WESTFORD — The Zoning Board of Appeals voted July 15 to continue a public hearing on a proposal involving an auto repair business at 31 North Street.
One of the property owners, Susan Merhi, appeared before the board seeking approval to operate a used car dealership with up to five display vehicles alongside their existing automotive repair business. The applicants said vehicle sales would be conducted by appointment only and would not require any changes to the building or expansion of the site’s footprint.
The applicants said the proposal would make better use of the existing parking layout by creating designated spaces for vehicles for sale while continuing repair operations.
Board members asked whether the property could satisfy Westford’s zoning requirements for parking while accommodating repair work, customer parking, employee vehicles and display vehicles for sale.
Chair Scott Mackay said the proposal appeared unable to meet the bylaw requiring parking spaces based on the building’s square footage and noted the property is located within a residential village district.
“I’m not in favor of it,” Mackay said, “As far as the sale of cars, okay, I’m not in favor of it. You are in an RV district. There are a lot of residences around there, you can’t meet the zoning requirements, the basic zoning requirements of one spot for 180 square feet.
Several abutters echoed those concerns during the public hearing.
The applicants said they understood the concerns and were willing to work with the town to reduce the number of vehicles kept on the property, operate by appointment when possible and establish conditions that would address neighborhood impacts.
During the hearing, the board also determined the existing automotive repair operation requires a new special permit. Rather than closing the hearing, the board agreed to continue discussions so staff could prepare a draft special permit addressing the repair business.
In other business, the Zoning Board of Appeals unanimously approved a special permit allowing Veronica Sullivan to open a private tattoo studio at 175 Littleton Road in the Commercial Highway District.
Sullivan, a tattoo artist with nearly nine years of experience, told the board she plans to relocate her appointment-only business from Leominster to Westford after building a large client base.
Board members asked Sullivan about licensing, disposal of needles and other materials, hours of operation and parking. Sullivan said she would be the studio’s only tattoo artist, would not offer piercings or tattoo removal, and would obtain the required Board of Health approvals before opening.
The board approved the permit subject to several conditions, including obtaining all required Board of Health licenses and inspections and complying with regulations governing the disposal of sharps and other materials.
One Response
A “residential village” is not a village, just bedroom community suburbia. Our villages were built around industry, by industry, for their workers, yet today the “residential only” NIMBYism is so strong that even existing businesses grandfathered into the zoning are prevented from enhancing their operations.
Not sure why any business owner would want to locate here, and not surprised so many major employers leave. Still sad though