Spring is springing.
The daffodils are out. Trees are starting to bud. Allergies are in full swing.
Perhaps no Abington entity glams up more during spring than Griffins Dairy. The 64-acre former dairy farm is in the process of coming alive, guided by a very active band of volunteers.
The Griffins Dairy Farm Committee has already been busy readying the property, and its crushed stone walking trails and farming plots. They’ve removed dead fall from the winter, and raked up leaves. Last week, they posted on its Facebook page that the town helped haul off the sizable pile of loam that had been taking up space. They also announced they had to cut down two dying maple trees near the bulletin board; they hope to replace them soon.
One fun feature the committee is looking to do this summer is host food trucks on Wednesday evenings from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. The committee will discuss it at their 5 p.m. meeting tonight (along with a number of other items), and then the board of selectmen will also consider it at their 6:30 p.m. meeting tonight.
BUSY SELECTMEN’S MEETING
Abington’s executive board has a full agenda for their meeting tonight. In addition to the Griffins Dairy/food truck request, selectmen will also be considering two new Host Community Agreements with a pair of businesses looking to open marijuana businesses in town. These are on top of the two retail marijuana shops already in the permitting process. You can read more about the two new proposals here.
The board is also expected to receive an update on 267 North Quincy St., which remains under a cease-and- desist order following a multi-agency inspection two weeks ago. As of late last week, the town was still waiting for a complete list of all tenants on the site. The owner of the property appears interested in selling. The property is listed online with a $10.3 million asking price. “Property will be delivered vacant and clear of all issues and tenants,” the posting reads in part. For what it’s worth, the land is currently assessed by the Town of Abington at $192,200.
More details on tonight’s selectmen’s meeting can be found below.
ZONING CHANGES
The Planning Board is holding a special public hearing tonight to discuss a number of proposed changes to the town’s zoning bylaws. Most of the changes were initially proposed for last year’s Annual Town Meeting but passed over in order to shorten the length of the gathering. One new proposal would prohibit multi-family housing less than 12 units from the towns highway commercial district. The town must also adopt a new federal floodplain map.
Full list of proposed zoning changes can be found here.
TOWN ELECTIONS
We’re down to the final two weeks before the Annual Town Election, which will be held Saturday, April 24th, at the Beaver Brook Elementary School.
Want to learn more about the candidates and competitive races?
Abington News is doing a Question of the Week for candidates for the Board of Health and Board of Selectmen
Selectmen
Board of Health
Week 3’s Question (coming soon)
In addition, Abington Community Access & Media has published a series of interviews with the candidates. They can be found here:
Board of Selectmen
Board of Health
DEADLINE FOR CITIZENS PETITIONS
Under the town charter, any registered voter can submit an article for the Annual Town Meeting warrant. All they need to do is collect signatures from 10 registered voters and submit it to the Board of Selectmen. The deadline to do so is today at 4 p.m.
MEETINGS
MONDAY
Griffin’s Dairy Farm Committee, 5 p.m., Senior Center. Agenda includes discussions about food trucks, tree replacements, cleanup day, and Christmas trees.
Planning Board, 6 p.m., via Zoom. The agenda includes public hearings on multiple proposed zoning bylaw changes.
Board of Sewer Commissioners, 6 p.m., Sewer Department. Agenda includes an update on the upcoming force main replacement project,
Board of Selectmen, 6:30p.m., Town Hall. Agenda includes an update on 267 North Quincy St., discussion about Host Community Agreements for adult use marijuana operations, and a possible vote on a new policies governing the Veterans Discretionary Fund.
Library Board of Trustees, 7 p.m., Library. Agenda includes building issues, a town meeting update, and the summer reading program
TUESDAY
Affordable Housing Trust Committee, 6:30 p.m., Town Hall. Agenda includes a discussion on surplus town properties, the election of committee officers, and goals and objectives.
WEDNESDAY
Finance Committee, 7 p.m., Town Hall. Agenda includes an update on the FY ’22 budget, and the Special and Annual Town Meeting warrant.
THURSDAY
Historical Commission, 7 p.m., Town Hall. Agenda includes reviwing the town’s historical properties, news from the town building department and the Community Preservation Act.