By Joan F. Simoneau, Community Reporter
Marlborough – A plan to enhance land use development and encourage desired growth patterns in the Route 20 “Wayside Corridor,” between Farm Road and the Sudbury town line, was presented to the City Council at its April 8 meeting. The preliminary draft, provided by Marlborough Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) Operations Director Tim Cummings, was the culmination of a six-month study conducted by Vanasse Hangen Brustlin, Inc.
Last November, MEDC held an information-gathering session to solicit public input on the proposal. Monthly meetings were held by the Steering Committee to address topics and issues brought forth, according to Cummings in his communication to the council.
The plan calls for a new overlay district with a mix of retail establishments along with residential developments, establishing design criteria for new or redeveloped buildings, creating better landscaping and “streetscaping” along the corridor, and improving access management through interconnections between developments and pedestrian and bicycle access.
To successfully implement the new Wayside-Overlay District being recommended,? zoning changes will be necessary, including: a revised list of uses allowed by right and by special use permit to include multi-family, commercial, and office uses; new dimensional regulations for the overlay district; ?shared parking allowances where adjacent uses have differing hours of business in order to reduce the amount of land devoted to parking; revised design standards for buildings, parking lots and streetscapes; and access management regulations that will control the placement and design of curb cuts in the district.
The City Council last year approved a proposal to rezone and redevelop the 109-acre campus located on Forest Street into a district that allows commercial office space, retail shops and restaurants, a hotel and residential units. Atlantic Management of Framingham is changing the former Hewlett Packard facility into a mixed use overlay district that would allow for multiple uses.
Cummings acknowledged the leadership provided by City Council President Trish Pope, Ward 1 Councilor Joseph Delano and Ward 2 Councilor Richard Jenkins, who served on the project's Steering Committee. Also serving on the committee were: Tony Scerra, Stephen Anthony's Restaurant and Market; Jeff Batta, Marlboro Nissan; Stan Gordon, First Colony Development; Ken Fries, RK Centers; Rick Grady, Raytheon; and Arthur Bergeron, Mirick O”Connell, LLP.
The plan will next be reviewed by the Urban Affairs Committee.