Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Zoning Highway Business topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Planning director proposes flexible Highway Business District rules to attract mixed-use development
Summary
Article 17 would replace Section 6.2 with a 'Highway Business District Development' bylaw that keeps core dimensional rules but allows special-permit flexibility on open-space, height and setbacks to accommodate sustainable features; an open-space reduction may be granted in exchange for public benefits under a points system (minimum 30% open space).
At the Advisory Finance Committee meeting on Sept. 16, Planning Director Jenny King Kinggriss presented Article 17, which would revise the Highway Business District (Route 9 corridor) zoning to make Westborough more competitive for development while promoting sustainability and mixed-use outcomes.
King said the existing bylaw requires 60% open space in the district, a comparatively high threshold that the planning department believes discourages developers. The proposed revision would preserve underlying dimensional and use rules but allow a special-permit pathway to reduce open-space requirements in exchange for public benefits, using a points system capped at 12 points; open space could not be reduced below 30%.
Examples of public-benefit options include sustainable design measures (LEED certification: platinum=12 points, gold=8, silver=4), HERS-rating improvements, land donation for public use, or contributions to a green revenue account. King said regulations and point calculations will be set in planning-board rules and administered through the special-permit process rather than by town meeting, enabling periodic adjustments.
Committee members asked about stormwater compatibility, whether donor parcels might be unusable, and whether added requirements would increase developer costs. King said stormwater code remains in force, the planning board can reject unusable donated parcels, and developers consulted were generally receptive but financial constraints remain a concern.
The proposal also adds bicycle parking and pedestrian-connectivity expectations and allows flexible height and setback options to accommodate rooftop solar and mechanical equipment tied to sustainability.
