The Marlborough finance committee on May 14 voted 4–1 to approve a proposed tax increment financing agreement with Greatland Realty Partners and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts for the construction and leasing of a new Massachusetts State Police crime laboratory at 100 Martin Angelo Drive.

The project, as presented, calls for an approximately 200,000-square-foot, four-story laboratory building and about $200,000,000 in private investment. Kevin Sheehan, of Greatland Realty Partners, said Greatland “is the owner, and developer of the project, [and] will be acting as the landlord to DCAM,” referring to the state Department of Capital Asset Management (DCAM), which would lease the building for use by the State Police crime lab. The presentation said the project is expected to support about 300 permanent full-time jobs, about 250 of which would relocate from elsewhere in Massachusetts and about 50 that would be new to the area.

Why it matters: The project represents one of the largest private investments discussed at the committee this year and would concentrate a statewide public-safety facility and related jobs in Marlborough. Committee members said the development could increase local construction receipts, long-term property value and economic activity around the site.

Greatland representatives showed a site plan locating the new building on the north side of their existing campus off Martin Angelo Drive, described the parcel’s highway access and outlined a schedule: complete design and permitting by the end of 2025, begin construction early 2026, and aim to open the lab in early 2028. Sheehan said the project has been reviewed on a preliminary basis by the city site plan review committee.

Committee discussion focused on the length and structure of the TIF, local fiscal impacts and building design. One councilor objected to a 20-year TIF term and said the city’s near-term budget pressures made a two-decade exemption difficult to support. Another councilor explained the mechanics of the TIF as described in the materials: the agreement applies to incremental tax revenue generated by the new $200 million investment rather than eliminating all tax revenue on the site. Councilor Michael Doucette (committee member) asked about sustainability features; Sheehan said the design process required by the state’s request for proposals includes sustainability review, that the building is being designed to achieve LEED Silver, and that solar panels are planned for a portion of the site, while noting the lab will use natural gas for some operations typical of lab facilities.

A motion to approve the mayor’s order referring the proposed TIF agreement and the related city council resolution was made and seconded. The committee recorded the motion as approved by a 4–1 vote. The committee’s approval advances the draft agreement and resolution to the full council for final action and signals continued coordination between Greatland, DCAM and city staff as parties finalize the TIF contract.

The vote and next steps: The finance committee approved the order to support the TIF; committee members asked staff to continue working with Greatland and state representatives on final contract language and to provide the draft agreement in advance of the council vote.