There promises to be a big turnout at Thursday’s Zoning Board of Appeals meeting. Abington Sunoco is requesting permission to add a fourth bay on their building along the southern edge of their property.
Wait…[checking notes] … I’m being told that’s NOT what has people’s attention.
Instead it’s a request for a waiver to help build six housing units off a piece of land that abuts the Abington Rail Trail. The 3-acre parcel technically has a 155 Birch Street address, but is only accessible by a 40-foot wide strip of frontage off Birch. Abington’s zoning rules require 75 feet of frontage in that area.
We don’t want to say more as the editor of Abington News is a member of the Planning Board and may have to review the project in that capacity.
However neighbors have been attempting to organize a big turnout for Thursdays zoning meeting. They apparently have some thoughts. To be seen!
BROKEN WATER MAIN SNARLS RT. 18 THIS WEEK
Traffic on Route 18 north may be a bit slow at times this week as the water department fixes a broken main underneath the roadway across from Sorrelle. The main burst sometime over this past frigid weekend. The newly finished roadway will be temporarily merged into one northbound lane until it’s fixed.
OPINIONS WANTED ON USES FOR GLINIEWICZ WAY LAND
Just as the town was finishing construction on the new Middle/ High School, Town Meeting approved the purchase of a strip of land along the northern side of Gliniewicz Way. The argument at the time was that they wanted to secure the land in case it needed spillover parking for the big school complex, and to a lesser extent to prevent the land from being commercially developed. The parking situation seems to be fine. However a couple groups are eyeing the land for different purposes. So the Board of Selectmen next Monday is inviting people to come to its meeting next Monday and give their thoughts. Habitat for Humanity has expressed interest in building some homes on the land, which is sandwiched between the Abington Housing Authority’s Leavitt Terrace property , and a private townhouse complex on Bedford Street. There’s also been some interest in using the land for recreational purposes; a need highlighted by the fact that the town may lose the two basketball courts/street hockey courts near the police station as part of the new fire station project. Senior housing and open space are other use options. The meeting will start at 6:30 p.m.
LIST OF TOWN ELECTION CANDIDATES GROWS
There are now four candidates for the two School Committee seats up for election this spring. Loganberry Drive resident Melanie Whitney has taken out nomination papers joining Pond Street resident Nicole Emery and incumbents Chris Coyle, of Karen Lane, and Wendy Happel of Adams Street. As of now, there will be a race for the Board of Selectmen. There are two seats up on the Board of Selectmen, and both incumbents, Alex Bezanson, of Randolph Street, and Michael Kolodziej, of Lantern Lane, have taken out papers, as has former selectman Kevin Donovan, of Adams Street.
Town Clerk Leanne Adams, of Shaw Avenue; Moderator Shawn Reilly, of Dorsey Street; Water Commissioners William Cormier, of Olson Street, and Robert Toomey, of Washington Street; Assessor Lawrence Keough, of East Battery Street; Planning Board Chairman Bruce Hughes, of Randolph Street; Sewer Commissioner Mark Jamieson, of Andrew Ford Way; and Library Trustees Barbara McLaughlin, of Checkerberry Road, Susan Crowley, of Linwood Street, and John O’Neill, of Colonel Hunt Drive, have all taken our papers as well. Anyone interested in running for town office can still take out nomination papers at the Town Clerk’s Office. The deadline to return papers is March 13.
GREEN WAVE ATHLETICS
BOYS BASKETBALL
Varsity
Wednesday @ Scituate, 6:30 p.m.
Friday vs. Norwell, 6:30 p.m
Junior Varsity
Wednesday @ Scituate, 5 p.m.
Friday vs. Norwell, 5 p.m.
Freshmen
Wednesday @ Scituate, 3:30 p.m.
Friday vs. Norwell, 3:30 p.m.
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Varsity
Wednesday @ Attleboro, 6:30 p.m.
Friday @ Norwell, 6:30 p.m.
Junior Varsity
Wednesday @ Attleboro, 5 p.m.
Friday @ Norwell, 5 p.m.
BOYS HOCKEY
Wednesday @ Rockland, 7:50 p.m., @ Rockland Ice Arena
Saturday @ Blue Hills Regional, 7 p.m., @ Canton Ice House
GIRLS HOCKEY (co-op w/Norwell)
Wednesday vs. Hingham, 7:20 p.m., @ The Bog
Saturday @ Pembroke, 3:10 p.m., @ Hobomock Ice Arena
MEETING SCHEDULE
MONDAY
Planning Board, 5 p.m., Town Hall. Agenda includes a presentation on battery storage bylaws, other proposed zoning bylaws changes, and a possible addition at 907 Bedford Street.
Board of Health, 6 p.m., Town Hall. Agenda includes an update on education, community outreach, and public health programs, and a discussion about updating the tow’s workplace smoking ban.
TUESDAY
Fire Station/DPW Building Committee, 6 p.m., Town Hall. Agenda includes discussions of the project’s site, design, schedule, and budget.
WEDNESDAY
Finance Committee, 7 p.m., Town Hall. Agenda includes discussions about the police department and town manager’s office budgets.
THURSDAY
Zoning Board of Appeals, 7 p.m., Town Hall. Agenda includes discussion on 155 Birch Street and 907 Bedford Streer.