Page 65 - Middleborough 2024 Town Report

REPORT OF THE
PLANNING BOARD
and
DEPARTMENT OF
PLANNING & COMMUNITY
DEVELOPMENT
APPLICATIONS
The Board held twenty-four (24) meetings in 2024 to
conduct general business and review applications for
all proposed subdivisions of land, residential
subdivisions, new and modified commercial buildings
and retreat lots.
The Planning Board received the following
applications:
• Thirty-two (32) Form A Applications
• One (1) Form B – Application for Approval of
Preliminary Plan – S.P. Industrial Park
• Four (4) Retreat Lot Special Permits
• Three (3) Modifications to a Special Permit – Lincoln
Logistics – 64 Leona Drive, Lots 7 and 9 Commerce
Boulevard
• One (1) Modification of a Subdivision – Middleboro
Park at 495
• One (1) Special Permit Application – Rose Ridge –
Open Space and Resource Preservation
Development
• Two (2) 40R Applications:
Residences at Pilgrim Junction
Residences at Glass Square
Said submittals generated $61,592.50 in fees paid to
the Town.
The Board/Department managed six (6) residential
subdivisions and one (1) commercial subdivision,
Christina Estates, Cobblestone Estates, Cranberry
Woods, Great Cedar Village, Holton Estates,
Middleborough Park at 495 and Morton Estates.
Harvestwood Lane was completed and accepted during
the 2024 Special Town Meeting.
HIGHLIGHTS
Members of the Planning Board and Department staf
continue to develop their knowledge of federal and state
zoning and planning laws by attending various classes or
conferences, including those ofered by the Southeast
Regional Planning and Economic Development District
(SRPEDD), Citizen Planner Training Collaborative and
webinars hosted by Massachusetts Municipal Association
(MMA).
The Department and Board focused on the following projects
during 2024:
• South Coast Rail/MassDOT _________________________
The Planning Board/Department has endeavored to
maintain close contact with representatives for this
project. The SCR Stakeholder’s Group holds monthly
meetings with SCR representatives where we receive
updates on ongoing construction. At the close of 2024, the
projected start date for service from Middleborough to
Boston is March 24, 2025.
• Department staf continues to work with our regional
planning agency, SRPEDD, on the update to the town’s
Master Plan. During 2024, we held the initial “kick-of”
workshop at the Library and two (2) deep dive community
workshops that focused on Economic Development, held
at The Hideaway, and Open Space and Recreation, held at
Soule Homestead. Three community surveys were also
distributed to the public several weeks prior to each of the
workshops. In 2025 we will distribute our final survey and
host our final deep dive workshop on infrastructure and
transportation then begin drating the text portion of the
document.
• The department continues to reach out to community
residents to take advantage of the Down Payment
Assistance program where we received a $50,000 grant
from the CPC. The program is designed to assist five (5) low
to moderate income, first-time homebuyers in purchasing
a modest home in Middleborough as their primary
residence. Each qualifying resident will receive $10,000.
Funds are made available to eligible households as a zero
percent interest deferred payment loan that is forgiven
ater ten years of ownership. Unfortunately, to date, we
haven’t had anyone qualify for the funding.
61