WILMINGTON, MA — Residents opposed to the location of a proposed detox center in North Wilmington have gathered enough signatures to trigger a Special Town Meeting to amend the town’s zoning bylaws to disallow detox centers in all zones but general industrial.
Proponents of the change needed to deliver a petition with at least 200 resident signatures to the Town Clerk’s Office. According to a source, a petition was delivered yesterday (Tuesday) with 649 signatures. The signatures have yet to be certified.
(Wilmington Apple will follow up with the Town Clerk’s Office today after correspondence was sent yesterday.)
One of the leaders of this effort is Selectman Michael McCoy, who announced his intentions at the October 10 Selectmen’s Meeting.
“Working with residents, I have prepared an article to call for a Special Town Meeting to make a couple of changes [to the zoning bylaws]. It’s to form, it’s legal, and it’s very detailed,” said McCoy.
Under the current zoning bylaws, McCoy points out that a detox center CAN be built in residential areas, including R10 zoning, R20 zoning, and R60 zoning, but CANNOT be built in an industrial area. This seems backwards to McCoy.
“Not only can a detox center go in a general business area and abut your neighborhood [as is the case at 362 Middlesex Avenue], but it could go right smack in the middle of your neighborhood,” said McCoy. “I’ve made a complete change [to the bylaws] and said no to every zone except “general industrial” with a special permit, which is where it belongs.”
The change would still require a special permit be granted from the Board of Appeals.
To get specific, McCoy adds the language “excludes detox center” under the definition of Principle Use 3.4.6. He then creates a new Principal Use (3.4.9) specifically for detox centers, with its own definition. McCoy then amends the principal use regulations so that detox centers are banned in all districts but “general industrial.”
Selectman Mike Champoux was appreciative of McCoy’s efforts, but didn’t share his desire to call for a Special Town Meeting.
“The idea of a Special Town Meeting — with the expense, costs, and logistics — just for this purpose, it seems like an unnecessary layer,” said Champoux. “We can work together to craft the right language to put on the regular Town Meeting warrant.”
In response to a question from Selectman Greg Bendel, Hull noted that a Special Town Meeting would cost the town in the neighborhood of $7,500-$8,000, which would include expenses associated with Town Clerk staff, tellers, custodians, and police detail.
“$7,500-$8,000 is money well spent,” responded McCoy. “This will give a comfort level to folks who will be able to sleep easy at night… We could get it done fast in a couple of months.”
The date for the Special Town Meeting will be set by the Board of Selectmen and will be widely publicized. A 2/3-majority vote would be necessary at the Special Town Meeting in order for the article to pass.
In order to get on the floor at Special Town Meeting, the Town Moderator will have to consult with Town Counsel to ensure the article is legal. Some supporters of the proposed detox facility’s location have been adamant that such a zoning change would be discriminatory and violate the rights of a protected class.
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