Town Meeting approved Article 35, authorizing $880,000 in Community Preservation Act (CPA) funds to support the Northborough Housing Authority’s plan to build eight low-income, one‑bedroom rental units for veterans at 26 Village Drive (Colonial Village). The appropriation will be split among CPA account sources as presented to the meeting, and the funds will be disbursed under a community preservation funding agreement with the Housing Authority.

John Campbell, speaking for the Community Preservation Committee, said the project would cost approximately $2.08 million in total, with CPA funds requested to cover part of the local match. Campbell said the project expects additional resources from housing authority reserves and state grants (including programs created by the state’s affordable housing initiatives). He also said adding eight units would help the town maintain its affordable-housing percentage above the 10% threshold used in Massachusetts (the so-called 40B context): "By approving these 8 units, we'll get back up to 10.16," he said, referring to the town’s affordable-housing percentage calculations.

Nut graf: The CPA-funded project drew a lengthy public conversation about site fit, parking, accessibility and the town’s broader affordable-housing strategy. Supporters cited pressing need (waiting lists and dozens of veterans on housing lists) and the desire to maintain the town’s affordable housing percentage; others raised concerns about site congestion, parking, possible impacts to open space and questions about alternative locations such as town-owned Whitney Street.

The Housing Authority director, Ron Bonnie, described demand figures: a local Housing Authority one-bedroom waitlist in the thousands (a figure he cited from administrative lists) and specific counts of veterans on the list. He and other proponents emphasized the project’s architectural fit with existing Colonial Village buildings, the plan for accessible first-floor units, and funding safeguards: CPA disbursement would be tied to a funding agreement and funds would revert to the CPA if the project failed to proceed.

Appropriations Committee and Financial Planning Committee recommended approval by majority votes (the transcript records majority recommendations); the Town Meeting vote on Article 35 passed by majority.

Implementation: The project is planned to proceed through normal permitting (including zoning board of appeals for a comprehensive permit) and procurement processes; the Housing Authority expects to use modular construction methods for speed and lower onsite disruption. The Housing Authority and CPC will execute a funding agreement setting performance milestones and protections for CPA funds.

Sources: Community Preservation Committee presentation, Housing Authority statements and Town Meeting transcript.