BREAKING: Lowe’s workers were spotted Monday assembling the store’s Christmas display.
That means October must be approaching fast.
Some of the trees around Abington are losing their greenness and starting to show shades of yellow. The summer’s relentless humidity appears to finally have lost its tight grip, giving way to what appears to be a Scottish weather pattern. The aroma of charcoal briquettes in the air has been replaced by pumpkin spice.
It also means the Special Town Meeting is just three weeks away and debate continues about the two main topics of discussion: a $35.8 million fire station/DPW complex, and rewriting the rules guiding development at the former South Weymouth Naval Air Station, which is currently branded as Union Point.
Regarding the latter topic: following more than two hours of questions and answers last Monday night, the Planning Board voted 4-0 Thursday night to endorse the Special Town Meeting article approving the new zoning regulations. Tonight (Monday) it’s the Board of Selectman’s turn to host the air base’s master planning team and reps from the Southfield Redevelopment Authority. Following a presentation by the air base folks, the board will allow the public to ask questions, according to Selectmen Chairman Alex Hagerty.
Here’s a quick synopsis of what the new zoning rules feature: an “open space” zone around nearly the entire perimenter of the property; some recreational development could be allowed in those areas. The rest of the undeveloped land would be rezoned as a “multi-use development district” and allow a range of uses by right, including commercial buildings, multi-unit housing, medical buildings, retail shops, and more (full list of uses starts on page 34). The developers say they need extra flexibility to make deals as market conditions dictate. In addition, the Redevelopment Authority board would serve as the planning, zoning, and conservation boards for any project proposed on air base land.
About 100 acres of the air base belongs to Abington. Less than half of that will be located in the so-called “MUDD” zone; the rest will be zoned for Open Space or have conservation restrictions on it. Even if 75 percent of all new construction is residential, Abington could see a net profit in tax revenue around $4 million, after the costs of providing municipal services, according to the developer.
The Abington Board of Selectmen meeting starts at 6:30 p.m., in the Cotter Room at Town Hall. And then on Wednesday, the Finance Committee will meet at 7 p.m., and discuss the project’s financial impacts on the town.
Special Town Meeting is scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 14, at 9 a.m., at the Middle/High School Auditorium. Abington, Weymouth, and Rockland each have to approve the new zoning regulations. It’s unclear what happens if one town, or multiple towns, say no. One possibility is that the master developer makes some tweaks and comes back in the spring; or it could walk away from the project altogether.
GREEN WAVE ATHLETICS
CROSS-COUNTRY
Varsity Boys
Tuesday, 4 p.m., vs. Cohasset High School
Varsity Girls
Tuesday, 4 p.m., vs. Cohasset High School
GOLF
Varsity
Tuesday, 3:30 p.m., vs. Middleborough High School
Wednesday, 3 p.m., @ Norwell High School
Thursday, 4 p.m., @ Mashpee Middle/High School
Friday, 3:30 p.m., vs. Norwell High School
Junior Varsity
Wednesday, 3:30 pm, @ Hingham High School
FOOTBALL
Varsity
Friday, 6:30 p.m., @ Norwell High School
Junior Varsity
No Games
Freshman
Thursday, 4 p.m., vs. Cardinal Spellman High School
BOYS SOCCER
Varsity
Wednesday, 4 p.m., @ Randolph High School
Friday, 4 p.m., @ Rockland High School
Junior Varsity
Friday, 4 pm, @ Rockland High School
GIRLS SOCCER
Varsity
Friday, 4 p.m., vs. Rockland High School
Junior Varsity
Wednesday, 4:30 p.m., vs Randolph High School
Friday, 4 p.m., vs. Rockland High School
VOLLEYBALL
Varsity
Tuesday, 5:30 p.m., @ Randolph High School
Thursday 5:15 p.m., vs. East Bridgewater Jr./Sr. High School
Friday, 5:15 p.m., @ Hanover High School
Junior Varsity
Tuesday, 4 p.m., @ Randolph High School
Thursday, 4 p.m., vs. East Bridgewater Jr./Sr. High School
Friday, 4 p.m., @ Hanover High School
Freshman
Thursday, 4 p.m., vs. East Bridgewater Jr./Sr. High School
Friday, 4 p.m., @ Hanover High School
(FOR THE MOST UPDATED GAMES AND SCORES, PLEASE CHECK ARBITER LIVE SPORTS)
MEETING SCHEDULE
MONDAY
Board of Selectmen, 6:30 p.m., Town Hall. Agenda includes votes on permitting the annual Abington Boosters door-to-door fundraiser and the Abington St. Patrick’s Day Parade, presentations by the Southfield Redevelopment Authority board and Abington/Rockland Joint Water Works, a report by the town’s auditors, and votes on the Special Town Meeting warrant.
TUESDAY
Conservation Commission, 6:30 p.m., Town Hall. Agenda includes discussions about 0 Summer Street, Centre Avenue, 154 Brockton Ave., 95 Niles St., 0 Hancock St., and 267 North Quincy St., as well as complaints about two tree companies.
School Committee, 7 p.m., Middle/High School Library. Agenda includes updates on the math, art, and personal finance program curriculums; consideration of the Grade 8 field trip to Philadelphia in June, updates on school safety and strategic planning, and job postings for an assistant superintendent position.
WEDNESDAY
Finance Committee, 7 p.m., Town Hall. Agenda includes reviewing the air base project, and other Special Town Meeting warrant articles.
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