Borrowing, inclusionary zoning top agendas as Auburn boards eye key votes
Auburn town boards in late June teed up decisions on bond borrowing, zoning that would require affordable units in larger developments, and several land-use projects, though meeting minutes had not been released by press time. With most outcomes still pending, residents can look ahead to a busy mid-July. Here is a roundup.
Select Board
The board met June 22 with a vote scheduled to award and sign notes from bond counsel for borrowing. Also on the agenda: applying for and accepting the MA Vest-a-Dog grant for police body armor, and approval of a manager change for Outback Steakhouse at 452 Southbridge Street. A separate June 25 hybrid session listed the same borrowing vote plus gift acceptances, department updates and public comment.
Planning Board
On June 23 the Planning Board held a public hearing on an amendment to insert a new section into the zoning bylaw that would govern inclusionary zoning. The proposal would apply to residential projects with 10 or more dwelling units. The board also took up a security determination for the definitive subdivision Stoneville Estates on Helens Way (88 Wallace Ave.) and a site plan approval decision for 615 Southbridge Street.
Conservation Commission
The commission met June 24 for hearings on multiple projects: a 17,860-square-foot commercial building at 615 Southbridge Street; a wetland delineation renewal for the P&W right-of-way vegetation management plan; a request for determination to build a shed at 19 Nancy Drive; a plan change to reduce the building footprint at 5 Friedel St.; and an enforcement order for soil erosion at 47-49 Rockland Road. On July 8 the commission is expected to vote on the Rockland Road enforcement order, the requested determination at 39 Prospect Street, and the 5 Friedel St. plan change.
Other meetings
The Auburn Housing Authority on June 30 discussed forming a subcommittee to update its policy book, a capital plan for exterior doors, access control and common area cameras, and staffing levels. The Library Board of Trustees met July 2 with votes planned on library policies and a strategic plan progress report. The Auburn Cultural Council met June 30 to handle website updates, FY27 survey planning and documentation of job procedures.
Coming up
- **July 7** – Fire Station Building Committee: project updates from LeftField OPM and Tecton OPM, discussion of traffic light signalization options for the new fire station site, committee reorganization.
- **July 7** – Central Massachusetts Metropolitan Planning Organization: public meeting on Amendment #9 to the 2026-2030 Transportation Improvement Program. Items include a $1,645,731 cost increase for the Chandler Street and May Street intersection project in Worcester (new total $10,121,005) and moving the Oxford bridge replacement on Leicester Road over the French River from 2027 to 2026 (total $4,594,106).
- **July 7** – Elm Hill Water District: discussion of Worcester’s estimated billing, replacement of non-reading residential meters, and new service requests for Arlington/Hampton Street and Gibson Road.
- **July 14** – Planning Board public hearing: site plan for a warehouse addition at 10 A Street and a special permit for a four-day carnival at the Auburn Mall, 385 Southbridge Street. Stormwater management upgrades are proposed.
- **July 16** – Zoning Board of Appeals public hearings: Linda Luperchino seeks a special permit for a kennel (5+ dogs) at 399 Oxford Street North; POBCO Inc. requests a special permit to extend a non-conforming industrial warehouse at 10 A Street; 224A Southbridge Street LLC seeks a variance for two commercial buildings at 282 Southbridge Street; and MAST Futures LLC seeks an amendment to a special permit condition for an indoor amusement facility at 615 Southbridge Street.
Generated from official meeting agendas and minutes — every underlying document is linked from the city page. Read the primary source before you rely on a detail.