Shrewsbury Flea Market Approved on Oak Street

Residents had opposed the plan for a flea market on Route 9 near Oak Street, but the Planning Board approved the plan unanimously last night.

The board voted 4-0 to approve the plan, with many conditions in place, according to the Daily Shrewsbury.

One of the conditions is to make Route 9 the main exit and entrance, hiring a police detail to deal with traffic on nearby roads and parking lots.

The owner, Danny Ha, said he would comply with the conditions.

Residents have sent letters of opposition to the , Planning Board and the Town Manager Dan Morgado.

"Because of the number of vendors selling their merchandise, the town will have little to no control of what is being sold, whether it is clothing, gadgets, appliances, household items, chemicals, questionable paraphernalia, et. al." Morrissey writes. "Keep in mind that there is Oak Middle School and the Montessori School just up the road. Do we need a potential area for the exchange of illegal substances or paraphernalia? How do you control it, if you don't know the background of the potential vendors (and changing vendors)?"

Morrissey cited 22 concerns total including how emergency vehicles will access the nieghbors and how the additional vendors could impact the town water and sewer capacities.

"I could go on and on, but I think that the overall neighborhood concerns are legitimate, particularly when you consider the number of real estate tax dollars coming from these neighborhoods," Morrissey wrote. "The cost impact to the town itself needs to be scrutinized."

The neighbors fight will continue in the Conservation Commission later this month and will eventually have to go before the Board of Selectman as well, according to the Daily Shrewsbury.