Shrewsbury Planning Board holds public hearings on two new projects

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By Melanie Petrucci, Senior Community Reporter

ShrewsburyShrewsbury – The Planning Board discussed two new projects at its Jan 7 meeting – a facility for rehabilitating stroke victims and 4,080 square foot medical building to be built at 235 Main St.

Duplex for rehabilitating stroke victims

The applicant Accessible Housing for Children, Elders and Disabled, LLC, is requesting to develop Lot 5 at 270 Green St. They would like to build a duplex and garage warehouse for Massachusetts Brain Injury Association. The facility will serve stroke victims who are rehabilitating.

James Tetreault, engineer from Thompson-Liston Associates, Inc., provided the overview on behalf of the applicant. Lot 5 is one of the last two lots from the Centech Park East subdivision.

“This is just going to be a duplex. There aren’t going to be special lighting or parking here, it’s just a residential use…” Tetreault remarked.

The parcel is zoned Limited Industrial but because of the intended use it qualifies for Dover Amendment zoning exemptions.

Board Vice Chair, Stephan Rodolakis questioned the use of the garage by other facilities and if so, it wouldn’t be within the confines of the Dover Amendment. (The Dover Amendment is the common name for Massachusetts General Law (MGL) Chapter 40A, Section 3. This law exempts agricultural, religious, and educational corporations from certain zoning restrictions.)

Because of the concerns over the garage and its use relative to the Dover Amendment, Town Planner Bernie Cahill will clarify the site plan. He is also waiting to receive the peer review letter.

Medical building to be built on Main Street at site of former Whittier Farms

The second project was for a 4,080 square foot medical building to be located at 235 Main St. The applicant is Luvin Realty of Hudson.

Shrewsbury attorney Richard Ricker spoke on behalf of the applicant and that the site has a long history of commercial uses, notably as the former Whittier Farms.

“This proposal is for a medical and dental [building],” he said, adding that Songbird Dental would like to relocate to the proposed new building.

He noted that they are scheduled to appear before the Conservation Commission and that they realize that this review will require a continuance before final approval.

John Grenier from J.M. Grenier Associates, Inc. in Marlborough, provided engineering details. He sited that some of the residents abutting the project had concerns over its elevation which they have addressed with landscaping and screening.

Karen O’Neill, 6 Thestland Dr., shared her thoughts, during the public hearing.

“I’ve lived at my property for many years and we’ve been anxiously waiting for a usage to go in behind us and this lot has been vacant since 2009 …it seems like a good match…I’m comfortable with what I’ve seen so far,” she said.

Related, the Board voted unanimously to issue a bond for site plan approval and special permit with DSM Realty Shrewsbury LLC in the amount of $109,576.25 for the Edgemere Crossing at Flint Pond development.

 

 

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