Planning director outlines downtown zoning changes; trust authorizes letter of support

Jenny Gingras, Westborough's director of planning, presented proposed zoning changes Sept. 12 that would simplify and expand Downtown Westborough zoning, consolidate dimensional standards, and encourage mixed-use redevelopment.

Gingras said the proposal eliminates the Downtown Planning Overlay District and extends the Downtown Business District to include some parcels currently zoned industrial or residential but used commercially. The changes would allow multifamily and mixed-use development by right in downtown (subject to site-plan review), consolidate dimensional standards into a single schedule (maximum 4 stories/60 feet, minimum lot 10,000 sq. ft., maximum front setback 10 feet), add bicycle-parking standards, and update use definitions to reflect modern mixed-use development.

Trust members asked about traffic and sewer implications of enlarging the downtown district. Gingras said traffic and build-out analyses were considered and that site-plan review would require traffic and fiscal-impact analyses; she noted sewer allocation and DPW engineering questions are separate responsibilities of town engineering and the select board.

After discussion about infrastructure and design oversight, the chair asked for a motion to authorize him to provide the planning board with a letter of support for the warrant article, noting the proposed changes would further the trust’s affordable-housing goals. The motion passed, recorded in the transcript as 4–0–1 with one abstention.

Gingras said the changes aim to make the downtown more walkable and marketable to small businesses while preserving design oversight through the design review board and site-plan review. The trust urged staff to track sewer and traffic projections as the proposals move toward Town Meeting.