Moving a special town meeting closer to reality, the Planning Board held public hearings on three proposed zoning articles and voted to draft a fourth during a busy session.
Housing for the Elderly and Zoning Amendments
On behalf of the Norwood Housing Authority, the board conducted hearings on two interconnected measures designed to pave the way for 104 additional units of subsidized housing for the elderly:
- Special Multi-Family Zone: Creating a restricted multi-family zone applicable solely to state-subsidized elderly housing, which would mandate one parking space per three dwelling units and lower area requirements (recognizing that only one in three elderly residents owns a car).
- Parcel Rezoning: Rezoning two small lots to multi-family use to annex them to existing authority land.
Housing Authority Executive Director Lawrence J. O’Brien and counsel John J. Mulvehill reported that the Department of Community Affairs (DCA) gave tentative approval for the $2 million project designed by architect William Nelson Jacobs Associates of Boston. Mulvehill noted that land scarcity near shopping, churches, and transportation necessitated taking small parcels by eminent domain, totaling around 15,000 square feet.
While East Cross Street resident Richard Flaherty and appeals board member Emilie Moses voiced concerns over granting “carte blanche” or creating high-density “elderly ghettoes,” board members took the proposals under advisement.
Building Inspector Grover Pushes Trailer Ban Bylaw
Building Inspector John E. Grover appeared before the board to press for adoption of a stringent zoning bylaw banning the use of trailers in town for storage or living quarters. Grover stressed that the bylaw is urgently needed for the “prevention of fire, preservation of life and morals,” noting that commercial firms store goods in tax-free trailers. Furthermore, Grover warned that the town will automatically adopt the state building code on January 1st, making it vital to codify local trailer restrictions beforehand.
Under the proposed bylaw, recreational trailers and business storage trailers would be prohibited, restricting trailer parking to enclosed garages on the rear half of residential lots. The board also took under advisement a plan by builder Robert L. Rizzo to construct 14 duplex houses on a proposed road off Dean Street in the Richland Road area, despite objections from 11 neighboring residents.
Archival Note: This article has been dynamically reconstructed from the original public record print archives of the Patriot Ledger
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Norwood Planning Board Approaches Route 1 Zoning Solution-July 11, 1967
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Star Market Breaks Ground For Norwood Distribution Center-June 14, 1967
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Polaroid Seeking To Work With Neighbors-October 7, 1965
Polaroid Seeking To Work With Neighbors-This Day In Norwood History-October 7, 1965
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Norwood Planning Board Seeks Four Zoning Changes for Upcoming Special Town Meeting-August 9, 1965
The Norwood Planning Board submitted four zoning amendments for town meeting, covering residential rezonings, plastic footwear manufacturing for Consolidated Shoe, Route 1 uniformity, and apartment permits.
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Proposed Restrictions For Medical Center Rezoning-September 12, 1963
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