Voters pass many zoning articles but not without concerns
By Danielle LeBlanc JOURNAL CORRESPONDENT

Westminster's annual town meeting was continued on Saturday, May 10, and although attended by 2 percent of the town's voting population, several zoning articles were debated for a couple of hours.

Voters approved the designation of 254 acres of land in the Westminster Business Park as an economic opportunity area, but it garnered much debate before passing.

Many citizens expressed concerns with offering TIFs, or Tax Increment Financing, to businesses coming into town. Advisory Board member William "Bud" Taylor expressed his concern over TIFs, stating that they don't work.

"It would be akin to a family moving to Westminster and not paying taxes, then saying that because they buy groceries, they bring in business," he said.

Dave McKeehan, a Westminster resident and the president of the North Central Chamber of Commerce, on the other hand urged his fellow residents to supporting tax incentives for new businesses in order to "look forward to what we can do in this town. New businesses will increase our tax base. [TIFs] are a tool we simply need to have because it is highly competitive right now for those industries that are expanding."

Selectman John Fairbanks stressed to the crowd that this article was merely "a tool in our toolbox" to begin negotiations with businesses looking to come into town.

Saturday's two hour meeting was the continuation of the Annual Town Meeting that lasted for five-hours on Saturday, May 3. There were 109 of the town's registered voters at the meeting.

Voters also passed another article to encourage business growth in targeted areas of town. The article passed approved the filing of an application with the Interagency Permitting Board to designate three areas as priority development sites.

Planning Board member Marie Auger said the three privately owned sites, including the industrial land in the Westminster Business Park and the Tyco/Simplex land on Technology Drive, as well as the town-owned land on Fitchburg Road, were chosen because they are ready for development.

The article that passed differed from the originally proposed one because an amendment on the floor eliminated creating the Chapter 43D designation that would call for the expedited development of the sites.

Many residents expressed concerned that the 180 days Chapter 43D of Massachusetts General Law allows for a guaranteed decision on the approval of a permit was not enough.

Resident Donna Brownell, a founder of Watchdogs for an Environmentally Safe Town, said she was concerned it "would put a lot of pressure on the town's boards to make a decision within 180 days."

Town Planner Alicia Altieri pointed out that the timeline would suffice as the sites were chosen because the "roads and infrastructure are already there and the town wouldn't have to go through a lengthy permit process because the sites have already been subdivided."

Three articles were also approved to make changes to the zoning in the center of town. Voters passed an article amending the commercial zoning regulations to allow for residential uses to continue without a commercial component without needing approval from the Zoning Board of Appeals.

Before Saturday's meeting, the regulations only allowed pre-existing residential uses.

The Advisory Board members were opposed to this article, with Board Chairman James DeLisle said they "hoped to look at a comprehensive plan for the whole Main Street area."

The other article approved by the voters that could increase the number residences on Main Street was an article allowing for the creation of new mixed-use buildings in the center of town.

The town also voted to approve that 98 Main St. be zoned commercial. The property is a residential home.