During the July 16, 1985 meeting of the Norwood Conservation Commission, developer James Shane appeared to request a postponement of a ruling regarding a set of modified plans for the proposed Park Place South Industrial Park, located on Route 1. James Shane announced his intention to withdraw his original proposal for a 250,000-square-foot office and warehouse complex in favor of a scaled-down project totaling 150,000 square feet. This modification, he explained, involves a reduction in the size of the wetlands footprint, a tactical move intended to expedite the regulatory approval process. James Shane highlighted the urgency of the situation, noting that any project encompassing more than 10 acres of wetlands triggers state-level environmental review, a process that can extend over two years. By reducing the scope of the project, he hopes to secure authorization to begin construction immediately.
The history of the Park Place South Industrial Park is marked by extensive legal and regulatory challenges. Although the commission initially granted approval for the development in 1982, the Department of Environmental Quality Engineering (DEQE) subsequently rejected the project. James Shane successfully challenged the DEQE decision in court, resulting in the ruling being overturned. During last night’s session, the board voted 4-1 to postpone a decision on the modified plans until its August 6, 1985 meeting, citing the need for additional time to thoroughly review the changes.
Clement Riley, a commission member, expressed opposition to the delay, characterizing the modifications as minor and ultimately beneficial to the town. James Shane, however, remained patient, stating, “I can’t argue with starting now, or waiting a couple of weeks, to give you more thought. I have waited three years already to get it through the courts.” Separately, the commission denied a certificate of compliance to developer Stan Whitten for a 30,000-square-foot warehouse on Oceania Street, near the Westwood town line. Fire Chief Thomas Barry explained that the denial was necessary because the warehouse driveway requires alterations to ensure adequate access for the Fire Department.
Archival Note: This article has been dynamically reconstructed from the original public record print archives of the Patriot Ledger
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Norwood Tries to Solve Two-Mile Route 1 Zoning Puzzle After Decades Without Regulations-August 17, 1988
Town planner Sharon Wason and local officials are tackling a two-mile unzoned stretch of Route 1 in Norwood, aiming to establish setbacks and landscaping rules after 20 years of regulatory gaps.
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Developer Says Route 1 Has Become a ‘Hot Location’ for Businesses Following Opening of Galleria Mall-August 17, 1988
Galleria Realty Trust president Robert Piso and local tenants praise the retail boom along Route 1 as the Galleria by the Green shopping center nears full occupancy in Norwood.
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State Approves Traffic Barrier to Block East Cross Street Access from Route 1-August 12, 1988
Following a resident petition led by Joseph Burke and Rep. Gregory Sullivan after a child’s injury, the state approved a barrier blocking Route 1 access to East Cross Street.
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New Town Planner Tackles Commercial Growth and Zoning Reform-August 20, 1987
Amid rapid commercial growth along Route 1 and zoning maps dating back to the 1920s, Norwood town meeting voters approved hiring a town planner to balance business interests and residential protections.
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Computer Solves Route 1 Mobil Station Heist-June 15, 1987
A Roslindale Man Is Tied To A Norwood Robbery A $4.6 million State Police computer is revolutionizing law enforcement in communities throughout Massachusetts, matching latent fingerprints to known felons 83,000 times faster than a human expert. The system, which began testing one year ago this month at State Police headquarters in Boston, has successfully solved…
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Norwood Airport Manager Submits Residential Housing Proposal to Planning Board-August 13, 1985
Boston Municipal Airport proposed 21 single-family homes at the end of Hazelwood Drive, while the planning board reviewed Route 1 park modifications.
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Andrew B. Boch, 80, Automobile Dealer and Route 1 Automotive Pioneer-August 8, 1985
Andrew B. Boch, founder of Norwood’s pioneering Route 1 automotive dealerships and patriarch of a legendary New England business family, died at age 80.
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Owner of Norwood Site Says He Was Unaware of Gravel Removal-July 24, 1985
The Norwood Zoning Board of Appeals clashed with property owner Paul C. Balboni over unpermitted gravel excavation at a University Avenue site flagged by Building Inspector John Grover.
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Planning Board Proposes Water Resources Protection District to Safeguard Ellis Well Field-August 14, 1984
Norwood’s planning board voted to place a water resources protection district zoning bylaw on the September 24 special town meeting warrant to protect the Ellis Avenue well field.
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