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Council continues several development and utility hearings, hears public comment on housing and parking
Summary
The council continued hearings for Eversource (NSTAR), a Hannaford/Dumas project at 24–26 Conn Street, an Everett Street Realty Trust project, and a Viet Thai restaurant special permit to allow time for engineering and traffic reviews; local residents urged the council to weigh housing needs against parking impacts.
The Woburn City Council on June 4 continued multiple development and utility public hearings to give city staff and applicants time to complete traffic and stormwater studies and to respond to neighbor concerns.
NSTAR Electric Company (d/b/a Eversource) asked to continue its location hearing on Commerce Way via a communication from a right‑of‑way agent; the council received the communication and continued the public hearing to the June 18 meeting.
Attorney Joseph Taube, representing Hannaford & Dumas’ proposal for 24–26 Conn Street, said the applicant is close to finalizing a stormwater study and site plan and hired Vanasse Associates to refine truck circulation so deliveries will not conflict with street parking. Taube submitted plan copies for the record and requested a continuance to the July 16 public hearing so the council and the public can review materials.
Attorney James Giuliano, representing Everett Street Realty Trust’s proposal for 0 Walnut Street, said the applicant is pursuing additional parking easements and is preparing revised plans with engineer Jack Sullivan; Giuliano requested a continuance to the July meeting to allow time for revised materials.
Public comment came during the Everett Street hearing: Sasha Hernandez (13 Bennett St.) said housing is becoming unaffordable in Woburn Center and urged the council to balance parking concerns with the need for the proposed eight housing units: “I can see city hall from my house... we’ve had three neighbors move to Florida, Arizona, and New Hampshire because they can't afford to live in Woburn Center anymore.” Christopher Sylvia (13 Venice St.) spoke in favor of bringing commercial uses downtown and suggested city‑hall parking could be used off‑peak.
A separate petition for a modification to a special permit for Viet Thai restaurant (Saigon Eatery) at 299 Mishawam Road was continued to the June 18 meeting after the city traffic reviewer received required materials late; Councilor Bowen said she expects negligible traffic impacts but indicated conditions on parking-lot cleanup may be appropriate.
No final approvals were issued for these matters on June 4; the council set follow-up hearing dates so staff reviews and updated plans can be circulated to councilors and the public.
