Above: The forum a week from tonight isn’t about the proposed zoning Article. Instead the focus will be on the development project the Select Board and a developer hope re-zoning will make possible. (image of cropped flyer)
The Select Board is inviting the public to join them at a Public Forum with a Q&A on the proposed project to bring a Costco to the old EMC campus behind Madison Place.
Unlike recent public meetings and hearings on the zoning amendments proposed by Atlantic, this evening will focus on the project the new zoning is intended to make possible.
The forum will be held a week from tonight, Thursday, October 9th in the Town House Hearing Room at 7:00 pm.
The public can also participate over zoom, or watch the recording later via YouTube or Southborough Access Media’s government cable access channel.1.
The meeting will feature a presentation from Atlantic Management — the owners of the proposed site, at 21 Coslin Drive.
For those who haven’t been following this story — Current zoning uses for properties in the Industrial Park zone don’t cover a large retail outlet like Costco. So, the developer has proposed revising the zoning bylaws to add a special permitted use (Major Highway Retail) on their property.2.
The Select Board and the developer are asking voters to turn out in support of the zoning request under Article 1 on the Warrant for a Special Town Meeting scheduled for Monday, October 27th.
If the zoning Article passes, the developer would still have to go through public hearings under the Planning Board for a discretionary special permit and the major site plan review. At that time, the public would have the chance to ask questions and raise concerns. And the Planning Board is charged with rejecting discretionary permits if they have cause to believe a project isn’t beneficial to the community.
Still, the Select Board and developer appear to believe that getting the Article passed by 2/3 of Town Meeting voters is more likely if they can answer in advance any questions/concerns that residents may have. (They are also bound to use the forum to pitch the benefits of attracting Costco to town.)
A comment posted by Select Board member Kathy Cook about the planned forum explains:
I have been to several groups in Southborough since the Costco announcement to discuss the project and there have been specific questions asked including traffic impact, septic plans, etc. The Select Board wants the public to have a chance to discuss their concerns about the project with Atlantic directly.
Her comment also indicates that the presentation will touch on Atlantic’s plans for the abutting parcel they own at 32 Coslin Drive.
You can read more about the zoning Article details in my past coverage. You can read the Select Board’s letter pitching why voters should be excited about the possibility of bringing in a Costco here.
The October 27th Special Town Meeting will be held at Trottier Middle School. It is scheduled to open at 6:30 pm. (The related zoning Article is the first on the Warrant.) The Town’s website includes a dedicated page, which notes:
Children are welcome
Parents can bring children and remain with them in the cafeteria which will have full audio and video coverage from the auditorium, enabling voters to fully participate in the meeting.The [deadline] to register to vote to attend this meeting is 5pm, October 17.
You may register to vote online or in person at the Town Clerk’s office, located in the Town House at 17 Common Street.
- You can check SAM’s cable channel details and schedule here.
- The zoning use would not extend to any other properties, even if they are designated in the Industrial Park zone.
