TM also re-zoned parcels in East Arlington near Thompson School from R-1 to R-2
DEVELOPING: Town Meeting overwhelmingly approved two warrant articles that will allow a portion of at St. Camillus Church to proceed. It is the first step toward building a 145-unit assisted living and memory care facility on a 4-acre parcel that is now mostly a parking lot and an undeveloped parcel.
The zoning measures allow a plan by the Boston Archdiocese to sell a portion of the property on Concord Turnpike, parallel to Route 2, and for a developer to build out the project and a company to own the land and run the facility. According to a presentation at Town Meeting, the project could provide about $600,000 a year in taxes, bring about 150 jobs, and allow St. Camillus continue to operate as a church.
The full context and related information for the articles (Article 50 and Article 51) is available on the town’s website. (Editor’s note: click below the article for supplemental information that explains the full project.)
This story will be updated.
10th anniversary of CPA marked
Before Town Meeting opened for its sixth session on May 13, the town officially recognized the tenth anniversary of the Community Preservation Act.
The CPA is a tax surcharge that raises money to acquire or preserve open space; rehabilitate or create local parks, playgrounds and athletic fields; preserve or restore historic resources and artifacts; and, help meet local housing needs.
The gathering took place in the Lyons Hearing Room, on the second floor of Town Hall. (There was cake and other refreshments for Town Meeting members and others during the session break.)
Back to business
Once Town Meeting convenes for business, the legislative body took up Articles 20, 21, and 30, which were postponed until May 13. Then Town Meeting resumed the numerical order with Article 50,
Another article generating a lot of interest is Article 53, which looks at the definition of the first floor space in multi-family developments along Mass. Avenue and the Broadway corridor. The article’s authors, Joanne Cullinane and Larry Slotnick, wrote a guest commentary that was published on YourArlington in March. Cullinana made a presentation and the debate had begun on the article when the session closed on Monday.
The town has issued several Town Meeting updates since the close of Monday’s session, during which the Town Meeting members completed nine more articles. .The legislative body completed five articles on May 13 and has Town Meeting has 25 more articles to address. The next session is slated for Monday, May 18 at 8 p.m.
Updates to the Annotated Warrant prior to May 13 session
Article 10 Substitute Motion, submitted by David White, Precinct 21
Article 10 Memo, David Morgan, Planning, full text of proposed changes in White Substitute Motion
Article 21 Substitute Motion, submitted by Guillermo Hamlin, Precinct 14
Article 53 Andrew Fisher Precinct 6 has submitted materials
Article 95 Main Motion, submitted by Guillermo Hamlin Precinct 14
Progress Tracker
Town Moderator Greg Christiana has a progress tracker with direct links to each article in the Annotated Warrant and is updated in real time as votes are taken. It will also reflect articles with scheduled dates. https://arlingtonma.gov/townmeetingprogress
This story was published on May 13, 2026, and will be updated.
