Wilmington Special Town Meeting Preview

Wilmington Special Town Meeting will be held on Wednesday, Nov. 13 at Wilmington Middle School at 7 p.m., with voters being asked to approve the purchase of land at 120 Main Street from the Archdiocese of Boston as well as two zoning changes. 

The following is an explanation of each of the three articles on the Special Town Meeting warrant.

Article 1

The town is considering the purchase of 120 Main St. The property consists of six parcels, totaling approximately 7.86 acres of land that contains frontage on both Main Street and Glen Road and is adjacent to the Town Hall property.

The land is currently controlled by Saint  Dorothy's Church of the Archdiocese of Boston, with a proposed purchase price of $1,725,000.

The purchase would be funded using free cash, with the town's current free cash balance at $14,190,939.

While town officials have said there is no specific use in mind yet for the property at 120 Main St., members of the board of selectmen as well as Town Manager Jeff Hull have indicated the town does have needs which the property could address including administrative space and recreational space.

Finance Committee have voted to recommend approval of the article at an Oct. 22 public hearing.

Article 2

Article 2 asks voters to consider amending the town's zoning bylaw to allow personal services in Highway Industrial zones.

Planning and Conservation Director Carole Hamilton explained during a joint Finance Committee and Planning Committee hearing, the change is being sought to address an unintended restriction placed on personal services such as barber or beauty shops, dry cleaners, catering and other uses.

The town's Highway Industrial zones are located in north Wilmington along Ballardvale Street and east Wilmington along Fordham Road. Both the Planning Board and the Finance Committee voted to recommend approval of the article at their public hearing.

Article 3 

Article 3 is a petition article submitted by Kevin J. Brennan and others to rezone 276 Lowell Street from Residential 20 to General Business.

Planning Board and Finance Committee voted to recommend approval of the article at their public hearing.

For more on Wilmington Special Town Meeting, check out our coverage leading up to Wednesday's meeting:

Wilmington Selectmen to Consider Calling Special Town Meeting

Selectmen Approve Special Town Meeting For Purchase of Archdiocese Property

Selectmen Urge Residents to Turn Out For St. Dorothy's Property Vote

Selectmen Approve Two Earth Removal Permits, Review Special Town Meeting Warrant