Natick Planning Board Reviews Proposal For Biotech Lab

NATICK, MA - The Natick Planning Board Wednesday night heard a revised plan for a biotech research and development facility to replace the Neiman Marcus store at the Natick Mall.

About 140 people attended the virtual meeting, according to Chair Andrew Meyer, including residents of Nouvelle at Natick, a luxury condominium complex across from the property. Meyer stressed that this is not an approval hearing, but it is the first chance for the Planning Board to review the design and ask questions about the property, located at 30 Speen St.

"We are going to do a thorough review," he said. "We're starting with a blank slate."

His focus for the meeting was the regulatory issues involved and who would oversee their enforcement.

The property is in an area known as "the Golden Triangle," the commercial district located at the Route 30/Speen St. intersection. While the district includes a number of subdistricts and overlay districts, the property under consideration is zoned industrial, which would make research and development an allowed use.

Attorney Peter Barbieri led the presentation on behalf of the applicant. He explained that the zoning would allow for the building to be up to 50,000 square feet, but it is being proposed for 34,000 square feet. The mechanical space on the third floor is non-occupiable and does not count toward the building height.

Robert Schlager, CEO of Bullfinch Companies, spoke on behalf of NM Redevelopment Company, which owns the property. NM Redevelopment, a subsidiary of Boston real estate firm Bulfinch Companies Inc., partnered with Chicago-based investment management firm Harrison Street to buy the 94,000-square-foot property for $12.6 million last December. Neiman Marcus's lease expires in September.

The proposal calls for the western edge of the building to be pulled 60 feet away from the mall. There will be a 34-foot-tall mechanical screen wall to hide the mechanical equipment from view. An atrium is proposed at the entrance that will bring light into the building as well as a roof terrace. The design attempts to break the facade of the building into multiple components.

Environmental health and safety professional Elizabeth Gilman Duane explained that biotech companies "work with very small amounts of chemicals and biological materials" compared with hospital labs and auto repair shops.

"The life sciences industry has always been heavily regulated at the local, state and federal level," she added. The lab the developer is hoping to attract will be working at either the first or second level of four biosafety levels. She said technicians would be working with DNA sequencing and E. coli bacteria at these lower levels, with work performed in test tubes.

Gilman Duane stressed that "there's no identified tenant" at this time.

The chair asked if any type of animal experimentation would be conducted at the facility. Gilman Duane said there was no plan to build an animal facility, and that companies are moving away from animal testing.

Board member Douglas Landry called it "a fairly straightforward project" that is an allowed use for the space.

"I am really thrilled that Natick is being looked at for this kind of use," he added, calling it a "great reuse of the mall" that would generate tax revenue, mirroring a national trend.

Member Peter Nottonson questioned the height of the screening, expressing concern that it could be used for signage.

Sue Lee, a resident of Nouvelle at Natick, said she was concerned about hazardous materials escaping and affecting tenants. The chair stressed that there will be a full review of chemical and fire safety.

Stacie Kosinski, an attorney representing the board of trustees of the Nouvelle at Natick Condominium Association, said that she was there to learn and give information to the complex's owners. She called her presence "a starting point" for communication.

Meyer said he would be happy to facilitate communication among the parties involved.

Kathy Dopp of Natick asked if there was going to be any kind of human experimentation.

"If I'm going to be presented with something that's not safe for the Town of Natick, I'm not going to vote for it," Meyer said.

The hearing was continued until the next meeting on May 25 for further review.