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Council continues hearing on proposed Launch and Learn childcare at 335 Washington pending committee review of traffic and drainage
Summary
Petitioners proposed a Launch and Learn Educare Center for 335 Washington Street serving roughly 222 children; traffic consultants projected about 89 AM and 87 PM peak trips and engineers proposed on‑site improvements. Council opened the hearing and continued the matter for committee review and departmental comments.
Petitioners seeking to locate a Launch and Learn Educare Center at 335 Washington Street presented layouts, staffing and demand data to the Woburn City Council Aug. 20 as the council opened the public hearing and took testimony from planners and engineers.
Anita Martinetti Sasse, executive director of the proposed center, described existing operations at the applicant’s other centers and told the council both of the applicant’s existing centers maintain long wait lists. Sasse said the group typically over‑staffs and operates year‑round from 7:15 a.m. to 5:45 p.m., offering rolling admissions.
Ben Minox of Eagle Brook Engineering reviewed the proposed site plan revisions, explaining the petitioner will provide about 214 parking spaces on the site (the zoning requirement is 203); he described reconfigured circulation, a new turfed playground and relocated loading dock to improve safety and reduce on‑site cut‑through traffic.
Traffic consultant Derek Roche said counts taken in April 2024 indicate the project will generate an estimated 89 vehicle trips in the weekday morning peak and 87 trips in the evening peak, representing roughly a 1.6–2.5 percent increase in local volumes. Roche recommended on‑site improvements — speed humps, pavement markings and stop‑control at driveways — and conformity with MUTCD standards.
Councilors focused on the Washington Street corridor’s existing congestion, requested a deeper review of the traffic study in committee and asked the applicant to work with the engineering department on entrance restrictions and snow‑storage plans. Councilors praised the company’s reputation and the site layout but asked for an as‑built record of recent sewer work and additional DPW comments.
The council opened public comment (none in attendance) and voted to continue the public hearing to allow committee review and to receive further departmental input, with a near‑term target date for the next hearing and committee meeting.
