Residents Express Concern Over Hospital's Expansion at 620 Washington Street

On Wednesday night the Planning Board failed to provide a recommendation on the proposed use of 620 Washingotn Street by Winchester Hospital.

"This can't be phrased as a motion," Chairman Drew Bottaro said. "The Planner (Betsy Ware) will work out a memo to the ZBA with the concerns discussed tonight."

At times the debate on the issue became contentious and Bottaro had to use his gavel to bring order to the packed conference room at Town Hall.

Residents are worried that use of the building by the hospital will aversely impact the community.

"I'm concerned about the increase in traffic on the roads," Pamela Dill said. "What I see is backed up traffic."

Others feel that the hospital has not been straightforward in their approach.

"At first they estimated that this would create an increase on the road of 4,000 trips per day and now they're saying it's only 381," Jim Wilkinson said. "How did this estimate change? Do they expect their customers to be carpooling? How could it drop off to one tenth of the previous estimate?"

The hospital contends that they need 620 Washington Street for medical offices in order to free up their primary location for more urgent care. They claim that Winchester Hospital is currently pressed beyond its capacity.

"The hospital needs the facility to help save lives," said Larry Murray, the hospital's attorney.

The other concern was the recently purchased property at 1021 Main Street. In order for the building to avoid a site review process it must be deemed grandfathered from current regulations. To achieve that designation the property must have been used during the past two years.

And this is one area of dispute. Residents who have appealed the use of the site claim that it has been abandoned while the hospital says that it has received some use over the past two years.

"There has been chatter on the legal status of this," Bottaro said.  "We are not the fact-finding body to decide if this will go forward. I have not even been to the building. We are not the ZBA."

The Zoning Board of Appeals will make the determination as to the building's status on Tuesday night.

Tensions ran high at points as the crowd overflowed from the meeting room into the hallway.

"I'd like someone to reassure us that the meetings we went to for years actually mean something here," said resident Jim Wilkinson.

Betsy Ware conceded that the town has perhaps not followed through with some questionable zoning issues.

"This is the third development agreement that passed my desk that isn't enforced," she said. "It would appear the building is abandoned.  The ZBA needs to consider whether it is."

While residents vocally protested the planned construction, it was left to attorney Larry Murray to defend the project. When one resident questioned the motivations of the hospital he rose to his feet and was emphatic.

"This is disingenuous," Murray said. "The hospital saves lives everyday. It's a critical part of the community."

With passions high, the Planning Board became concerned with its own legal position in the matter.

"We need counsel at meetings like this," said board member Maureen Meister. "I'm perplexed at how to proceed."

The Board's decision was to issue a memo to the Zoning Board of Appeals outlining the concerns expressed by Winchester residents. The ZBA will meet on Sep. 21.