Select Board reconsiders and unanimously backs zoning article to allow large‑format retail on single Cosland Drive parcel
Summary
The Select Board unanimously voted Oct. 21 to support a zoning article that would permit a major‑highway retail use on a single Cosland Drive parcel owned by Atlantic Management, paving the way for site‑specific permitting processes if the warrant passes at town meeting.
The Town of Southborough Select Board voted unanimously on Oct. 21 to support Article 1 at the upcoming special town meeting. Article 1 is a zoning amendment that would add a specific, major‑highway retail use to the town’s zoning code for a single parcel in the industrial park (identified in the proposed bylaw and generally described as the Cosland Drive/former Dell EMC parcel), enabling a large‑format retail development to proceed through the usual permitting processes.
At the presentation, Al (Select Board member) and others stressed that the article adds a permitted use for a specific parcel rather than broad changes across the entire industrial‑park zoning district. “We are adding the use, not a district,” one board member said. The motion language and presentation materials were adjusted during the meeting to make clear the change applies only to the parcel identified in the warrant.
Town staff described Atlantic Management as the applicant; board materials on the meeting table included letters of support from Westborough and Marlborough, places that have dealt with Atlantic in past developments. The presentation named Costco as a planned occupant in the public discussion but noted the article is enabling legislation; Atlantic would still need to secure special permits, site plan review and all building and health permits before any store could be built and operate.
Select Board members discussed tax‑base implications and argued the article could help reverse a long‑term residential tax shift by attracting commercial activity and supporting additional development on currently underutilized former Dell EMC parcels. A board presentation said the town would need roughly $160 million in new commercial valuation to restore the pre‑pandemic split between residential and commercial tax shares.
Andrew moved, and another board member seconded, a motion to reconsider the board’s earlier vote on Article 1; the board then voted to support the article for town meeting. The Select Board asked that the Select Board, Planning Board and Advisory Committee positions be shown on the motion sheet at town meeting and requested that copies of supporting letters and the revised motion be available on the table for attendees.
Ending: With the board’s unanimous backing, Article 1 will appear before voters at the special town meeting; any developer still must secure site‑specific permits and approvals for construction and operations.
