Norwood Hospital’s Proposed Parking Lot at Washington and Winter Streets Draws Heavy Fire-August 13, 1975

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A petition by Norwood Hospital seeking a zoning variance to construct a 44-car parking lot at the corner of Washington Street and Winter Street ran into fierce opposition last night before the Zoning Board of Appeals. Although the project was endorsed by the board of selectmen and the Norwood Hospital Traffic Committee, planning board representative Francis Wisgirda strongly reiterated his board’s Monday night vote opposing the plan. Wisgirda contended that the town’s zoning bylaws do not permit a variance for a parking lot in a single-residence district and argued that because the proposed lot sits across the street rather than on immediately adjacent property, it fails to qualify as an accessory use. “The hospital is not asking for a variance,” Wisgirda stated bluntly, warning the appeals board, “They’re asking for a nullity of the bylaws… This case must go to town meeting—not the appeals board.”

Nearby residents and abutters echoed these concerns, voicing sharp opposition grounded in safety, aesthetics, and neighborhood quality of life. Despite assurances from hospital administrator David P. Buchmueller—who noted that the facility currently possesses only 150 parking spaces against an estimated need of 400 to curb illegal street parking—residents decried potential noise, gas fumes, litter, and safety hazards for children walking to the nearby Aaron Guild Elementary School. “Ambulance traffic is already a hazard, and this parking lot presents further danger to the residents,” one abutter protested. However, a supporting neighbor broke ranks to endorse the project, pointing out that the currently unoccupied house on the corner parcel is a severe fire hazard and a local blight, asserting, “A parking lot would certainly be better than what we have now.”

While Wisgirda acknowledged the hospital’s severe parking deficit, expressing sympathy and suggesting that the town might instead acquire land via eminent domain rather than resort to “piecemeal rezoning,” the zoning board ultimately voted to continue the hearing to September 9 at 8:30 p.m. to allow hospital counsel Atty. Henry McLaren to present revised site plans and legal rebuttals.

Archival Note: This article has been dynamically reconstructed from the original public record print archives of the Patriot Ledger