Politics & Government

Library Drainage Plans Modified, Medical Facility Proposed

Notes from this week's meeting of the Westwood Planning Board.

Westwood Library EIDR Plans Modified

The Tuesday night approved revised drainage plans for the new Westwood Public Library this week, which entail modifications to various portions of the project.

The revised plans involve adding a stormceptor to the parking area behind the future site of the Colburn School, as well as substituting a 15-inch drain line with a new 12-inch drain line running from the parking lot to the drainage system along High Street, according to Westwood Town Planner Nora Loughnane.

Proposed Medical Facility on Allied Drive

The Board reviewed plans for a proposed new multi-story medical office and out-patient facility on Allied Drive. The building would replace an existing, single-story structure on the road.

The proponents involved - the Greater Boston Musculoskeletal Center Real Estate Company, LLC, represented by Peter A. Zahka, II, P.C. - expressed interest in applying for a special permit under the new Flexible Multiple Use Overlay District section of the town's zoning bylaw, and said they plan to file applications with the Westwood and Dedham Planning Boards and Conservation Commissions.

"The new building would straddle the Dedham-Westwood town line," Loughnane said. "The Planning Board was receptive to holding concurrent public hearings with the Dedham Planning Board."

Moreover, the Board also entertained the idea of holding simultaneous public hearings with the town's Conservation Commissions, though members said they understood planning such hearings when all board members were available could provide for some difficulty, Loughnane said.

Board Supports Grant Applications for Rte. 1 Redevelopment, Bike Plan

The Board voted to support two Sustainable Communities Place Based grant applications on Tuesday. The first of the two applications would request funding for the creation of a Glacier Drive-Everett Street/Rte. 1 redevelopment plan.

"The idea would be to use the Everett Street/Glacier Drive Commercial Study prepared in 2002 as a starting point, and create an achievable site development plan for the area reflecting the expanded range of possibilities now available under the town's new FMUOD bylaw," Loughnane wrote in an email to Westwood Patch.

Property owners in the area would be invited to participate in the plan, and the grant would fund consultant services for the plan development. The public participation would be overseen by the Planning Board and Westwood Economic Development Advisory Board.

The second application would request funding for the development of a comprehensive pedestrian and bicycle plan for the town. If approved, a private consultant or the Metropolitan Area Planning Council would work with the Westwood Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety Committee with the aim of creating town-wide mapping and a bike path to be adopted by the Planning Board.

Find out what's happening in Westwoodwith free, real-time updates from Patch.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here