Lowell Planning Board approves special permit for adult day health center at 260 High Street

The Lowell Planning Board on April 23 approved a special permit allowing an applicant to convert a package store at 260 High Street into an adult day health center, saying the uses and proposed operating plan addressed neighborhood concerns but must meet several conditions before the use proceeds.

The applicant, who identified herself as Windatch, told the board she operates a neighborhood pharmacy and plans to shift the pharmacy hours and use a combination of two vans (with the option to purchase a larger van) to bring participants to the center. "We will pick them up in the morning and bring them home in the afternoon," Windatch said, adding she runs a non‑emergency transportation company and will coordinate with local providers.

Board members repeatedly raised safety and circulation worries about the site, which is in an urban mixed‑use business zone with tight curbside parking and limited sight lines. One member read transportation comments from the planning memo asking how drop‑offs would be handled, whether the existing on‑site paved area would be used for van loading and where staff parking would be located. Several board members said the site is a challenging location for vehicle egress and that strict conditions were needed to reduce the risk of conflicts with pedestrian and peak traffic.

To address those concerns, the board approved the special permit subject to conditions the motion listed: the owner‑operator must provide transportation for clients, staff parking must be off‑site, the facility must be limited to no more than 30 clients as tied to the special permit, and the operator must provide staff assistance for van egress and entry (but the board explicitly declined to require staff to direct traffic in the public way). The motion was seconded and adopted by voice vote; the transcript does not record individual names for the mover and seconder or a roll‑call tally.

The applicant also told the board she will work with an architect and the city building and fire officials on code compliance, and she said the facility will not serve on‑site prepared meals but will arrange for meals from restaurants or a dietician’s recommendations. Board members noted state licensing and staffing ratios will apply when the applicant seeks an adult day health license.

What happens next: the special permit approval allows the applicant to proceed to the more detailed site plan and building permitting stages; the board reminded the applicant she will need to return for a site plan review and any building‑permit approvals and that compliance with fire and building codes — including sprinkler and alarm system requirements — must be demonstrated before occupancy.

The Planning Board framed its approval as conditional and procedural: while members expressed support for the proposed service and confidence in the applicant’s experience, they emphasized the conditions are intended to mitigate traffic and safety impacts at a constrained downtown intersection.