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Candidate John Van Scoyoc defends commercial-growth approach, discusses Chestnut Hill West and Route 9
Summary
On TV on TV, Select Board member John Van Scoyoc said commercial presence in new development is essential and described Chestnut Hill West proposals and why a Route 9 reimagining is unlikely soon without large, consolidatable parcels.
John Van Scoyoc, a Select Board member running for re-election, said commercial development should remain a central consideration in large projects and discussed the prospects for two parts of town: Chestnut Hill West and Route 9 (Lower Boylston).
Describing Chestnut Hill West, Van Scoyoc said proposals include what he summarized as a 14-story hotel and residential building plus additional 12- and 7-story buildings combining housing and office space. He acknowledged neighborhood concerns about scale but said the town needs to preserve and grow commercial tax revenues alongside housing.
"When we did, for example, the Harvard Street rezoning that commercial the commercial presence in Brookline has to be kept in mind with all of our approved additional development," Van Scoyoc said, emphasizing that approved projects should include commercial components to broaden the town's revenue base.
On Lower Boylston/Route 9 reimagining, Van Scoyoc said parcel size and ownership are decisive: where parcels are shallow, fragmented or occupied by thriving businesses (he cited a U-Haul business, an Audi service station, Dunkin' Donuts and Valvoline as examples), large-scale redevelopment is unlikely because owners are not inclined to consolidate and sell. By contrast, he said, Chestnut Hill West succeeded where larger ownership patterns enabled coordinated redevelopment.
Van Scoyoc framed his stance as balancing neighborhood concerns with needs for commercial growth that contribute to town services and budgets. He also recounted his role in Select Board decisions on key appointments, mentioning Police Chief Jen Paster and Town Administrator Chaz Carey as examples of recent personnel outcomes.
He closed by urging voters to attend or watch forums and to participate in the May 5 election.
