NORTHBOROUGH – Voters approved two articles at Town Meeting on April 24 that will result in the creation of two subdistricts to comply with MBTA zoning requirements.
On the floor of Town Meeting, voters approved a reduction of the amount of acres in the downtown sub-district.
There are 177 communities in the state subject to the law. Northborough is designated as an MBTA adjacent community, meaning it is adjacent to a community with the commuter rail.
For the town, Northborough must create at least one zoning district where multifamily housing is permitted by right and meet specific criteria — a minimum gross density of 15 units per acre; the units must be suitable for families with children; and the town can require site plan approval, but it can’t be used to deny a project or impose conditions that would make the project infeasible.
Additionally, the zoning district must be at least 50 acres of developable land. If there are subdistricts, at least one of the subdistricts has to contain 25 contiguous acres of land. Subdistricts cannot be smaller than five acres of contiguous acres.
The first subdistrict is called the Southwest Connector Sub-District. It would be 47.94 acres and include three parcels — Avalon Northborough; an undeveloped, abutting parcel of land that has access off Route 20; and the Econo Lodge.
The second subdistrict is called the Downtown Sub-District. The district was originally proposed to contain 11.29 acres and encompass Town Hall, Matec Instruments, Heritage Village and five acres of EL Harvey and Sons.
During Town Meeting, several residents voiced concerns that the five acres at the Harvey property could result in 75 units. Resident Lois Vandekopple proposed reducing the amount of the Harvey property included in the sub-district to three units, which would reduce the number of units to 45.
Her amendment was approved by voters, and Town Meeting approved the combined articles by a vote of 137-34.
