Westborough planning board continues public hearing on large Milk Street/Turnpike multifamily project after airing waivers and mitigation

Post Road Associates and its consultants presented detailed draft findings and waiver requests for a proposed multifamily redevelopment affecting parcels at 171 Milk Street and 222–223 Turnpike Road, and the Westborough Planning Board continued the public hearing to allow outstanding peer‑review work to be completed.

Brian Falk of Myrick, representing the applicant, walked the board through waiver requests that include allowing five stories instead of four, reducing minimum open space from 60% to about 31% on the south parcel, lowering parking to 1.4 spaces per unit from the 2‑space standard, permitting a right‑turn access from Route 9 for the north parcel, and a curb‑to‑side‑lot distance adjustment for the south parcel. Falk said the project includes screening, landscaped buffer strips and sustainable site features intended to mitigate visual and traffic impacts.

Planner Jenny Gingrich read draft findings prepared for the board and said the applicant has offered on‑site mitigation and off‑site commitments, including performing a corridor‑level traffic study of the Milk Street/Route 9 interchange and partnering with the town on potential state grant applications (for example, a MassWorks application) to implement pedestrian and safety improvements. The applicant also proposes a modification of the inclusionary‑housing requirement: reducing on‑site affordable units from 20% to 15% and providing a buy‑down payment of $50,000 for each reduced unit. Jenny reported that the south parcel buy‑down would total $450,000 and the north parcel $500,000, for a combined offer of $950,000 to be paid at building‑permit issuance.

Board members pressed for clarity on several items. They requested more specific conditions and language for findings and discussed whether the board should issue separate decisions for special permits and site‑plan approvals. On traffic, Robert Michaud of MDM Transportation Consultants reported a virtual consultation with MassDOT District 3: MassDOT indicated it would allow an enter‑only (no exit) access and recommended the board condition any local approval on securing the highway access permit and final MassDOT permitting.

Members of the public spoke for and against the project. The town’s Active Transportation Safety Committee chair, Ellen Google, urged the board not to waive sidewalks and asked that sidewalks be installed before occupancy because corridor studies and grant funding can take years. Lara Crawford, Westborough’s economic development coordinator, spoke in support, saying the site is well‑situated for walkable housing and could support local businesses. Other residents questioned parking reductions, walkability from the north parcel to adjacent retail, and potential school impacts; the applicant answered questions about unit size (a two‑bedroom averages about 1,150 sq ft) and lease terms.

The board did not vote on the special permit or site‑plan findings. Chair Hazel Nurse reiterated that the draft findings before the board are preliminary; the board will not close the public hearing until peer‑review comments (particularly on stormwater) are received. A board member moved to continue the public hearing to a February meeting date recorded in the transcript as “February ’26”; the motion carried. Staff said final decisions will follow completion of the peer review and any MassDOT access permitting.

Next steps: the planning board will review peer‑review comments, receive any edits to draft findings from board members and staff, and revisit the application at the continued public hearing.