Website created for those opposed to Stop & Shop
By Ken Powers Community Reporter

Northborough - Town residents operating under the impression that they are going to drive down Main Street any day now and see a Super Stop & Shop under construction might be surprised to learn that such a sight is a long way off and - despite court decisions that seem to suggest otherwise - may not happen at all.

There is so much going on with regard to Stop & Shop's desire to build one of its grocery stores at 77 Main St. that a group of Northborough residents, led by Brian Smith, have developed a website dedicated to everything that relates to Stop & Shop's eff orts to move into town.

Citizens Against Northboro Gridlock, which can be accessed by logging on to www. northborogridlock.org, made its appearance on the web Feb. 11, and Smith said the reaction to it has been encouraging.

"There is so much misinformation flying around about the Stop & Shop project I thought the website would be a good idea because it would give people a place to go where they can get updates about what's happening when it happens," Smith said. "On the site, we break everything down, item by item, so people who have a

" specific concern can go right to their concern and find out what has happened or what is scheduled to happen."

Also on the website is an opportunity for those residents who want to donate to the cause. Smith has hired the Cambridge law firm of Anderson & Kreiger, which specializes in zoning law, to represent his citizen's action group.

Smith thinks zoning is still going to end up being a major issue in whether or not Stop & Shop comes to town.

"The site is approved for what they're going to use it for," Smith said, "but the driveway is in a residential zone and not approved for what they want to use it for. So technically, they can build the supermarket, but they can't get from it to Route 20."

Smith said Stop & Shop's plan to be able to use the driveway will be to appear before the Zoning Board of Appeals to ask for a special permit and variance to use the existing non-conforming driveway across residentially zoned land at 77 Main St., as the store entrance.

Smith believes the town, and if not the town, then Citizens Against Northboro Gridlock, has legal precedence on its side. Smith pointed out that the zoning bylaw prohibits continuation of a non-conforming use once the nature of the use changes.

Also on the horizon for Stop & Shop, Smith noted, is a hearing with the Conservation Commission.

"As much as we've heard about the traffic concerns and impact of this project," Smith said, "I've heard the same amount of concerns - if not more - about the impact this will have environmentally on the town. It's no secret that site is awfully close to the Assabet River. I can't imagine it wouldn't have a negative impact on the river in some way."

Other Northborough residents who have joined Smith in his fight against Stop & Shop include his wife, Lois Smith, Carolyn and Chris Harrington, Chuck Sanzone, Dave Murphy, Lori and George Giannotti, Ralph and Jeri Stevens, and Nadine Proctor.