Htway Supports Second Access for Westborough Woods

Westborough Building Commissioner Tin Htway is recommending that the proposed Westborough Woods housing project have a secondary access.

However, representatives of developer 346 Turnpike Road LLC. responded that they've covered this ground already.

The zoning board of appeals heard these comments during its public hearing Monday night on the developer's request for a comprehensive permit under the state's Chapter 40B affordable housing law. 

The board later closed the hearing and continued its discussion to 7:40 p.m. next Monday, May 6 at the Forbes Municipal Building.

Monday night, the parties reviewed a draft decision prepared by town consultant Ralph Wilmer.

Htway presented a March 25 memo he wrote to the board.

He noted a number of concerns related to the project lone public access being from Route 9.

He recommended looking into a second access from Valente Drive or Otis Street.

"I would like to see reasons why it cannot be done," Htway said.

Emergency vehicles needing UMass Memorial Medical Center must do a U-turn at Route 9 at Otis Street because other left turns are prohibited there, Htway said.

Htway recommended reducing the project to less than 100 units if the second access can't be created.

Consultant Bob Engler said Police Chief Alan Gordon and Fire Chief Nick Perron both are comfortable with having one access.

"We think we've done the job that the bylaw asked us to do," Engler said.

"We cannot do a secondary access. It's just not in the cards."

The 314,230-square-foot project consists of 250 rental apartments, of which 62 would be affordable; a 6,234-square-foot clubhouse with outdoor swimming pool; and a 5,234-square-foot retail building, according to the Sept. 7 Certificate of the state Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs on the Environmental Notification Form.