Planning board backs letter for Housing Works sewer grant and recommends two town-meeting articles

Planning staff asked the Town of Westborough Planning Board on March 18 to approve a letter of support for a Housing Works grant application to help rehabilitate downtown sewer pipes.

Staff explained that the grant is part of an EOHLC one-stop for growth program and is targeted to infrastructure projects that support housing; the DPW has completed approximately 5 miles of sewer investigation and rehabilitated roughly 1.5 miles so far. The requested funding would allow the town to complete additional segments of pipe rehabilitation to improve sewer flow and housing infrastructure capacity.

A planning board member moved that the board submit the letter of support for the FY26 Housing Works grant to accelerate the ongoing sewer rehabilitation project in the downtown area; the motion was seconded and carried. Staff said the signed letter would be sent to Chris Payette as part of the grant record.

Separately, the board reviewed and voted to support two town-meeting articles to be included in the upcoming town meeting: Article 25, authorizing the acceptance of 190–212 Oak Street (a parcel behind the courthouse), and Article 26, enabling the select board to accept a sidewalk easement at 2 Bridal Lane as a gift. The board discussed who would speak on those articles at town meeting and agreed on assignments.

The planning board directed staff to include the letter of support in the grant application materials and to provide the town-meeting sponsorship documentation for Articles 25 and 26 to the town clerk for the warrant.