Norwood Planning Board puts 55 Lenox Street proposal on ice

NORWOOD - The Norwood Planning Board meeting this week opened with what was expected to be a decisive vote on a proposed redevelopment at 55 Lenox Street. The project, which required a special permit under Section 9.5.6B, faced significant concerns from board members regarding parking and project scale. Spectators of the meeting held signs in both support and opposed to this project, which didn't go unnoticed by the board.

Board member Joe Sheehan outlined two main objections: the overall size of the proposed building and what he called “insufficient parking” to support it. He reminded the public that zoning requires 1.1 parking spaces per unit and stressed that while the board has discretion to grant waivers, “projects should not be approved if developers can’t take care of their parking needs within the proposed development.”

Other board members echoed that concern. Brian Hachey noted he initially supported the redevelopment, calling it an “attractive project” and a natural fit for the downtown location near the tracks, but after walking the neighborhood and studying the data, he concluded the parking waiver request was “too substantial.” He went on to say “as much as the future may involve less cars…we’re not Brookline, we’re not Somerville, we’re still Norwood, we’re still a suburban town.” Board Member Rob Bamber kept his comments short, saying he had hoped for a compromise but “the ask for parking is too much.”

Faced with unified opposition, the developer chose to withdraw the application without prejudice, avoiding a formal denial and leaving the door open to submit a revised proposal in the future. The board voted unanimously to accept the withdrawal. -FC