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Commission explores potential sites for large manufacturing parcel; wetlands and access flagged as constraints
Summary
Commission members discussed whether Winchester has 60–100 acre parcels suitable for a manufacturer; staff identified an option near Old Roberts Hill Road but noted wetlands, access, and utility constraints and said no owners had been notified prior to the meeting.
Commissioners discussed a requested search for 60–100 acre parcels that could host a manufacturing operation. Staff reported that, under current zoning, there are few such parcels and identified a parcel adjacent to the former Nova Farm area that might be considered, though it is not presently offered to the town and owners were not aware of the discussion.
Staff described potential access via the end of John Grama Drive cul‑de‑sac, noted bordering Town Gateway and Production Innovation zoning districts, and warned wetlands on the site would compress developable acreage. Commissioners cautioned that any manufacturing use would trigger required buffering (the commission cited a 35‑foot buffer between residential and nonresidential uses) and would likely require wetlands mitigation, legal access arrangements and utility extensions.
Commissioners said they were not taking any formal action but raised options including proactive rezoning, town purchase to expand the industrial park, or continued searches along Route 44 and Route 8 corridors where utilities are more accessible. Staff said one manufacturer’s representative had asked if such land exists, but no formal proposal or buyer information had been shared with staff at the time of the meeting.
