By K.B. Sherman, Community Reporter
Shrewsbury – At the May 8 meeting of the Shrewsbury Board of Selectmen, Kristen Wilson, the town's principal planner, discussed with the board several issues related to the town's Open Space and Recreation Plan (OSRP) and the 495/MetroWest Development Compact plan.
The most recent approved OSRP, prepared in 2000, has expired, Wilson said. A new 2011-2012 plan has been drafted; the committee that worked on it included members from the At-Large Open Space and Recreation Plan Committee, Planning Board, Conservation Commission, and Parks and Cemetery Commission.
Wilson indicated that to date, almost 1,400 comments on the plan have been received, most of them positive. The board asked if formal state approval is needed to go forward with the plan; Wilson said it was not. She requested the board sign a letter of approval for the plan, which it did.
The plan is available online at the town's website, www.shrewsbury-ma.gov. Go to Engineering, Planning and Conservation and then Open Spaces and Recreation Committee.
Wilson also discussed a plan created by the 495/MetroWest Development Compact. The group's mission is to align the town with the surrounding communities in order to best share available resources. The plan details transportation goals (rail and commuter rail, car and bicycle parking, regional transit authorities, bridges, and connector roadways to Route 495). It also delves into Drinking Water Management and Wastewater Management. It is noted in the plan that Shrewsbury is one of several communities that is about to reach the limit of its wastewater management capabilities. The plan concludes with “next steps” to be taken, including “priority development” and “preservation areas” identification.
Wilson's presentation to the board ended with a discussion of an article that will be on the May 21 Annual Town Meeting (ATM) warrant regarding zoning changes related to construction, usage, limitations and locations for proposed electronic data centers. The board indicated that it should hold additional discussions of this issue before the ATM.
In other business, a public hearing was held regarding a request for the granting of a Class II Car Dealer's License to Paul J. Gaudette, for Timeless Automotive, 328 Grafton St. After some discussion and assurance by Gaudette that the number of vehicles would be limited to nine, the board approved the license by a 5-0 vote.
The board also re-organized for the coming year, with Selectman Maurice DePalo elected as the new chair. In quick order and with no dissenting opinions, Henry J. Fitzgerald was elected vice chair and John I. Lebeaux got the nod as clerk.
