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Select Board Approves Water/Sewer Rates, Hears Eight Warrant Articles — March 9 Meeting

The Arlington Select Board unanimously approved FY2027 water and sewer rate increases of approximately 4.5%, received a snow and ice budget update showing spending at $1.9 million against a $1.17 million budget, and heard eight warrant articles ahead of town meeting. The board recommended favorable action on outdoor lighting regulations, native plantings, wetlands bylaw updates, and tree committee formalization, while voting no action on a shade tree removal petition and a tree preservation expansion proposal.

Government

Arlington Town Manager Explains $14.8M Override on March 28 Ballot

Arlington Town Manager Jim Feeney sat down for a detailed explanation of the $14.8 million Proposition 2½ override heading to voters on March 28, 2026. Feeney described the structural deficit, limited new growth, and overwhelmingly residential tax base that make periodic overrides a fiscal necessity for the 5.5-square-mile community.

Government

Zoning Board Closes Hearings on 53 Hodge Road Addition and 71 Mystic Street Fence, Continues Eli's Gas Station Variance — February 10 Meeting

The Arlington Zoning Board of Appeals closed public hearings on a large addition at 53 Hodge Road and a 10-foot fence at 71 Mystic Street, with final votes expected February 24. The board continued a complex variance hearing for Eli's Service Station at 125 Broadway, grappling with the undefined term "service bay" and its implications for the proposed expansion.

Government

ZBA Closes Hearing on National Grid Take Station at 307 Washington Street — February 24 Meeting

The Arlington Zoning Board of Appeals closed the public hearing on National Grid's application to build a new natural gas take station at 307 Washington Street, signaling likely approval of the special permit after extensive public debate over environmental, safety, and neighborhood impact concerns. The board also advanced cases involving a gas station expansion at 125 Broadway, a home occupation permit at 73 Edgerton Road, and a garage replacement at 172 Overlook Road.

Government

Redevelopment Board Approves Mass Ave Facade Renovation, Brewery Phasing — February 9 Meeting

Arlington's Redevelopment Board granted a special permit for facade renovations at 1341-1347 Mass Ave and approved a two-phase construction approach for the ABC Beer brewery and restaurant at 15 Rider Street. The meeting also featured a lengthy discussion over design deviations at 455 Mass Ave, the reappointment of the Arlington Heights Neighborhood Action Plan committee, and a preliminary review of warrant articles for the 2026 annual town meeting.

Government

Finance Committee Reviews Committee Budgets, Recreation, Rink, and Library — February 2 Meeting

Arlington's Finance Committee debated whether to zero-fund committees and commissions holding reserves exceeding their budget requests, ultimately rejecting the blanket approach and voting on budgets individually. The committee also approved enterprise fund budgets for Recreation ($3.3M) and the Ed Burns Arena ($654,620), along with the Robbins Library budget of $3,010,025, while discussing potential impacts of a failed override on library services.

Government

Select Board Unanimously Approves $14.8 Million Override Ballot Question — February 12 Meeting

The Arlington Select Board voted unanimously to place a $14.8 million Proposition 2½ override on the March 28 town election ballot, funding town and school operations for fiscal years 2027 through 2029. The board also adopted a set of override commitments pledging no additional overrides before FY30, 4% annual school budget increases, and 3.25% annual general government budget increases.

Government

Select Board Eyes March Override as FY27 Deficit Hits $3.7M — January 12 Meeting

Arlington's Select Board received a sobering long-range financial update showing a projected $3.7 million deficit for fiscal year 2027, down from $13.5 million last April but still requiring a property-tax override vote on March 28. The board also approved expanded 25 mph speed-limit signage along Massachusetts Avenue and updated outdoor dining permit rules.

Government

Select Board Receives FY27 Budget Tied to Override Vote, Hears CDBG Funding Requests — January 26 Meeting

Town Manager Jim Feeney presented a $237.9 million fiscal year 2027 budget that is contingent on a Proposition 2½ override vote scheduled for March 28, warning that a roughly $3 million deficit — growing to $18.3 million in FY28 — would force significant service cuts if the override fails. The board unanimously voted to reschedule its February 9 meeting to February 12 to incorporate the latest health insurance cost data from the Group Insurance Commission before setting the override amount.

Government

Select Board Tables Lead Pipe Bylaw, Backs Rodenticide Ban — March 2 Meeting

The Arlington Select Board tabled a proposed bylaw that would have required lead pipe certification at the time of home sale, citing concerns about disrupting real estate transactions. In other action, the board voted unanimously to support home rule legislation banning first-generation anticoagulant rodenticides and endorsed a $1.2 million Community Development Block Grant budget for fiscal year 2027.