Council continues hearing on Milton Rents special permit for equipment rental and refers plan to committee

WOBURN — Milton Real Properties of Massachusetts (doing business as Milton Rents) presented plans to convert the property at 210 New Boston Street into a compact construction equipment rental and service location, and the Woburn City Council continued the public hearing and referred the petition to the committee on special permits for further review.

Attorney Malcolm Hauck, representing Milton Real Properties, told the council the petitioner seeks a special permit under the zoning code to rent compact construction equipment (small excavators, aerial lifts, power lifts) and to allow overnight parking of service vehicles pursuant to the zoning ordinance. He said the proposed operation will include roughly 100–120 pieces of compact equipment, five city‑registered service vehicles, and about 12 employees. The petitioner proposed business hours of 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., with office hours typically 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Brad Farin, corporate facilities manager for Milton Rents, described proposed demolition and reconstruction of portions of an existing 9,250‑square‑foot building to create approximately 3,500 square feet of office/retail area and 11,000 square feet of industrial space including a wash bay and storage canopy. He said the site will be gated and fenced, will include a photometric lighting plan and a designated snow‑storage area, and that the petitioner is working with MassDEP and other engineers on remediation and stormwater controls.

Councilors requested more precise site plans, renderings and traffic/layout details—especially given the number of vehicles and the equipment types proposed—and suggested petitioner meet with Commissioner Quinn and DPW staff before a committee review. Commissioner Quinn and Planning Director John Cashel were listed in communications received by the council; the council voted to allow an amendment to the petition during the meeting and to send the full proposal to the committee on special permits.

Outcome: The council continued the public hearing to its Oct. 7 regular meeting and referred the matter to the committee on special permits for further review. Councilors asked the petitioner to supply final plans, layout renderings, stormwater details (oil/water separator) and utility capping details before the committee meeting.

Speakers on the record included Attorney Malcolm Hauck (representing Milton Real Properties), Brad Farin (corporate facilities manager, Milton Rents), Planning Director John Cashel (communication submitted), Building Commissioner Thomas Quinn (communication submitted), Clerk Higgins, and multiple councilors.