The Northborough Planning Board met on October 6, 2020. Four and half hours later…here’s what happened.
0 Bartlett Street: The Gutierrez Company
- Board members and residents are really concerned about the potential traffic issues. The applicant’s traffic study is not accurate. It does not take into account who the tenant in these empty sites might be because right now it’s unknown. School and work traffic is not currently what it was pre-COVID, so how can the Planning Board base a decision on conservative traffic data? Another question is why can’t the applicant require all traffic out of the facility to turn left away from Northborough? What about a truck restriction?
- The intention is to use wetland buffers to store snow. The Gutierrez Company said they will “typically” use the parking lots for snow storage.
- Residents are not happy and many have written emails and over 1,350 people have signed a petition who are not in agreement with this proposed building. The natural resources and wildlife habitat impact is big. “The wetland buffers are in place for a reason–to guide us to not impact natural resources negatively with development,” said one resident.
- Also noted by a resident was that a plan for this type of development goes against the Northborough’s Master Plan, which is suppose to facilitate and balance economic development in town with natural resources.
- Jeanne Cahill, who recently ran for State Representative, is an environmental scientist and she participated in the public comment too. She is concerned about the climate, health and safety, and protecting public health. She said by increasing industrialization, we are going to be having more disease, more asthma, respiratory and cardiovascular issues–all of which develop from a life time exposure to industrial emissions including truck and highway sources. She emphasized thinking about the next generation and the need to look at how climate is being destroyed in real time and with each approved project. “We can’t afford to concrete open space land,”she said.
- Stay tuned – more to come at the Tuesday, October 20 meeting, 6 pm.
399 Hudson Street
- A two-family dwelling (4,600 square feet) was approved by a 4:1 vote. The condition is that each side is limited to 3 bedrooms. It was noted by Board Member Anthony Ziton that it is larger and not aligned with character of other homes nearby. He referred to guidelines for a two family dwelling and said that the proposed designs should enforce and not disrupt character of the neighborhood.
50 Southwest Cutoff (Business West zone, formerly Degreco Supplies)
- Planning Board Member Amy Poretsky didn’t agree with the town’s Building Inspector Bob Frederico’s interpretation of the proposed use being the same as the previous use and being able to be grandfathered in for the zone. It doesn’t meet the criteria since it is not exactly the same type of business. It would need a variance or permit approval. Her presentation and slides begin on the recorded meeting around the 30 minute mark.
- The Planning Board will submit their suggestions and concerns on this application to the Zoning Board of Appeals.