By Geena Monahan-For the North Star Reporter
A hearing that lasted nearly two hours on Thursday, Oct. 16, to discuss the potential rezoning of the 16-acre former Allen Avenue School drew a substantial crowd of residents opposed to the proposal.
“I am here to voice my opposition,” said Margaret Vigorito, a resident who lives close by on Paine Road. “The fact of the matter is if that property becomes commercial, we are totally distorting the single-family neighborhood that lives there.”
The testimony delivered by residents throughout the night was taken into consideration by the board on whether it should deliver a recommendation to the Town Council in favor of changing the zoning from residential R-20 to commercial C-60.
Despite 24 out of the approximately 26 residents in attendance opposing the rezoning by a show-of-hands poll, the board ultimately voted 3-2 in favor of recommending the zoning change.
Chair Jason Gittle, Vice-Chair Bill Blais and associate member Connor Tarr voted in favor of a positive recommendation to rezone – Clerk Gregory Lorincz and member Gregory Walsh voted against it.
Gittle made clear at the start of the meeting that the board does not vote to rezone, but rather takes feedback and then makes a recommendation to the elected officials, who then vote on the matter.
Town Planner Gil Hilario spoke at the beginning of the meeting to give a history of the school, stating it is currently 71 years old and highly contaminated with asbestos. According to Hilario, the town wants to put the property up for sale and rezone it to commercial to attract as many development opportunities as possible.
Hilario added that the town has had no potential buyers for the property under its current zoning, and that a change to C-60 could result in more options.
“Not looking for a commercial town”
Gary Riel, a lifelong resident of North Attleborough, was the first of the night to address the Planning Board and oppose a change in zoning. Riel, along with numerous others who spoke up, asked the board to elaborate on what it would cost to have the town maintain ownership of the property and renovate the former school itself.
Joan Drobnis posed a similar question, asking if any studies have been done or committees formed to look into revitalizing the building, whether grants could be applied for, and why the building was allowed to “disintegrate” over the past 10 years.
“It’s unfortunate because when you’re dealing with a property that’s over 15 acres, with a building that needs to be rehabbed, it seems like an awful shame to get rid of a valuable piece of property just because they don’t want to spend the money,” said Drobnis.
While the Planning Board did not have those answers on hand, Town Manager Michael Borg told the North Star Reporter that when he was hired by the town in 2020, the idea of turning the building into a new senior center and hub for town offices was pitched, and COVID-19 American Rescue Plan Act funds were used study the cost of bringing the building back to a usable condition.
However, that research found that renovations, including asbestos abatement, would cost between $7 million and $10 million. Additional Bristol County ARPA funds became available a year later, totaling $5.2 million, but rapidly rising construction costs over the past five years have made remediation too expensive for the town to fund.
Resident Dick Kieltyka argued that keeping North Attleborough a residential, small town is more important than what the town could make from selling the Allen Avenue property.
“I think we’re losing balance in this town,” said Kieltyka. “We know we want a bedroom community like it’s always been, a friendly community. We’re not looking for a commercial town, I don’t think, but that’s the feeling I’m getting from this group of people talking.”
Before the board voted, Gittle acknowledged that he “understands we had a passionate group that wants to hang on to old North Attleborough.” However, he said, whether the town sells, or who it chooses to sell to, is not in the board’s purview.
“I would like the town to have what Town Manager Borg outlined in his measure, which is options,” said Gittle. “If we stay where we’re at, it’s either going to be a handful of homes or a 40B development.”
To Walsh, who voted against the positive recommendation for a zoning change, the risks of what C-60 zoning without proper deed restrictions could become was too great to fully support.
“I’m not against going to C-60 with restrictions, if the proper controls are in place,” said Walsh. “My hangup has been that I think keeping it R-20 and then putting a mixed-use overlay on it is the best way to go.”
Several residents throughout the night offered ideas for the property’s future, such as Adria Tondreault, who suggested the Massachusetts Audubon Society purchase the property and keep it open to the public as walking trails. Another resident suggested senior housing or a nursing home.
To resident Charles Deschenes, the recommendation on what to do with the zoning was simple: “Leave it alone.”
“The zoning is there to give property owners a sense of security and confidence that it’s going to stay that way, but it’s not,” said Deschenes. “It seems like we rezone on a whim.”
Gittle promised a “very honest” feedback letter reflecting the public opposition to accompany the recommendation being sent to the Town Council for its Oct. 27 meeting, where it will hold its own public hearing on the measure. The rezoning proposal will also go before the Bylaw Subcommittee before being sent back to the Town Council at a later date for a final vote.
“I’m not committing to any one solution,” said Borg to the North Star Reporter. “Hearing from the public is important. We want to make sure we’re doing the right thing for the town, and the neighbors and abutters as well.”