Westwood Minute's Collected Resources for Voting on Warrant Articles, Issues at Town Meeting (Updated)

Updated May 2, 2022 at 1:30 p.m. A link has been added to Finance and Warrant Commission's recommendations regarding Town Meeting Warrant Articles.

Voters planning to cast their voice votes at Westwood's Annual Town Meeting this Monday, May 2, 2022, may find some of the Warrant Articles up for vote to be unfamiliar or perplexing. To help with that problem, Westwood Minute has compiled in one place its past coverage of some of the issues, below. Note that some articles contain discussion of multiple issues, so you may need to scroll a bit to find the discussion you are looking for.

Westwood Minute operates on limited resources, and therefore does not assert that its coverage below is completely comprehensive. However, this information is easily accessible and may be helpful to readers who seek to become more educated. Voters are encouraged to further research these topics. Other resources include the recommendations of Westwood's Finance and Warrant Commission regarding each warrant article up for Monday evening's vote: Finance and Warrant Commission 2022 Annual Report Warrant and Recommendations for Annual Town Meeting.

Warrant Articles 13 & 14 - Citizen's Petition - Property Tax Exemption for Senior Citizens (M.G.L. Chapter 59 and M.G.L. Chapter 59, Section 5, Clause 41C 1/2, and Clauses 17D, 17E, and 17F).

• OPINION: Minority View on Senior Property Tax Exemptions and Select Westwood Town Meeting Articles

Warrant Article 15 - Obed Baker House - Disposition of Town Owned Property

• Little Resistance from Residents to Westwood Planning Board's Proposed Zoning Changes
• Select Board Meeting: Open Seat on SB, Mask Mandate, Reuse of Obed Baker House

Warrant Article 16 - Disposal of Real Property (50 Carby Street - Grant of Easement for Driveway)

In Select Board's meeting on February 28, 2022, the board discussed with Town Counsel Pat Ahearn that the resident of 129 Dover Road had asked the town about purchasing town property at 50 Carby Street because it has been determined that the resident's driveway and shed are currently encroaching on that town property.  The proposed transaction was not desirable for Select Board, however, as it was discussed that the Department of Public Works may require that land for its own program.

The alternative of allowing the resident an easement on town property was proposed.  There was concern with the scenario of the resident moving the driveway onto another location of the resident's own property where such a move could cause a safety issue with Dover Road traffic.

Warrant Article 18 - Zoning Amendments Relative to Permitting and Approval of Solar Arrays

• Little Resistance from Residents to Westwood Planning Board's Proposed Zoning Changes
• Public Input Opportunity on Multi-Family, Solar, Obed Baker Zoning Changes at Tuesday's Public Hearing
• Delicate Balance Required in Easing Zoning Restrictions: Ground Mounted Solar and Multifamily Housing (Updated)

Warrant Article 19 - Zoning Amendments Relative to Property on High Street in the Vicinity of the Obed Baker House and Westwood Plaza

• Select Board Meeting: Open Seat on SB, Mask Mandate, Reuse of Obed Baker House
• Little Resistance from Residents to Westwood Planning Board's Proposed Zoning Changes

Warrant Article 20 - Zoning Amendment Relative to Expansion of Nonconforming Structures

• Little Resistance from Residents to Westwood Planning Board's Proposed Zoning Changes
• Public Input Opportunity on Multi-Family, Solar, Obed Baker Zoning Changes at Tuesday's Public Hearing

Warrant Article 21 - Zoning Map Amendment Relative to 394 & 396 Providence Highway

• Little Resistance from Residents to Westwood Planning Board's Proposed Zoning Changes

Warrant Article 22 - Zoning Bylaw & Zoning Map Amendments Relative to Mixed-Use & Multi-Family Residential Overlay Districts

• Delicate Balance Required in Easing Zoning Restrictions: Ground Mounted Solar and Multifamily Housing (Updated)
• Planning Board Determines Top 2 Locations for Siting Multi-family Housing District
• Planning Board Tables Smart Growth Zoning, Moves Forward with Multi-Family Housing
• Public Input Opportunity on Multi-Family, Solar, Obed Baker Zoning Changes at Tuesday's Public Hearing
• Little Resistance from Residents to Westwood Planning Board's Proposed Zoning Changes
• Select Board to Dispute State's Draft Guidance on Multi-Family Housing District

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