Citizen petition seeks to stop affordable housing at 25 Worcester Street — but there’s a twist
A last-minute citizen petition is asking Town Meeting to transfer ownership of 25 Worcester Street — future site of affordable senior housing — from the Affordable Housing Trust to the Select Board.
There’s just a minor problem. Town Meeting — and, for that matter, the town of Grafton — does not have jurisdiction over the property.
“How do we convey a property that we don’t already own?” asked Select Board member Ed Prisby at Tuesday night’s meeting.
A history lesson: 25 Worcester Street is a 2.3 acre parcel of land, vacant since 1980 when the Norcross School was torn down. It was pitched as a spot for the fire station and, later, the Super Park. Both attempts failed.
Prisby submitted a citizens petition for the June 2020 Town Meeting asking for the parcel’s ownership to be transferred from the town to the Affordable Housing Trust, an independent legal identity, for the purpose of building housing for seniors. Almost 10 percent of Grafton’s senior citizens are living in poverty and, with the overwhelming support of Town Meeting, the deed was transferred.
Earlier this year, the Affordable Housing Trust began discussing various housing concepts for the property, much to the displeasure of nearby residents. Letters came in (see below) discussing traffic, land slope, and the proximity to Grafton Common.
The petition, submitted just before deadline, proposed what is now known as Article 45: To see if the town will vote to convey 25 Worcester St., Grafton, Massachusetts to the Town of Grafton Select Board for nominal consideration for the purpose of open space, or act on anything relating thereto.
Town Administrator Evan Brassard said he would consult with town counsel how to handle a citizen’s petition with an invalid request. Former town moderator Ray Mead, who will join the Select Board after the May 22 Town Election, popped into the board’s Zoom session, said invalid petitions are normally ruled as out of order on the Town Meeting floor.
“I think it would be better if that group of residents would work with the Trust. … there is nothing that is definitive, that’s decided,” Select Board member Mat Often said.
The June 5 Town Meeting, 11 a.m. on the Grafton High School football field, will once again use a “consent agenda,” which clusters items where debate is not expected together to shorten meeting time.
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I fully support Select Board Member Matt Often’s comments here. Unfortunately, Grafton residents have attempted to work with the Trust, but the Trust has refused to provide space in their public meetings for any meaningful dialogue with members of the community. People who live in Grafton Center are supportive of affordable housing, they simply object to the massive apartment plans put forward so far and prefer that the Trust consider a plan that conforms to current zoning – up to 4 duplex homes – 8 units of affordable housing.