NORTHBOROUGH – The Planning Board approved a preliminary subdivision plan for Kimball Sand Company on Southwest Cutoff, which will essentially lock in the property’s zoning in the Industrial District.
“I don’t think there’s any secret here. The reasons why we’re submitting this is basically to freeze the zoning,” said James Almonte during the Planning Board’s May 7 meeting.
Almonte said the Kimballs do not have any plans to develop the property in the next several years.
“But they did want to keep their options open for future development, whatever that might be — industrial use or even complying with the new zoning of the new Highway Business District,” he said.
During Town Meeting, residents voted to rezone a portion of the Industrial District near the southwest connector to a new Highway Business Southwest District. The new district allows a number of uses by right and by special permit, including assisted living facilities, a hospital, retail stores, art studios or galleries, banks and restaurants, among others.
During a Planning Board meeting before Town Meeting, Town Planner Laurie Connors noted that the district includes Northborough Crossing and is also zoned for the major commercial overlay district, which allows for a variety of commercial uses. A lot of the uses that currently exist in this district are commercial, she said.
The property is 57.94 acres. Almonte said the existing site has several processing stations for the different types of aggregate onsite along with a scale house. Approximately 38 acres either have been or are currently being mined.
The preliminary plan calls for a two-lot industrial subdivision served by a cul-de-sac.
