Planning board continues hearing on 10 Wall Street mixed‑use proposal; applicant seeks restaurant and three apartments

The Foxborough Planning Board on June 11 continued the public hearing on a special‑permit application for 10 Wall Street after hearing a presentation from the applicant team and technical consultants.

Project representative John Lovely introduced the plan to convert the former Raycraft Press building into a mixed‑use property with a restaurant on the first floor and up to three apartments on the second floor. "This is a seven‑figure investment," Lovely said, adding the proposal is meant to fit within the town's overlay bylaw and that the team replaced the original architect, who went on medical leave, with Cowwell Group and Jamie Hughes to finish designs.

Civil engineer Bill Buckley said the parcel is roughly 12,700 square feet and that the project will not significantly expand the building footprint aside from accessibility upgrades. He said a sprinkler system will be required once residential and restaurant uses are combined, which will necessitate bringing a water line in from Wall Street. "The parcel of land is an existing piece of land. It's about 12,700 square ft," Buckley said.

Buckley explained the parking analysis: the three proposed three‑bedroom units require 1.5 spaces per unit (about 4.5 spaces) and the team is proposing five on‑site spaces; the restaurant is estimated at about 4,750 square feet and would require roughly 16 spaces. He said there are approximately 93 public parking spaces within a 500‑foot radius, including the municipal lot behind the site, on‑street spaces on Wall Street and spaces at town hall.

During Q&A, board members raised operational concerns including snow removal, trash, and whether on‑lot spaces are exclusive. The applicant said the Central Street municipal lot was created decades ago through an easement that obligates shared use and town maintenance. The project team said they had asked town counsel about whether those spaces must be reclaimed as private; "Town council responded, 'No, that that isn't a requirement,'" Lovely said, and the team suggested including lease language that would inform tenants the spaces are not exclusive.

The board discussed the project's placement in the town's design‑review district. Lovely said the team will present finished architectural renderings to the design review board and return to the planning board prepared to close the hearing. A board member moved to continue the public hearing to July 23 at 7:05 p.m.; another board member seconded and the motion carried.

What happens next: the applicant will work with Cowwell Group to finalize exterior designs, complete design review, and return to the planning board on July 23 with refined drawings and a request to close the hearing.