By Priscilla Yeon - Daily News Transcript
Friday, December 2, 2005
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WESTWOOD -- After months of negotiations, development giant Cabot, Cabot & Forbes and neighbors who live near University Avenue have reached an accord on developing 6.5 acres in their midst.
Whitewood Road resident James Fox yesterday said his neighborhood group, Whitewood Acres Neighborhood Association, voted 24-1 in favor of signing a proposal containing terms and conditions on developing what is called the "White parcel"
Previously owned by the White family, the parcel, which sits at the corner of Whitewood Road, Blue Hill Drive and University Avenue, was recently purchased by CC&F.
According to Fox, one of the directors and clerk of the association, and CC&F President Jay Doherty, the agreement says the development will include an office, facing University Avenue, that is no higher three stories. It also includes a 150-foot-wide green buffer between the neighborhood and the office, as well as a single-family ho the back of the parcel.
Fox and Doherty said the buffer zone area is also subject to development restrictions
to ensure preservation of its mature vegetation.
Situated between the residential and industrial zones, the White parcel's zoning is
subject to change, from residential to mixed-use, at Town Meeting.
"We're planning to have an article on the town warrant to approve a shift on that
zoning to allow office and mixed-use (development)," said Doherty.
The Whitewood neighbors are supportive of the change in zoning, said Fox.
"We agree it's a strange parcel," said Fox, referring to its location.
Doherty said he would like to bring an office building "with a prominent architecture"
at the location to accentuate the corner entrance to the existing industrial park.
"An office building is also a good buffer for sound," said Doherty.
As opposed to retail, Doherty said an office business would only operate Monday
through Friday.
"It's a way of putting a good structure as a buffer between the development and the
neighborhood," said Doherty.
Concerned with the magnitude of the development near their homes, the Whitewood neighbors expressed their wishes for the past year on what they would prefer to see in the White parcel.
The agreement sends a positive signal to town officials, who are aware of the neighbors' concerns about an increase in traffic and an unpleasant aesthetic vista of tall buildings from their homes.
"As a town we recognize there are many factors that will make the redevelopment of University Avenue successful. It is very important as we proceed to support the efforts of the Whitewood neighbors," said Selectman Nancy Hyde, who is also chairman of the steering committee overseeing the development. "We're pleased to see the neighbors and the developer have worked cooperatively and they've reached an agreement on how the White parcel will be handled vis-a-vis the development."
Fox said he is pleased town officials have arranged communication between the
neighbors and the developer early in the process.
"There's no question the neighborhood is nervous about what's going up there, especially traffic," said Fox. "At least it started off on the right track and the neighborhood appreciates the developer for being so up front with us."
According to Doherty, the recent agreement between the neighbors and his
company "is just the beginning."
..We expect to keep on working with the neighborhood, as well as with other neighbors, and town officials," he said.
Priscilla Yeon can be reached at 781-433-8355 or pyeon@cnc.com
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