Marlborough Walcott Heritage Farms Project Gets Key Approvals

MARLBOROUGH, MA — One of the largest proposed residential development projects in Marlborough has cleared two key city boards.

Both the Conservation Commission and the Zoning Board of Appeals have granted permits for the 188-unit Walcott Heritage Farms project. The project will next be heard before a City Council committee on Wednesday.

Connecticut-based developer Waypoint wants to build four buildings with 128 one-bedroom and 60 two-bedroom units on the 25-acre former McGee farm at 339 Boston Post Road East. About 15 percent of the units would be set aside as affordable. The developer's plan calls for about 20 acres of the former farm to be preserved as open space.

"We see tremendous benefits to Marlborough from Walcott Heritage Farms in the form of much-needed housing in proximity to the city’s revitalized downtown, the preservation of more than 20 acres of green space, and significant positive public revenue generation and economic activity stimulation,” Waypoint Senior Development Manager Tom Moran said in a news release.

However, the project is facing opposition from some residents. Marlborough resident Mary Bovaconti started a petition in the spring to present to City Council, which had garnered just over 1,100 signatures as of Monday.

In the petition, Bovaconti says she fears the development will cause traffic jams along Route 20, and degrade the environment.

Waypoint had to seek special permits from the ZBA and Conservation Commission to build in sensitive areas like wetlands. The Conservation Commission voted 4 to 2 on Sept. 3 to approve Waypoint's plans.

The City Council Urban Affairs Committee will review the plans in a meeting at 7 p.m. on Wednesday.