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Vol. 49 | No. 45 | November 10, 2023
Northborough ZBA denies plans for ice cream restaurant
Westborough Connects kicks off Kindness Week
By Laura Hayes Managing Editor
By Maureen Sullivan Assistant Editor
NORTHBOROUGH – The Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) denied a proposal for a drivethrough ice cream restaurant at 305 and 309 Main Street during its Oct. 24 meeting. Chair Paul Tagliaferri and members Brad Blanchette and Suzy Cieslica voted against while Fran Bakstran and Mark Rutan voted in favor of a special permit for a drive-through and a special permit with site plan approval. “The proposal CAN BE modified to minimize adverse impacts to the residential neighborhood by eliminating the drive-through and egress onto East Main Street,” the ZBA wrote in its written decision. The applicant SALIII 305-309 Main Street, LLC sought to turn a site that formerly housed Texas BBQ Company into a drive-through ice cream restaurant with walk-up windows. The project called for 30 parking spaces, picnic tables and entry into the site on Route 20 and East Main Street. The board then finalized the written decisions during a meeting on Nov. 2. “At least for me personally, this was a tough decision,” said Tagliaferri Nov. 2. “This was a very complicated case. There were a lot of moving parts to it.” He said the ZBA listened to all of the testimony, went through all of the exhibits, held the hearing and took a month to deliberate. In the decision, the board argued that the project would adversely affect the nearby neigh-
WESTBOROUGH – Westborough Connects kicked off Kindness Week on Sunday, Nov. 5, with a variety of activities inside and outside the Westborough High School cafeteria. “Westborough Connects has really become a part of the fabric of Westborough,” said state Rep. Kate Donaghue (D-Westborough). Inside, visitors made no-sew blankets and cards for veterans, took part in a drumming circle and painted “kindness rocks.” There was also “kindness karaoke” where those who were inclined could step up to the mic and sing. Just outside, members of the Westborough Police and Fire departments were on hand to play catch with a football and cornhole with the kids. “It just gets better and better,” said Superintendent Amber Bock, one of the volunteers
ZBA | 12
Kindness Week | 12
Amber Bock, center, distributes glue sticks to Lacey and Logan Gasco during the kickoff to Kindness Week event.
Select Board signs agreement for Snow Road proposal By Maureen Sullivan Assistant Editor GRAFTON – A proposal to develop a piece of vacant land on Snow Road drew some sharp comments during the Select Board meeting on Oct. 24. The developers, James and Steven Venincasa of SJ Investments LLC, came before the board
to discuss the Local Initiative Program (LIP) agreement for 14 Snow Road, which will be a 40B project. “The 40B [process] would be better for the town in the long run,” as opposed to a 40R, said Town Manager Evan Brassard. He said the 40B “would give us the full amount of units” toward the town’s Subsidized Housing Inventory (SHI). Snow Road | 11
PHOTO/MAUREEN SULLIVAN