Trust hears progress on HB Cottages, Westborough Country Village and other site reviews

The Westborough Affordable Housing Trust received several project updates at its Dec. 13 meeting, including progress on site evaluations that will determine whether multiple proposed developments can move forward.

For the HB Cottages parcel, the trust reported WDA Design Associates has completed topography and wetlands flags and will perform test pits to advise septic design and the buildable footprint. "Next week, they're going out there to do test pits that will give us an idea of what kind of septic the site will...from which they'll be able to create some...first pass plot plan," Speaker 2 said, explaining that the information will indicate how many bedrooms the site can support and provide initial site-prep cost estimates.

Trust members also discussed the Beech Street / Westborough Country Village property. The committee is searching for the 1970s-era comprehensive permit recording and may consult Massachusetts'level records at the Housing Appeals Commission, Speaker 3 said. Because the site may historically have housed a tannery, the trust recommended at least a Phase I environmental assessment before further irreversible work. "If the phase 1 environmental indicates that there's risk, then you need to start doing something," Speaker 2 said.

On the 3 Baylor parcel, the trust heard that an official survey plan was submitted to the building department and that engineering comments are pending; the survey clarifies driveway location, grading, and underground utilities, allowing the contractor to adjust plans and proceed once sign-off is received. Trust counsel and staff are also finalizing agreements and reviewing permit timelines on Lyman Street and Connector Road projects, including a three-year permit horizon noted for conversions of permitted projects.

The trust said it will pursue environmental due diligence, gather historic permit records where necessary, and seek contact with property attorneys and regional housing authority staff as part of negotiations. Pending test-pit results and Phase I environmental reports will inform whether these sites can support affordable housing proposals and how the trust should proceed with RFPs or negotiations.