Norwood Planning Board Discusses Proposed Lot Size Increase, Sumner Street Subdivision, West Border Road Ownership Change-July 30, 1975

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Planning board member Thomas F. Cavanaugh‘s proposal to increase the required lot size for all new residential construction met opposition from builders and a fellow board member at a public hearing last night. The proposal seeks to amend the zoning bylaw to increase the lot size for single-family homes from 7,500 to 10,000 square feet. Duplexes would require 15,000 square feet as opposed to the 10,000 square feet now mandated. In a multifamily zone, 15,000 square feet would be required for the first housing unit, and 3,500 square feet for each additional unit.

The bylaw now requires 10,000 square feet for the first dwelling, and 2,500 square feet for each unit in excess of one. It would also increase required side yard widths from fifteen to twenty feet and rear yard depths from thirty to forty feet. Only Thomas F. Cavanaugh spoke in favor of the measure, while five persons recorded their opposition. Builder Robert Rizzo took exception to Thomas F. Cavanaugh‘s criticism of duplexes and warned the new bylaws would create a rush of petitions before the appeals board. He also maintained that Norwood does not have enough remaining buildable land to warrant such measures. Attorney Melvin Newman, representing the Franchi Brothers who submitted a preliminary plan for a possible apartment complex last night, was concerned about the proposed bylaw change’s effect on his clients’ plan. Carmen Barletta of Dedham expressed similar concern about its effect upon his Dean Street housing plans. Architect Lester Lechter of Sharon also spoke in opposition.

Fellow planner Francis Wisgirda was critical of the bylaw proposal, terming it far more severe than a previous plan by Thomas F. Cavanaugh to increase lot sizes which met town meeting defeat. Thomas F. Cavanaugh argued such a change was long overdue, adding he had been urged to spearhead the drive by several Norwood residents. He charged the building of duplexes and apartments in recent years has been indiscriminate, saying duplexes are now built only to rent and held that they increase the town’s school money problems. Following the meeting, Thomas F. Cavanaugh vowed to take his bylaw amendment plan to town meeting himself if his board does not vote to favor it. But I think, out of courtesy, the board will go along, he said.

In other business, the board held a public hearing on the plan of Frederick Quattrucci, a Norwood police officer, to subdivide his Sumner Street parcel. John Anderson of Norwood Engineering outlined Frederick Quattrucci‘s plans to construct a single-family or duplex home on the front portion of the site, which is zoned general residence. A fifty-foot road would be constructed to the rear of the two-acre parcel, part of which is zoned for manufacturing. However, the engineer said he knew of no plans at present to develop the rear area. Abutter Robert L. Davis said the Norwood board of health had ordered Frederick Quattrucci to remove material he had dumped on the rear portion. He said the owner had not complied with the order, but added Health Agent Bartley King told him that Town Counsel Justin C. Barton did not wish to prosecute the case. It is now pending before the state Attorney General, Robert L. Davis added. The board approved the house lot subdivision last night, but took the remainder of the plan under advisement.

Another change of ownership for a West Border Road parcel was revealed at last night’s Norwood Planning Board meeting. Planners learned that the Franchi Brothers of Auburndale have purchased the land from John R. Boulger and Vincent O. Watson, the developers who had the parcel rezoned in March 1974 to pave the way for a 100-unit condominium complex.

The parcel has been in the news periodically since previous owner Dr. William Lovell was successful in having it subdivided for the construction of twenty-four duplexes in 1973. His plans had been disputed by the Norwood Housing Authority, which wished to annex the land to expand its Nahatan Village housing for the elderly. After Dr. William Lovell sold the land to Vincent O. Watson and John R. Boulger, the authority dropped its plans to purchase the ten-acre parcel due to excessive costs, settling instead for two acres. Although the former owners had the site excavated, no construction took place.

The planners had little knowledge of the Franchi Brothers‘ specific plans, but said they thought condominiums or apartments would be built, with planner Thomas A. Riolo noting that the brothers reportedly would erect 130 units. The plan viewed last night did contain the 250-foot buffer strip which had been a major selling point with East Cross Street abutters in winning support for the condominium project. Notably, the Franchi Brothers also own the Ellis Nursing Home, which is located in Norwood.

Alongside this property transfer discussion, the board continued addressing broader community development matters, including planning board member Thomas F. Cavanaugh‘s contentious proposal to increase residential lot sizes from 7,500 to 10,000 square feet for single-family homes, and police officer Frederick Quattrucci‘s subdivision plans for his Sumner Street parcel. These concurrent hearings highlighted a busy and heavily scrutinized period for municipal zoning and residential expansion across Norwood.

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