LAKEVILLE — Voters will decide the future of the former Lakeville Hospital site, among other issues, at the Special Town Meeting to be held at 6:30 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 14 at Apponequet Regional High School.

Other issues to be voted on include whether to expand the Select Board from three to five members, transform the town clerk position from elected to appointed and establish a recall provision to remove elected officials.

The two articles that have generated the most discussion in town, Articles 14 and 15, relate to the possible Lakeville Hospital development. Developer Rhino Capital has proposed constructing two warehouses on the site. Rhino has committed to fully cleaning up the site before starting construction if the articles pass.

Supporters have said the time has come to take action on the site that has sat vacant for 30 years. Opponents have questioned the noise and traffic that would result and have said the use does not fit the town’s rural character.

If Article 14 passes, the Development Opportunity District overlaid onto the hospital site will be removed in its entirety. The Development Opportunity District allows the town to issue special permits for innovative uses of large land areas.

Article 15 would alter the town’s mixed-use zoning and allow Rhino to enter a site plan review process for its development proposal.

Articles 14 and 15 require a two-thirds majority vote to pass, and both must pass to allow Rhino’s proposal to undergo a site plan review process.

Article 16, if passed, would rezone 155.4 acres near County Street from a residential district to an industrial district. It requires a two-thirds majority vote to pass.

Passing Article 25 will establish measures to recall elected officials. This was submitted by town citizens and requires a majority vote to pass.

Article 26, if passed, would expand the Select Board from three members to five. This was also prepared by town residents and requires a majority vote to pass.

If passed, Article 24 would see Lakeville’s Town Clerk position change from elected to appointed. Current Town Clerk Lillian Drane is retiring. Article 24 requires a majority vote to pass.

If passed, Article 4 would appropriate town funds for renovations to exterior windows and doors at Assawompset Elementary. The estimated cost to the town is $1.96 million, with the Massachusetts School Building Authority grant program reimbursing the remaining $2.26 million, or 53.53% of the project cost. Article 4 requires a two-thirds majority vote to pass.

Passing Article 13 would require a special permit to build warehouses, offices, or facilities over 100,000 square feet. Article 13 requires a two-thirds majority vote to pass. This article does not apply to the Lakeville Hospital project, because Rhino Capital already has a special permit. 

Article 9, if passed, would allow the Planning Board to appoint an associate member for a one-year term.  Article 9 requires a two-thirds majority vote to pass.

If Article 22 passes, all lodging houses, boarding houses, fraternity houses, dormitories, apartments, townhouses, condominiums, hotels, motels, and group residences would be required to have fire alarms equipped with automatic sprinklers. This requires a majority vote to pass.

Passing Article 21 would transfer control of five foreclosed properties to the town of Lakeville. It requires a two-thirds majority vote to pass.

Article 20, if passed, would allow the town of Lakeville to assess a municipal charges lien on any property in town if municipal fees and charges have not been paid by their due date. It requires a majority vote to pass.

Passing Article 10 would allow Planning Board, Zoning Board of Appeals, and Conservation Commission members who were absent from one meeting where a specific issue was discussed to still be able to vote on the topic at a subsequent meeting. This requires a majority vote to pass.

If Article 18 is passed, junk dealers could be located only in business districts. This requires a two-thirds majority vote to pass.

Passing Article 19 will require junk dealers to keep a record of commercial activity to prove that licenses granted to junk dealers are actively used. Article 19 requires a majority vote to pass.

Article 12, if passed, allows businesses in business districts to receive a special permit from the Planning Board to reduce the business’s rear yard or side-yard setback by half. It requires a two-thirds majority vote to pass.

If passed, Article 7 will grant the Massachusetts Historical Commission or any other qualified entity authority to place a historic preservation restriction on the Old Town Hall at 2 Precinct St. The article requires a two-thirds majority vote to pass.

Article 6, if passed, would authorize the Select Board to establish a timeline for annual budget presentations. It requires a simple majority vote to pass.

If passed, Article 5 will appropriate money from the Community Preservation Fund to the Community Preservation Committee to cover expenses incurred in fiscal year 2023. It requires a simple majority vote to pass.

Article 11, if passed, will remove a paragraph listing off-premise signage regulations from the Lakeville Zoning Bylaws. It requires a two-thirds majority vote to pass.

Article 23 requests that Ledgewood Drive be designated a public way. It requires a two-thirds majority vote to pass.

Articles 1 through 3 relate to paying unpaid bills and expenses.