SHREWSBURY – McGovern Auto Group is one step closer to bringing a collision and fit-up center to Shrewsbury.
The Select Board unanimously voted to approve a revised garage license for the proposed center at 420 Boston Turnpike during a meeting Oct. 11.
The changes made to the garage license come after the addition of a proposed Floor & Decor to the site.
The site has operated as a manufacturing facility and used to host flea markets. During past presentations to Shrewsbury boards, McGovern’s attorney Richard Ricker has said that the property has troubled local emergency officials.
“I personally have spoken in the past with three of the most recent fire chiefs, and in each of those conversations, it was related to me that they felt that those buildings were the most dangerous in this community,” Ricker said during a February Select Board meeting.
In September 2021, McGovern purchased the 15.4-acre property, and in February, the company presented their plans for the site to the Select Board.
McGovern wants to use the site as a collision and fit-up center that would fit lights and amenities onto vehicles such as police cars and fire trucks.
The collision center would also service McGovern’s local dealerships, including the Autobahn USA and McGovern Buick GMC dealerships in Westborough and the Audi and BMW dealerships in Shrewsbury.
At that time, the Select Board approved a garage license for the project, which will allow them to operate this center.
Later that month, McGovern went before the Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) to request two special permits, which were approved.
This September, a Floor & Decor was added to the proposed site.
Now, as their plans changed, the company went before the Select Board for revisions to the garage license.
They include a reduction from 333 to 245 parking spots, which would be used for inventory storage and repairs, according to Ricker.
Select Board Chair Moe DePalo raised his concerns regarding the visibility of damaged vehicles.
President of McGovern Automotive Group Matt McGovern agreed with DePalo’s concerns and said the damaged vehicles would be stored close to the building and the new vehicles would be located in the area of Oak Street.
McGovern added that the collision and fit-up center “will certainly repair anything from a small dent to larger hits.”
On Monday, crews were busy demolishing the former building.
McGovern will now go before the ZBA later this evening with its revised plans.
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