Westborough planning board clears de minimis driveway extension for seven Danica Drive units

The Town of Westborough Planning Board voted Oct. 1 to classify a proposed driveway extension for seven type‑C units on Danica Drive as a de minimis modification to Special Permit 2014‑1, meaning no full public hearing is required, provided conditions listed in a memo dated Sept. 30, 2024, are met.

Applicants Sijayo Joni and Rakesh Patel told the board they sought a small extension to reach garage doors and to create enough space to park so residents can enter the house during winter. "We are trying to extend the driveway so that we will get the access to the garage door as well as it will give us enough space to park the car and get in the, inside the house," Patel said.

Town planner Jenny Gingress reported engineering reviewed the proposal and recommended several conditions; she said the open‑space calculations for the development were performed including all seven homes and remain below required limits. When asked about stormwater, staff and applicants said engineering did not anticipate impacts from a small extension. Board members discussed curbing along the street; engineering advised curbing was not required for the small lawn‑to‑pavement adjustment proposed.

To streamline similar future requests, the board revised Condition 4 to read that additional requests for driveway expansion on Danica Drive shall be made to the director of planning "who is authorized to approve similar and de minimis changes." After discussion, a board member moved to find the modification de minimis and approve it subject to the memo conditions; the motion was seconded and approved by voice vote.

The board noted the homeowners association has submitted an approval letter to planning staff and that future homeowners seeking the same change should obtain a driveway permit from the Department of Public Works and confirm documentation with the planning office.