Great Road District Bylaw Passes at Town Meeting
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Bedford's 2018 Town Meeting struggled for two nights with frameworks for the future in this year's Warrant, perhaps most notably the new four-piece zoning requirements for the Great Road District that comprised Articles 8, 9 and 10. Most of the proposed district plan in Article 8 and associated map amendments in Article 10 passed. Article 9, dealing with building heights in the Shawsheen Subdistrict, failed, and Article 10 was amended.
The new district sets basic zoning rules for each of four subdistricts in the overall Great Road District: Shawsheen, Marketplace, (historic) Center, and North Road. The amendments to the Zoning Bylaw, that the Town Meeting adopted Monday, don't require property owners to retrofit anything. They cover what a developer could do when redeveloping a commercial parcel, spelling out requirements for setbacks, sidewalks, landscaping, and so on. Despite all the requirements, however, both the Selectmen and the Planning Committee carefully explained that this zoning plan was just a conceptual framework for developers to work within. For that reason, nobody can predict what a finished building or store might look like.
For voters, however, that was problematic. With the town growing, and both younger and older demographics growing within it, many at the meeting expressed concerns over how Bedford can remain a small New England town honoring the heritage of its blazing battle flag past.
Among the concerns fed to and from the microphones of democracy: Should Bedford have more apartments? And if so, how many, how large, and in what density? This particularly involved the Shawsheen Subdistrict, where the new rules would have allowed (subject to special permit) taller buildings with three or even four stories, and apartments allowed on the upper stories. Some commenters stated their view that Bedford has an obligation, or at least a desire, to offer more affordable housing, especially to senior citizens. But some neighbors returned suspicion and anxiety: We don't want Bedford to get too big, they said, we don't want Bedford to be like a city.
In the end, the orange voting cards held aloft delivered a plurality of 161-86 in favor of Article 9. Alas, one vote short of the required two-thirds majority - and thus it failed.
Of course, this debate is not new to Bedford. But the Great Road District proposal (and other articles in the Warrant) gave it a new occasion for discussion.
Discussion on Article 10 - the zoning map changes - dealt with another odd corner, literally. The district map as proposed included a little pentagon where the Shawsheen Funeral Home has sat and done business for decades - in a residential zone. The plan would have drawn that lot into the district but was challenged by an amendment from Selectman Chair Bill Moonan. He asked that the lot be exempted, for fear of future allowance of a taller or larger building someday. "Save the Bedford we all know and love," he pleaded. The Town Meeting roared its affirmation. The funeral home is now safe for the future.
Results of Articles as 3/31/18
For information on third night of Town Meeting follow the
Bedford Citizen
- Article 2-Debate Rules declared motion passes with a two-thirds vote.
- Article 3-Consent Article passes unanimously.
- Article 4-Bills of Prior Years indefinitely postponed unanimously.
- Article 5 Revolving Funds Expenditure Limits passes unanimously.
- Article 6 - Zoning Bylaw Amendment - Pine Hill Overlay District passes with a two-thirds majority (Yes- 298, No-53).
- Article 7 - Zoning Bylaw Amendment-Amendment to Bedford Zoning Map-Pine Hill Overlay District passes with a two-thirds majority.
- Article 8- Zoning Bylaw Amendment - Great Road District passes by two-thirds
- Article 9 Zoning Bylaw Amendment - Great Road Zoning Project Height Limit in the Shawsheen Sub district declared motion failed by one vote (Yes-161, No-86).
- Article 10 - Zoning Bylaw Amendment - Amendments to Bedford Zoning Map Related to Great Road Zoning Project amended to remove parcel 0083 Map 64 declared the motion passes unanimously.
- Article 11- General Bylaw Amendment-Illegal Depositing in Town Refuse and Recycling Containers passes.
- Article 12- General Bylaw Amendment-Temporary Water Supply Shut-off for Repairs and Maintenance passes unanimously.
- Article 13 - General Bylaw Amendment-Sewer System-New Connections passes unanimously.
- Article 14 - Proposed the Fiscal Year 2019 Capital Projects Plan - items 19-01 to 19-05, 19-07 to 19-10, 19-12 to 19-19, 19-21, 19-23 to 19-31 declared they passed unanimously. Item 19-06 declared it passes unanimously. Item 19-11 passes unanimously. Item 19-20 passes unanimously. Item 19-22 passes unanimously. Item 19-32 passes unanimously. Item 19-33 passes unanimously. Item 19-34 passes unanimously. Item 19-35 passes with two -thirds majority. Item 19-36 passes unanimously. Item 19-37 passes unanimously.
- Article 15- Bond Authorization-Davis School Addition and Renovations passes unanimously. Article 16 -Community Preservation Budget- Fiscal Year 2019. Items 1-12 except 9 declared that motion passes unanimously. Item 9 passes with a majority vote.
- Article 17- Bond Authorization-Davis School Boardwalk passes
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APRIL Multi- Chamber After Hours
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Name:
Multi-Chamber Networking Event at Hillview Country Club
Date:
April 25, 2018
Time:
4:30 PM -
7:30 PM
Members - $10.00 Guests - $20.00
~ Complimentary Appetizers / Cash Bar ~
Optional FREE Seminar:
4:30 pm - 5:15 pm
Successful Strategies to Recruit, Retain and Engage Employees
Be proactive and create a culture and environment that attracts and retains the best employees. Whether you have a staff of 4 or 400, you'll leave with great insights on creating a winning culture from Maxine Hart, Chief Human Resources Officer of Reading Cooperative Bank
Recruiting and retaining employees is a major challenge facing companies and organizations today in this employment market. Organizations can no longer leave the recruitment or the retention to good will and chance as employees have more options now than they have had in previous years.
This will be an interactive session where Maxine will share experiences and lessons learned.
Networking:
5:30 pm - 7:30 pm
Our Regional Multi-Chamber events attract 150-200 local professionals. Mark your calendar, gather your business cards & company brochures and make your reservation to attend our 2nd regional networking event of 2018!
Although this is not a 'Business Expo', there will be table space available exclusively for Chamber members on a first-come, first-served basis at no additional cost. Tables are shared by three businesses with the goal of providing a 'place holder' for your marketing materials. Members can begin table set-up at 4:00 pm.
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Healthy Bedford
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Through a Wellness Grant made possible with funding by the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention through the Massachusetts Department of Public Health in partnership with the Metropolitan Area Planning Council, Healthy Bedford launched the
Healthy Dining Program.
Local Restaurants have the opportunity to partner with us to give diners more menu choices to support healthier dining. Watch for evolving details and a list of participating restaurants!!
As a condition of participation, restaurants adhere to the following practices:
- Offer at least two choices of fruits and/or vegetables (other than potatoes)
- Allow substitution of salad, a vegetable or fruit for fried potatoes (e.g. French fries) at no extra cost
- Clearly designate low-fat, low-calorie, lower sodium and trans fat free menu items when offered
- Offer 1% milk when milk is offered as a beverage
- Offer tap water free of charge and/or as the default beverage
- Offer some dishes in smaller portion size (e.g., half portion sizes) for a reduced price, entrée sharing at no additional cost, OR offers a half-meal to go option upon customer request
If your restaurant wants to participate ~ Click here for an online application
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2018 Small Business Day on Beacon Hill
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Join us on April 10th for
2018 Small Business Day on Beacon Hill
Governor Charlie Baker will be speaking.
Don't miss this great opportunity to hear from our governor and ask him about the issues most important to your business.Learn vital information, meet key legislators,and make your voice heard on Small Business Day!
Also on the day's agenda:
Panel Discussion featuring members of the Labor and Workforce Development Committee: Sen. Jason Lewis, Rep. Paul Brodeur, Rep. Joseph McKenna ,Rep.Keiko Orrall, and Rep. Aaron Vega. These legislators make decisions regarding legislation increasingthe minimum wage and requiring paid family and medical leavewhich stand to impact your small business .They need to hear from YOU on how these policies affect Main Street businesses!
We will also have staff from MA Department of Unemployment Assistance (DUA) available to answer your EMAC & Health Assessment Questions.
Tuesday, April 10th
9:30 a.m. registration (program to follow shortly after) Omni Parker House (60 School Street, Boston, MA 02108)
*Registration is free for all Massachusetts small business owners and we strongly encourage you to bring guests!*
For more information, please contact Andi Shea at 617.523.1900 or by email at [email protected].
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Business Development Update
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1. Zoning Updates and Feedback
The group had a debriefing on the zoning changes for Town Meeting.
The main zoning easily passed. The group felt that the outreach was
well done as the vast majority of the residents understood the need
for updated zoning and really thought adding the design elements
would help improve Bedford.The zoning for adding an additional floor
of height in the Shawsheen District fell four Yes votes short of the
2/3rds majority needed. This is something that can be visited again.
The group also noted the close vote shows the importance of getting
high Chamber member turnout to town meeting.
2. Town Manager Replacement Process
Bill Moonan provided an overview of the planned process to find a
replacement for the existing Town Manager Rick Reed. There is going
to be an initial selection committee to narrow down all the first
round responses to select 3-5 candidates for the second round. The
group thought it would be helpful to have business representation on
this committee. Please contact Bill Moonan or any Bedford Selectman
to get more information about the committee.
3. Develop Strategies to Advocate and Attract for Larger Businesses
The group continued it's discussion from the last meeting. There
seems to be a lot of interest from company employees to local
volunteer opportunities such as cleanup events, Bedford Day and more.
The thought was the Bedford Chamber could take the lead and act as a
funnel for linking up the companies to volunteering events. A couple
of specific ideas were discussed:
A. Bedford Chamber to develop a one pager and web site page that
lists out several common volunteering opportunities including who to
contact. Adam Schwartz to check with Alyssa Sandovel if this document could be handed
out to companies attending the Crosby Drive and Wiggins Avenue
business meetings.
B. Upon completion of an volunteer opportunity, the Chamber could
provide an award (ie. Good Corporate Citizen) or proclamation to the
company. This can help draw the company in to the community.
Executive Board to discuss feasibility at next meeting.
C. Bill Moonan thought the Garden Club is a good avenue for volunteering
opportunities such as planting flowers at intersections. Bill to
contact Carol Amick about a Garden Club member giving a brief
presentation at the next Chamber Meeting.
D. Alyssa Sandovel to provide the latest list of the largest employers in
Bedford. Chamber members to review this list and provide Jane with
any contacts they have at these companies.
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From the Chamber Office
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We will be filming Chamber Connections in April, please email the office if you would like to be on TV!
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Membership renewals are due!!
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*Workforce Training Fund Programs*
Learn About Accessing Grants to
Train Your Employees
Grants are available for companies of all sizes. FREE Information Session to area businesses:
Upcoming Information Session:
- Tuesday, April 3, 2018
- 8:30-10:30am, Federal Building, Courtroom, Room 310.
- 50 Kearney Square, Lowell, MA.
- Registration Deadline: Monday, April 2nd.
- Wednesday, May 9, 2018
- 8:30-10:30am, Trustees House, Galvani Room.
- 591 Springs Road, Bedford, MA.
- Registration Deadline: Monday, May 7th.
- Wednesday, June 20, 2018
- 8:30-10:30am, Federal Building, Courtroom, Room 310.
- 50 Kearney Square, Lowell, MA.
- Registration Deadline: Monday, June 18th.
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What the Chamber did in March?
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WHO WANTS TO BE ON TV?
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We are so excited to offer our members
another
new FREE benefit!
We are partnering with o
ur friends at Bedford TV to produce a monthly show called CHAMBER CONNECTIONS
. In addition to promoting our events/activities, Chamber members will be interviewed providing great exposure for their business. The show will be broadcast on Public channel and also through their website. Contact the Chamber if you are interested in learning more.
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Check out your fellow Chamber members
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CHAMBER CALENDAR
April 2
Town Meeting
Bedford High School
7:00 PM
April 7
Bedford Liberty Pole Capping Parade and Ceremony
Wilson Park
10:30 AM
April 10
2018 Small Business Day on Beacon Hill
Omni Park Hotel
60 School St.
Boston, MA
9:30 AM
April 25
Multi Chamber Networking Event
Hillview Country Club
149 North Road
North Reading. MA
4:30 -7:30 PM Speaker Topic
Strategies to Recruit, Retain and Engage Employees
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A Place for Words
AFC Urgent Care
Atlantic Capital
Atria Longmeadow Place
Baby Boomer Therapies
Baldwin Insurance
Barre 3
Barrett Sotherby's
Baudanza Electric
Bedford Aesthetics & Nutrition
Bedford Car Wash
Bedford Childrens Center
Bedford Farms
Bedford Florist
Bedford Funeral Home
Bedford Historical Society
Bedford Motel
Bedford Orthodonics
Bedford Research Foundation
Bedford VA Research
Bernstien Development
Brightview
Brookline Bank
Brown & Brown, P.C.
Callahans Karate Studio
Cambridge Savings Bank
Carlton & Duran, CPAs
Chestnut Dental
Christine Pinney Marketing
CouponSurfer
Creative Images of Boston
Diane Cadigan Hughes
Davidson Law
Debbie Spencer Group
Doubletree Bedford Glenn Hotel
Doyon's
DSA Publishing
EDCO Collaborative
Edward Jones Investments
Einstein's Workshop
Elite Freestyle Karate
EMD Millipore
Express Pizza
First Parish Church
Formulatrix
Fujifilm
Great Meadow Dental
Great Road Gallery
Hanscom Federal Credit Union
Holi Indian Restaurant
Heritage Springs
Huntington Tax Partners
I Am Verizon
Instrumentation Labs
Jesse's Pet Care
Ken's Deli
Leary Auto
Learning Express & Play
Lexington Symphony
Live Life Well
MITRE
Mead Brothers
My Hometown Map
New England Nurseries
Nichols Insurance Agency
Primrose School
Organix Spa & Salon
Quinstance
Red Heat Tavern
Renzo Salon
Right At Home
Robyn Samuels Alliance Financial Services
Salem Five
Salon OZ
ServPro Lexington & Bedford
Short Stop Cafe
St. Michael's Parish Center
Suzanne & CO.
Techex The Bedford Citizen The Goddard School The Well Effect
Virsa de Punjab
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