Hello, Neighbor!

Today is the day to register for your winter recreation activities! You surely know all about our award-winning Parks and Recreation Department, which provides dozens of activities each season to participants of all ages and abilities. Some high-demand programs are scooped up within a minute of registration opening. So read through the brochure and get your clicking fingers ready. Sign in to your account, and at 6:00 tonight, be ready to claim your activities. May the odds be ever in your favor!

Also, UCC-Burlington Pastor Andrew Harris will be at Common Craft from 8 to 9 tonight for a session of “Pub Theology.” Join him for a lively discussion about faith, life, and more—from the serious to the silly.

Finally, I am excited to debut the Buzz’s first-ever seasonal guide to Burlington this week. This guide is the reason I was in hibernation for the entire month of October—but I am SO IN LOVE with how it turned out. Thanks to Kadilak Realty Group and our other business sponsors (don’t worry, you’ll hear lots more about them later!) for partnering up with Burlington Buzz to present the guide at no charge to everyone for this winter season! Look for this first of many guides in your inbox this Saturday morning!

Planning Board to Hold Public Hearing About Upcoming Town Meeting Warrant Articles

This evening at 6:00, the Planning Board will be opening a public hearing to discuss the proposed zoning-related articles for January Town Meeting. This is the public’s chance to learn more about the articles and provide input and feedback to both the Planning Board and the article proponents that could be used to inform the finalization of the articles. Because the Buzz is your go-to source for plain-language summaries of all things town government, we’ve created a breakdown of the items up for discussion:

• Herb Chambers Kia Dealership Expansion: This article was on the September Town Meeting Warrant and, following some emotional testimony from a neighbor and the submission of a petition from abutters, the proponents requested it be withdrawn without prejudice so they could continue their community outreach efforts. The company plans to expand their 93 Cambridge Street dealership into numbers 95 and 97. They’ve held a community meeting at the dealership and plan to continue gathering input from the community.
• Amending the 100 Year Flood Plain bylaw: You can see the current bylaw on Page 60 of the 2022 Zoning Bylaws
• Amending the Accessory Use Bylaws for the One-Family Residential Zoning District: Some updated language and definitions, changing “yard” to “setback” and changing the definition of structure to “Any man-made building, construction, or facility that is installed on the land.” (Previously, this bylaw had specified that it be installed in the soil.)
• Middle Housing Definition: Adding a definition of Middle Housing to the Zoning Bylaws Article II, where the definitions are kept. (To save you a click, this is the definition proposed: “A range of house-scale buildings with multiple units—compatible in scale and form with detached single-family homes.”)
• Fitness Facilities Definition: Adding in a definition for Fitness Studio (under 5,000 square feet) and differentiating it from a Fitness Center, which is larger (5,000-20,000 square feet).
• Wireless Communication Facilities Bylaw Updates: I haven’t had the chance to go through all 17 pages of this proposal, but I’m interested to hear how it will change the regulation of cell phone towers and the like here in Burlington.
• Modernizing Definitions and Principal Use Regulation Table: This is just what it sounds like, and is designed to update the language used in the zoning bylaws definitions and ensure correlation with the Use Table.
• Updating Parking Requirements: Lots of updates here, and again, I didn’t have time to review the whole thing, but I did notice an addition for Shared Parking, which was something that was discussed at September’s Town Meeting. My hunch is that this is to update parking requirements to reflect today’s landscape of remote work and reduce the asphalt parking lots—in keeping with the initiative to rezone the area around Blanchard Road, Mall Road, and Middlesex Turnpike. Again, interested to hear more at the Planning Board meeting.

Note that this meeting will begin at 6:00! Remote joining information is below.

Today in Burlington

Municipal Meetings and Community Events

• 11:00 AM - Special Education Parent Advisory Council (SEPAC) meets to reflect on Literacy Night and discuss the progress of rolling out a new mental health service provider. They’ll also discuss an accessible event co-planned with the Science Center, to take place this spring. (Virtual)

• 3:00 - 7:00 PM - Ethan Allen Grand Reopening - Join us as we celebrate our new location in Wayside Commons with a ribbon cutting and a jazz band! (6 Wayside Road)

• 6:00 - 7:00 PM - 8th Grade Parents Night at BHS - 8th grade parents can come learn about Burlington High and what to expect next year for their almost high schoolers! (BHS Auditorium)

• 6:00 PM - Glass & Resin Holiday Tree Crafting - a chance to create a beautiful gift for someone this season while hanging out with your friends, or make new friends! (Made in Burlington; Tickets)

• 6:30 PM - School Committee - Transportation Subcommittee meets to discuss seeking a new bus contract. (BHS and Virtual)

• 6:30 PM - Joint Planning Board, Land Use Committee and Zoning Bylaw Review Committee (see above and below; Town Hall and Virtual)

  

• 8:00 PM - Burlington Players Fall Show: Midnight and Moll Flanders - Bring a nonperishable food item for People Helping People and receive a free concession! (1 Edgemere Ave.)

• 8:00-9:00 PM - Pub Theology with Pastor Andrew Harris from the United Church of Christ, Congregational. (Common Craft)

That’s all for today, and tomorrow’s Friday! Have a great day, Burlington!

Nicci

Share this Buzz with that friend who is always asking you when Rec Department signup is!