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Select-board-backed highway major retail zoning amendment draws proponent presentation, continued to Oct. 27
Summary
The planning board heard from project attorneys and proponents about a select-board-sponsored zoning amendment to add a highway major retail definition and use; town counsel provided a written opinion that it is not spot zoning. The board continued the public hearing to Oct. 27 to allow the town meeting process to proceed.
The Southborough Planning Board on Oct. 20 heard a presentation from the project team behind a select-board-sponsored zoning amendment that would add a "highway major retail" definition and a corresponding use requiring a special permit in the Industrial Park district. Town counsel provided a written opinion earlier in the day saying the amendment did not constitute spot zoning.
Why it matters: the amendment would change local land-use rules for a single parcel or limited area and is framed to enable a large retail development to proceed through a consolidated review process under the planning board rather than multiple hearings. The select board is the article sponsor; the planning board will issue a short motion to support or oppose that the moderator must read aloud at town meeting.
What was said: Robert Buckley, who introduced the project team, described the proponent's work with the board and told planning members the team planned to attend town meeting to answer questions if asked. He thanked the board for its input and said the project team welcomed continued dialogue.
A public commenter, Matt Probes of 31 Woodland Road, spoke in favor of attracting major retail — he cited potential jobs, capturing retail leakage from neighboring towns, and residents' survey responses that repeatedly list retail and grocery as desired businesses.
Legal context: the board received a written opinion from town counsel earlier in the day concluding the amendment is not spot zoning; the planning board placed the latest, version 9 of the bylaw text in the warrant after minor editorial corrections.
Board action: after discussion, the planning board voted to continue the public hearing on the highway major retail zoning amendment to Oct. 27 at 5:30 p.m. (pre-STM session) so the article can be considered in the special town meeting process with an accompanying planning-board report and a recorded vote tally to be read at town meeting.
Next steps: the planning board will vote on a brief report for town meeting indicating whether it supports the article and will read the planning-board vote tally during the town meeting record before the moderator takes a vote.
