By Chris Kopacko, Contributing Writer
Westborough – Herb Chambers may soon need to add one more thing to his “We'se got it” jingle: competition.
That's because the Planning Board heard the development plans of CarMax Auto Superstores – a nationwide used car retail franchise – to become the latest auto dealer along Westborough's Route 9 strip during its May 14 meeting.
Seeking to utilize a plot at 170-178 Turnpike Rd. – the site of the former driving range next to Bertucci's – CarMax requested an excavation permit from the Planning Board to begin developing 16 acres of the 50 total acres they intend to purchase at that location.
CarMax Real Estate Manager John McNamara, along with Centerpoint Integrated Solutions development planner Jake Hertz, presented their development plans to the Planning Board which, in addition to a 57,000- square-foot building, also included a carwash, fuel tank and embassy-style security gates.
Sporting over 100 locations across the country, CarMax is seeking to tap into the used car market in the New England area. With just one current Massachusetts location in North Attleboro, CarMax believes that Westborough is a good place to add a second location, presumably due to the high amount of car dealerships already along the town's stretch of Route 9, the men said.
McNamara said that CarMax works differently than traditional car dealerships in that they have a more retail-oriented store atmosphere, with features such as no-haggle pricing and financing, and extended store warranties. He said that what towns with existing CarMax sites typically like about their stores is their “consistent high-end retail look.”
“We don's fly flags, we don's do gorillas, we don's do balloons,” he said. “We try to keep it as much as a transparent, high-end retail experience as we can.”
Hertz also mentioned that the new CarMax location would hold private wholesale car auctions, open to licensed dealers only, in addition to selling cars to the public.
Planning Board member Joanne Mallozzi asked if the carwash they plan to build on the site would have any water recirculation process. Hertz responded that the carwash would recycle “about 85 percent” of the water it uses. He also mentioned that the carwash would be for CarMax use only, and not open to the public.
Several residents of the Villages at Walker Meadow – a 46-acre active adult community located behind the proposed CarMax site – attended the meeting. One of them was Dennis McMullen, of 4 Shaker Way, who had concerns about lighting late at night.
“The big concern we have at Walker Meadow is the reflective lighting to the back of the property,” he said. “We's like to know if (CarMax) would give consideration to the positioning of the lighting in the back lots.”
McNamara said CarMax prides itself on working with neighbors they are becoming part of the community with.
“I's not going to say that we haven's had to adjust a light after we'se opened a store, or adjust the planting, or do something as a result of requests from neighbors,” he said.
Doug Wales, of 8 Lenox Way, said he was happy from what he had heard from CarMax so far in regards to working with residents in the community.
“We are listening, we are watching, and we will attend meetings,” he said. “So far it sounds like you have been trying to address the questions we have, so thank you.”
Before the meeting adjourned, Planning Board Chair Lester Hensley asked CarMax how many jobs they anticipated the new location would create. McNamara said they expected a range of 160-180 positions, 75-80 percent of which would be full-time.
The Planning Board voted to continue discussion on the proposed CarMax location on Tuesday, June 4 at 7:40 p.m.
