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Vol. 46 | No. 44 | October 30, 2020
Shrewsbury · Westborough · Northborough · Southborough · Marlborough · Hudson · Grafton
Board denies application for The Gutierrez Company
Friday night soccer under the lights WESTBOROUGH The Rangers varsity boys soccer team hosted the Algonquin Regional High School T-Hawks under the lights on Westborough’s turf field, Oct. 23. Westborough’s Richard Nunes scored the game’s only goal with an assist from Felipe De Andrade.
Amazon to move into vacant buildings on Bartlett Street By Liz Nolan Contributing Writer NORTHBOROUGH - A unanimous decision was made by the Northborough Planning Board at its October 20 meeting to deny The Gutierrez Company’s application for a special permit with site plan approval and two groundwater special permits for 0 Bartlett Street. The plan was to build a 150,000 square foot high bay distribution center abutting Stirrup Brook and near surrounding neighborhoods and Algonquin Regional High School. After months of continued hearings, thorough deliberations and heated opposition by residents, the Board’s decision was based on their concerns on the negative impacts to the area and their lack of confidence in the proper oversight of operational inspections and maintenance. Representatives from The Gutierrez Company did return to this meeting with an additional evaluation on the traffic impact, an updated snow removal and storage plan and a design for the driveway configuration to discourage truck traffic on Bartlett Street. The additional information didn’t convince the Board that the proposal was a good or safe fit. One outcome of the updated traffic study discussion was that if this project generated traffic at a higher level, including background traffic from other projects planned, the intersection of Bartlett Street and Lyman Street could meet the criteria for a traffic signal. That is typically part of a developed mitigation plan and often the developer would be responsible for funding it, as was the case for Northborough Commons. During this discussion, Town Building Inspector Bob Frederico revealed that Amazon will be moving into the vacant buildings at 330 and 350 Bartlett Street, ultimately adding to the Board’s traffic concerns for that area. The Gutierrez Company also owns those buildings. “The impact is too enormous for that area and the town doesn’t have the resources or there isn’t a mitigation package in place to help mitigate these huge impacts that are going to happen whether it is to the environment or to safety,” said Board member Michelle Gillespie. “It is too much of a huge impact for that area at this point in time as presented to us.” Board member Anthony Ziton’s concerns related to the site’s proximity to the high school, Stirrup Brook and the wetlands. An informed decision was also difficult to make with an unknown tenant. The full meeting can be reviewed on the Northborough Remote Meetings channel on YouTube.
T-Hawks Jacob Carulli ( #7) and WHS Charlie Deane (#6 ) battle for the ball.
PHOTO/KELLY BURNESON
inside this issue: viewpoint ..................2 news ........................4 business ....................13 schools ...................14
homes & more ........16 police log ..............17 obituaries .............17 classifieds .............18
Committee discusses reuse of Northborough’s White Cliffs
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