• Home
  • News
  • Obituaries
  • Police & Fire
  • Sports
  • Education
  • Business
  • Real Estate
  • Advertise
  • Town
    • Westborough
    • Shrewsbury
    • Northborough
    • Marlborough
    • Hudson
    • Southborough
    • Grafton
  • Print Edition
Sign in
Welcome!Log into your account
Forgot your password?
Password recovery
Recover your password
Search
Sunday, January 29, 2023
  • Events
  • Contact us
  • Advertise
Sign in
Welcome! Log into your account
Forgot your password? Get help
Password recovery
Recover your password
A password will be e-mailed to you.
Community Advocate news and events Community Advocate
  • Shrewsbury
  • Westborough
  • Northborough
  • Southborough
  • Grafton
  • Marlborough/Hudson Edition
  • Home
  • News
  • Obituaries
  • Police & Fire
  • Sports
  • Education
  • Business
  • Real Estate
  • Advertise
  • Town
    • Westborough
    • Shrewsbury
    • Northborough
    • Marlborough
    • Hudson
    • Southborough
    • Grafton
  • Print Edition
How can the Community Advocate help you promote your business?
Advertising Info
Suggest a Story
Free Subscription
Home Byline Stories - News Shrewsbury residents voice flea market concerns to Zoning Board
  • Byline Stories - News
  • Shrewsbury

Shrewsbury residents voice flea market concerns to Zoning Board

By
Community Advocate
-
June 27, 2012
41
Facebook
Twitter
Email

    By K.B. Sherman, Community Reporter

    Shrewsbury residents voice flea market concerns to Zoning BoardShrewsbury – Residents packed the room at the June 25 Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) meeting to voice their concerns about a proposed flea market that would be located at Commerce Park, 420 Boston Turnpike (Route 9).

    The issue before the ZBA was the granting of variances for the project, whose site plan has already been accepted by the Shrewsbury Planning Board. The property currently is a container-manufacturing business employing about 10 people. Worcester resident Danny Ha hopes to open a large indoor flea market on the site, which would have between 80 and 100 booths and be open on weekends, including all three days of long holiday weekends.

    The specific issue that triggers a ZBA review is a requested increase of more than 20 parking spaces at the property. This, in turn, requires multiple variances regarding traffic, landscaping, surface water control, ground water contamination control, and the issues of vegetation protection, noise, smoke, vibration and unsightliness in the surrounding neighborhood.

    The property's owner, Cal Cervini Jr., of 420 Boston Turnpike, LLC, was represented by attorney Richard Ricker, who defended the Planning Board's April 6 site plan approval. The abutters, residents from the Oak Street neighborhood, were represented by attorney Matthew Watsky, who argued that the site plan was unacceptable under state and local bylaws.

    Disagreements ran the length of the hearing, with Ricker arguing that not only was the change of use acceptable under the rules, but that the change was so minor that there should be no meaningful difference for the neighbors. Watsky responded that not only was the change of use “enormous” and would be a major disruption to the neighborhood, it would also possibly endanger the surrounding residents and their properties.

    Thirteen of the more than 40 residents present spoke against the project. Daniel McDonald, 55 Beverly Hill Drive, said that the Planning Board, in reviewing the site plan, had “blown-off” neighbors who voiced their concerns.

    Ralph Pendleton, 64 Beverly Hill Drive, said that he was concerned about the likely increase in traffic. Holly Pavlak, 60 Beverly Hill Drive, agreed, adding that she had investigated traffic associated with flea markets in Rhode Island and had learned that even small flea markets draw more than 10,000 people a day.

    Another resident asked if it was “proper” for Melvin Gordon, the chair of the Planning Board, to also sit on the ZBA for the hearing. Gordon apologized to those who felt that the Planning Board had handled this issue in an unfair manner.

    After approximately two and a half hours, ZBA Chair Donald Rosen was satisfied that everyone had been heard. He commented that the ZBA was aware of neighbors” concerns, but that the board could deal only with the variances requested by the business owner regarding a change in the site's parking spaces.

    The hearing was continued to Monday, July 9 at 6:30 p.m.

     

     

     

     

     

    • TAGS
    • Cal Cervini Jr
    • Commerce Park
    • Daniel McDonald
    • Danny Ha
    • K.B. Sherman
    • Matthew Watsky
    • Melvin Gordon
    • Richard Ricker
    • shrewsbury
    • Shrewsbury Zoning Board of Appeals
    Facebook
    Twitter
    Email
      Previous articleWestborough selectmen debate role of citizens’ participation
      Next articleArea students graduate from University of Hartford
      Community Advocate

      RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR

      Featured News

      Shrewsbury police arrest suspects related to home break-in

      Featured News

      Shrewsbury police investigate wallet theft from Petco

      Education

      Al-Hamra Academy students to present ‘The Jungle Book’

      Featured News

      Shrewsbury mom wins family recognition award

      Featured News

      Planning Board mulls Beal Commons parking, traffic studies

      Featured News

      Winter storm update: classes canceled

      Follow Us

      Sign Up For Our Newsletter

      [mc4wp_form id=”241018″]

      RECOMMENDED ARTICLES

      Education

      Grafton High DECA earns THRIVE status

      Maureen Sullivan - January 28, 2023
      0
      Westborough

      WASA sponsors annual ‘Ice Out’ Challenge

      Community Advocate - January 28, 2023
      0
      Marlborough

      Polar Plunge for Special Olympics set for March 5

      Community Advocate - January 28, 2023
      0
      Hudson

      Assabet Valley Camera Club hosts Silvana Della Camera

      Community Advocate - January 28, 2023
      0

      POPULAR

      Grafton High DECA earns THRIVE status

      January 28, 2023

      WASA sponsors annual ‘Ice Out’ Challenge

      January 28, 2023

      Polar Plunge for Special Olympics set for March 5

      January 28, 2023

      Assabet Valley Camera Club hosts Silvana Della Camera

      January 28, 2023

      Clinton Savings Bank names new VP, Branch Manager of Shrewsbury branch

      January 28, 2023
      community advocate logo
      ABOUT US

      The Community Advocate is an independently owned newspaper with a legacy of over 40 years serving the communities of Westborough, Hudson, Marlborough, Northborough, Shrewsbury, Southborough and Grafton. It is also the number-one circulated paper in those communities. We cover a wide variety of breaking news, municipal issues, human interest features and sports stories.

      For Advertising Inquiries:
      [email protected]

      For editorial inquiries:
      [email protected]

      Contact us: [email protected]
      FOLLOW US
      • Events
      • Contact us
      • Advertise
      © Community Advocate. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy