Westborough Shopping Center housing project approved by Planning Board

WESTBOROUGH – The project to convert part of the Westborough Shopping Center into a mix of retail and housing has received approval from the Planning Board.

During its meeting on Tuesday, July 16, the board gave the green light on the special permit and site plan review application for 18 and 30 Lyman St.

The Colangelo family, which has owned the Westborough Shopping Center for nearly 50 years, wants to convert three buildings into a mix of retail and housing.

The buildings that once housed HomeGoods will be demolished, and a new building constructed. The first floor will feature two retail spaces. The second, third and fourth floors will house 37 units each. Housing will be a mix of studio units, one-bedroom units and two-bedroom units, for a total of 111 units.

There will also be underground parking and an interior courtyard.

At the J&N building, near Stop & Shop, the second-floor office space will be converted into a total of 21 units — six studio units, 11 one-bedroom units and four two-bedroom units.

Twenty-five percent of the units will be affordable, per an agreement with the town’s Affordable Housing Trust.

“I am very appreciative of the support of the town, including the Planning Board, Planning Department, the DPW and the Affordable Housing Trust, and look forward to moving the project forward,” said Mark Donahue, the attorney representing the applicant. “The Colangelos are to be commended for including 25% of the units for affordable housing with a preference to Westborough residents or people who work for the town of Westborough.”

The applicant has received a waiver on the sewer moratorium from the Department of Public Works. According to the DPW’s Chris Payant, the exemption was “based on their unique situation of having initiated the permitting process prior to the effective date of the moratorium.”

The applicant will also build a pocket park, as well as a trail along the northern part of Gannon Way that will be part of the BWALT network.

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