borrowing.

Ending: presenters left poster boards and digital materials for residents and said they would post the analysis spreadsheets and productivity estimates online for further review. The project team and town officials encouraged residents to review the materials and said they would respond to follow-up technical questions after the forum.","Architects and the town presented a finalized design and cost reductions for a proposed new Department of Public Works facility on Forest Road, saying the current 1970 building is unsafe, undersized and out of code; public commenters raised concerns about taxes, alternatives and project timing ahead of a debt-exclusion ballot on May 5.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6582242,"Select Board approves application form for fossil-fuel-free bylaw variances and debates guidelines",759,9047000,9806000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3141538-95b5abc8abded610c19f8eecc8a97255&start=9047&end=9806","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3141538-95b5abc8abded610c19f8eecc8a97255/thumbnail_9047000.jpg","/articles/6582242/Town-of-Acton/Middlesex-County/Massachusetts/Select-Board-approves-application-form-for-fossil-fuel-free-bylaw-variances-and-debates-guidelines","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6582242-e34b07f0a9b4df71e1dc1b6a450736e9/orig.mp4?Expires=1771157160&Signature=fVa~50y9BQzfaHius65q3pndFPhH5MqWzVDgYO1EwxQF4qly3q8j0XR~IDVHOHGyFuUbwQBeLYM3VRApj0VX57-fjvnfLqnCmqX5pAd7ZJ6-4LvU3U~EkLKkuGXbCL2NErtqCBQdf7h0nDQ4zIegyBPCKDxCMJKdvPefEb-3WIkWEN4s~LpIpEymSCxXLKTrjYxSIBTmRVx-6flq8-T7WgX~SmAV9t0P2eRg1JQrzO5N-EZDQ6mVEtgg4ABh85N84odk-hqirhoLy~Tfs5Zi9UIDVvn5rnT5Men33i9VLrv3QMJJJDEudc1zC46PQzk2~leswWhh1jAm68PXFOg6GQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Select Board on Monday approved a standardized application form for requests to seek a variance from Acton's fossil-fuel-free municipal bylaw and discussed draft guidelines describing categories of cases the board would be more or less likely to approve.

Form approval: Select Board member Jim moved to approve the application form that staff drafted to capture applicant contact details, project type (residential, commercial), whether the project involves affordable housing, and narrative explanations of hardship or special needs. The board voted unanimously to approve the content of the application form so the town can begin accepting variance requests.

Guidelines discussion: the board then discussed a parallel draft of guidelines intended to help applicants and staff evaluate waiver requests. The draft organizes likely outcomes into three buckets: (1) cases where the board may be more likely to grant waivers (examples discussed: restaurants that would otherwise be unable to operate if forced to replace existing functioning fossil-fuel cooking infrastructure without renovation), (2) cases where waivers would be less likely (routine residential new construction, where all-electric solutions are common), and (3) categories where waivers may not be required because the bylaw allows certain extensions of existing fossil-fuel piping.

Key considerations raised: board members asked how applicants should document the financial analysis or cost-comparison underpinning a hardship claim. Members said they expected a higher level of documentation for commercial applicants (for example, restaurants making a business case to retain fossil-fuel equipment) than for homeowners. Select Board members discussed that some outdoor cooking (barbecue/smoker) is explicitly excluded by the bylaw and that many indoor cooking styles can be accommodated with electric appliances or by commercial alternatives. Members discussed developing a process that would permit routine or clearly allowable cases to be resolved administratively by staff or by a smaller subcommittee, reserving full Select Board review for novel or contested requests.

Next steps: staff will refine the guidelines and return a revised draft to the Select Board; in the near term, the approved application form will be deployed (staff indicated intent to implement the form online) so applicants can begin submitting variance requests.","The Select Board approved a standardized application form to request variances from Acton's fossil-fuel-free municipal bylaw and discussed draft guidelines covering when waivers are more or less likely; the board asked staff to refine guidance and stressed the need to process common cases administratively where possible.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Select Board authorizes town manager to negotiate sewer agreement for proposed Primrose child-care center

Select Board authorizes negotiation on proposal to redevelop 3 and 13 School Street with mixed-use plan

Acton officials and consultants make case for new DPW facility as public raises tax, timing concerns

Select Board approves application form for fossil-fuel-free bylaw variances and debates guidelines