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Norwood Planning Board reopens public hearing on 55 Lennox, schedules Aug. 25 session
Summary
The Town of Norwood Planning Board voted 5-0 to reopen the public hearing on a special permit and site plan for 55 Lennox and reschedule the matter for Aug. 25 to allow additional information and public input, citing outstanding parking questions.
The Town of Norwood Planning Board voted 5-0 on July 28 to reopen the public hearing on a special permit and site-plan review for 55 Lennox and to continue the matter to Aug. 25 at 7 p.m. at the Senior Center and via Google Meet.
Board Chair Debbie Homewood said a quorum was present and read the motion after members indicated support. Planning Department staff member Sarah explained that reopening the hearing would allow the board to receive new information and testimony from the applicant and the public and that the board would renotice abutters and other interested parties.
The vote came after members said they had substantive unanswered questions about vehicle parking connected to the proposal. Planning Board member Ernie said the board could not accept additional input while the public hearing was closed and moved to reopen the hearing so the applicant could bring forward information such as possible off-site parking arrangements. Several board members reiterated that reopening required formal renotification so the public would have an opportunity to comment.
Board members discussed the proposal's parking assumptions during the deliberation. One board member noted the application had been analyzed using a parking ratio described in the record as “1.1 spots” and said that, by right, the applicant’s project involved 61 units and an expectation of roughly 60 required parking spaces. The same member described a request for roughly 30 fewer spaces as “a big ask,” and said the board needed more information before making a final determination.
Planning Department staff said reopening would not require a new application fee and that documents submitted to the planning office are available for public review online or by request to the Community Development office. Chair Homewood and other members stressed that reopening the hearing would pause final deliberations until the Aug. 25 session, which the board set at 7 p.m.
Votes at a glance - 1315 Washington St., Copeland Middle School site-plan modification: continued to Aug. 25 at 7 p.m.; vote recorded as unanimous (5-0). The applicant requested the continuance. - 55 Lennox special permit/site plan: motion to reopen public hearing and continue to Aug. 25 at 7 p.m.; approved 5-0. - Approval of minutes, April 28: approved 5-0. - Motion to adjourn: approved 5-0.
The board advised residents that planning files and submitted documents are available through the planning office and on the town website. The board will accept testimony and new materials when the hearing reopens on Aug. 25.
