Our View: Small Warrant, Big Decisions

Don’t be fooled by the number of articles on the warrant for Monday’s special town meeting in Orleans.

 The fall slate comes in at a slender 12 articles, far fewer than warrants from past years that ballooned to more than 70. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t important decisions going before voters. Two articles in particular could shape the town’s future for generations to come.

 Article 2, if approved, would revise the town’s zoning bylaw to establish a downtown housing overlay district that would not only bring a more uniform look and design to the downtown area, but would also create additional incentives for the creation of affordable and attainable housing. At a time when the creation of more housing for families and members of the local workforce is growing increasingly dire, the town should be applauded for working to reshape zoning to meet that growing demand. We support the passage of Article 2.

 We also support the passage of Article 8, which seeks $1.35 million in stabilization funds to purchase land at 56 Eldredge Park Way for use in siting a new fire station. The funding would not raise taxes, and while more work needs to be done between the town and the property owner to finalize a purchase and sale agreement on the parcel, the town needs this money to support a purchase if and when an agreement is reached. Orleans is far past the point of delaying the fire station project any further, and other site options have proved problematic at best and unfeasible at worst. Approval of Article 8 is a critical step forward in making a new station a reality.