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Westborough planning board advances draft downtown zoning changes, seeks clearer survey wording
Summary
The Town of Westborough Planning Board reviewed draft downtown zoning changes July 1 and asked planners to clarify a 12‑question public survey so respondents understand it concerns zoning (not a separate rotary project); the board also requested maps, definitions and expanded comment fields before outreach at farmers markets and public hearings.
The Town of Westborough Planning Board on July 1 discussed a draft package of downtown zoning changes the planning staff plans to present at the October town meeting and approved outreach steps to gather public input.
Town planner Jenny Gingras told the board the draft follows the downtown planning process and includes a 12‑question survey designed to collect preferences on uses such as sidewalk dining, small specialty grocery shops, makerspaces and more housing options above shops. "This is only about the zoning… I just don't want to get the two confused," Gingras said, distinguishing the zoning questions from the separate rotary design outreach that has its own comment form.
Board members asked staff to add clearer framing at the start of the questionnaire that it concerns zoning changes, include a zoning overlay map and a short table of definitions so respondents understand code labels (for example, what "C" or "R" denote). Members also recommended larger comment boxes and an explicit prompt to "please explain" answers so qualitative feedback can be incorporated into a comment matrix staff will prepare.
Planners said new or changed uses in the draft are highlighted in green in the table of uses and that the town's e‑code will allow users to search definitions online. Gingras said the zoning working group will meet the next day to refine district lines and that staff plan in‑person outreach at farmers markets to promote the survey and collect responses.
The board discussed whether to label retail options "small grocery" or "grocery" and whether to ask respondents if they want existing housing allowances to remain or be expanded. On design, Gingras noted existing architectural guidelines for downtown that will be updated; members urged that dimensional tables be consolidated and made available as printed handouts for residents who do not use computers.
Next steps: planners will add the requested clarifications (map, definitions, clearer lead language), finalize the survey questions, produce a comment matrix responding to input, and bring refined zoning materials back to the working group and the board before public hearings are scheduled.
