By Geena Monahan—For the North Star Reporter
Town Council has voted unanimously to adopt a new bylaw establishing a formal process for granting tax relief on contaminated “brownfield” properties.
The vote was 6-0, and took place at the meeting on Feb. 9. Town officials say this could help spur redevelopment of long-abandoned sites carrying significant back taxes.
The Bylaw Subcommittee voted unanimously last year, 5-0, to recommend approval of the measure. Councilors Mark Gould, Keith Lapointe and Justin Pare were absent for Monday’s vote.
The bylaw is subject to a required 21-day waiting period, during which residents may file a protest. If no protest is filed, the bylaw will take effect.
The bylaw creates a local policy under Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 59, Sections 59 and 59A, allowing the town to negotiate abatements of outstanding real estate taxes, interest and penalties on contaminated properties that are redeveloped and returned to productive use.
Councilors previously voted 8-0 on Oct. 15, 2025, to accept the state statutes. Monday’s vote formally puts that acceptance into writing by establishing a supporting bylaw, application process and review structure needed to make the tax relief effective at the local level.
“This is essentially the follow-along to that acceptance,” said Councilor Dan Donovan, also chair of the Bylaw Subcommittee. “The key piece is that while the town manager negotiates an agreement with a developer, the Town Council must vote to approve it.”
Under the new policy, Town Manager Michael Borg would work directly with a prospective developer to negotiate a proposed tax abatement agreement for a contaminated site with back taxes. Any agreement would then be presented to the Town Council and would require its approval to take effect.
Town officials compared the process to collective bargaining, in which negotiations occur administratively, but final approval rests with an elected body. The bylaw also establishes standardized documentation and a digital application process, allowing developers to formally apply for tax relief as part of a redevelopment proposal.
Prior discussion
Much of the discussion leading up to the bylaw focused on the abandoned jewelry factory at 35 Robinson Ave., a condemned 19th-century mill built on contaminated soil behind Dyer Lake Funeral Home. According to town records, the property currently carries $182,318 in back taxes, more than $91,000 of which is interest.
At an October Bylaw Subcommittee meeting, Borg said the measure gives North Attleborough a tool to address these properties that currently generate no tax revenue and also pose environmental and public safety concerns.
“From an administrative perspective, we are getting zero dollars in taxes and revenue currently,” said Borg during that meeting. “It is a blighted property. It is an eyesore. It has contamination. It has the attention of the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection.”
Under the framework approved by the council, abatements could include up to 100% of interest and 75% of the principal owed if a redevelopment project includes affordable housing. Each proposal would be evaluated individually.
Borg has emphasized that adoption of the bylaw does not guarantee tax relief for any specific project and does not commit the town to any particular development.
“It’s not a done deal,” Borg said previously. “But there could be other contaminated properties that this could help.”
Other brownfield sites cited by officials include the abandoned Webster Mill on Broadway Street, the property across from Stop & Shop on Route 1 and the Courtois property on Mendon Road.