Northborough committee approves corrected minutes, advances three CPA projects; Blake Street parking estimate ~$93,000

The Town of Northborough Community Preservation Committee on March 5, 2026 approved amended minutes from its Jan. 29 meeting, discussed three Community Preservation Act (CPA) warrant articles scheduled for town meeting and reviewed updated project details — including a consultant estimate of about $93,000 to reconstruct a portion of the municipal parking lot related to the Blake Street park and streetscape project.

The meeting opened remotely under the 2023 law allowing virtual meetings; the Chair confirmed a quorum before members moved to business. The committee confronted a discrepancy in the Historical Society window restoration application: one set of documents presented at a previous meeting cited 23 windows and 15 storm windows, while a revised application dated Jan. 28, 2026 posted on the town website lists 21 double-hung windows and 13 storm windows. “It says there’s 23 windows … but in the application it says it’s a total of 21 windows and 13 storm,” a committee member said, urging clarification.

Staff agreed to request a written statement from the applicant specifying the correct quantities so the minutes and the warrant article match the application materials. The committee then moved to approve the amended Jan. 29 minutes; a member made the motion, Peter seconded and the Chair took a roll-call vote in which all present members voted yes, approving the minutes as presented.

On substantive projects, the Chair said the committee would concentrate its presentation materials on three main CPA articles: the Blake Street park/streetscape improvements, the Northborough Historical Society window project, and Milliken ballfield improvements. The Chair said the committee will present the recommendations to the Select Board on March 9 and participate in a mock town meeting on April 13 at the Senior Center to preview contested articles and collect public feedback.

Regarding Blake Street, staff reported a site visit with Select Board members and provided a consultant estimate from Beta Group: “The estimate came out at approximately $93,000,” the staff member said, describing that figure as the cost to reconstruct the portion of the municipal parking lot that would not be covered by CPA funds. Staff also said the Financial Planning Committee unanimously supported the Playing Fields and Historical Society projects but was split (a tie) on Blake Street and therefore offered no recommendation on that article.

Staff noted the RFP for reuse of 4 West Main Street is posted on the administration department’s bids page and that proposals are due March 30 at 2 p.m.; members said bids for 4 West Main could affect downtown reuse conversations tied to the Blake Street work.

A design constraint emerged for the Blake Street fence after consultation with CSX: CSX would not permit the originally proposed black aluminum fence because it included openings larger than 2-by-2 inches adjacent to the tracks. Staff described a revised proposal for a stained wood stockade fence that could include a mural on the public-facing side. The staff member noted contingencies built into the project budget — including a design-phase contingency of about 20% — and said the project should remain affordable within CPA reserves even with the fence change.

The Chair closed by encouraging members to attend the Select Board meeting and the mock town meeting ahead of the town meeting and then called for adjournment. A motion to adjourn passed on a roll-call vote with all present members voting yes.

What’s next: staff will seek written confirmation from the Historical Society applicant on the exact window counts to ensure the warrant article and minutes match, the Chair will present the committee’s recommendations to the Select Board on March 9, and the committee plans to participate in the April 13 mock town meeting at the Senior Center to present the three contested CPA articles to the public.