BJ’s redevelopment project green lit by Westborough Planning Board

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BJ’s redevelopment project green lit by Westborough Planning Board
25 Research Drive has, for the past 10 years, been home to the headquarters of BJ’s Wholesalers. (Photo/Tami White)

WESTBOROUGH – Plans to redevelop the soon-to-be former BJ’s headquarters in Westborough were unanimously approved by the Planning Board on Aug. 30. 

The developers plan on developing the property into an innovation campus.

“Welcome to town,” said Chair Mark Silverberg following the Planning Board’s vote. “I’m excited to see what you guys build.” 

What is proposed at BJ’s site

BJ’s plans to relocate its headquarters from Westborough to Marlborough. 

The Boston-based real estate developer Samuels & Associates had filed plans to redevelop both the BJ’s site at 25 Research Drive and a property occupied by Triboro Crane and Rigging Services at 29 Research Drive. 

Together, the two properties would make up a 68.11-acre parcel.

On that site, Samuels & Associates wants to develop an innovation campus that would include a combination of life science, research and development, office and amenity spaces and GMP manufacturing. 

The developers want to demolish the existing buildings and build a total of four buildings at 270,000, 235,000, 200,000 and 10,000 square feet. The last would be an amenities building. 

The developers will provide a connection available to the public to the Walkup and Robinson Memorial Reservation trails and work with the town’s Conservation Commission during the process of constructing it. 

Samuels & Associates presented their plans for the project to the Select Board back in April.

“Right now, the site is occupied by some very dated buildings as far as bringing in tenants and attracting the types of tenants and the quality of tenants that we would like to have at this location,” said Senior Vice President of Development Mike Fitzpatrick during the Select Board meeting.

Sewer capacity concerns

Back in May, the developers and Planning Board members voiced concerns about sewer capacity for the project. 

At that May meeting, Fitzpatrick said that when they applied for the project, they communicated that they were looking at a certain amount of sewer flow.

“We were told loud and clear that the town isn’t yet able to commit to that amount, and that we have to collectively look at how we might revisit some of the elements of what we’re proposing for building systems and design that could have a reduction of flow,” Fitzpatrick said. 

During the Aug. 23 meeting, Town Planner Jim Robbins said a work session had been held with the applicant to discuss the mitigation.

Samuels & Associates’ attorney Marshall Gould said they have agreed to pay a certain amount in mitigation funds, which would go toward trying to improve the sewer capacity situation in the town and study and implement an infiltration and inflow study.

The amount is $2,050,000, according to Gould. 

The mitigation payments will be deposited into Westborough’s mitigation stabilization fund. 

Westborough has committed to allocating 245,000 gallons a day for water use and 100,000 gallons a day for sewer flow for the project. 

“On behalf of the applicant, … this was a large project, complex, relatively new of this type to the town and for me,” said Gould.

He said it was a pleasure to work with the Planning Board, the town’s working group on the project and town departments. 

“It’s been an excellent process,” Gould said.

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