A proposed development across from the Roudenbush Community Center was back before the Planning Board on Monday with a new, smaller proposal.
Attorney Douglas Deschenes presented a proposal for two homes on Kinloch Drive, a private road utilizing an easement through 66 Main St., the house directly across from the Roudenbush Community Center.
A plan for three homes on the street was withdrawn several months ago after concerns from the Planning Board over traffic safety on the street.
Deschenes, and other representatives of Kinloch developer David Guthrie provided further details on the 6.5-acre development, which now will only feature two homes: one home already under construction along the Tom Paul Trail and another near the back of what remains of the property, adjacent to a conservation area gifted to town by Guthrie.
Due to a quirk in Westford’s zoning bylaws, the property of the home not yet under construction is nearly split in half, with a piece of land just behind 68 Main St. connected to the primary part of the property by a one-foot-wide strip, just north of the new street.
Residents of Wheeler Way, the street just feet south of the Kinloch Drive entrance, joined an attorney for 68 Main St. residents John and Regina Conway in speaking against this new plan as well. Specifically, they voiced concerns from previous hearings regarding safety issues along the road.
Deschenes noted that Kinloch Drive near Main Street will have 18 feet of pavement, part of a total 30-foot right-of-way. Past the easement, Kinloch Drive’s total right-of-way expands to 50 feet.
Currently Wheeler Drive has a 12-foot right-of-way according to Planning Board Chairman Dennis Galvin.
The matter was continued to the Planning Board’s Aug. 15 meeting pending some additional information requested by Westford town planner Jeff Morrissette.
Later in the meeting, another item relating to Westford’s town center came before the board, albeit a slightly less contentious one.
Muffins on Main, the bakery/coffee shop of Mike and Ellen Harde proposed at 40 Main St., went before the Planning Board after the proposed business was recently classified as a restaurant under Westford Zoning Bylaws.
Until recently, it was unclear that the septic system in the building would be able to handle the restaurant, leading Ellen Harde to plan for the use of the First Parish Church United only a few hundred feet away.
However, it was determined that the septic capabilities of the lot were sufficient, and with two baking ovens, the business would be classified as a restaurant rather than a retail establishment.
The Planning Board also discussed the parking situation at the proposed restaurant, which goes before the Zoning Board of Appeals on Wednesday.
Under Westford Zoning Bylaws, restaurants must have at least one parking space for every three seats for customers. Currently, 40 Main St. has eight parking spaces, but six of them have been allotted to the five residential tenants currently living in the building.
After recently purchasing the building, the Hardes sought support from the Planning Board regarding the parking requirements, as the restaurant would need two more parking spaces to meet requirements under the zoning bylaws for the ten proposed seats inside.
The Planning Board seemed generally sympathetic to the request, citing statements from Harde that the parking spaces used by the tenants could be used during the day when they leave for work, nearby parking is available on Connell Drive.
In a unanimous vote, the Planning Board approved that the matter regarding the retail to restaurant change will be handled by town staff through administrative review. The proposed restaurant will go before the Zoning Board of Appeals for a variance request on Wednesday.
Both the Zoning Board of Appeals and Planning Board meetings will be available for viewing on westfordcat.org within the next few days.
Disclosure: WestfordCAT’s office on Groton Road recently expanded into portions of Wescon, Guthrie’s development business.
You must be logged in to post a comment.