Urban Affairs Committee approves Jefferson Street rezoning with one parcel amendment

MARLBOROUGH -- May 5, 2022, Marlborough Urban Affairs Committee advances Jefferson Street rezoning, moving one parcel into Residence B. The committee voted 5-0 to send the mayor's zoning map amendment for roughly a dozen parcels on map 56 to the full council, after amending it to shift parcel 56-153 from Neighborhood Business into Residence B. Chair Councilor Roby argued that several city-owned and privately-owned parcels, including 56-147, 56-148 and 56-150, had no real connection to the new Neighborhood Business district except the Assabet River Rail Trail, and that the 56-148 owner was "adamant" he did not want the change. Councilor Wagner countered that keeping "that large swath … commercial automotive concerns me" given the planned ALTA mixed-use project at Lincoln and Mechanic Streets. A second amendment from Councilor Doucet to keep those three parcels Commercial Automotive failed, with Wagner, Landers and Navin opposed. The Planning Board had recommended the change 6-0 on April 25.