An anti-commerce sentiment appears to be quietly growing in town, according to David Mahn, executive director of the Neponset Valley Chamber of Commerce, who pointed to a recent 2-2 vote by the Selectmen denying a food license for a $1 million Taco Bell restaurant on Route 1.
Business leaders were taken aback when the board rejected plans for the fast-food chain’s flagship Northeast location at the corner of Dean Street and Route 1.
Selectmen Gary Lee and William Butters, who cast the opposing votes, cited severe traffic concerns as the primary motivation. “We review these situations on a case-by-case basis. There is no trend,” Lee insisted, rejecting claims that the board is anti-business. Lee pointed to a recent municipal household planning survey indicating that residents felt overwhelmed by uncontrolled growth, noting, “Loudly and clearly people said, ‘Enough’s enough.'”
However, Mahn argued that the rejection—alongside previous town meeting votes banning parking garages and ongoing debates surrounding a new master plan to overhaul zoning along Route 1—sends a discouraging signal to commercial developers. Local auto dealers along the heavily developed commercial strip had even retained a professional mediator earlier in the year to safeguard their dealerships against prospective zoning restrictions. Additional rejections of non-traditional applications, such as a proposed hot dog pushcart on the Town Common and a fortune teller’s permit, further fueled debate over the town’s commercial trajectory.
Town Planner Sharon Wason noted that residents experiencing traffic frustrations are frequently directing their grievances toward commercial developments rather than recognizing household vehicle growth. Despite the friction, Taco Bell was reportedly seeking a second hearing before the selectmen, with Wason and local business advocates voicing hope that the project might still find approval for the vacant corner lot.
(Reporting by Lyndsey Layton for The Patriot Ledger).
Archival Note: This article has been dynamically reconstructed from the original public record print archives of the Patriot Ledger
More Norwood Business History
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New Reliance Electric Service Center-July 17, 1979
Reliance Electric, which services and repairs industrial electric motors, will move its regional service center here from South Boston on Sept. 1. The new facility in a 19,000-square-foot location in the Park Place industrial development off Route 1 will employ some 30 persons, an increase of five over current levels. The company, with headquarters in…
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Analog Devices Plans Major World Headquarters Expansion Into New 33-Acre Norwood Industrial Park-August 23, 1978
Computer equipment giant Analog Devices plans a 50,000-square-foot headquarters facility in a new 33-acre Route 1 industrial park, pending state and local sewer connection approvals.
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Selectmen Support Park Place Industrial Park Owner in Seeking Temporary Portable Toilet Approval-August 9, 1978
Selectmen backed Park Place Industrial Park owner James H. Shane in seeking Board of Health reconsideration for temporary portable toilets amid sewer connection delays.
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John Shalbey Jr. Proposes Office Building Behind Ro-Jo Car Wash-August 9, 1978
Local businessman John Shalbey Jr. faced mixed reactions from David Terrace residents while seeking a zoning variance for an office building behind his Route 1 car wash.
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South End Hardware: A Landmark Institution-July 5, 1978
In 1978, the Abdallah family’s South End Hardware in South Norwood stood as a testament to four generations of community service and local history.
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LaRosa Brothers Step Down from The Village Inn after 15 Years-June 7, 1978
A beloved Guild Square culinary staple prepares for a structural transition as its founding brothers head toward retirement after a 15-year run.
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Kline’s Announces Major Expansion into Woolworth’s Space-September 2, 1977
The uptown shopping district is slated for a major retail transformation by the Christmas holiday season as Kline’s Department Store, located at 678 Washington Street, undertakes a comprehensive expansion and renovation project absorbing the adjacent former Woolworth’s building. Retail Expansion and Renovation Timeline According to Kline’s manager Norman Treckman, F.W. Woolworth Co. will close its…
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Roller Skaters Roll Up $3,200 in 24-Hour Skate-A-Thon for Muscular Dystrophy-August 31, 1977
Endurance, enthusiasm, and a whole lot of wheels came together at Roll-Land as approximately 30 dedicated skaters successfully completed a grueling 24-hour skate-a-thon, raising at least $3,200 for the Jerry Lewis telethon drive in the fight against muscular dystrophy. Marathon Success and Community Spirit Kicking off at 6:00 p.m. Monday, the marathon concluded at approximately…
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Swampland Transformed Into Norwood Country Club Golf Course-August 29, 1975
Following a massive, self-directed engineering and construction effort, the new Norwood Country Club is scheduled to open for play today. Located on land adjacent to Route 1 and the Norwood Airport purchased in 1973 from the Foley family, the regulation golf course represents a triumph over difficult terrain by builder, contractor, designer, and engineer Frank…
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Fate of South Norwood’s Dealers’ Cafe Rests on Upcoming Hearing-August 21, 1975
With the Dealers’ Cafe closed since winter, the state ABCC will review its license status while Norwood Selectman William F. Butters pushes to transfer the permit to Route 1.
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