Carnival Decision Expected Wednesday

WILMINGTON, MA - After moving one step closer to a decision by a Planning Board vote last month, on Wednesday night residents and Fourth of July Committee members will know for certain if this year’s carnival is a go.

The Board of Appeals agenda for Wednesday, April 13 includes the following agenda item:

to acquire a Special Permit for a carnival to run June 30, 2016 through July 3, 2016, for property located on 140-150 Middlesex Ave.

The board is expected to vote to make the final decision on this year’s carnival Wednesday night, less than three months from the anticipated start of the event should it receive approval.

Last month, Wilmington’s Planning Board voted to give its consent to allow the Board of Appeals to hear a repetitive petition for a special permit for the town carnival. The public hearing was part of the March 21 Planning Board agenda and Wilmington’s Town Manager Jeffrey Hull made the presentation to the board.

In February, the Fourth of July Committee’s application to include a carnival as part of the town’s annual Fun on the Fourth Celebration was denied by a vote of 3-1 by the Board of Appeals, killing all plans to bring the carnival back. Following that vote, committee members issued a statement that they had met to discuss options for this year and beyond, and are working with community groups and town officials in the hopes of bringing the carnival back to town in July.

The March Planning Board vote allows the Board of Appeals to once again hear the request for the carnival with changes to the original request, which will happen at Wednesday night’s meeting.

The Board of Appeals meeting is at 7 p.m. Wednesday, April 13 in Room 9 of Town Hall. The meeting will also be broadcast live by WCTV on the Government Channel (Comcast 22 or Verizon 38) and Online.