Urban Affairs Committee reopens Walcott Heritage Farms review, sets Oct. 22 traffic session

MARLBOROUGH — October 14, 2020 — Marlborough Urban Affairs Committee reopens 188-unit Walcott Heritage Farms review with density and traffic in the crosshairs. Attorney Brian Falk of Mirick O'Connell, with Waypoint Real Estate Investments' Tom Moran and planning consultant Robert Buckley, told the committee the four-building project on the former McGee Farm at 339 Boston Post Road East would preserve more than 70 percent of the 26-acre site as open space, restrict 29 of the 188 units as affordable, generate over $570,000 in annual net city revenue and add an estimated 15 school-age children. Councilor David Doucette and Councilor Donald Landers questioned the scale, with Landers calling four buildings of roughly 47 units each too large for the buildable footprint. Councilor Kelly Wagner cited water demand of 38,284 gallons per day, on-site asbestos and oil tanks, and DEP's "strong" rooftop-solar recommendation. Councilor Dumas, using city GIS, said the actual buildable area is closer to five acres than 25. Chair Kathleen Robey scheduled an Oct. 22 traffic-focused meeting.