Neighbors Object to Mark's Business Expansion

Mark's Transportation, a company that holds contracts for school transportation, is seeking to rezone a portion of its East Main Street site for business uses. The Planning Board recommended against the rezoning, which heads to Annual Town Meeting.

Mark's Transportation is a school transportation company with offices in a commercial zone on East Main Street. But a large garage in the back of its lot is on property zoned for residential uses, because of its proximity to a small, densely populated neighborhood. On Tuesday, the Milford Planning Board voted 3-1 to recommend rejection of the rezoning, influenced by several neighbors who said the transportation company has disregarded their concerns about early-morning noise and troublesome employees. Voting against the board's majority was Patrick Kennelly, who cited the needs of small business. The request will go to Milford's Annual Town Meeting in May with an "unfavorable recommendation" from the Planning Board, which held a public …

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Main Street Buildings to be Razed, Potential for Two Building Sites

Two commercial buildings and four apartment houses on Main Street in Milford will be demolished by the end of summer, to allow the property owner to market the available land.

Six buildings on Main Street will be demolished within the next few months, to allow the property owner to market the land to potential business tenants. The cleared land could be divided into two lots, providing enough space for a pair of 4,000-square-foot retail buildings, the property owner's attorney told the Milford Planning Board Monday. Conceptually, he said, this could include a bank and a restaurant with drive-thrus, both with separate entrances. The six targeted buildings are on four contiguous lots that stretch from the Milford Upper Charles Trail path to the town parking lot across from Sacred Heart of Jesus Church. The structures include four apartment houses — which are occupied — and two vacant commercial buildings. No …

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Redevelopment Eyed for Main Street

One of the most forlorn looking stretches of Main Street could be redeveloped into new retail stores.

Several contiguous properties on Milford's Main Street are held by a single corporate owner, who is expected to reveal preliminary redevelopment plans on Tuesday. The properties include four apartment houses and two former businesses fronting Main Street, and stretch from the entrance of the Milford Upper Charles Trail on Main Street, next to Dunkin Donuts, to the community parking lot across from Sacred Heart of Jesus Church.  All are zoned for commercial uses: retail, said Larry Dunkin, the Milford town planner. At the request of the owner, the Planning Board on Tuesday has scheduled a discussion of possible redevelopment scenarios for the properties, which include 9, 15.5  and 17 Main St., as well as 19, 21, 23, 25 and 27 Main Street. …

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Blaire House Assisted Living Facility Approved

Milford's Planning Board approved a special permit that will allow a 42-unit, 50 bed, Blaire House Assisted Living Facility across from the existing Blaire House site.

A 42-unit assited living facility will take shape on property between Railroad Street and Cemetery Street, 13 years after the plans intially were approved. The Milford Planning Board unanimously approved a special permit Tuesday for the Blaire House assisted living facility. The board had first approved a special permit for the project in 1999, but the plans were not developed. The two-story, L-shaped structure will be located across Cemetery Street from the existing Blaire House. Access to the site wil be from separate drives on Railroad and Cemetery streets. The lot will have 38 spaces, 21 more than required. According to state Rep. John Fernandes, an attorney representing the property owner, nearly $1 million in site clearing and …

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Annual Town Meeting 2013

Medical Marijuana, an Industrial Zone Proposal

The Planning Board on Tuesday did not discuss proposed zoning for medical marijuana dispensaries due to a lack of attending members.

The Planning Board postponed its discussion of proposed zoning for medical marijuana treatment centers because two of five members did not attend the meeting, and the remaining board members said they wanted a full discussion of the issue. The initial proposal before the board would place medical marijuana treatment centers in either the industrial A or B zones. These zones include the Maple Street, Fortune Boulevard and Beaver Street areas. The proposed zoning setback, which would require the facilities to be at least 200 feet from churches, schools, houses, residential zones and public spaces such as parks, is similar to restrictions required for adult entertainment, said Town Planner Larry Dunkin. The Planning Board next meets in …

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Medical Marijuana Zoning Considered

The Planning Board on Tuesday will discuss a proposal to limit medical marijuana dispensaries to two industrial zones.

Medical marijuana treatment centers, authorized by Massachusetts voters in November, would be limited to two industrial zones in Milford, under a proposal to be discussed for the first time Tuesday. The industrial B and C zones run along Fortune Boulevard, Beaver Street, Maple Street and Industrial Drive, said town Planner Larry Dunkin. The proposed zoning amendment would also require a 200 foot setback from residential zones, schools, churches, parks, playgrounds or youth centers, under the draft. The Planning Board on Tuesday will discuss the proposal for the first time. After suggesting changes, a public hearing would be scheduled. Any vote to adopt the zoning amendment will require a two-thirds approval of Town Meeting representatives…

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Reconstruction Begins at Gasco Site

The gas station pumps and tanks have been removed at the former Gasco property.

Redevelopment of the former Gasco auto service building into medical offices began in recent weeks. The gas station pumps and fuel tanks have been removed from the site at Cape Road and South Main Street. In the spring, a contractor will renovate the remaining concrete-block building into a facility for medical offices, said Larry Dunkin, the Milford town planner. Access to the new site will be on the northern end of the triangular-shaped property, on to Cape Road. The redevelopment will close off the curb-cuts closer to the intersection with South Main Street. The Milford Planning Board and Zoning Board of Appeals approved the plans for the project earlier this year. Gasco has since moved its auto service business to a new location at 13 …

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Main Street Apartments: Not This Year

The Milford Planning Board agreed Tuesday to get the opinion of selectmen and other town officials on the idea of new apartments above Main Street. But no one is pushing for an article on the October Town Meeting warrant.

More apartments on Main Street in Milford? That's one thing Town Meeting voters in October won't be asked to consider. The Planning Board picked up the issue briefly Tuesday, long enough to vote to send a letter to Milford Selectmen, as well as other officials, asking them what they think. But no one is advocating to put the topic on the Oct. 24 Town Meeting warrant, which has a Sept. 24 deadline for submitting articles. No one seems to think a proposal that creates new housing in downtown Milford is going to get approved anytime soon. Supporters have advocated for new housing as a way to turn vacant space into taxable, useful space. And at least one affected property owner — who owns the Thom Building — said top-floor, renovated …

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Jim Rizoli

9:23 am on Wednesday, September 7, 2011

Jim Rizoli CCFIILE.COM All the Apts. in Downtown Framingham have illegal aliens living in them. Good luck....   more ›