MONTAGUE — The 94 voters in attendance at Wednesday’s three-and-a-half-hour Special Town Meeting voted to declare Montague an apartheid-free community as an act of solidarity with the Palestinian people and approved a series of zoning amendments that will pave the way for redevelopment at the former Farren Care Center lot.
The apartheid-free community resolution, which was approved by a majority vote, declares that Montague recognizes the equal rights of all people and stands in solidarity with the people of Palestine, who are facing “discriminatory legal regimes, forced displacement, movement restrictions and systematic human rights abuses” by the government of Israel. This constitutes an apartheid, per assessment by legal scholars.
The measure is nonbinding and represents the desire of Montague residents to “build an apartheid-free world, starting with our own community.” The resolution’s adoption will be sent to Gov. Maura Healey’s office and the state Legislature through the Selectboard.
The resolution was placed on the warrant through a citizen’s petition after receiving more than 100 signatures from residents. The language follows a pledge by the Apartheid-Free Communities network. The local chapter of the network, Apartheid-Free Western Massachusetts, helped garner support for the measure. This adoption marks the first time a Massachusetts municipality has approved this specific pledge, joining other communities in Vermont and Canada.
“This resolution is about human lives. The resolution is about humanizing the Palestinian people. This resolution is an invitation for all of us to come together out of isolation and reaffirm fundamental care for one another,” Town Meeting member Maddox Sprengel said.
Selectboard Vice Chair Richard Kuklewicz made a motion to limit the discussion to 20 minutes before a vote, citing the divisiveness of the subject. Although the vote on the motion had more votes in favor than against, with a four-vote margin, the vote count did not meet the required two-thirds threshold need for the motion to pass.
Members shared their thoughts on the resolution’s relevance at Town Meeting and what passing it would signify.
“I do not feel that it’s my position to assume everyone’s opinion is the same. I’m not for this, but I don’t know how many other people in my precinct are not for this,” Town Meeting member Sheree Bloomberg said. “It’s not our job to make comments on international conflict.”
Others expressed their thoughts on the resolution being an on-the-record stance by the town against human rights abuses, standing against the violence in Palestine and being a grassroots step toward larger progress.
“It’s 100% our responsibility to say that, ‘No, we don’t stand for this. We don’t support this,'” Town Meeting member Sage Thames said. “If other people in the world live that way, then it can be anywhere else. It can come home to us one day.”
In response to statements made by Town Meeting members on the relevance of their vote on the issue, Selectboard Chair Matt Lord urged them to “do the best you can,” and said members can vote to stand against “mechanisms of oppression” in Gaza and the West Bank.
“The Palestinians are in the midst of a genocide, and you have a decision whether or not you will take up this charge that your fellow citizens have asked of you, or you may deny it. You cannot say this is not my job and walk away from it,” Lord said.
The resolution’s passage was met with celebration from those in support.
“I’m really hopeful that those more formalized structures will help to carry more impactful initiatives, and actually make it tangible for people in this town,” Apartheid-Free Western Massachusetts organizer Heather Hutchinson, who helped lead public outreach efforts regarding the resolution, said when asked about what actions can be done to maintain the pledge. “I think that with people really actively thinking about it, that’s what’s going to drive real change, whether it’s education in the schools, whether it’s [a] human rights committee, whether it’s looking at procurements …”
Farren lot rezoning passes
Articles 12 and 13 related to the rezoning of the 9-acre former Farren Care Center lot on Montague City Road. Article 12 included a series of zoning amendments that would lay the foundation for future requests for proposals (RFP) to develop the lot, which is zoned for mixed-use through a design overlay district.
Article 13 allows for the transfer of the three parcels while not authorizing any specific development, but gives the Selectboard authority to “act on behalf of the town in negotiations, agreements and redevelopment planning.”
The rezoning plans have been shared in public meetings of the Planning Board to seek residents’ input on what the future of the site could look like. There were also information sessions with zoning consultants from Innes Land Strategies Group Inc. about how zoning can be used to develop the former Farren lot.
These zoning amendments provide the town flexibility through housing types, along with space for restaurants, cafes, retail stores and small hotels, among other options. The zoning also sets a three-story height restriction on buildings within a 30-foot setback from Cabot Street or Farren Avenue and a four-story height cap on all other buildings in the district. Zoning also requires there be at least 20% open space for residential and non-residential development, an increase from the original 15% minimum per public requests.
Both articles were passed after a lengthy discussion, during which voters sought clarification on what a vote to approve the zoning would entail and shared their thoughts on the value that development of the lot would bring for housing and the economy.
Notably, there was a failed amendment to Article 13 that would have required 30% of the Farren parcel, or roughly 2 acres of the 9-acre site, to be reserved for open space for a park.
“I’m only asking for 30% of the property to be set aside for a park. It’s also for the quality of life for the people that are going to live in that area,” said Town Meeting member Brian Smith, who brought forward the amendment to share the request of Montague City residents for a park within the future development.
Moderator Elizabeth Irving and Town Counsel Gregg Corbo consulted on the amendment, and Corbo said it is not in the purview of Town Meeting to decide.
“You could authorize the Selectboard to sell property,” Corbo explained, “but once you give that authorization, the executive branch of the Selectboard has the authority then to set the terms and conditions of how that property will be sold.”
A vote on the amendment was taken and failed after nine members challenged Irving’s ruling to not entertain it. Article 13, allowing for the transfer of the three parcels while not authorizing any specific development, went on to pass with a two-thirds majority vote.
With the zoning changes approved, Town Administrator Walter Ramsey noted that RFPs could be available within the next six to nine months for the former Farren lot.
All other warrant articles passed, including the $274,600 mid-year health insurance increase paid for through taxation and sewer revenue; a 16-year payment in lieu of taxes (PILOT) agreement with Kearsarge Energy, which owns three solar fields in town; and approval of non-union and police wage scales. The meeting adjourned just after 9:45 p.m.
Correction, October 28, 2025 2:15 pm: An earlier version of this article incorrectly described the outcome of the motion made by Selectboard Vice Chair Richard Kuklewicz to limit discussion on the apartheid-free resolution to 20 minutes. Although the vote on the motion had more votes in favor than against, with a four-vote margin, the vote count did not meet the required two-thirds threshold needed for the motion to pass.
