Advisory backs zoning change to allow ‘highway major retail’ at former Dell EMC site; special permit, traffic and limits on scope remain focal points

Southborough’s Advisory Committee voted unanimously Sept. 30 to support Article 1 on the special town meeting warrant — a zoning-text amendment to allow a new use called “highway major retail” in the Industrial Park District for a defined parcel on Route 9 — provided that any substantive edits be handled before the warrant is printed. The special town meeting is scheduled for Oct. 27 and the article, if adopted by town meeting, would allow the property owner to seek a special permit under the town zoning bylaw; town officials reminded voters that certain zoning votes require a two-thirds vote at town meeting.

The change is intended to allow Atlantic Management, the current owner of two large former Dell EMC buildings along Route 9, to seek a special permit for a large-format retail use that Atlantic and its expressed retail partner have described as compatible with the town’s master-plan aims for the Route 9 corridor. Town Select Board member Kathy Cook said the developers “came to this town in the right way” and that the project could add commercial tax revenue and activate what she described as a quiet stretch of Route 9. Joe Zink, principal of Atlantic, told the group, “we're gonna make major capital investments in the community because we believe in this area.”

Why it…