Project News

The 2021 Westborough Climate Action Plan will be presented to the Board of Selectmen for approval on April 27th. You can view the latest draft here.

The Westborough Climate Action Plan Task Force has released the Draft Climate Action Plan and is requesting feedback from the members of the Master Plan Advisory Committee. The document and Comment Form can be found here.

The Task Force feels that Westborough should begin moving into the implementation of the Climate Action Plan. The attached document is a draft which is being sent to you to request feedback and suggestions for the town prior to moving into the implementation phase. As discussed in the document, this plan will need to be dynamic and will need to be updated based on experience, new state programs and the evolution of technology.

The Master Plan Steering Committee believes that this plan should be the foundation of the Sustainability and Climate section of the Master Plan. It will provide a framework for action in the decade ahead on this critical issue.

We encourage your feedback to the Task Force on the Draft Westborough Climate Action Plan. Feedback by March 26th will allow inclusion of any suggestions for the document prior to the target publication in the middle of April.

Advisory Committee Chairperson, Lester Hensley, once again joined Frank and Mary of Westborough TV to discuss the latest on the Master Plan.

View the discussion here: https://westboroughtv.org/frank-and-mary-distanced-master-plan-update/.

The Master Plan Advisory Committee has approved the Vision Statement for the Westborough Master Plan. Click here to view it!

Feel free to provide any comments to Jim Robbins at jrobbins@town.westborough.ma.us or (508) 366-3055.

Advisory Committee Chairperson, Lester Hensley, joined Frank and Mary of Westborough TV to discuss the latest on the Master Plan. This included a demonstration of the "Ideas Board."

View the discussion here: https://westboroughtv.org/frank-and-mary-westborough-master-plan/.

The first public meeting for the Westborough Master Plan was held on February 29, 2020 at the Westborough High School Cafeteria (90 W Main Street). This meeting included an arrival Post-it Note exercise focused on community strengths and opportunities; an audience polling activity to discern audience/participant representation; a formal presentation to provide an overview of the planning process and preliminary baseline (i.e., existing) observations of trends and projections; break-out group discussions focused on issues, opportunities, and goals; and an exit Post-it Note exercise focused on the vision for Westborough. The meeting’s attendance was 106.

If you missed this meeting, you can view a recording of the event here. Stay tuned for a written summary of outcomes!

Jim Robbins, Town Planner, presented the Master Plan project at the Library on February 12, 2020. As part of a lively discussion, participants noted their FAVORITE thing about Westborough - serving as a great village template for great things to happen.

Their greatest wishes for the Town included:

• Vibrant downtown for business, stores, restaurants, etc.
• Rotary @ Otis St. with Speedway Plaza to allow reverse direction
• Better public transportation
• Walking worthy village
• More retail and restaurants
• Transportation from Arrive to downtown and library
• Summer concerts
• Restaurant Week
• Art Hop

Advisory Committee Chairman Lester Hensley joined Arthur Bergeron and Shelby Marshall on "Frank and Mary in Westborough" to discuss the Town's ongoing master planning process.

Check out the recording.

On January 10, Jim Robbins, Town Planner, and Kristen Belanger, Planning Department, attended the “Breakfast with the Police Chief” at the Senior Center. Mr. Robbins explained the purpose of a Master Plan and how the Master Plan Team intends to organize various outreach events in order to gather everyone’s perspective and opinion. Approximately 25 attendees provided their feedback - highlights include community appreciation for:

• Thoughtful, helpful Town employees and selectmen;
• The Senior Center;
• Library Services;
• The Fire Department; and
  
• Excellent snow removal services.

Click here for a summary of the feedback we received at this event.

The Master Plan Team, including Jim Robbins (Town Planner) and VHB's Geoffrey Morrison-Logan, was excited to participate in Westborough's 2019 Holiday Stroll on December 1. Participants were asked to identify their favorite thing about and one wish for the town during this successful engagement event. Responses were recorded on Post-It® Note sheets placed on two large-format poster boards, one for each question. Some takeaways from the community include:

• Valuing the community's people and good schools, teachers, and students;
• Enjoying the Fourth of July fireworks;
  
• Keeping the community close - supporting that "small town feel;"
• Providing for affordability in housing, so that all income levels can live in Westborough; and
  
• Bolstering the downtown area with small, local shops and cafes to increase vibrancy.