Selectmen consider faster permitting process
By Caitlyn Kelleher JOURNAL REPORTER

MassDevelopment officials presented information to the Board of Selectmen at their Wednesday, Jan. 16, meeting about a state law creating a faster permitting process for developers.

Mike Mitchell, the vice president for planning and development at the MassDevelopment real estate division, talked with Selectmen and other town officials about designating certain areas of town as 43D districts.

"It's a tool to be able to attract developers where you want them," Mitchell said.

The designation means the town gives developers that within 180 days for them submitting a complete application permits will either be issued or denied. Mitchell said the town would be able to set the standard for each sites application during the designation process.

"It doesn't alter any authority of any board," Mitchell said. "It doesn't change the process."

Town Counsel Alan Seewald warned the town officials that the process was very front load and everyone would have to know what information they were looking for before a developer approached.

"It's not really a long time," he said. "Our boards need to be and running really fast."

The town could receive a one-time grant of $100,000 to help implement the program at the chosen sites. A site must be approved by the state to become a 43D site.

To receive state approval all sites must be zones for commercial, industrial or mixed-use development and the sites must be able to hold at least 50,000 square feet of gross floor area.

All sites must also have their owners agree to the designation. Mitchell said she had not heard of an owner turning down the designation.

Town Planner Alicia Altieri said she had compiled a list of four sites she thought would be good places to start reviewing. The list was the Westminster Business Park off Route 2A, the Business Park at Westminster off Route 31, a 15-acre town-owned parcel on Saw Mill Pond, and the land off Route 140 that holds Simplex-Tyco.

"I think we should get as many sites as we can get owner's signatures on," she said.

Before the state looks to approve a site, voters must approve it at a town meeting.

Selectmen Chairman John Fairbanks asked whether Altieri could have these proposals ready for the town meeting in February. Altieri said the annual town meeting was more realistic.

Selectman Thomas O'Toole agreed saying they should use this time to review all of the permitting processes in general.

Altieri said she would want to gather a comprehensive list of sites, inventory each one and develop application requirements for each site before taking any of it to town meeting.

Seewald said he would want to make sure each site is reviewed for allowed by right uses and uses that would be allowed with a special permit.

"I think in concept this is a great idea," Seewald said. "I think we need to be very deliberate."

In other business:

• The Selectmen voted to hold a special town meeting Tuesday, Feb. 26, at 7:30 p.m. at Westminster Elementary School. The main item on the agenda would be a warrant article asking voters to approve funding to repair the exterior of the library and to do related work inside the building. The cost of this project will not be known until bids are opened on Wednesday, Feb. 20.

Town officials decided to hold a special town meeting and election after the opening of the bids so voters would be able to approve or reject the project based on its actual costs.

Other articles on the warrant could include articles related to moving the library if the renovation project is approved, transfers of free cash and article to change the town's collector-treasurer's position from an election position to an appointed position.

• Selectmen approved the Community Development Strategy plan for MRPC's application for a Community Development Block Grant.