Westford Town Manager Gives Business Leaders Update

Residential and commercial development, land preservation, and economic development initiatives are just a few activities currently defining Westford. Town Manager Jodi Ross, on March 7, gave members of the Westford Business Association an overview. The following information was provided by Ross in her PowerPoint presentation.

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Fiscal Year 17 Tax Rates

• Westford Residential Tax Rate $16.41
• Westford Commercial Tax Rate ($1 million+) $16.61
• Acton Single Tax Rate $19.06
• Chelmsford Single Tax Rate $17.92
• Littleton Residential Tax Rate $18.15
• Littleton Commercial Tax Rate $28.37

Single-Family Subdivisions:

• “Juniper Hill”  75 Graniteville Rd  18 lots approved

• “Spalding Estates”  St. Augustine/Dunstable Rd  31 lots proposed  Mill Redevelopment:

• Abbot Mill Phase 2  Under construction  102 rental units • Abbot Mill Phase 1  129 rental units

Commercial Development

 Akamai Technologies • 42,286 sf expansion in Tech Park East

 Cynosure • 5 Carlisle Road • Hologic Inc. acquiring

 Orchard Square • Route 110 • 18,000 sf nearing completion

 Retail, restaurant, bank 8  Space still available

Transportation / Infrastructure Projects

 Recently Completed: • Keyes Culvert • Pavement Management Program

 2017 Construction: • Main Street Road Reconstruction • Tadmuck Road / Route 110 Intersection • Complete Streets Grant = $399,860 • Plain Road Sidewalk

 In design: • Groton Road / Oak Hill Intersection • Groton Road / Dunstable Road • Beaver Brook Bridge • Boston Road in 2021

Conservation Protected Land and Land Management

 Expansion of Community Gardens at the Day Agricultural / Conservation Land

 Conservation: • Laughton Farm – 21+ acres • Rear of 64 Main Street – 19 + acres

 Town considering other opportunities at future town meetings

Economic Development Initiatives

 Recruitment of new businesses

 Define preferred target industries

 Work with WBA to list major parcels available for sale/lease

 EDSAT – Implement recommendations from 2016 survey

 In-depth review of Permitting Guide for updates

 Recognize local business leader with Community Champion Award

 Regional connectivity: • CrossTown Connect • Middlesex 3 Coalition • 495 Partnership

Town Meeting — March 25

 FY18 Operating Budget • $110m

 Teacher salary override request • $1.6m

 Capital • $6.2m  Roudenbush rehabilitation • $7m

 Citizens’ Petitions”