Planning board continues hearing on proposed contractor's yard at 101–105 Flanders Road after access concerns

An application to redevelop 101 and 105 Flanders Road into a contractor’s yard and a roughly 7,200‑square‑foot garage was presented April 2 to the Westborough Planning Board.

Vito Colonna of Cornerstone Engineering described combining two parcels into a single ~1.4‑acre lot, removing a former house, and filing a notice of intent with the Conservation Commission because of a regulated wetland in the site vicinity. Colonna said soils testing supports an on‑site septic system; a town sewer force main runs along the front of the property but connection there would be impractical.

The proposal includes a 120‑by‑60‑foot garage with five bay doors, two driveway accesses to facilitate fire‑truck movement through the site, 15 parking spaces and a subsurface infiltration system sized to treat new impervious area. Colonna said the design preserves a larger basin and uses a hydrodynamic separator for water quality.

Board members expressed strong concern about the primary Flanders Road access because sight lines and the turning radii for heavy trucks and trailers create safety risks. Multiple members suggested prioritizing the Old Flanders Road access, widening that driveway, or limiting the Flanders Road opening to emergency use only to reduce conflicts. The applicant said they would run vehicle templates and consider reworking the drive layout.

Planning staff recommended awaiting civil and stormwater peer review before action. The board voted 5–0 to continue the public hearing to April 16, 2024 to allow the applicant to provide additional access analysis and to respond to peer reviewers.

The application record is 24‑00356; the applicant noted plans to present to the Select Board on April 9. Materials are available through the town permitting portal and planning staff.