Southborough ZBA approves special permit for over-height signs at 132 Turnpike Road

The Southborough Zoning Board of Appeals on Feb. 12 approved a special permit requested by Capital Group Properties permitting signs above the town's 20-foot height limit at 132 Turnpike Road. The vote was recorded in favor with no opposition.

Shannon Boyce, real estate permitting manager for Capital Group Properties, told the board the application is meant to bring several permanent but nonconforming signs into compliance and to allow signage for a new tenant. "Do you have signs above 20 feet? So that's why I'm out here is to basically request that special permit so that we can get all those signs back into compliance," she said.

The project was reviewed by the Planning Board, which recommended conditions including an illumination cutoff between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. The ZBA chair noted the only nonconformity cited was the height: "The only thing that's nonconforming literally is that every single sign is above 20 feet," a board member observed during the hearing.

Board members also said the signs fit the building scale, are consistent in size, and did not present a traffic-safety concern based on the Planning Board's findings. One resident initially emailed an objection but withdrew it after reviewing the application, the board was told.

The ZBA approved the special permit "as written." Staff said the written decision will be drafted within 14 days and filed with the town clerk; a 20-day appeal period follows before the permit is final. Capital Group may proceed with permits for the new tenant once the appeal period has passed.

Notes: the building department previously issued permits for the signs; the special-permit action is intended to provide the zoning relief required under the town's cited zoning provision.