Northborough Town Meeting rejected Article 29 on a majority vote, turning down a proposal to appropriate $751,645 from free cash to fund stormwater, streetscape, parking and pedestrian improvements on Blake and Pierce streets.

The proposal, presented by Rick Leaf, chairman of the Master Plan Implementation Committee, and Lori Connors, the town planning director, would have funded drainage, pedestrian sidewalks and a redesigned pocket park to support future redevelopment between West Main Street, Blake Street and Pierce Street. Leaf said the project "presents the first step to be taken in realizing this vision by making improvements on Blake Street and Pierce Street which support future redevelopment in this area by improving the attractiveness, the walkability, and parking in this part of town." Connors described the proposal’s design elements — including rain gardens, ADA-compliant sidewalks and new on-street parking — and said the town could secure grants to reduce the local share.

Nut graf: Supporters framed the project as a long-delayed first step on a portion of the town master plan intended to spur economic activity and fill vacant storefronts. Opponents and financial committees warned the appropriation would reduce the town’s free-cash reserves at a time of tight budgets and possible overrides.

Supporters emphasized economic development and walkability. Planning director Lori Connors described site problems: "there is no drainage at all within Blake Street or the municipal parking lot," causing chronic puddling and pavement damage, and she presented a streetscape concept funded in part with $250,000 of ARPA money. She said design work by Beta Group was complete and that secured funding included $250,000 in ARPA design funds and a $30,000 state economic development earmark; the total estimated project cost presented to Town Meeting was approximately $2,500,000 with $280,000 secured to date and an estimated shortfall of about $2,100,000. Connors said she had applied for a $500,000 Complete Streets grant and an MVP Action Grant to address climate resilience. She told Town Meeting the revised request reduced the town’s original ask from about $1.1 million to $751,645 and, "originally, when we were partially funding this with debt, the impact was going to be $17 per year. But now I'm happy to say there will be 0 tax impact from this project."

Opponents, including members of the Appropriations Committee and the Financial Planning Committee, expressed fiscal-concern objections. The Financial Planning Committee said it recommended not approving Article 29 at the $1.1 million level and said it had not had time to review the revised $751,645 request. Speakers at Town Meeting who opposed the appropriation cited competing priorities (school maintenance, public safety hires, vehicle replacement), uncertainty about grant awards and the timing of other decisions about 4 West Main Street and the former fire station.

Public comment reflected the split. Residents who favored the project said improved streetscape and parking would attract businesses and help reverse vacancies in downtown storefronts. Residents who opposed it said the town faces immediate budget pressures and must prioritize essential operating needs and upcoming capital demands.

The vote: Town Meeting voted on Article 29 as amended to be funded from free cash; the article failed on the floor. The motion to reconsider was later brought and failed to pass, leaving the defeated vote in place.

What remains: Town staff and the MPIC said design work will continue regardless of this vote because the design contract is in place; officials said grant rounds are seasonal and that there is no guarantee grant awards will be available in future years. Planning staff said if grant awards are received but the town appropriation is not approved, the project could be reduced in scope or phased (for example, doing one street at a time or only park improvements), and elements that could be cut include the park pergola and at least one Blake Street sidewalk segment. No formal direction to staff was recorded as a result of this vote.

Sources: presentation and public comment at Town Meeting, April 2025 session (transcript).