EMC’s plan to build a 10-building complex on 445 acres on the Westborough-Southborough line may have been approved by the Southborough Planning Board, but it still needs the okay of both the Southborough and Westborough conservations commissions.
In a special town meeting last night, Westborough voters approved a wetlands protection article that will give their conservation commission broader authority. The article doesn’t itself create new bylaws; rather it gives the conservation commission the authority to enact new ones.
The decision by voters may or may not impact the EMC project. In a recent agreement with Westborough, EMC will resubmit their proposal. If they resubmit it before new bylaws are enacted, they’ll be grandfathered in. But if they resubmit after new bylaws are enacted, they’ll need to conform.
Westborough is one of 177 Massachusetts towns, including Southborough, that have wetlands protection bylaws.
More details on the town meeting vote in this article by the Worcester Telegram & Gazette, and on the potential implications in this one from the Boston Globe.
Related posts:
EMC plan approved
EMC resolves dispute with Westborough, now on to Southborough
Westborough Conservation Commission seeks broader authority
