Marlborough council sends downtown zoning rewrite, 475-unit Green District back to committee

MARLBOROUGH — September 18, 2023 — Marlborough council advances 475-unit Green District expansion and downtown zoning overhaul to committee. The council referred both Post Road Realty's special-permit application for phases three and four of the Green District at Simarano Drive and Cedar Hill Street, and At-Large Councilor Kathleen Roby's rewrite of the Marlborough Village District ordinance, to Urban Affairs after extended public hearings. Roby's draft would convert mixed-use and hotels from by-right to special permit downtown, require 12 percent affordable units in all projects of eight or more units citywide, cut maximum height to 60 feet, and raise the parking buyout from $10,000 to $25,000 per space. Attorney Arthur Bergeron and former Councilor Joseph Delano led opposition, urging postponement until the next mayor and council take office in January. The council approved 10-1 a special permit for an auto-repair expansion at 1315 Mechanic St., with Councilor Wagner opposed, and approved 10-0-1 a 17-unit armory conversion at 358 Lincoln St.