Meeting Summary
The Westford Planning Board met on May 19 and discussed several matters. During the open forum, it was announced that three upcoming studies will be seeking citizen volunteers:
- An update to the Open Space and Recreation Plan
- A pedestrian master plan for the multifamily housing overlay district
- A Route 40 corridor study
Planning Board Member Bob Shaffer shared some discussion items with other board members that people brought up to him when he was recently running for re-election for planning board:
- Hybrid meetings—would like to schedule a general discussion about hybrid meetings using Zoom for planning board
- Schedule a continuation of the discussion about what will be the board policy for when items are postponed after the packets are received
- Schedule a discussion to establish a policy asking for scale mock-up for signs of excessive size with a comparison to surrounding businesses
- How do we measure concerns about traffic from the Boston Road construction? People are asking about Concord Road and Hildreth Street already seeing an overflow of traffic.
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Public Hearings
PB2505 (37 Powers Road): The applicant requested to continue this matter without discussion to June 2 meeting. The motion was continued.
PB25070 (70 and 415 Groton Road): Seal Harbor LLC requested for a 65-foot-long common driveway special permit to serve two residential lots and a stormwater management permit and modification for a previously approved lot for PB 2426 SWM. The board is familiar with this as it was discussed at the last meeting. The permits and modification are for a few different residential lots. Discussion about maintenance responsibilities for the road. The hearing was continued to June 2.
PB2509 (11 Cornerstone Square Unit A500): This hearing was rescheduled to June 2 due to a required public notice not being published in the newspaper.
PB2510 (Kinloch Drive/64 and 66 Main Street): Archstone Builders requested modifications to a previously approved subdivision, specifically regarding roadway and drainage construction. The applicant proposed replacing granite curbing with Cape Cod berms and reducing road width, varying in different sections. Concerns were raised regarding the drainage due to sloping and if changes will affect drainage. The applicant said the amount of impervious surface is not changing, but more yard runoff will occur. Members of the public asked various questions, including about traffic and a board member asked about how the road will be plowed for snow. The matter was continued to June 2 to allow for engineering department comments.
General Business
PB2414 (87 West Street): The board approved a draft decision for an after-the-fact request for a project that generated more than one acre of disturbance for the construction of a 6,000-square-foot garage, tree removal and installation of drainage. The timeline was changed from 120 to 180 days and it was approved.
PB2513 (142 Littleton Road, Unit 7): The board approved a change of use from retail sales (previously 110 Nutrition) to a medical office (Revival Aesthetics), noting it would likely generate less traffic.
Board Reorganization
The board appointed:
- Mike Bonenfant as Chair
- Bob Shaffer as Vice Chair
- Joan Croteau as NIMOG Representative
- Dylan O’Connor as CPC Representative
- Mike Bonenfant for Stormwater Panel
- Joan Croteau for Pedestrian Safety Committee
- Bob Shaffer for MCMOD Pedestrian Improvement Plan Committee
- Mike Bonenfant for Route 40 Corridor Study Committee
- Left Open Space Recreation Plan Update Committee position open pending more information
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The meeting adjourned following these appointments.
This summary was AI-generated and WestfordCAT reporter approved.
