Bill > S2249

This bill authorizes the temporary use of the Clapp elementary school property in Woburn, specifically the building and its lower parking area, for civic purposes by the James L. McKeown Boys and Girls Club of Woburn, Inc. This temporary arrangement will last until the Boys and Girls Club's new facilities are ready for occupancy or July 15, 2017, whichever comes first, after which the Clapp school property must be vacated, demolished, and restored for recreational and park use by October 15, 2017, and cannot be used for any other purpose, including a public library. The bill also exempts this temporary use from most state and local land use regulations, such as zoning and subdivision control, but not from building and fire safety rules, and allows the Mayor to set the terms and conditions. To ensure no loss of land for natural resource purposes, a parcel of land on Russell Street owned by the city will be dedicated solely for active or passive recreational uses, excluding certain commercial activities like horse or dog racing or the construction of stadiums. The bill further clarifies that the Clapp school land itself, once vacated, will be under the control of the Woburn recreation commission for similar recreational purposes, with the existing law regarding its use being confirmed.