Planning Board Endorses Norwood Arena Rezoning for Major Apartment Complex-September 11, 1973

The Planning Board voted 3-1 to recommend approval of a warrant article for the upcoming special town meeting submitted by Norwood Arena Inc. to rezone the rear portion of its Route 1 property from light manufacturing to multi-dwelling residential.

Multi-Family Rezoning and Heated Board Debate

The approved zoning amendment clears the path for a proposed 540-unit apartment complex on the rear acreage of the Route 1 property. During the proceedings, planner Thomas F. Cavanaugh moved for an immediate vote supporting the article, asserting, “Industry pays taxes, too,” and was backed by Chairman James T. O’Sullivan and member Thomas A. Riolo.

However, the vote provoked a sharp outburst. Outraged at the board’s decision, Cavanaugh bolted from his seat, grabbed his coat, and stormed out of the basement hearing room without a word. Shouting from the corridor as he departed, Cavanaugh warned, “I intend to take suit to claim my rights.”

Chairman O’Sullivan defended the board’s action, rejecting demands to place restrictive conditions on the approval: “We can’t place conditions on our approvals like the appeals board. We have to decide whether this is the best use for the land.” Board of Appeals Chairman George M. Eysie suggested recommending the rezoning on the condition that the complex provide a direct access road to Route 95 in the rear, but O’Sullivan rebuffed the suggestion.

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