STOW – City administrator Denise Dembkoski would like to announce that the Town of Stow will be holding a special town hall this Saturday, with several important mandate items slated for debate and action.

WHEN:

Saturday October 30; Check-in begins at 9:00 a.m. Start of the meeting at 10 a.m.

OR:

Hale Middle School, 55 Hartley Road, Stow, MA

WHAT:

A special city reunion will take place on Saturday in the auditorium of Hale Middle School, with several important issues that will affect the future of the city for years to come on term.

Masks are mandatory for anyone attending inside, but there will also be a limited number of outdoor seating and a live audio stream for those who wish to stay outside. Those intending to sit outside must bring their own chairs and umbrellas and must come inside to check in before the meeting begins. Anyone wishing to speak on mandate items will also need to travel to the auditorium to do so and will need to have a mask with them. The City will have a limited number of masks for those who forget to bring them.

For those inside, since masks are mandatory, no social distancing requirements will be in place. There will also be an indoor seating section for the hearing impaired.

To view the full mandate of the Special Municipal Assembly, click here.

Town Administrator Dembkoski would like to draw particular attention to two articles of the mandate – article 5, concerning the purchase of the North course of Stow Acres, and article 8, concerning a change to the zoning by-law in the industrial district.

Article 5 calls on the City to authorize the expenditure of up to $ 4 million for the purchase of the northern portion of the Stow Acres golf course on Randall Road for open space and recreational purposes. This article relates only to the portion of Stow Acres land that the City purchases. This land includes 24 acres which will be controlled by the Conservation Commission and used for passive recreation and open space purposes, as well as 90 acres of land which will be controlled by the Recreation Commission for active recreation and use. like park. Funding for the purchase will come from Community Preservation Act funds, grants and fundraising. A maximum of $ 500,000 from the City’s general fund budget can be used for the project, but only as needed to reach the total of $ 4 million.

“This article is about the land the city is buying and is completely separate from the part of Stow Acres on which a private developer hopes to build houses,” city administrator Dembkoski said. “There will be many opportunities for public input on the portion of development managed by a private developer once that developer has applied for permits. “

For more information on the Stow Acres planning process, click here.

Article 8 calls on the City to change zoning bylaws to allow for the construction of for-profit schools in industrial zones. Nonprofit schools can already be built anywhere in the city under Massachusetts law. The zoning change would open the door for for-profit schools to apply to build in the city, but as part of the zoning change proposals put forward by for-profit schools, it would still be necessary to negotiate a development agreement with the council. administration, as well as a special permit from the Town Planning Council.

“Allowing for-profit schools in industrial areas, but forcing them to negotiate with the board of trustees and town planning council, will give the city significant control over any proposed project,” the administrator said. town, Dembkoski. Masters Academy International is considering applying for permits to build a for-profit school on the former Bose site in town, but adoption of this article will not affect opportunities for public participation when MAI asks. permits. “

For more information on the proposed zoning change and Masters Academy International’s proposal, click here.

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