Select Board waives permitting fees and advances MetroWest emergency communications center site plan review

The Select Board on July 22 reviewed a detailed site plan for converting the historic Harvey School at 20 Phillips Street into the MetroWest Regional Emergency Communications Center and approved waiving permitting fees under the board’s authority.

Scott Warshare of Gale Associates presented the plan that preserves the school building while adding an elevator for ADA access, an exterior basement stair, parking expansions with two EV charging spaces, subsurface stormwater chambers, an emergency generator and a transformer pad. The team said most utilities will be underground and included a landscape plan and screening proposals. Warshare said all review comments from building, conservation, fire, police, health and other departments have been incorporated into the current submittal and that third‑party engineering review comments are pending.

Abutters raised generator noise and sightline concerns. Town staff said an abutter agreement is still being finalized and that the design includes a stockade screening fence and planting to mitigate visual and acoustic impacts. The police and fire chiefs participated in technical discussion; the fire chief’s truck movements were tested and consultant teams said emergency and large‑truck access can be accommodated. The board voted 5‑0 to waive permitting fees under the Select Board’s control for the project to avoid duplicative charges to the regional district while the building will remain town‑owned in use by the district.

Board members asked staff to continue coordination with abutters on generator screening language in the abutter agreement and requested clearer signage language to prevent public parking in restricted areas.