This coming Monday night, the Planning Board will discuss a new bylaw they hope to bring to Town Meeting voters this spring. As promised at the October Special Meeting, Planning and the Historical Commission are collaborating to allow “Adaptive Reuse of Historic Buildings”.
Ability to make good use of historic buildings was one reason given by opponents to the article abolishing Use Variances at Special Town Meeting. That was countered by Historical and Planning’s news that they were developing a specific bylaw.
In materials posted by the Planning Board for Monday’s meeting, a draft bylaw states:
This section of the bylaw allows for the adaptive reuse of historical buildings and structures listed on the Southborough Historical Buildings Survey in a manner that ensures compatibility with their surroundings and that preserves their historical nature and appearance. This bylaw is intended to promote the preservation of significant historic structures, thereby enhancing the community’s appearance and preserving Southborough’s architectural legacy for future generations.
The full draft is available here.
The meeting is scheduled for Monday, December 12th with the agenda item estimated at 7:20 pm. It is intended to be a discussion as they develop the draft.
You can be sure that if the Planning Board and Historical proceed with the bylaw, they will hold public hearings for feedback prior to Town Meeting.
