Planning Board to Discuss Westborough Woods

The Westborough Planning Board on Tuesday night will discuss the Westborough Woods housing project, proposed for Route 9 near Otis Street.

The topic is on the agenda under old business/new business without a specific time. The board meets at 7 p.m. at the Forbes Municipal Building.

The zoning board of appeals is holding a public hearing on developer 346 Turnpike Road's request for a comprehensive permit under the state's Chapter 40B affordable housing law. The board discussed the project last Monday. The hearing continues at 7:30 p.m. April 29.

The 314,230-square-foot Westborough Woods project proposed for 346 Turnpike Road 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.

School officials are concerned about student safety on school buses serving the proposed subdivision, which, as proposed, will be accessible only from Route 9. School buses would have to drive the cloverleaf at routes 9 and 20, school officials say.

School officials want town officials to support a second access to the property, for this reason.

In February, town consultant Robert Nagi told the zoning board that the Massachusetts Department of Transportation is “comfortable” with Westborough school buses traveling on Route 9 to serve Westborough Woods.