The Planning Board met for nearly four hours Monday night, and it ended up continuing several longstanding projects that are on the cusp of approval. Turkey Ridge Estates development issues cause problem for town open space acquisition The Turkey Ridge Estates...
Mary Ellen Gambon
UCTC supports inclusion of town in MetroWest effort to join East Coast Greenway
The Upper Charles Trail Committee at its meeting Wednesday night voted unanimously in favor of a proposed concept that would connect Hopkinton and several neighboring MetroWest communities to the East Coast Greenway. Trial advocate Joel Arbeitman, the chair of the...
Conservation Commission leverages fines against Turkey Ridge developer due to stormwater issues
The Conservation Commission at its meeting Tuesday night voted unanimously to leverage fines previously held in abeyance totaling $31,800 against the developer of the proposed Turkey Ridge Estates development because of a new violation discovered on the day of the...
Board of Health works on tobacco regulations, strategic planning
The Board of Health met Monday evening to discuss when a hearing can be held on the adoption of the amended state product regulations for tobacco sales and to announce progress made on the Health Department’s strategic plan. The board voted unanimously to approve...
Parks & Rec approves return of Farmers Market
The Parks & Recreation Commission at its meeting Thursday evening voted 3-0 to approve a permit allowing the return of the Hopkinton Farmers Market to the Town Common this summer, with attendees noting the positive impact it has had historically on several aspects...
Residents asked to discuss walkability at March 21 meeting
One of the Planning Board’s goals for this year is to increase safe and inviting ways for allowing pedestrians to travel through Hopkinton, and it is seeking the community’s input at a virtual public forum on Tuesday, March 21, at 7 p.m. Planning Board chair Gary...
Planning Board discusses proposed amendments to zoning bylaws
The Planning Board met for four hours Monday night and reviewed several proposed amendments to the town’s zoning bylaws that will come before Annual Town Meeting voters on May 1. The changes to the town’s current Flexible Community Development Bylaw dominated the...
UCTC debates presentation of committee content, chair’s TCMC appearance
The Upper Charles Trail Committee at its meeting Wednesday night debated the content and formatting of committee documents contained on the UCTC page of the town’s website, with some members asking that more details be added. At the meeting’s opening, chair Jane Moran...
Conservation Commission holds fines against Turkey Ridge developer in abeyance, citing progress
The Conservation Commission at its meeting Tuesday night unanimously decided after some debate to hold two instances of fines in abeyance for violations of erosion controls regarding the proposed Turkey Ridge Estates development, noting that substantial progress has...
Board of Health discusses issues with town’s shingles vaccine distribution
The Board of Health at its meeting Monday evening discussed complications with insurance billing for Shingrix that may affect the Health Department’s ability to distribute the shingles vaccine. Shingles is a painful rash that can occur in people over the age of 50 by...
Upper Charles chair visits TCMC meeting to address differences in perspective
A citizens’ petition proposed as a private citizen by Trails Coordination and Management Committee chair Peter LaGoy became the main item of debate at the TCMC’s meeting Thursday night, sharply contrasting the perspectives of the chairs of the TCMC and the Upper...
Parks & Rec discusses need for more space due to growth
The Parks & Recreation Department is simultaneously experiencing tremendous growth and a challenging staff loss, Director Jay Guelfi told commissioners at a hybrid Parks & Recreation Commission meeting Thursday night. At the start of the meeting, Guelfi...
UCTC discusses citizens’ petitions that question its goals
The Upper Charles Trail Committee at its meeting Wednesday night debated questions it will take to town counsel about the validity of two citizens’ petitions, one of which seeks to disband the UCTC in its current form. “It appears that some aspects may be legal and...
Health Department continues vaccine clinics, monitors norovirus
The Board of Health at a brief meeting Monday night discussed the Health Department’s recent initiatives. Public Health Nurse Simone Carter described the Health Department as “quietly busy.” She said that the number of reported respiratory virus cases, including...
Conservation Commission split on decision to proceed with gas pipeline at Mass. Laborers facility
The Conservation Commission at its meeting Tuesday night approved 4-3 the notice of intent hearing on the Massachusetts Laborers Training facility’s initially proposed gas line under the Wetlands Protection Act, the preferred option of the developer, after some...
Planning Board jolted by ongoing issues with Grasshopper Energy solar farm
At its meeting Monday night, the Planning Board chastised the proponents of two major projects that have dragged on for years to get their plans promptly in order, including the Grasshopper Energy solar array’s planting plan. Grasshopper Energy’s 2.4-megawatt...
UCTC responds to petition calling for disbanding, continues planning
The Upper Charles Trail Committee at its meeting Wednesday night briefly addressed two citizens’ petitions for the Annual Town Meeting warrant proposed by a local trails advocate, one that seeks to dismantle the current committee and form a new one with new members....
Health Department works to prevent opioid overdoses via naloxone program
At the Board of Health’s one-hour meeting Monday evening, Public Health Nurse Simone Carter announced that the state designated the Hopkinton Health Department as a Community Naloxone Purchasing Program affiliate, allowing it to distribute the medicine used to rapidly...
Parks & Rec endorses capital request for manual security gates at Sandy Beach
The Parks & Recreation Commission at its 80-minute meeting Thursday evening voted 4-0 to endorse a capital grant proposal to fund manual gates at Sandy Beach in order to increase security there. Commissioner Cynthia Esthimer has been serving as a member of an ad...
MassDOT: Fruit Street I-495 bridge reconstruction to begin in late spring
Reconstruction of Fruit Street’s Interstate 495 bridge will begin in the late spring as an initial step to remodel the interchange between I-495 and I-90, representatives from the Massachusetts Department of Transportation announced at a two-hour virtual meeting...