Marlborough council sends Professional Automotive expansion to Urban Affairs after hours of testimony

MARLBOROUGH -- July 24, 2023, Marlborough council punts Marino auto-repair expansion to Urban Affairs after hundreds back permit. The City Council on July 24 closed a public hearing on Rick Marino's special-permit request to expand Professional Automotive into the former Allen's Glass Works at 13-15 Mechanic St., with attorney David Click telling the council the property has been taxed as auto repair since at least 1987 and 447 letters of support already on file. More than a dozen residents spoke in favor under a two-minute limit. Urban Affairs chair Kathleen D. Robey reminded Marino the 2014 Marlborough Village District rezoning made minor auto repair non-allowed and said she "hadn't heard anything that would give me hope that this special permit would be approved." The council unanimously approved a rooftop wireless permit for Dish Wireless at 2 Mount Royal Ave., 10-0 with Councilor Wagner absent, and approved $274,015.54 in state 911 grants for the dispatch center.